One of the originators of the “Prosperity Gospel”(A.K.A., Gospel of Greed, Name-it and Claim-it) and psuedo prophet behind the Brownesville Revival and Bethany’s Theology is Paul Yonggi Cho(formerly David).
According to the Encyclopedia of Evangelism (Randall Balmer, 2004, Baylor University Press, Brownesville Revival,Pg.107):
“The Brownesville Revival can also lay claim to prophecy. Paul Yonggi Cho claimed that in course of praying for revival in America God prompted him to look at a map of the United States. His finger went to Pensacola, which is known as the ‘gay Rivera’ because of its general toleration of homosexuals. “I sensed the Lord say, I am going to send revival to the seaside city of Penscola, and it will spread like fire until all of America has been consumed by it”, Cho wrote in the foreword to Kilpatrick’s book, Feast of Fire.
An investigative report by the Pensacola News-Journal that same year(1997), however, revealed that some “converts” had been coached and that Hill (Steve Hill), one of the Pastors had significantly exaggerated his pre-conversion life in order to increase the “impact” of his autobiography, STONE COLD HEART.
As we see, Paul/David Cho, claims to have “sensed” the voice of The Almighty to start to lead the way for massive revival in Pensacola, Florida. However, any small amount of research will show that the Revival not only came to nothing but was actually plagued with lies. Steve Hill claimed Congressman were attending and repenting and police officers were bringing inmates for conversion. All exposed by the investigative reporting from the Pensacola News-Journal as “exaggerated”. It should be noted that the Penscola News-Journal at first published favourable reports about the Brownesville Revival(A.K.A. Pensacola Outpouring) until they attempted to publish another favourable report only to be disappointed!!
Pastor Larry Stockstill/Bethany’s Prosperity Theology can also be traced to David/Paul Yonggi Cho. It should be noted that Larry Stockstill does inform the reader that his book, THE LAW$ OF INCREA$E, is “not another name-it and claim-it” modus operandi. This is half true, His theology is actually built upon the name-it and claim-it doctrine. A concise version of Larry’s eisegesis and doctrine can be viewed in his 20/20 scam. Pastor Larry also proudly informs that he serves on Propeht Cho’s board in Seoul, Korea. As noted(The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, Stanley M. Burgess, Editor and Eduard M. Van Der Mass, Pg.521-522):
“Pastor Cho’s success formula is a combination of positive thinking and positive confession: “Think It, See It, Name It, Speak It in boldness(Kennedy,202)”. He teaches that through the power of the spoken word the Spirit-led believer can “create and release teh presence of Jesus Christ(Cho,81). He emphasizes being specific prayer:
One must visualize and specificy exactly what is needed, but is not an instant cure-all. Answers to prayers may take weeks or months”
It’s no coincedence that Larry Stockstill and his family followed Cho’s advice and NAMED AND CLAIMED Amy Stockstill’s healing (See articl Claiming The Victory Precosously) which failed miserably!! This should be proof enough for Larry Stockstill to abandon Cho’s false doctrine. If there is one thing these Name-it and Claim-it televangelist should be admired for, it’s their ability to sneak in disclaimers. They wil will spend 99.9% of their time teaching you to “give over and beyond”, name-it and claim-it, blab-it and grab-it, dress like success, etc.” and yet when the naive get in a bind over this false doctrine, the disclaimer is pointed out:
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You obviously don’t have enough faith
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Put more money down on that blessing
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Don’t let the devil steal your blessing
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You’re time is coming(usually preached at the beginning of every year)
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You’re going through a season
All of this while they’re on vacation doing “Missionary work”, yeah…right, LOL!
What is interesting is another doctrine usually found in the trick bag of these Televangelists. Again, they spend the majority of their time preaching prosperity, in particular money, and the only warning you get “…but is not an INSTANT cure-all”. Please note what the profit (pun intended) Cho is saying. He did not say, “Money isn’t a cure-all” he claims money isn’t an “INSTANT” cure-all. He obviously disagrees with the Apostle Paul that money is the root of all sorts of evil! Cho backs up his money is not an “instant” cure-all with the exhortation, “Answers to prayers may take week or months”.
The Holy Scriptures never teach us that money is a cure-all, whether instantly or not. Furthermore, when the disciples asked Christ to teach them to pray He specifically warned them afterwards(Mt.6):
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.
This whole chapter is an excellent recording on the specifi context of Christ’s teaching on prayer and wanting treasures. Christ warns His disciples that is what the “Hypocrites” and “Pagans” do(Mt.6:7). They go on and on and on, using their many words thinking they’ll be heard. This brings us to Profit Cho’s next teaching which contradicts Christ’s.
“He recommends that ministers in his church spend three hours daily in prayer(The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, Stanley M. Burgess Editor & Eduard M. Van Der Mass, Pg.521-522)
The (K)ing (J)ames (V)ersion rendered the original greek word Battalogeo as “repitition”. Yet the academic dictionaries inform us it means to “babble, use many words(Kittel’s TDNT)”. So “repittion” should be understood as repeating words(many words) and not repeating a formula or repeating the same word over and over or the Dictioary of Biblical Semantics:
33.88 βατταλογέωa: to speak much or extensively, with a possible added implication of meaningless words—‘to use many words, to speak for a long time.’
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