"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you."
(2 Peter 2:2-3)
Jonathan Miller with Benny Hinn on his "This Is Your Day" in 2016.
INTRODUCTION
Following on from 'Revive 2018' with Bishop Ceirion Dewar, the subject of my last article (http://watchman4wales.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/richard-taylor-and-bishop-ceirion-dewar.html), Richard Taylor's next trumpeted event at his New Beginnings Church in Merthyr Tydfil is the arrival of Jonathan and Cristina Miller for "a special weekend of services," March 17-18. These are the founders and Lead Pastors of New Beginnings Healing Center in Orlando, Florida, who Mr. Taylor has jubilantly joined forces with.
Who a man's best mates and mentors are, those who he is well-pleased to partner with and share a platform with, sheds much light on where that man is at. The very first article that appeared on this site back in May 2013 highlighted concerns that Richard Taylor's mentor at the time of the so-called "Welsh Outpouring" was the heretical Tommy Tenney, who teaches that God has moved on from the Bible and we have to chase after where He is now! (Obviously Cwmbran at that moment in time!) But let's fast forward to the present, and cast a careful eye on who the counterfeit revivalist Richard Taylor's best buddy is now. It is very relevant and revealing, as we shall see, to check out the ambitious guy who somehow saw fit to appoint a man disqualified from the pulpit as the European Director of "the NBC family" - a burgeoning network to which we should most carefully note that Mr. Miller "gives apostolic oversight," in more than a hint of a New Apostolic Reformation structure of governance.
JONATHAN MILLER, BENNY HINN AND THE "SEED-FAITH" DECEPTION
"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
(Galatians 5:9)
Sadly, Jonathan Miller has been weighed and found wanting. Like all false teachers, Mr. Miller says much that is true. But like all false teachers, he laces that which is true with that which is not. Which makes him a dangerous deceiver, a shaker and server of a deadly spiritual cocktail. It only takes a drop of cyanide to poison the whole glass, just a pinch of leaven to work its way right through the batch. Once introduced, the whole is unavoidably and irrevocably affected. God hates the mixing of truth with untruth, which is what we are confronted with absolutely everywhere in the Church today, and the "Word of Faith" (or simply "Word-Faith") movement - with which Jonathan Miller is aligned and whose aberrant theology he regurgitates - is a classic case of such a fleshly fusion.
We will here examine some of Miller's deeply erroneous teachings, starting our investigation with perhaps the most glaring pointer to his "Word of Faith/Prosperity gospel" proclivities and dearth of discernment: his long and deep friendship with and endorsement and promotion of Benny Hinn, one of the worst of the worst of the host of charlatans masquerading as ministers of the Lord in the world today. I do not propose to go into detail here about Benny Hinn's utter falseness, for this has been extremely well documented in a multitude of places on the internet, and the overwhelming evidence is easily accessed at the click of a mouse. (You can find a catalogue of well over a hundred such articles here: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/bhinn.html)
Rather, I want to highlight Miller's significant accord with Hinn, which it would be a massive mistake to turn a blind eye to. As Holy Writ with all the unanswerable divine wisdom of its Author asks:
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
(Amos 3:3)
Miller walks with Hinn, who is welcomed at his church. His awe of and entanglement with Hinn goes back a good many years. They are agreed, and this harmony in itself decisively demonstrates that he is an equally renegade representative of the Faith. Miller, guesting in 2016 on Hinn's 'This Is Your Day' TV programme, revealed conclusively his belief not only in Hinn's "ministry" but in the grotesque "seed-faith" give-to-get scam dreamed up by that notorious money-raker and fake, Oral Roberts, urging gullible viewers to pour their dollars into Hinn's already very considerable coffers. I will transcribe here some of that very enlightening broadcast entitled 'Miracles of Multiplication!' (which in itself gives a good idea of what is afoot!); anyone who so wishes can watch the whole unseemly half-hour episode here:
(Also: https://vimeo.com/184034374)
This is the sycophantic and deluded Miller, urging the viewers to follow his example and "plant a seed" (i.e. deposit a significant sum of money) into Hinn's "fertile soil" for a guaranteed tenfold increase:
"Many people will be watching today that are facing a specific need of fifty thousand dollars... My challenge to you is do you have the tithe, ten per cent of that amount? Will you step out in faith today... and give God [actually Benny Hinn] a tithe of five thousand dollars seed?... The anointing is here... and I declare to you in not many days from now it's going to come back to you, the full amount... but... you've got to give Him [actually Hinn] something to work with and you've got to give Him [Hinn] something to move on. I know there's many of you watching today facing a ten thousand dollar need, some of you are facing a five thousand dollar need. And I want to take a moment to tell you that I have tested and proven the soil of this ministry. This is fertile soil. Good ground. Good soil. There are some grounds that yield a little bit of increase and there are some that yield multiplied increase, and this field of this ministry is a field that I've proven time and time again. I have never sown a seed into this ministry and not seen God return it back to me, even more than what I could expect... There's something about this ministry, and it is because of what you [addressing Hinn] preach."
