Finis Dake’s Distortion of Faith as a Force: How His Teaching Damages Biblical Christianity

Introduction: The Dangerous Legacy of Dake’s Teaching

Finis Jennings Dake (1902-1987) was a Pentecostal minister whose annotated study Bible and numerous books have influenced millions of Christians worldwide. While Dake contributed to biblical study through his systematic organization of Scripture, his teaching on faith represents a serious departure from orthodox Christian doctrine. Rather than presenting faith as trusting dependence on God’s sovereign will, Dake taught that faith is a force or power that believers can use to bring about desired results through their spoken words.

This distortion has had devastating consequences for countless believers who have been taught to blame themselves for unanswered prayers, to view suffering as a lack of faith, and to approach God as a cosmic vending machine rather than as sovereign Lord. Parents have experienced crushing guilt when their sick children died despite their “faith-filled words.” The poor have been told their poverty stems from insufficient faith rather than complex economic realities. The sick have been encouraged to “claim their healing” rather than accept that God may have purposes in their suffering.

This comprehensive analysis will demonstrate through extensive quotations from Dake’s own writings how he redefined faith, distorted the purpose of prayer, and created a theological system that places man in control rather than God. We will contrast his teachings with traditional conservative evangelical theology and show the practical harm that results from his errors.

Part I: Dake’s Teaching on Faith as a Controllable Force

A. Faith as a Mechanism to Get Whatever You Want

Throughout his writings, Dake consistently presents faith not as trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty, but as a force or mechanism by which believers can obtain anything they desire. In his book “Bible Truths,” Dake makes this startling claim:

Notice how Dake shifts from God’s provision to human acquisition. Faith becomes the mechanism by which believers “get whatever” they ask. He continues this theme throughout his work:

B. The Traditional Conservative Christian View of Faith

Traditional conservative Christianity has always understood faith fundamentally differently. Faith is not a force we wield but a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) that enables us to trust Him despite circumstances. The Westminster Confession of Faith, representing centuries of Protestant orthodoxy, defines saving faith as “accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life” (WCF 14.2).

Conservative theologians like Charles Spurgeon taught that faith is essentially receptive, not commanding. Spurgeon wrote: “Faith is the hand of the soul which receives Christ and all the blessings of the covenant. It is not the hand which gives or works, but the hand which takes.” This understanding sees faith as humble dependence, not forceful demanding.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the great 20th-century expositor, explained: “Faith is not something that I work up in myself. Faith is not something that I manufacture. Faith is the gift of God… Faith means that I cease to rely upon myself and trust entirely in Him.”

The biblical pattern shows believers praying “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10), not commanding their will into existence. Jesus Himself, in perfect faith, prayed “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The apostle Paul, despite tremendous faith, accepted his “thorn in the flesh” when God said “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

C. The Dangerous Contrast

The contrast between Dake’s view and orthodox Christianity could not be starker. Where Scripture teaches submission to God’s will, Dake teaches commanding our desires. Where the Bible shows godly people accepting suffering (Job, Paul, Jesus), Dake claims suffering only comes from lack of faith. Where orthodox theology emphasizes God’s sovereignty, Dake’s system puts humans in control through “faith force.”

This creates a devastating burden for believers. When a child dies despite parents’ prayers, Dake’s theology says they lacked faith. When financial hardship persists despite tithing and “claiming prosperity,” the fault lies with the believer’s weak faith. This theology transforms God from a loving Father who knows best into a cosmic mechanism activated by sufficient faith-force.

Part II: The Power of Words and Positive Confession

A. Dake’s Teaching on Speaking Things Into Existence

Central to Dake’s theology is the idea that Christians can speak things into existence through their words, just as God created through speaking. Dake takes Jesus’s teaching about mountain-moving faith and interprets it mechanistically:

Dake interprets this passage to mean that believers literally have the power to speak anything into existence if they believe without doubting. He writes:

This teaching extends to what Dake calls “controlling the tongue”:

B. The Traditional Understanding of Prayer and God’s Sovereignty

Orthodox Christianity has always understood prayer as petition to a sovereign God, not as commanding reality through words. The Lord’s Prayer itself models this: “Your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10). We ask; we don’t command. We submit; we don’t demand.

