Charles Capps Ministries – The “Concepts of Faith” Telecast

Posted on August 23 2006 by John Hardin

The Concepts of Faith Ministries, led by Charles Capps is an organization out of England Arkansas that focuses on the power “words” to initiate God’s power, or otherwise known as the “word-faith movement”.

Charles Capps is another one of those preachers who attempts to associate himself with fundamentalism by claiming to be King James only, and proclaiming salvation is by grace through faith. So, on the surface he seems to be a Bible Believing Christian, and like most popular preachers he has a very persuasive preaching style, and a commanding voice.

On August 22, 2006 Mr. Capps gave a message on his radio broadcast that summed up his ministry, and explained why he believes the word-faith message is valid.

The message was entitled “Does God Give Disease”. Basically, according to Mr. Capps, since disease is evil, it doesn’t come from God. He began with an illustration of a man who gave a testimony in church who had cancer. The man claimed that he was OK with the fact that he had cancer because he believed it was God’s will, and that the reason for his disease was beyond his understanding, but he was trusting God. After the man finished his testimony, the preacher stood at the pulpit and said he was going to preach on the fact that God doesn’t give disease.

Mr. Capps then went on to give give his explanation as to why this preacher was justified in giving that message.

Point #1: Disease is a result of sin.

Mr. Capps claims that all disease is a result of sin, and therefore it is against God’s will that we have ailments. Not only that, but God has given man automatic healing if he wants it by just “claiming the healing”.

Mr. Capps is absolutely right in his ascertation that disease is the result of sin. But he has failed to understand God’s perspective on disease. If it were not for Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, all mankind would be perfect and sinless, and would never have to endure any kind of disease. But, since we are all sinners, we all have fallen from grace and becuase of the presence of sin… we have sickness. Have you ever lied? If you have you have begun the death process of sin in your body, and have become susceptible to disease. Disease, sickness, disabilities, etc. are the short-term consequences of sin.

To illustrate this we can look at a disobedient child who is about to recieve corporal punishment. That child needs that punishment, as the consequence for his sin, in order to change the rebellious behavior. Now, picture that child in the process of recieving corporal punishment (a spanking) and standing up and saying “I command this spanking to cease”. That would be pretty arrogant, especially for a child already with a rebellious attitude.

Now, I understand that Jesus died in our place. And I understand that the consequence of eternity in hell has been revoked for anyone who accepts the payment Jesus made for our sins. But we still have to endure the consequences of our sin in the flesh. The Apostle Paul wrote:

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:55-57)

The Apostle Paul was saying that since Christ rose from the dead, if we are in Jesus the death and the grave will not have power over us. Paul did not say anything about disease, blindness, deafness, lameness, heart conditions, or hangnails… why? becuase when we accept Christ and He becomes our Savior, we have hope of redemption, but we still have to live in these sinful bodies. Romans Chapter 7 gives a good explanation of the remaining sinfulness in man after he is saved.

In order for the “Word-Faith” movement to be valid, there would not only have to be a healing from the consequences of sin, but a total release of the sinful nature of man when he is saved. Paul understood this when he wrote those verses in 1 Corinthians 15, that is why he didn’t say we have “automatic” victory over sin and the consequences of it. He only said we have victory of death and the grave. Therefore if we still have to endure sin, we also have to endure the consequences it has on our flesh.

The reason Mr. Charles Capps wears glasses is becuase of the sin of his flesh, but he hasn’t recieved healing for his eyes… has he? I’m not trying to be mean, but I am trying to make a point. GOD DOES HEAL PEOPLE, but not because someone arrogantly demands that the consequences for their sin cease. God heals people in order to fulfil His will, and to accomplish things that sometimes are too big for us to understand. In Jesus’ day, He healed many people. That wasn’t done just to relieve them of their pain and suffering, but to give the Jews a sign because that is what they required to believe (1 Cor. 1:22)

Men like Charles Capps prey on people who are focused on the worldly issues. People who aren’t living to fulfil God’s will, but are living to satisfy themselves and ease their own pain. Men like Charles Capps are only concerned with building the “church” numbers. It is much easier to tantalize hurting people with the possibility of relief, than to actually see people saved by preaching the gospel. Miraculous healing as a church program is much more appealing than just preaching the gospel.

Point #2: Disease is sent by Satan

Mr. Capps claims that disease is sent by Satan, and God doesn’t have anything to do with your ailment. That is just not the truth. Two of the most well-known examples of Godly men with disease is Job and the Apostle Paul. Before Satan could approach anything of Job’s he had to approach God and get permission. God gave Satan permission to afflict Job. So, you could say that Satan performed the affliction but God sent it. Paul verifies this same concept in 2 Cor. 12:7, that a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above measure. Satan did not have the intention to keep Paul humble… but God would have had this intention. God is the one who sent the affliction to Paul, and this was done to keep Paul humble so he could effectively do the work of God with humility.

With just those two examples I think it is evident from the Bible that God does send disease and affliction, not because he hates us, or wants to see us suffer, but because He loves us and wants us to be a part of His work.

