Jon Ruthven: What’s Right About the Faith Movement
Jon Ruthven, “What’s Right About the Faith Movement,” Ministries Today Volume 17, Number 1 (January-February 1999), pages 56-60.
One of the most respected scholars among charismatic circles has recently written briefly about what is perhaps the most controversial segment of the independent charismatic movement, the Word of Faith movement. His article appears in what is likely the most popular charismatic minister’s magazine, Ministries Today.
Professor Ruthven gives a short background of what the Faith movement teaches and then challenges those outside this movement to hold their own traditional views in check before examining what the Faith movement does teach. He says that 1) Faith teaching has a better grasp of what the Bible says about the radical position the believer has in Christ than most of us do. The faith movement has a profound understanding of the majestic position of the believer before God. 2) The challenge to believe God to meet all our needs is heard clearly in Faith teaching. Aggressive, joyous faith is central to the Christian walk. 3) Faith teaching does much to establish or build faith. They accurately communicate that faith doesn’t just happen, it must be encouraged and built up. Ruthven says, “Faith teaching is right in that it has discerned what is perhaps the most important emphasis in the Bible: Faith is absolutely central to our relationship with God. Beyond that, faith teaching’s emphasis of developing and having faith is commendable” (p. 58, emphasis his).
Then, in a succinct way, Ruthven brings a greater Biblical balance to faith teaching by showing how easy it is to abuse the intent of Scripture by misapplying promises or statements not intended for our present circumstances. Latching on and holding God to do something He has not said He will do will only undermine true trust. Ruthven says, “This is the bottom line: If you want to build your faith, seek God in prayer to find out what God wants in that situation. When you receive the assurance of faith, and you have received it accurately, God will fulfill His Word” (p. 60).
Although in my opinion this article by Dr. Ruthven is especially gracious to the Faith movement, the response has not all been positive. One prominent leader (who is only mentioned favorably in the article) told Ruthven that he “obviously know[s] so little about” the Faith movement that he should not have written anything about it.1 While Professor Ruthven does not claim to be an expert on the movement, what he says in this albeit brief article needs to be heeded. I pray that many will read his challenge and find a greater Biblical balance to their understanding of faith and learning to pursue and pray for God’s will.
Reviewed by Raul L. Mock
Endnotes
1 Taken from an E-mail to the reviewer from Jon Ruthven, dated January 6, 1999.
This article has been republished online at numerous sites, including: http://hopefaithprayer.com/word-of-faith/whats-right-about-the-faith-movement (available as of August 12, 2014).
M.H. writes of Jon Ruthven: “This wonderful theologian and man of God is my mentor for my Doctor of Ministry degree, and also a great friend.”
I, too, am a classical Pentecostal who has been the victim of the heretical views of those who espouse the hyper-faith position. Their contempt for us when our son was diagnosed as being on the severe side of the autism spectrum scarred us at a time when we badly needed pastoral compassion. In teaching students in an AG university similarly scarred by this bad teaching I have heard horror stories of condemnation and accusation of no faith by those who have suffered hardships of one kind or another. In light of the many who have been so hurt by this bad teaching how can any caring Christian be an apologist for it?
Dr. Jon Ruthven wrote in response to Steven Fettke’s comment on his Facebook page: “The overall point I wished to establish about ‘what’s right with the faith movement’ was that at least they try. Rather than sit on the sidelines and criticize others who are in healing they aggressively go after God’s promises and believe with all their heart as a rule. The problem is, however, that faith is not taking a random Scripture and repeating it over and over until the rhema word comes and confirms it. Often that actually works but faith is waiting on God and hearing him. I cover this issue of hearing God’s voice quite thoroughly in my new book *What’s Wrong with Protestant Theology: Tradition Versus Biblical Emphasis*.”