Andrew Wommack is a well-known televangelist, author, and founder of Andrew Wommack Ministries and Charis Bible College, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is widely recognized for his teachings on health, wealth, and prosperity, as well as his promotion of the "Word of Faith" movement. Despite his popularity and large following, Wommack’s teachings deviate significantly from biblical Christianity and promote dangerous errors that are inconsistent with Scripture. For these reasons, Andrew Wommack is a false teacher who should be avoided.
1. The False Prosperity Gospel and Word of Faith Theology
One of the most glaring issues with Andrew Wommack’s teaching is his promotion of the prosperity gospel and Word of Faith theology. Wommack teaches that God’s will for every believer is to be healthy, wealthy, and successful, and that faith is a tool believers can use to "speak" their desires into existence. He often emphasizes that Christians can control their health, finances, and circumstances by using faith-filled words and declarations.
This teaching is fundamentally contrary to the message of the Bible. Scripture teaches that following Christ often involves suffering, trials, and hardship (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12). The apostle Paul, one of the greatest examples of faith, faced numerous hardships, including imprisonment, beatings, and poverty (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Nowhere does Scripture teach that Christians are guaranteed health and wealth in this life; instead, believers are called to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24).
The Bible also clearly warns against viewing godliness as a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5-10). The prosperity gospel is a distortion of the true gospel because it shifts the focus from Christ’s redemptive work to material blessings and self-centered desires. Wommack’s teaching encourages believers to pursue wealth and success rather than to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
2. A Distorted View of Faith and God’s Sovereignty
Wommack’s Word of Faith theology promotes the idea that believers have the power to create reality through the words they speak, essentially placing human beings in a position of authority over their circumstances, even suggesting that they can command God to act on their behalf. This teaching elevates human will and minimizes God’s sovereignty, implying that God is bound to respond to the declarations and faith of individuals.
The Bible, however, teaches that God is sovereign over all creation and that His will is not subject to human manipulation or control (Isaiah 46:9-10; Daniel 4:35). God’s purposes are established, and He acts according to His perfect wisdom and plan. True faith is not about declaring or commanding things into existence but about trusting in God’s promises, submitting to His will, and believing that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Furthermore, faith is not a force that we wield to get what we want; it is a humble trust in God’s character and promises, regardless of our circumstances. Hebrews 11 provides numerous examples of faithful believers who suffered greatly and did not receive what was promised in this life, yet they trusted in God’s ultimate plan. By teaching that faith is a tool to get what we want, Wommack distorts the true meaning of faith and misleads believers into a self-centered, transactional view of God.
3. Unbiblical Views on Healing and the Atonement
Andrew Wommack is known for teaching that physical healing is guaranteed in the atonement and that it is always God’s will for believers to be healed. According to Wommack, if a Christian is not healed, it is due to a lack of faith or failure to properly claim the promises of God. This teaching places an enormous burden on believers and leads to feelings of guilt, shame, or inadequacy when they are not healed, suggesting that their suffering is due to insufficient faith.
However, while the Bible teaches that God is a healer and that He sometimes heals in response to prayer, it does not guarantee that all believers will experience physical healing in this life. The apostle Paul prayed three times for relief from his "thorn in the flesh," but God responded, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Even faithful servants of God like Timothy suffered from ailments (1 Timothy 5:23), and Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20), demonstrating that not all believers will be healed in this life.
Wommack's teaching that healing is guaranteed undermines the biblical understanding that God can use suffering for His glory, to refine our faith, and to draw us closer to Him. It promotes a false view of God that suggests He is obligated to heal us if we have enough faith, rather than trusting in God’s wisdom and sovereignty to work out His purposes in our lives.
4. A False Gospel and Misleading Promises
At the heart of Andrew Wommack’s teaching is a false gospel that emphasizes health, wealth, and personal empowerment rather than the saving work of Christ on the cross. By promising blessings, healing, and prosperity to those who have enough faith, Wommack’s message leads people to focus on temporal, earthly benefits rather than the eternal hope and joy found in Christ. This is in direct contradiction to the true gospel, which calls sinners to repent, believe in Jesus, and find their ultimate satisfaction in Him.
Paul warned against those who would preach "a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6-9) and instructed believers to reject any teaching that deviates from the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Wommack’s message is dangerous because it shifts the focus from Christ to self, from God’s sovereignty to human effort, and from eternal hope to temporary gain.
Conclusion: Why Andrew Wommack Should Be Avoided
Andrew Wommack is a false teacher because his teachings distort the gospel, elevate human will over God’s sovereignty, and lead people into a self-centered, works-based, and materialistic view of Christianity. The Bible warns us to "watch out for false prophets" (Matthew 7:15) and to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Wommack’s prosperity gospel, Word of Faith theology, and false promises about health and wealth are contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture and lead people away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul urged believers to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to reject teachings that are inconsistent with the truth of God’s Word. Andrew Wommack’s message is not grounded in the authority of Scripture but in a distorted view of faith, prosperity, and human power. As followers of Christ, we are called to build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s Word, not on the shifting sands of false teachings and empty promises.
For these reasons, believers should avoid Andrew Wommack’s teachings and instead seek the true gospel, which offers the riches of God’s grace, the hope of eternal life, and the assurance of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Only by clinging to the unchanging truth of Scripture can we experience the fullness of joy and peace that comes from knowing and trusting in the one true God who has redeemed us through His Son.
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