Conservative theologian A.W. Pink explained: “Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God. Prayer is a confession of creature weakness, yea, of helplessness.”

The Reformer John Calvin taught that prayer is not about changing God’s mind or commanding outcomes, but about aligning ourselves with His will: “The necessity and utility of prayer consists in this: that God may be glorified when we acknowledge Him as the author of all good things.”

Scripture shows numerous examples of godly prayers that weren’t answered as requested:
– Moses prayed to enter the Promised Land but was denied (Deuteronomy 3:23-26)
– David prayed for his infant son to live, but the child died (2 Samuel 12:16-18)
– Paul prayed three times for his thorn to be removed, but God said no (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
– Jesus prayed for the cup to pass from Him, but submitted to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42)

These examples demolish Dake’s claim that faith guarantees getting whatever we speak or desire.

C. The Harmful Effects of Positive Confession Theology

The damage from this teaching is immense and multifaceted:

Part III: Dake’s Distortion of Biblical Prosperity

A. Prosperity as a Right to Be Claimed

Dake teaches that financial prosperity is not merely a possible blessing but a right that believers should claim through faith:

He goes further, claiming that God’s original purpose was universal prosperity:

Notice how Dake conflates pre-Fall conditions with post-Fall reality, ignoring the curse and its effects on creation and human life.

B. The Biblical View of Wealth and Poverty

Scripture presents a much more complex view of wealth and poverty than Dake acknowledges. The Bible warns repeatedly about the dangers of wealth:
– “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24)
– “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24)
– “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10)
– “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith?” (James 2:5)

Conservative Christianity has historically taught that God may choose to bless some with wealth as a stewardship, but poverty is not necessarily a sign of weak faith. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, taught Christians to “Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can,” emphasizing stewardship over accumulation.

The Puritan Richard Baxter warned: “Remember that riches do make it much harder for a man to be saved… Take heed lest you be drowned in the love of worldly wealth.”

Jesus Himself had “nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Paul learned to be content in plenty and in want (Philippians 4:11-13). The early church shared possessions rather than accumulating wealth (Acts 2:44-45).

C. The Prosperity Gospel’s Damage to Christianity

Dake’s prosperity teaching has caused enormous harm:

1. Exploitation of the Poor: Prosperity preachers often target the poor, promising wealth in exchange for “seed faith” donations. This exploits the vulnerable and enriches false teachers.

2. Distorted Gospel: The message of salvation through Christ’s sacrifice is replaced with a message of material blessing through positive confession. The cross becomes a means to wealth rather than redemption from sin.

3. Global Witness Damaged: In developing nations, prosperity theology creates the impression that Christianity is a Western wealth-acquisition scheme rather than good news for the poor and oppressed.

4. Pastoral Malpractice: Pastors influenced by Dake tell suffering members they lack faith rather than offering biblical comfort and practical help.

Part IV: The Distortion of Divine Healing

A. Dake’s Teaching on Guaranteed Healing

Dake teaches that physical healing is guaranteed to all believers who exercise proper faith:

He explicitly rejects the idea that God might have purposes in allowing sickness:

According to Dake, all sickness comes from Satan, never from God, and believers should never accept illness:

B. The Biblical Understanding of Sickness and Healing

Scripture presents a more nuanced view of sickness and healing than Dake allows. While God certainly can and does heal, the Bible shows that He sometimes chooses not to heal for His purposes:

Biblical Examples of Unhealed Sickness:
– Paul’s thorn in the flesh remained despite prayer (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
– Timothy had frequent stomach problems (1 Timothy 5:23)
– Trophimus was left sick at Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20)
– Epaphroditus was ill and nearly died (Philippians 2:25-27)
– Paul himself had a bodily ailment when he first preached to the Galatians (Galatians 4:13-14)

Conservative theologian John MacArthur explains: “God is sovereign in healing. He heals whom He wills, when He wills, and how He wills. Sometimes He heals immediately, sometimes gradually, sometimes not at all in this life.”

The Westminster Confession acknowledges God’s ordinary providence while affirming His sovereignty: “God, in His ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure” (WCF 5.3).

