The REFLEKS-series Our intention with this series is to publish scholarly books on Pentecostalism and neo-Pentecostalism, including their predecessors, i.e. the Holiness Movement and similar traditions. 1. E.W. Kenyon: Sektstifter eller kristen leder- skikkelse? En historisk undersøkelse av Kenyons teologi med særlig henblikk på dens historiske røtter og innflytelsen på samtid og ettertid. Geir Lie. 2003. 2. E.W. Kenyon: Cult Founder or Evangelical Minister? An historical analysis of Kenyon’s theology with particular emphasis on roots and influences. Geir Lie. 2003. 3. God’s showman: A Historical Study of John Graham Lake and South African/American Pen- tecostalism. Kemp Pendleton Burpeau. 2004. 1 1 The REFLEKS journal Refleks is a scholarly journal which has contributions from Scandinavian and English speaking authors. Previous publications: The Ministry of the Apostle Special thematic issue 2002 Faith Healing Special thematic issue 2002 The Holiness Movement and Women in Ministry Double special issue 2003 2 2 3 3 E.W. Kenyon: Cult Founder or Evangelical Minister? An historical analysis of Kenyon’s theology with particular emphasis on roots and influences Geir Lie The Refleks-series, no. 2 Refleks Publishing Oslo 2003 4 4 The REFLEKS-series Published in Norway by Refleks Publishing Ravnkroken 60G 1254 Oslo Refleks Publishing 2003 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior per- mission of the publisher. Book design and composition: www.flikkeid.no Printed in India. ISBN 82-996599-1-4 5 5 E.W. Kenyon: Cult Founder or Evangelical Minister? CONTENT E.W. KENYON’S LIFE AND MINISTRY........................................................13 CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE .......................................................................15 MINISTRY ON THE EAST COAST.........................................................................18 MINISTRY ON THE WEST COAST ........................................................................28 MINISTRY POSTHUMOUSLY ...............................................................................32 THE MESSAGE.................................................................................................36 GOD.................................................................................................................36 SATAN .............................................................................................................37 MAN ................................................................................................................37 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL ...........................................................................38 THE BLOOD COVENANT ....................................................................................40 THE INCARNATION............................................................................................41 THE ROLE OF JESUS VIS-À-VIS THE OLD COVENANT ...........................................42 JESUS’ SUBSTITUTION .......................................................................................43 MAN’S REDEMPTION .........................................................................................44 THE NEW CREATION..........................................................................................45 SANCTIFICATION ..............................................................................................45 AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER ...........................................................................46 THE WORD.......................................................................................................46 THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF OUR REDEMPTIVE BLESSINGS...........................47 HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL ROOTS...............................................49 UNITARIANISM AND UNIVERSALISM ..................................................................51 TRANSCENDENTALISM ......................................................................................55 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND NEW THOUGHT ..........................................................56 Christian Science.........................................................................................57 New Thought ...............................................................................................61 FAITH-CURE MOVEMENT ...................................................................................66 Emerson College--exclusively cultic? ...........................................................69 Faith-cure or mind-cure: A brief comparison ..............................................71 Historical Roots: Faith-cure or mind-cure?.................................................74 Kenyon’s dispensationalism.................................................................................78 6 6 Christian mysticism?............................................................................................78 Theological roots: Faith-cure or mind-cure?...............................................79 Epistemology.......................................................................................................80 Dualism? ........................................................................................................80 Sensory denial?...............................................................................................82 Perfect knowledge of God?..............................................................................85 Classes of Christians?......................................................................................86 Anthropology ......................................................................................................86 Jesus dying spiritually? ........................................................................................90 Faith....................................................................................................................95 A formula?......................................................................................................95 A spiritual law?...............................................................................................96 The God kind of faith? ....................................................................................99 The object of faith.........................................................................................101 Sickness and healing..........................................................................................104 FREE WILL BAPTISTS ......................................................................................108 THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST..................................110 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................112 KENYON’S HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE...............113 GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE ............................................................................113 THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT .......................................................................117 Early Pentecostals and the Finished Work of Christ....................................117 F. F. Bosworth and positive confession.......................................................120 Pentecostals and authority in the name of Jesus..........................................124 The Post-World War II Healing Movement, 1947-58...................................126 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................131 KENYON’S INFLUENCE IN SCANDINAVIA ..............................................132 INFLUENCE VIA KENNETH E. HAGIN AND THE MODERN FAITH MOVEMENT ........132 INFLUENCE THROUGH T. L. OSBORN................................................................134 INFLUENCE THROUGH THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT IN SCANDINAVIA ............137 INFLUENCE VIA THE UNITED KINGDOM............................................................139 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................150 CONCLUSION.................................................................................................152 APPENDIX.......................................................................................................156 WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE?....................................156 A Descriptive Analysis of E.W. Kenyon’s Teachings on Identification .........156 CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST:................................................................................158 DEATH/BURIAL WITH CHRIST:.........................................................................160 MADE ALIVE WITH CHRIST .............................................................................162 RAISED WITH CHRIST ......................................................................................164 SAT WITH HIM ................................................................................................166 7 7 E.W. Kenyon: Cult Founder or Evangelical Minister? BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................170 BIBLE VERSIONS.............................................................................................170 ARTICLES AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS ...............................................................171 LETTERS ........................................................................................................179