Marilyn Hickey Teaching at The City Church
Marilyn Hickey is a well known leader of the “word of faith” movement, mentored by the likes of Oral Roberts and William Branham (who says the doctrine of the Trinity was the doctrine of demons). Some refer to her as the “fairy godmother of the word of faith movement” – to show her association to the movement.
To view the deflections about the associations with the word of faith movement by Pastor Wendell view his letter to me here.
When I was still a member of the City Church she came and spoke. I remember her telling us our words have creative power, and all we have to do is speak to our sickness and pocketbook for healing and wealth. It sounded so easy, and she taught it was my right as a believer.
I went away from that meeting speaking to my bad vision to be healed (since I need contact lenses). I thought God was going to move because of my faith and words. I later realized nature of God’s sovereignty, and He is not bound to do anything because of my faith and words. I later had to repent from my arrogance toward God, since I should not presume to tell God what to do. For more information on the “word of faith” doctrines see this link.
I was so excited to learn I could just speak words like God and He had to do what I say, at the end of the meeting I signed up to be a “faith covenant partner” to help support her ministries. This is where my eyes were <b>really</b> opened (maybe God did answer my prayer). I started to be flooded with fund raising gimmicks (for lack of a better term) where I would receive “anointed” items in the mail and if I were to return them with a check (usually asking for a large sum) she would pray over them so different miracles would happen in my life. The letter usually preyed on people looking for financial miracles (the poor) and those who have loved ones who are not saved. The basic tone of the letter was if you give money to the ministry she would pray for you and because of her better connection to God your miracles would happen.
Below are links to examples of these letters:
http://www.discernment.org/wordfaith/marilynhickey.htm
http://www.discernment.org/prior.htm
I am concerned for her attempts to raise money from the Christians on her mailing list because it flies in the face of scripture. In Acts 8, there was a man named Simon who believed at the preaching of the Gospel, and was baptized. He followed the Apostles and saw the Holy Ghost move through miracles and wanted to pay money to the Apostles to receive the power they had (presumably so he could charge money for the miracles). I will let the scripture tell the story:
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon [the sorcerer] saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts 8:14-22
Peter took this issue very seriously, why do not Christians all around the country fall for this? Why do we trust the visions of current teachers over the clear direction of Peter?
Also read this scripture from Peter:
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they <b>with feigned words make merchandise of you</b>: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-4
This scripture talks about “prophets” who treat the believers as a revenue center through covetousness. Maybe it can be phrased like this “tithe to me and God will make you rich” or “give your best offering to me and God will perform miracles for you”.
I pray the ministry of Marilyn Hickey (and prosperity gospel proponents) would repent of the unscriptural methods of raising money and just tell the congregation the need and let the Holy Spirit lead the congregation to give. There is no need to bribe true Christians into giving.
May 1st, 2007 at 10:32 am
It really saddens me that many cannot see the nonsense that this woman preaches and the questionable fundraising techniques. Since when have Christians need to purchase a miracle? I remember seeing her for the first time(and only time) a couple of years ago and going away truely sick with all the name it and claim it word of faith nonsense that she is preaching. Have people gotten so far away from the Lord that they think that a prayer blanket is going to turn there circumstances around for them? It amazes me that people do not see that the Word-faith movement is an aberrant man-centered substitute for biblical Christianity that focuses prayer on the power of the tongue instead of on God.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:58 am
Mrgatsby,
I agree, it is saddening that the people who are trying to honor God are so easily misled by the people who (self) proclaim to be leaders. Through the scriptures we are admonished time and time again to hold leaders up to biblical scrutiny, and if we accept a false prophet it is on our shoulders. This is contrary to the “umbrella” teaching used by these churches to legitimize their authoritarian and counter-biblical views.
May 1st, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I watched the movie ‘Luther’ last night, and well the Catholic Church had these kinds of methods down long ago…indulgences and such. Selling the things of God as if they were merchandise to be bought!
May 11th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I’ve thought a lot about this faith business, especially having gone to the City Church in high school. There always seemed to be something so profoundly wrong with thinking that if I wanted something I could just simply speak it into existence.
I was thinking a lot about this during lent. A time of reflecting on Jesus’s forty days in the desert. I actually wrote an essay about it. The premise of it has to do with when I was a little kid and I would try and walk on the water of my backyard pool, thinking that with enough faith I wouldn’t sink.
this is an excerpt form the essay, more well articulated thoughts:
Again. It’s lent. This Sunday is Palm Sunday and I think of Jesus in
the desert—parched, famished. “After Jesus had gone without eating for
forty days and nights, he was very hungry. Then the devil came to him
and said, “If you are God’s Son, tell these stones to turn into
bread.”
And if Jesus could walk on water, if he could raise people from the
dead, if he could make the blind see with mud from his spit, then
surely he could turn the stone to bread.
But miracles are not arbitrary. There is a difference between magic
and miracles. And Jesus was no magician. He was a miracle maker.
And unlike my attempts to walk on the water of my paddleboat pool,
miracles are meaningful outside of themselves. Like Peter, Jesus was
beckoned, but by his father, and not to the water, but to the desert,
to prepare for his own death. He was not simply beckoned to do
miracles—to the walking on of water, to the multiplying of fish–he
was beckoned even unto the cross, even unto death.
And this faith, the faith that answers calls, quiet as they are in the
night, lost as they become in the wind boisterous, is the faith that
moves mountains; that frees the wretched from their sin. The faith
that lifts the wingless, the stout and solid boned. It is the faith
that conquers death. The faith that steadies steps across the surface
of still water.
And when I do walk I will walk because I have been beckoned. Not for
the sake of walking itself, but because to be beckoned is to be
called, called by a name. Peter, Peter. Samuel, Samuel. Called by
God. Emily, Emily. Speak Lord, for your servant hears. Even into the
desert. Even unto death.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Hi Emily,
That is a great essay! I think you did a great job articulating how we don’t have faith for the things of our own doing, but should have faith for when we are called to a task by God.
There is something wrong with thinking if we want something we just need to speak it into existence. Only God can do that. We can only request things from God who has all the power…not our faith or words. I find it a terrible mis-use of scripture to say we can do that. It elevates us to the level of God and makes God the “cosmic butler” to our every fleshly desire if we have enough “faith” and speak the right words.