C. The Cruel Impact of Guaranteed Healing Theology

Part V: The Elimination of God’s Sovereignty

A. Dake’s Limitation of God’s Will

Perhaps most seriously, Dake’s theology effectively eliminates God’s sovereignty by making Him subject to human faith. He writes:

This teaching makes God reactive rather than sovereign, bound by human decisions rather than working all things according to His will. Dake continues:

B. The Biblical Doctrine of Divine Sovereignty

Orthodox Christianity has always affirmed God’s absolute sovereignty over all creation. The Westminster Confession states: “God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass” (WCF 3.1).

Scripture abundantly testifies to God’s sovereignty:
– “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3)
– “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2)
– “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19)
– “He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand” (Daniel 4:35)

The apostle Paul explicitly addresses the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human will: “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16).

Conservative theologian R.C. Sproul explained: “If God is not sovereign, then God is not God. If there is even one molecule in the universe running loose, outside of God’s control, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”

C. The Theological and Practical Consequences

When God’s sovereignty is eliminated, several devastating consequences follow:

1. God Becomes Unreliable: If God’s actions depend on human faith, He cannot guarantee anything. His promises become wishes rather than certainties.

2. Human Pride Increases: If outcomes depend on our faith rather than God’s will, successful people become proud of their “superior faith” while the suffering are despised.

3. Anxiety Replaces Peace: If everything depends on maintaining perfect faith and speaking right words, believers live in constant fear of failure rather than resting in God’s sovereign care.

4. The Gospel Changes: Salvation itself becomes uncertain if it depends on human faith-force rather than God’s sovereign grace.

Part VI: Dake’s Influence on the Word of Faith Movement

A. The Direct Connection

While Dake was not the sole originator of Word of Faith theology, his systematic presentation of these ideas provided intellectual scaffolding for the movement. His Annotated Reference Bible, with over one million copies sold, spread these teachings throughout Pentecostal and Charismatic churches.

Major Word of Faith teachers have acknowledged using Dake’s materials. His emphasis on believers’ authority, positive confession, and guaranteed prosperity became foundational to teachers like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn.

Dake’s influence is seen in common Word of Faith phrases:
– “Name it and claim it” (from Dake’s “whatsoever ye shall ask”)
– “What I confess, I possess” (from Dake’s emphasis on “he shall have whatsoever he saith”)
– “Faith is a force” (from Dake’s mechanistic view of faith)
– “You have what you say” (from Dake’s interpretation of Mark 11:23)

B. The Multiplication of Error

Word of Faith teachers took Dake’s errors and amplified them. Where Dake taught that faith could obtain anything, Kenneth Copeland taught that faith is the same force God used to create the universe. Where Dake emphasized positive confession, Charles Capps taught that words are “spiritual containers” that create reality.

The movement has produced increasingly extreme teachings:
– Believers are “little gods” who should exercise godlike authority
– Jesus had to be born again in hell after dying spiritually
– God cannot act in the earth without human permission
– Negative confession can literally create disease and poverty
– Christians should never say “If it be thy will” in prayer

C. The Global Impact

The Word of Faith movement, building on Dake’s foundation, has spread globally with devastating effects:

Part VII: Examining Specific Problematic Teachings

A. The Misuse of Scripture

Dake consistently takes verses out of context to support his theology. For example, he uses Mark 11:22-24 about mountain-moving faith to teach that believers can have literally anything they speak:

However, the context of Jesus’s teaching was about faith in God’s power to accomplish His purposes, not about believers commanding their desires into existence. Jesus was using hyperbolic language common in rabbinic teaching to emphasize the power of faith in God, not the power of faith itself.

Conservative scholar D.A. Carson explains: “The promise is not a blank check. It is not a promise that we can have anything we want if we just believe hard enough. It is a promise that when we are aligned with God’s will and purposes, trusting Him fully, He will act powerfully.”

B. The Redefinition of Biblical Terms

Dake redefines key biblical terms to fit his theology:

Faith: Instead of trust in God, Dake makes faith a force or power that humans wield. He writes repeatedly about “using faith” and “exercising faith” as if it were a tool rather than a relationship of trust.

