Dee first became aware of the “Health and Wealth” Gospel (hereafter called HWG) when her three year old daughter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Approximately six weeks prior to the diagnosis, she had read an excellent book called Disappointment With God by Philip Yancey. In this book, he described God’s relationship with the Israelites. He focused on the many miracles God would perform for His people, who would be grateful for a short time. Then they would quickly return to building false idols and whining about their lives.

Their real problem was a disease called sin which only had one remedy. In fact, God’s antidote for sin is the greatest miracle of all! Healing from cancer and protection from one’s enemies pales in comparison. Our fatal disease is separation from our Creator, and we can do absolutely nothing to heal that!  According to God’s divine plan, His one and only son Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected so that real, powerful, eternal healing could be achieved for all who would accept His incredible sacrifice.

Dee came to the conclusion that God had already healed her and that was the only miracle she needed to prove God’s love for her and the rest of the world. BOOM! Her daughter was diagnosed with a horrible disease.  Dee approached the pain of her daughter’s poor prognosis by praying to God to help her family walk through the “valley of the shadow” relying on God’s peace. As a registered nurse Dee was realistic, knowing that most children with a brain tumor do not survive. Of course, she asked God for healing. She also told God that her faith in Him was not dependent on her daughter’s survival. In other words, Dee knew that God could do anything; however, she was not sure the path He would send for her daughter and family to walk down.

Dee’s prayers were simple. No naming and claiming the healing, no “we demand this healing”, no prayer formulas, healing services, or faith healers played a part in this drama. As the years passed slowly by (neurological tumors are not considered a cure at 5 years; they can reappear over a decade), Dee saw God in her day-to-day life. One night after crying herself to sleep, she woke up with a start, sensing a warm peace that flooded her soul. Dee thanked God for His presence and His divine support.

About 11 years later, her daughter was declared an unlikely cure. She is now a junior in college with a vibrant faith.  This “miracle child” is studying nursing and will devote her life and loving spirit to those in need of compassionate medical care.

Dee begins this series with her testimony to emphasize a point. She understands the pain of a serious illness, particularly in a child. What parent would not be willing to take their child’s place under such circumstances? Dee’s upcoming criticism is directed at those who would prey on the pain of others facing such illnesses. They are deceivers of the worst kind!

Dee also directs her criticism at today’s churches and pastors who do not stand up and rebuke these charlatans. She is appalled at the lack of teaching in this area at churches. Why should these heretical teaching be exposed?

1.  “Try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world”. (1 John 4:1)

2.  “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned. (Galatians 1:6-8)

3.  Jesus Himself confronted the poor teachings of the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites and snakes.

4.  Many of these “evangelists” are thrusting themselves visibly into the marketplace via TV and radio. So, we are giving them the attention that they are seeking!

5.  We must protect the vulnerable among us. Just as children can be deceived by pedophiles, adults can be deceived by the mishandling of Scripture.

6.  Many turn their backs on God when He doesn’t answer their prayers for healing or for wealth. One only needs to visit web sites such as exChristians.net to see the number of people who believe that God “let them down” when they prayed for the healing of a loved one who subsequently died.

One of the many teaching s of HWG is that man is capable of speaking “words” into reality. In other words, if someone wishes to have a Mercedes Benz, one only has to speak the words and it will occur. HWG teaches that God must answer the demands of a believer. They take the “if you have enough faith you can move mountains” and apply it to houses, cancers, etc.

Here is the danger of such utter nonsense. You must not have any doubt that God will do as you demand. In other words, if you don’t get what you wanted, you faith was weak. It’s absolutely your fault!

We know of a family that had a child with leukemia. They put up signs around the hospital room that visitors had to believe 100% that he would be healed. Visitors would also be instructed not to pray “Thy will be done…” because it was God’s will that he would be healed. There were large prayer meetings involving hundreds of people. Dee, having gone through such pain, visited the parents. The father told her that his son’s healing was going to be so swift that all of the doctors and nurses would fall on their knees and praise God.

Dee asked him what would happen if that did not occur. She then went on to explain her path through her daughter’s illness. She probed him and asked him if he was putting too much pressure on himself to believe with absolute certainty that his son would be healed. She said that God loved him and would carry him through this time and that he didn’t have to try so hard to convince himself that he would be healed. Well, Dee was told she was wrong in her thoughts — that Dee’s daughter was healed by other people who claimed her daughter’s healing.

Well, a couple of years later, this man’s son died. Can you imagine the guilt that the parents must have felt? You see, they put the burden on themselves for their son’s healing. So, his death was their fault!!! This is the pain of the HWG.

Tomorrow we will look at one of the greatest of all the HWG charlatans, Benny Hinn.