Doreen Virtue | 5 Top Reasons to Avoid Steven Furtick and Elevation @Doreen_Virtue | Uploaded September 2024 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
Steven Furtick, founder of Elevation Church, has gained a significant following with his dynamic "preaching" and engaging "worship" services. However, his teachings have sparked considerable concern among many within the Christian community, particularly regarding several doctrinal issues. Here are five key areas where his teachings diverge from Biblical doctrine, supported by credible sources from Kyle Peart and Flynn Huseby of once-lost.com and youtube.com/@Once-lost
1. Elevation of Man Over God
One of the most alarming aspects of Furtick’s teachings is his tendency to elevate man’s role in the story of Scripture over God’s sovereignty. In many of his sermons, Furtick emphasizes human potential and self-empowerment to a degree that borders on humanism. For instance, in his sermon titled "It's Always Been in You," Furtick suggests that believers possess intrinsic power within themselves to overcome obstacles, which undermines the biblical teaching that we are dependent on God's grace and power alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This anthropocentric focus can lead believers away from the fundamental Christian doctrine that God is the central figure in all of Scripture.
Support: Dr. Michael Horton, a theologian, has critiqued this approach, stating that such teachings reflect a “therapeutic gospel” where God exists to boost our self-esteem rather than to be worshiped as Lord and Savior .
2. The "Little god" Theology
Furtick has been criticized for espousing a version of the “little god” theology, which suggests that believers are, in some sense, little gods. This idea was famously promoted by the Word of Faith movement and is a significant deviation from orthodox Christian belief. In a sermon, Furtick stated, “God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.' You are not my maker, but you are my mirror,” implying that we reflect God in such a way that nearly deifies humanity. This teaching is problematic as it distorts the biblical understanding of the imago Dei (the image of God), which signifies that humans are created in God’s image but are not divine themselves (Genesis 1:27).
Support: Apologist Chris Rosebrough has analyzed Furtick's sermons and noted the disturbing implications of these statements, drawing parallels to the heretical teachings of the Word of Faith movement .
3. Misinterpretation of Scripture
Furtick has been known to take liberties with Scripture, often using eisegesis—reading his own ideas into the text—rather than exegesis, which is drawing out the text’s original meaning. For example, in his interpretation of the story of David and Goliath, Furtick focuses on how believers can be like David and defeat their personal giants. While this is a common interpretation, it misses the larger Christological significance of the narrative, which foreshadows Christ as the ultimate victor over sin and death. This kind of teaching shifts the focus from Christ to the individual believer, which can lead to a self-centered rather than Christ-centered faith.
Support: Pastor and theologian John MacArthur has frequently pointed out the dangers of such misinterpretations, emphasizing that proper hermeneutics should always focus on Christ as the center of all Scripture .
4. Lack of Emphasis on Repentance and the Gospel
In many of Furtick’s sermons, there is a noticeable lack of emphasis on repentance and the core message of the Gospel—salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Instead, Furtick often preaches a message that centers on personal breakthrough and success. While it’s not wrong to encourage people, the Gospel message is fundamentally about recognizing our sin, repenting, and turning to Christ in faith (Mark 1:15). Without this foundation, the message becomes more about self-help than the transformative power of the Gospel.
Support: Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. has warned against such “prosperity” teachings that obscure the true Gospel and fail to call people to genuine repentance and faith in Christ .
5. Association with the Prosperity Gospel Furtick’s teachings often align with the Prosperity Gospel, which claims that God rewards faith and positive declarations with health, wealth, and success. This doctrine is widely regarded as heretical because it contradicts the teachings of Christ, who calls His followers to take up their cross, deny themselves, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Furtick’s frequent emphasis on achieving personal success and victory can easily lead to a Prosperity Gospel mindset, where the focus shifts from eternal, spiritual truths to temporary, material gains.
Support: Scholar and author Dr. David W. Jones has thoroughly documented the dangers of the Prosperity Gospel in his book *"Health, Wealth & Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ?"* He argues that this teaching leads believers away from true discipleship and distorts the nature of God’s blessings .
Steven Furtick, founder of Elevation Church, has gained a significant following with his dynamic "preaching" and engaging "worship" services. However, his teachings have sparked considerable concern among many within the Christian community, particularly regarding several doctrinal issues. Here are five key areas where his teachings diverge from Biblical doctrine, supported by credible sources from Kyle Peart and Flynn Huseby of once-lost.com and youtube.com/@Once-lost
1. Elevation of Man Over God
One of the most alarming aspects of Furtick’s teachings is his tendency to elevate man’s role in the story of Scripture over God’s sovereignty. In many of his sermons, Furtick emphasizes human potential and self-empowerment to a degree that borders on humanism. For instance, in his sermon titled "It's Always Been in You," Furtick suggests that believers possess intrinsic power within themselves to overcome obstacles, which undermines the biblical teaching that we are dependent on God's grace and power alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This anthropocentric focus can lead believers away from the fundamental Christian doctrine that God is the central figure in all of Scripture.
Support: Dr. Michael Horton, a theologian, has critiqued this approach, stating that such teachings reflect a “therapeutic gospel” where God exists to boost our self-esteem rather than to be worshiped as Lord and Savior .
2. The "Little god" Theology
Furtick has been criticized for espousing a version of the “little god” theology, which suggests that believers are, in some sense, little gods. This idea was famously promoted by the Word of Faith movement and is a significant deviation from orthodox Christian belief. In a sermon, Furtick stated, “God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.' You are not my maker, but you are my mirror,” implying that we reflect God in such a way that nearly deifies humanity. This teaching is problematic as it distorts the biblical understanding of the imago Dei (the image of God), which signifies that humans are created in God’s image but are not divine themselves (Genesis 1:27).
Support: Apologist Chris Rosebrough has analyzed Furtick's sermons and noted the disturbing implications of these statements, drawing parallels to the heretical teachings of the Word of Faith movement .
3. Misinterpretation of Scripture
Furtick has been known to take liberties with Scripture, often using eisegesis—reading his own ideas into the text—rather than exegesis, which is drawing out the text’s original meaning. For example, in his interpretation of the story of David and Goliath, Furtick focuses on how believers can be like David and defeat their personal giants. While this is a common interpretation, it misses the larger Christological significance of the narrative, which foreshadows Christ as the ultimate victor over sin and death. This kind of teaching shifts the focus from Christ to the individual believer, which can lead to a self-centered rather than Christ-centered faith.
Support: Pastor and theologian John MacArthur has frequently pointed out the dangers of such misinterpretations, emphasizing that proper hermeneutics should always focus on Christ as the center of all Scripture .
4. Lack of Emphasis on Repentance and the Gospel
In many of Furtick’s sermons, there is a noticeable lack of emphasis on repentance and the core message of the Gospel—salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Instead, Furtick often preaches a message that centers on personal breakthrough and success. While it’s not wrong to encourage people, the Gospel message is fundamentally about recognizing our sin, repenting, and turning to Christ in faith (Mark 1:15). Without this foundation, the message becomes more about self-help than the transformative power of the Gospel.
Support: Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. has warned against such “prosperity” teachings that obscure the true Gospel and fail to call people to genuine repentance and faith in Christ .
5. Association with the Prosperity Gospel Furtick’s teachings often align with the Prosperity Gospel, which claims that God rewards faith and positive declarations with health, wealth, and success. This doctrine is widely regarded as heretical because it contradicts the teachings of Christ, who calls His followers to take up their cross, deny themselves, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Furtick’s frequent emphasis on achieving personal success and victory can easily lead to a Prosperity Gospel mindset, where the focus shifts from eternal, spiritual truths to temporary, material gains.
Support: Scholar and author Dr. David W. Jones has thoroughly documented the dangers of the Prosperity Gospel in his book *"Health, Wealth & Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ?"* He argues that this teaching leads believers away from true discipleship and distorts the nature of God’s blessings .