Prayer: Rather than humble petition, prayer becomes commanding and decreeing. Dake transforms “ask and you shall receive” into “speak and you shall have.”

God’s Will: Instead of God’s sovereign purposes, Dake limits God’s will to what He has explicitly promised in Scripture, making God obligated to respond to human faith.

Blessing: Biblical blessing (spiritual favor with God) becomes material prosperity in Dake’s system.

C. The Creation of False Guilt

One of the most damaging aspects of Dake’s teaching is the false guilt it creates. He writes:

This harsh statement reveals the cruelty inherent in the system. The suffering believer is told their pain stems from insulting God and lacking faith. Rather than receiving comfort in affliction, they receive condemnation.

Consider the psychological damage to:
– Parents whose children die despite desperate prayers
– Faithful believers who remain poor despite tithing
– Chronically ill Christians who pray for healing for years
– Missionaries who suffer persecution despite claiming protection

Each is told their suffering results from their own faith failure, adding spiritual trauma to existing pain.

Part VIII: The Biblical Response to Suffering

A. The Reality of Suffering in a Fallen World

Unlike Dake’s prosperity theology, the Bible honestly acknowledges the reality of suffering in a fallen world. Jesus explicitly told His followers: “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). He didn’t say “you might have” or “if you lack faith you’ll have”—He said “you will have.”

The Bible presents numerous reasons for suffering that have nothing to do with lack of faith:
– The fallen condition of creation (Romans 8:20-22)
– The mystery of God’s providence (Job’s suffering)
– Identification with Christ (Philippians 3:10)
– Character development (Romans 5:3-5)
– God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11)
– A witness to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
– To prevent pride (2 Corinthians 12:7)

B. Biblical Examples of Faithful Sufferers

Scripture is filled with examples of deeply faithful people who suffered greatly:
– Job lost everything despite being “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1)
– Joseph spent years in slavery and prison despite his faithfulness (Genesis 37-50)
– David fled for his life for years despite being God’s anointed (1 Samuel 19-31)
– Jeremiah suffered persecution throughout his ministry (Jeremiah 38)
– John the Baptist was beheaded despite being the greatest born of women (Matthew 11:11, 14:10)
– Stephen was stoned despite being full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7)
– Paul suffered tremendously despite his extraordinary faith (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter, describes heroes of faith who “were tortured,” “suffered mocking and flogging,” “were stoned,” “were sawn in two,” and “were destitute, afflicted, mistreated” (Hebrews 11:35-38). These were not people lacking faith—they were champions of faith!

C. The True Christian Response to Suffering

Biblical Christianity offers genuine hope in suffering without denying its reality:

1. God’s Presence: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4)

2. God’s Purpose: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28)

3. God’s Grace: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

4. Future Glory: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18)

This biblical perspective offers real comfort without false promises, hope without denial of reality, and meaning without manufactured guilt.

Part IX: Pastoral Implications and Damage

A. The Corruption of Pastoral Care

Dake’s theology fundamentally corrupts pastoral ministry. Instead of comforting the afflicted, pastors influenced by his teaching afflict the comfortable and condemn the suffering. Consider how Dake’s teaching affects pastoral responses:

To the grieving parent: Instead of “God is near to the brokenhearted,” the message becomes “Your child died because you lacked faith.”

To the unemployed: Rather than practical help and encouragement, they hear “You’re poor because you haven’t claimed God’s prosperity.”

To the chronically ill: Instead of bearing one another’s burdens, the message is “You’re sick because of sin or unbelief.”

To the depressed: Rather than compassionate counseling, they’re told to “speak positive confessions” and deny their feelings.

B. The Transformation of Church Culture

Churches influenced by Dake’s theology develop toxic cultures:

C. The Distortion of Evangelism

Dake’s theology corrupts the gospel message itself. Instead of preaching Christ crucified for sinners, the message becomes “God wants you healthy and wealthy.” Instead of calling people to repent and believe, the invitation is to “claim your blessings.”

This produces false converts who come for benefits rather than forgiveness, who seek God’s gifts rather than God Himself. When the benefits don’t materialize, these false converts fall away, often bitter and disillusioned.