We only need to apply some basic common sense to determine the utter fallacy of this premise. If it was for real, let's say someone did exactly as Miller urges and indeed got a $50,000 return for his $5,000 stake. He could then invest that $50,000 in Hinn's "fertile soil" and get a whopping half a million dollars back, as God doesn't fail to deliver, does He? Then, with only a third seeding, he'd reap no less than five million. Five million then yields fifty million, fifty million spawns five hundred million, and just one more investment in the bank (sorry, ministry) of Benny Hinn, and you're a billionaire five times over!!!
Truth of the matter? This "seeding" is effectively spinning a spiritual roulette wheel, and infinitely more likely to get you much further into monetary trouble rather than out of it. The only guys it ever works for, the only high-fliers with the fancy mansions and the flashy cars parked up front are those who teach this lie of how to use God for gain; everyone who heeds their call to greed will almost certainly continue to park their average car outside the church, and drive it back home to their average house containing average possessions. And what is wrong with average things? Aren't we supposed to build up our treasures in Heaven, not here on Earth?
WE ARE PROMISED PROSPERITY ONLY IN HIS GRACE, NOT IN OUR PURSE!
God is no man's debtor, and sowing a Biblical seed has nothing whatsoever to do with money; it is the sharing of the blessed hope of salvation unto eternal life through belief in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God forbid that we re-define it as anything else. If we, like Miller, dare to do so, it has to be asked, "What master are we serving?" As the Word avers:
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
(Matthew 6:24)
GIVING AS TAUGHT BY THE BIBLE EXPECTS NOTHING IN RETURN. GIVING AS TAUGHT BY JONATHAN MILLER AND HIS MERCENARY ILK ON THE OTHER HAND EXPECTS A MULTIPLICATION OF ONE'S MONEY IN RETURN, AND IS AN UTTER ABOMINATION. HAVE THESE PEOPLE NEVER READ, "THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD?" (Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12)
Hinn's 'This Is Your Day' broadcasts every weekday on TBN, the biggest mouthpiece for "Word of Faith/Prosperity gospel" heresy on the planet. Unsurprisingly, we find that his bosom buddy Miller also airs on TBN, not only guesting on the main USA channel's programmes but also having his very own 'New Beginnings' slot on TBN Salsa, their English language Hispanic network launched in 2015. Miller's increasing exposure on the Total Blasphemy Network demonstrates that he is a man well trusted by them to deliver their false gospel of "name-it-and-claim-it" health and wealth.
With this firmly in mind, let's now look at a couple of recent (2017) articles written by Mr. Miller, containing teachings that clearly underscore his alignment with the heretical, even blasphemous "Word of Faith" brand of alternative "Christianity."
JONATHAN MILLER AND "POSITIVE/NEGATIVE CONFESSION"
Here is Miller teaching the doctrine of demons commonly known as Positive/Negative Confession:
"Have you ever considered your words to be a powerful force? When I think of a powerful force, I envision that nothing is able to stand in its way. Did you know that God has given us that kind of a powerful force and He's put it in our mouths in the form of words? We can either use those words to release God's will and purpose upon this earth; or, we can use them to bring destruction upon our own lives."
('Your Words Are A Powerful Force' - Jonathan Miller, October 3, 2017)
Friends, this is heresy. Rank heresy. The idea that words in themselves are a force having the power to alter reality has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity, and everything to do with an occultic mindset. Jonathan Miller is here teaching witchcraft! Period. And in making his apostate argument, he breathtakingly twists a Scripture to attribute a power to mere mortals that the Almighty alone possesses:
"Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." The word of the Lord comes to earth and is established ONLY when the redeemed of the Lord "say so!"
In other words, we need to say a thing."
So that there's no misunderstanding of this divine ability that he attributes to us, Miller goes on to assert:
"Life and death are in the power of our tongues. It is up to us to speak "life" in every situation. When we do, Isaiah 55:11 reminds us that the word which goes forth out of our mouths will not return void. It will accomplish what He pleases. It will prosper where it is sent."