John W. Hardin

John Hardin





Comments

Keith Devine on 18 September, 2006 at 2:04 pm #

Thanks for your insight. I am very concerned about false teaching within the Body of Christ. We all need to recognize how dangerous this teaching can be. There are so many scriptures taken out of context to prove this man’s teaching, it is scary. There is a book, “A Different Gospel” that addresses the roots of this teaching. Few people realize its pagan roots and far too many refuse to connect the two. But, this Author did! Thanks again for your comments and what I believe to be a correct review of this teaching. In Christ’s Service, Keith Devine  


Van Floyd on 30 April, 2007 at 9:37 pm #

I’ve read your comments regarding Job and the Apostle Paul. Read Job 1:7-12, and then flip back to verse 5. Job offered burnt offerings for his children for Job said, “it may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did, Job continually. Job was afraid that his sons had cursed God in their hearts. According to verse 10, God put a hedge all round, Job. He was protected, However, what brought down his hedge? It was FEAR – Read Chapter 3:25  


Van Floyd on 30 April, 2007 at 9:59 pm #

God did not send this affliction to the Apostle Paul. Satan did. Read II Cor. 11:16-33. This is some of the things that Satan’s messenger did to the Apostle Paul. Who was the giver of the revelation to the Apostle Paul? It was, Christ Jesus himself. Satan does not want this gospel preached. It was not a sickness or disease. Paul besought the Lord 3 times that he (the evil spirit)
may depart from him. Was he delivered? Yes. Read II Tim. 3:11  


jhardin on 13 May, 2007 at 12:56 am #

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

Van Floyd… Do you really think that Satan, being evil, and desiring to thwart the movement of God and the propagation of the gospel, would have given Paul an affliction for the purpose of keeping him humble? Paul said this was done “lest I should be exalted above measure”.

God is the one who authorized the affliction… Satan was the messenger. It was the same way with Job. Satan had to get approval from God before he could afflict Job in any way.

You also stated that the thing that brought down Job’s hedge of protection was fear. THAT is a rediculous statement. And your proof verse doesn’t even allude to Job’s fear being the variable that brought down his protection… all Job 3:25 states is that Job feared that this would happen to him… it is not even implied that his fear brought down his hedge of protection.

In fact, all of this woe happened to Job while he was trusting God completely. “Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”

So, why did God let down the hedge of protection from around Job and his family if Job was perfectly upright and fearing God?

I submit that God allowed it for a higher reason than Job could understand at the time… but it still remained that Job’s faith was much more than that of Charles Capps or any other word / faith teacher; because Job said of his affliction:

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…

John  


L rogers on 17 October, 2007 at 8:04 pm #

pharisees and sadducees! It’s sad that the Word of God has fallen on deaf ears!  


kevin k on 20 March, 2010 at 7:16 pm #

Well, I have recently come across Charles Capps and have, so far, enjoyed the teaching he has brought. It is different, yes – especially with what I learned growing up. I was NEVER taught anything about faith. Whatever happened is what happened. Just thank God for it and wait. Still, when I am taught something, I know I need to back it up with the Bible. Period. We are always learning. Do we ever truly know everything about a particular topic in the Bible? Is it -”learn this now, then set it in stone”? Paul planted, Apollos watered and God produced. Paul planted the seed, but the people were stagnant with it, for lack of a better word. Apollos came along and helped bring water to the seed and things started to happen. So, I don’t believe any one person is always right, when giving their interpretation of the Bible. But sometimes seed can be stagnant. Sometimes we need a different look at the same topic, in order to gain the understanding needed for production to come about. So, for know i am thankful for Charles Capps and his view on many things. Jesus did say, if My Word abides in you. If we forgive others, if we, etc . . . – We need to walk with Him according to His Word, then as Paul states, we MAY partake of the divine nature. As for Job :) – doesn’t “perfect” mean sincere ? Job was a sincere and upright man. He wasn’t perfect. He was trusting God – absolutely! Though he slay me, yet I will trust Him. That is amazing! But he didn’t know Satan was doing this, of course. He didn’t have the book of Job to read and see what was happening :) If he had been taught about satan back then, could he have responded differently? – He did his best to follow the law, but he didn’t have the Holy spirit within him. He had no power over the works of satan. What could he do besides wonder and wait? Be faithful to the law (God). That was all he or anyone could do back then. Well, I will go for now. Thanks for reading this :) love in Christ, hallelujah :) Man, I am glad to be a believer :) Kevin  


james c on 6 May, 2010 at 1:00 pm #

If you think Job is about Job or his struggles, you’ve sadly missed the point. If you carefully study that book you will realize that this book is actually about God’s worthiness to be worshipped. Satan attacked God, not Job. Have you ever noticed that in the opening chapters, God said that Job was perfect and upright, but in chapter 42, Job declares that I’ve heard of you but know I see you for myself? How so?  


M Armstrong on 3 May, 2011 at 5:18 pm #

I don’t understand how you can speak for all when you say tha twe are all sinners. I understand that the Bible says we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But if you notice it says we have all sinned, but it did not say we are all sinners, especially since the Bible says we have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus. If you are a sinner then you can’t go to heaven, since no sin will enter heaven. I don’t want you speaking for me, please speak for yourself as to your status as to your relation to Christ. I am a new creature the old man of sin is dead since I have been translated in to the kingdom of His dear Son.  


Evans on 7 October, 2011 at 7:18 am #

i love your teaches i am request you to be panter ship with your ministry may god bless you  


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