Missionary work is particularly damaged. Instead of going to serve and suffer for Christ, missionaries promise prosperity to the poor. When persecution comes—as Jesus promised it would—both missionaries and converts are unprepared.

Part X: Theological Analysis of Core Errors

A. The Deification of Man

At its core, Dake’s theology elevates man to a godlike status. By teaching that humans can command reality through words and faith, he essentially makes them junior creators. This echoes the original temptation: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

Dake writes about man’s dominion in ways that blur the Creator-creature distinction:

This teaching that man “helps God administer the universe” and that God “must of necessity limit Himself” to human free will effectively makes man a co-sovereign with God.

B. The Mechanization of Faith

Dake transforms faith from a relationship into a mechanism. Faith becomes a force like electricity or gravity that operates according to fixed laws. This mechanistic view removes the personal element from faith and makes God subject to spiritual “laws.”

In this system:
– Prayer becomes incantation (saying the right words)
– Faith becomes magic (using force to produce results)
– God becomes a divine vending machine (insert faith, receive blessing)
– Scripture becomes a spell book (formulas for getting desires)

This mechanization destroys the biblical understanding of a personal relationship with a sovereign God who acts according to His wisdom and love.

C. The Prosperity Hermeneutic

Dake reads Scripture through a lens that sees prosperity and success everywhere. He takes promises made to specific people in specific situations and universalizes them. He takes descriptions and makes them prescriptions. He takes metaphors and makes them literal.

Examples of this flawed hermeneutic:
– God’s promise to prosper Israel becomes a universal promise of wealth
– Jesus’s hyperbolic language about mountain-moving becomes literal
– Paul’s “I can do all things” becomes ability to accomplish anything
– “By His stripes we are healed” must mean physical healing now

This interpretive method ignores context, genre, and the progression of revelation, forcing Scripture to support predetermined conclusions.

Part XI: Historical and Theological Context

A. The American Context of Dake’s Teaching

Dake’s theology didn’t develop in a vacuum. It emerged from early 20th century American culture that emphasized:
– Individual achievement and self-reliance
– The American Dream of prosperity through effort
– Positive thinking movements (New Thought, Christian Science)
– Pragmatism (what works is true)
– Democratic ideals applied to theology (God must be fair to all equally)

These cultural influences shaped how Dake read Scripture, causing him to see American values in biblical texts. The rugged individualism of American culture became the faith-filled believer commanding blessings. The American Dream became God’s will for all believers.

B. The Departure from Historical Orthodoxy

Dake’s teaching represents a dramatic departure from 2,000 years of Christian orthodoxy. No major Christian tradition—Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant—has ever taught that:
– Faith is a force believers wield
– Christians can command reality through words
– Suffering always indicates lack of faith
– God is obligated to give whatever believers claim
– Prayer should never include “if it be thy will”

The great creeds, confessions, and theological traditions of Christianity uniformly affirm God’s sovereignty and human submission to His will. Dake’s theology would have been rejected as heretical by virtually any Christian community before the 20th century.

C. The Gnostic Elements

Dake’s theology contains elements reminiscent of ancient Gnosticism:
– Special knowledge (knowing how to use faith) brings power
– The material world can be controlled through spiritual techniques
– Suffering is unnecessary for the enlightened
– Higher spiritual laws transcend ordinary existence

Like ancient Gnostics, Dake’s followers believe they possess secret knowledge about how faith works that enables them to transcend normal human limitations. This creates a two-tier Christianity of the enlightened who prosper and the unenlightened who suffer.

Part XII: Responding to Common Defenses

A. “But It’s All Biblical!”

Defenders of Dake often claim his teaching is biblical because he quotes Scripture extensively. However, merely quoting Bible verses doesn’t make teaching biblical. Satan himself quoted Scripture when tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:6). The issue isn’t whether Scripture is quoted but whether it’s interpreted correctly.

Dake’s error isn’t in believing the Bible but in misinterpreting it. He:
– Takes verses out of context
– Ignores the full counsel of Scripture
– Applies promises selectively
– Redefines biblical terms
– Forces modern concepts onto ancient texts

True biblical teaching considers the whole of Scripture, interprets passages in context, and submits to the text rather than forcing it to support predetermined ideas.