No, Mr. Miller, it's not WE who speak to accomplish what the Lord pleases. It's not WE who send words which will not return void. It's God Himself! You re-write His holy Word to teach a lie! He has no need whatsoever of any mere man to "release" His will and purpose. How dare you to declare that the word of the Lord is only established when we humans say so? He is Sovereign Lord of all creation! The word comes out of HIS mouth, not ours! You attempt to make us equal to the Most High, and isn't that the selfsame desire that led to Satan's fall? (Ref. Isaiah 14:12-14). Can you not see, Mr. Miller, the most terrible seriousness of your crass, indeed blasphemous claim?
JONATHAN MILLER AND "SPEAKING HEALING"
"You may be sick, but don't stop speaking you are healed!"
(Jonathan Miller, 'Never Stop Speaking' - 29/5/17)
This is the extremely foolish, indeed downright dangerous kind of "denial" teaching from the pulpit that causes diabetics to stop taking their insulin, asthmatics to throw away their inhalers, cancer sufferers to cease their radio- and chemo-therapy and people not to phone for an ambulance when they've had a stroke or are having a coronary. This is the kind of "Positive Confession" folly that results not in healing but in continued and worsening health problems that can even lead to the death of individuals who fall victim to this dreadful deception.
As we noted above, to Mr. Miller words are a force. "Remember," he says, "nothing can stand in the way of a powerful force. Just speak the Word!" "Stop worrying about all the obstacles that seemingly stand in the way of God's promises!" he declares. (Ref. 'Your Words Are A Powerful Force.') Thing is, He never promised us physical healing this side of eternity; He promised us only spiritual healing upon our acceptance of His Son as Lord and Saviour. In this life the believer is subject to exactly the same health issues as everybody else. Our spirit may be redeemed, but it still inhabits a body of fallen flesh and blood and no amount of speaking that we are healed when we are sick is going to change things one iota.
"Word of Faith" adherents preach that physical healing is our right. It is not. Did the Lord remove Paul's thorn? Nope. It actually had a purpose in His plan for the Apostle's life and ministry. Did Paul tell Trophimus to speak his healing and accompany him? Nope. He left him at Miletum, still sick and unable to travel. (2 Timothy 4:20). In Timothy's frequent infirmities, did Paul advise him to use words to effect healing? Nope. He told him to take a little wine for his stomach's sake. (1 Timothy 5:23). Our words cannot change the reality of any given situation, for we do not have the ability that only the Lord God of creation possesses. We cannot by-pass God, making ourselves "little gods" with god-like powers. To attempt to do so is rebellion to His Sovereignty over all things. And rebellion is as witchcraft, wherein, as we have noted, lies this Bible-defying belief in words as a force.
Jonathan Miller is set on putting the word spoken out of our own mouths on a par with the Word of God Himself. Consider this quote by one Nuno Pedro, the "Prosperity Gospel" pastor of Charisma, a megachurch in Paris, France:
"He [God] instructs us to put His Word in our heart and in our mouth, so that by proclaiming it with faith, we can produce the same results as He!
Same results as God, nothing less!"
('31 Days To Create Your World' - Nuno Pedro, 2005)
These guys are all on the same warped wavelength. No surprise then to find that Jonathan Miller has guested at Charisma, as indeed have many others of his ilk like Tommy Tenney (what a coincidence!), Creflo Dollar, T.D.Jakes, Casey Treat, Morris Cerullo, Kim Clement, Juanita Bynum, Mike Murdoch, Jesse Duplantis, Myles Munroe, Steve Munsey... even Wales' own WoF frontman - Ray Bevan! If you can stomach it, here is a video of Jonathan Miller performing (I use that word very deliberately) at Charisma, whipping the crowd up into a frenzy with a totally manic, screaming exhibition of unashamed circus showmanship:
CONCLUSION
All these folks speak (or scream!) about Jesus and the Gospel. Question is, What Jesus? What Gospel? Jonathan Miller avers that, "The only thing we really have to worry about is our mouths speaking the wrong things." (Ref. 'Never Stop Speaking.') Wrong, Mr Miller. The thing we should be absolutely concerning ourselves about is not "speaking the wrong things," but whether we and those teachers we might be heeding have the bona fide Jesus and the bona fide Gospel! Is the faith that we and they are proclaiming the unerring, uncompromising Faith that was once and for all time delivered? (Jude v.3). Or is it a faith subtly re-defined and re-delivered to itching ears?
FRIENDS, TAKE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT FACE VALUE. TEST EVERYTHING THAT ANY PREACHER UTTERS AGAINST THE WATERTIGHT WORD OF GOD. REMEMBER ALWAYS:
"There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies."
(2 Peter 2:1)
See also:
