Book Review: Christianity In Crisis

I highly recommend this book: ~Reed Nelson
Publisher's Commentary: Christianity in Crisis is a landmark book that desperately needed to be written—a book that confronts head-on a deadly cancer that is ravaging the body of Christ. Unless this cancer is halted now, the consequences for Christianity will be catastrophic.

And “catastrophic” is not exaggeration. Influential teachers are utilizing the power of airwaves as well as scores of books, tapes, and magazines to distort the biblical concept of the Creator and promote antibiblical doctrines that boggle the mind. The result is nothing less than a systematic subversion of the historic Christian faith.

Yet this is a cancer which has a cure. Christianity In Crisis not only exposes darkness to light, but provides solutions for averting the crisis in Christianity and restoring a Christianity centered in Christ.

A Review by J.W. Moore:

Hanegraaff writes,

We must shift from perceiving God as a means to an end to recognizing that He is the end. We must shift from a theology based on temporary perspectives to one based on eternal perspectives.

Within this quote the author succinctly captures the focus of the “faith movement” aka “Word of Faith” (WOF) movement, and it is a devastatingly clear and precise summary of the error that is driving a growing segment of American Christianity.

Chrisitanity In Crisis is a detailed and thoroughly documented analysis and refutation of the error and teachings of the most visible faith movement proponents: Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch (TBN), Marilyn Hickey, Fredrick K. C. Price, Paul Yonggi Cho, Morris Cerullo, E. W. Kenyon, Katherin Kuhlman, Robert Tilton, and Benny Hinn. In consideration that some of these WOF leaders are also prolific and popular authors, it is not surprizing that many Christian bookstores refused to stock Chrisitanity In Crisis (in my local Christian book store, there are more titles for WOF teachings than there are apologetics and theology texts). It should also be noted that one technique WOF teachers use to keep their followers confused and loyal is deliberate misrepresentation of quotes from their critics; as such, this reviewer also highly recommends the supplemental purchase of the audiocassettes of Chrisitanity In Crisis: no one can argue or formulate a successful apologetic in defense of the blasphemies of these faith teachers when you hear them in action. The audiocassettes alone are a tremendous help if you are trying to help someone trapped by WOF’s heresies so that they may experience the full joy of John 8:36...“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

It cannot be said that Hank Hanegraaff does not thoroughly document his research. In Christianity In Crisis he provides 40 pages of chapter footnotes to validate his observations and conclusions. Moreover, he provides seventeen pages of bibliographic references that would direct the reader to further validation from other researchers. Also included is are extensive Scripture and Subject indexes.

Finally, the author provides two additional special features that add to the value of this text:

1. an Epilogue in which Hanegraaff provides a concise ministry background for most of the leaders in the “faith movement;” and,
2. an essay in Appendix A, Are God’s Anointed beyond Criticism? in which the author issues a strong call for biblical accountability within the body of Christ.

In conclusion, this work respresents one of the most comprehensive evaluations of the techniques, tactics, and people of the modern “faith movement.” It is a valuable reference to accompany John MacArthur’s Charismatic Chaos (Zondervan, 1992)