B. “But People Are Blessed!”

Some point to testimonies of healing and prosperity as proof that Dake’s teaching works. Several responses are necessary:

1. God’s Grace Despite Error: God often blesses people despite theological errors. He answers prayer based on His mercy, not our perfect theology.

2. Selective Testimony: For every success story, there are countless failures that go unreported. The system seems to work only because failures are hidden or blamed on lack of faith.

3. Psychological Effects: Positive thinking and expectation can produce real psychological and even physical benefits without proving the theology true.

4. Demonic Deception: Scripture warns that false signs and wonders can deceive (Matthew 24:24). Not everything supernatural is from God.

5. Temporary vs. Eternal: Even if the teaching produced temporary benefits, the eternal damage to biblical faith far outweighs temporary gains.

C. “Judge Not!”

When Dake’s errors are exposed, defenders often claim we shouldn’t judge. However, Scripture commands believers to:
– “Test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
– “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1)
– “Watch out for those who cause divisions…contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught” (Romans 16:17)
– “Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)

Examining teaching isn’t judgmental; it’s obedient. The Bible requires us to evaluate doctrine and warn against error. Love for God’s truth and God’s people demands that we expose teaching that damages both.

Part XIII: The Path Forward

A. Recovering Biblical Faith

For those influenced by Dake’s teaching, recovery requires returning to biblical faith:

B. Pastoral Restoration

Churches and pastors must return to biblical pastoral care:

Comfort the Afflicted: Offer genuine compassion to those who suffer rather than condemning them for lack of faith.

Bear Burdens: Provide practical help to those in need rather than just telling them to claim prosperity.

Speak Truth: Teach the whole counsel of God, including the reality of suffering and the sovereignty of God.

Model Contentment: Demonstrate that godliness with contentment is great gain, not godliness with material gain.

Practice Presence: Be present with people in their suffering as God is present with us.

C. Theological Education

The church must improve theological education to prevent such errors:

Historical Awareness: Teach church history so believers recognize departures from orthodoxy.

Hermeneutical Training: Equip believers to interpret Scripture properly, understanding context and genre.

Systematic Theology: Provide comprehensive theological framework that prevents cherry-picking verses.

Critical Thinking: Develop ability to evaluate teaching against Scripture rather than accepting it uncritically.

Conclusion: The Stakes Could Not Be Higher

Finis Dake’s distortion of faith represents more than a minor theological disagreement. It strikes at the heart of the gospel, transforming Christianity from submission to God into manipulation of God. It replaces the theology of the cross with a theology of glory. It exchanges the worship of God for the pursuit of benefits.

The damage is not merely theoretical but intensely practical. Real people suffer real harm:
– Parents live with crushing false guilt over children’s deaths
– The sick are blamed for their suffering
– The poor are told their poverty stems from spiritual failure
– Believers abandon faith when the system fails
– Churches become centers of exploitation rather than grace
– The gospel itself is corrupted into a prosperity scheme

Most tragically, Dake’s teaching obscures the true God revealed in Scripture—the sovereign Lord who works all things according to His will, who is present with us in suffering, whose grace is sufficient in weakness, who loved us enough to send His Son to die for our sins.

The biblical faith that Dake distorts is far more beautiful than his substitute. True faith trusts God when we don’t understand, submits when we want to rebel, hopes when circumstances are dark, and loves when we receive what we didn’t request. This faith says with Job, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15), and with Jesus, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

True faith doesn’t seek to use God but to know Him. It doesn’t demand from God but delights in Him. It doesn’t command God but communes with Him. This is the faith once delivered to the saints, and this is the faith we must recover, protect, and pass on to future generations.

The church must reject Dake’s distortions and return to biblical Christianity that acknowledges both God’s sovereignty and human limitation, both divine blessing and human suffering, both answered prayer and divine wisdom in saying no. Only this biblical faith can sustain believers through all of life’s circumstances and bring true glory to God.

May God grant His church discernment to recognize error, courage to confront it, wisdom to teach truth, and grace to minister to those damaged by false teaching. May we hold fast to the faith once delivered to the saints, neither adding to it nor taking from it, until our Lord returns.

Bibliography and Sources

© 2025, DakeBible.org. All rights reserved.