Ernest Angley (1921–2021) was a well-known Word of Faith televangelist, preacher, and faith healer who led a ministry based in Akron, Ohio. He gained popularity through his television broadcasts, revival meetings, and his church, Grace Cathedral. Angley's teachings reflect core elements of the Word of Faith movement, which diverge significantly from confessional Christianity, especially Reformed theology, in areas such as faith, prosperity, healing, and the role of Scripture.
Key Beliefs and How They Differ from Confessional Christianity
1. Beliefs about Jesus:
- Ernest Angley's View: Angley affirmed the deity of Jesus and His role as Savior, but he also taught that Jesus’ death and resurrection provided not only spiritual salvation but also physical healing and financial prosperity for believers. In his sermons, Angley often emphasized the power of Jesus’ blood to bring health, wealth, and success to believers in the present life.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5), and that His death and resurrection provide the basis for spiritual salvation. While Jesus’ atonement certainly includes the promise of a future resurrection and healing, it does not guarantee physical health or wealth in this life. The Bible teaches that suffering, trials, and illness are part of the Christian experience (Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
2. The Atonement and Healing:
- Ernest Angley's View: A central tenet of Angley's ministry was the belief that physical healing is part of the atonement, meaning that because Jesus died for sins, believers have the right to claim physical healing in this life through faith. Angley conducted numerous healing services, where he claimed to perform miraculous healings in Jesus’ name. He encouraged people to “claim” their healing by exercising faith and rebuking sickness.
- Confessional Christianity: Reformed theology teaches that while the atonement of Christ brings ultimate healing and resurrection for believers in the future (Revelation 21:4), it does not guarantee physical healing in this present life. Christians are called to trust God’s sovereignty in suffering, and not all are healed in this life. The apostle Paul himself experienced illness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) and encouraged believers to seek medical help (1 Timothy 5:23), showing that physical healing is not always promised or immediate.
3. Prosperity Gospel:
- Ernest Angley's View: Angley was associated with the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God desires all believers to be financially prosperous and successful. He encouraged his followers to exercise faith by sowing “seed” offerings (financial donations) with the expectation that God would multiply their wealth in return.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity rejects the prosperity gospel as a distortion of biblical teaching. The Bible warns against the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) and teaches that Christian discipleship often involves sacrifice, suffering, and even poverty (Matthew 6:19-21; Philippians 4:11-13). Believers are called to be content with God’s provision and to seek spiritual riches over material wealth.
4. View of Faith and Confession:
- Ernest Angley's View: In line with Word of Faith theology, Angley emphasized the power of positive confession, teaching that believers can "speak" their desires into existence by declaring health, prosperity, and success in their lives. He believed that words have creative power and that faith is a force that can be harnessed to bring about desired outcomes.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that faith is not a force but a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9) that trusts in Christ for salvation. It rejects the idea that words have intrinsic power to create reality. Scripture emphasizes trusting in God’s will and sovereignty, rather than manipulating circumstances through human declarations (James 4:13-15).
5. View of Scripture:
- Ernest Angley's View: While Angley claimed to believe in the authority of Scripture, his teachings often took passages out of context to support Word of Faith doctrines. He frequently used isolated verses to build doctrines about healing, prosperity, and positive confession without considering the broader biblical context or the full counsel of God’s Word.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity upholds the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Scripture is to be interpreted in its historical, grammatical, and redemptive context, and its teachings are to be understood as a unified whole. It does not support the idea that the Bible is a manual for achieving wealth or physical healing.
Summary of Differences
Ernest Angley's theology aligns closely with the Word of Faith movement, emphasizing health, wealth, and the power of positive confession as part of the Christian life. This stands in stark contrast to confessional Christianity, which teaches that believers are called to a life of discipleship, often marked by suffering, trials, and reliance on God’s grace. Confessional Christianity focuses on the spiritual blessings found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and upholds the authority of Scripture as the ultimate guide for faith and life, rather than using it as a tool to claim material success or physical healing.