Rhema Bible Church
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Rhema Bible Church and School was founded by Kenneth W. Hagin, son of Kenneth E. Hagin, and is located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in the United States' Bible belt. The "Word of Faith" message is a central teaching, along with other charismatic doctrine. In conjunction with its training center, also located on its Broken Arrow Campus, Rhema Churches and Bible training centers have spread internationally. Rhema also publishes the "Word of Faith" magazine.
The word Rhema is Greek and means "the spoken word". Lending support to the central theme that confessing Scripture with faith in God has power to change circumstances for good. The ministry cites Luke 1:37 for this teaching, where the Greek word "rhema" is found[1].
Some critics have considered Rhema a cult of personality, built on Kenneth Hagin Sr.'s visions of God, and numerous miraculous stories. However, Hagin Sr. has consistently preached that his ministry is specifically founded on the scripture found in Mark 11:23. Some of the more controversial aspects of the ministry include:
- a healing school (where the sick come to learn what the Rhema group says that the Bible says about obtaining healing). Rhema claims to have many documented cases of individuals who have been cured and seem to be willing to release that documentation when the individual allows.
- the faith message (often referred to as "name it and claim it", or "blab it and grab it" by critics). This messages teaches that if you ask God for anything he has promised, he will give it, as long as you believe he will. Also taught is the notion that giving offerings out of a heart of worship and acting in faith allows God to multiply blessings to you, based upon the scripture in Malachi which teaches this very concept. Rhema has consistently claimed to have taught that one can only pray for what is in God's Will, therefore, Rhema disputes the notion that simply praying for frivolous desires will yield anything more than wasted time.
One of the arguments Hagin Sr. gives is a syllogism involving what is commonly know as the Lord's Prayer, whereby Jesus teaches how to pray. In it, the Lord's Prayer directs to pray for things to be on Earth as it is in Heaven. Hagin Sr. poses the question: Is it God's Will for there to be poverty, death and disease in Heaven? Obviously not, therefore it must be God's Will for there not to be poverty, disease or death on Earth. Alternatively, arguments are present for the other side. Those opposed to this will argue that not once has God stated anywhere in the Bible that Heaven is similar to earth or that heaven should be like the earth and vice versa. They also argue that God allows what happens to happen because of our choice to let sin enter the world, dating back to Adam and Eve. In the Bible, in Exodus 4:11, we see an example of where God acknowledges to Moses that He allows and even causes sickness to fall upon man. This verse alone has the ability to dispute all claims by Word of Faith teachers such as Hagin.
Thus, Hagin concludes that praying in this manner is appropriate and has published a book on this very subject, however, there are a wide variety of arguments amongst the clergy concerning this.
- Holy Ghost meetings. In these meetings, the speaker and singers will "stir up" "the anointing". Critics see them as whipping the audience into frenzied song and dance. The speaker will suggest the audience go with the Holy Ghost, whatever they feel like doing. people are seen: laughing, crying, dancing, running, falling, giving offerings "as the Spirit leads". Many secular experts see this as another form of Religious ecstasy that can be easily explained by psychological reasons rather than anything supernatural. However, it is commonly taught that this practice is scriptually sound as this same behavior is found in the Book of Acts.
- Healing testimonies. Testimonies of followers concerning faith healing.
A Tulsa area tradition is the Rhema Bible Church Christmas Light Tour, the largest Christmas light display in a four state region. November 24 – January 1.
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