There is a rule in teaching sound biblical doctrine:
Don’t ignore what the Bible is saying just to make a pithy illustration.
Joyce Meyer’s column on the Charisma Magazine website of July 13 made just such a mistake. The topic was fear (I guess). Nice little words to encourage us in our little daily lives. Fair enough, if Joyce would like to be some sort of affirmation coach, go right ahead. The problem is, she used a scripture reference that had nothing to do with the topic. I have included some of the text, feel free to go ahead and read the whole column if you wish. I would also assert that “becoming serious about diet and exercise” is hardly a spiritual watershed moment.
Any time we step out to do something new, especially for God, we almost always—and almost immediately—face a negative circumstance that tries to discourage us or convince us we cannot do what God asks of us. Something will come up to tell us it is too hard, does not make sense, or will not work; or that we are not qualified to do it. The enemy uses such words and thoughts to discourage us, hoping fervently we will never accomplish what we set out to do.
Revelation 12:4 gives insight on how the devil tries to plant fear in us before we even get started: “And the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered [give birth], so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth.”
The dragon (who represents Satan) had stationed himself in front of her so he could devour her newborn child. This scene represents a dynamic that often happens in our lives as believers. Every time God puts a fresh new idea in our hearts or gives us a dream, vision or new challenge for our lives, the enemy will be there to oppose us. I am not referring simply to the times we want to do “big” things for God; the enemy is not selective.
There are at least 8 references to “we” or “us” in the first paragraph . Nice works-based stuff here.
First of all WE don’t step out to do something new “especially for God”. God does the new work in us! We are a new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Secondly, what in the world is she doing talking about the dragon in Revelation 12 in relation to troubles we face when starting a new diet or changing careers? Here is the passage in context:
12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Joyce was right on one thing, the dragon here is Satan, but beyond that she missed the point. In the passage, the child in verse 4 is NOT our ideas, our dreams, our efforts, our anything – it is Christ. The next verse tells us who it is.
12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
That is Jesus Christ! We can’t even claim that we are the women in the passage – as Christians, we don’t even enter the passage until verse 17. I know perhaps someone will say “well she just meant it as a word picture, or illustration to make her point. She is not saying that this is what the passage is all about.” Of course, but you still cannot take a partial, non-related, verse of scripture and use it as a proof text for anything you want to say – she said it “illustrates a dynamic”. It doesn’t work like that, you can’t just use just any verse because it makes what you say sound kind of biblical.
What confuses me is that there are plenty of verses in the Bible she could have used that would have at least seemed to directly support her point. (Especially if you are willing to overlook who they were said to and in what context)
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43: 1-2
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Joel 2:21
And if you really wanted to make a correct point, there are still many verses to use.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Of course the problem would have been for Joyce that these verse all point to Jesus and not ourselves. It is not about what we do, or our attitude, it is all about Jesus.
She goes on to write:
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, that’s a new level. When we begin to move into a deeper walk with God or begin to pray bolder prayers, those are new levels. When we begin to give time, money and energy to God’s kingdom, we are moving to a new level.
God constantly calls us to new levels. Some seem big and important; others seem relatively small or insignificant. Whatever the case, when we reach a new level with God we face a new level of opposition from our enemy, the devil.
New levels? When we believe on Jesus for our salvation that is not a new level. We are completely transformed. We go from death to life. We become a completely new creation. We don’t reach a new level – that assumes that there is a continuum of salvation. “Well, you were partially saved at level 4, but since you received Jesus, you are now at level 5. When you start giving to the church you move up to level 6 and are really more saved. Wait till you reach level 12..then whoa buddy, watch out!” As for praying “bolder prayers”, what could be more bold than “Lord save me from my sins and eternal damnation”?
Our efforts at “giving” God our time, money, and energy have nothing to do with levels. This is works-based faith. Also, someone please show me in the Bible where God calls us to “new levels”, especially through our own efforts!
Here is another little slight of hand.
Along with opposition, however, comes opportunity (see 1 Cor. 16:9)—but God is always with us, and we have no need to fear. Some things may seem too great for us, but nothing is impossible with God. He is not surprised or frightened by anything.
What does the passage actually say?
5Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
6And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
7For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
8But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
1 Corithians 16:5-9
Joyce again references a passage that at first glance might seem to support her point, but it does not. It is Paul doing the writing. He is speaking to to the church at Corinth about what he is doing. “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me . . .” [Italics mine]. Paul is speaking of himself, this is not a statement of doctrinal principal – it does not apply to all of us. Furthermore, Joyce has made a cause-effect relationship that is not there, and even has it backward. Paul states there is “opportunity” and there are many adversaries. He make no connection that because there is great opportunity there are many adversaries. He certainly does not state that because there are adversaries there is therefore great opportunity.
She goes on to write:
If you are determined never to give up on your dream, then you have to take chances; you have to be courageous. When you face situations that threaten or intimidate you, you do not need to pray as much for the fear to go away as for boldness and courage so you can move ahead in spite of the fear. I can promise you, fear will not go away. It is not something you can get rid of, so you must learn to overcome it.
The spirit of fear will always try to keep you from going forward. The enemy has used fear for centuries to try to stop people, and he is not going to change his strategy now. But you can defeat fear; you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves us (see Rom. 8:37).
What do our dreams have to do with anything? God does not tell us to follow our dreams, He tells us to follow Him (Jesus). Again, notice it is what we do, not what Christ does through us. And we “can defeat fear”? Does Romans really say that?
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:34-39
If you read the entire passage in context, it is not about us being able to conqueror defeat anything. It is about Christ making us free from the law of sin and death. He is the conqueror, we share in the victory – and not by anything we have done.
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2
We are more than conquerors in the sense of “all these things” (mentioned previously in the chapter) which is the just punishment of the law of sin and death, and of our own fleshly nature through the victory of Christ.
If Joyce had wanted to make the point that we do not have a spirit of fear because of what Christ has done for us, great. But she entirely missed the point. She turned it around, put it back on what we do, and how we must react. She missed the point about what we should not be fearing and made into a trite little pep talk.
I have nothing personally against Joyce Meyer. I have serious issues with what she says and teaches. I won’t get into an ad hominem attack on her lifestyle, accent, hairstyle or what kind of toothpaste she uses. I know a lot of people really like and respect her. Many people clearly get a lot out of her teaching. However, I question just what they are getting out of it. God’s Word is not subjective – one cannot say “well it means this to me”, or “I got this out of it”. God’s Word convicts us of our sin through the law so we may repent, and gives us the Gospel so that we may have the forgiveness of sins and be saved. To reduce it to pithy life sayings to help us feel better about ourselves and our circumstances is wrong. Perhaps deadly wrong.
Bravo.
Meyer has made a long career of taking any current idea, throwing a few Bible verses on it, and calling it a “ministry”.
I’ve got an indepth critique of one of her books at joycevsjesus.wordpress.com, if you’re interested, and there’s a link at the bottom to another.
I’ll be adding more in the future.
More people need to speak out to turn this around.
Thanks.