In this episode, I explore the life and teachings of Dr. Hobart Freeman, a former professor turned Word of Faith pastor whose radical beliefs led to tragedy within his congregation. Dr. Freeman’s Faith Assembly Church in Northern Indiana grew to over two thousand members, and his influence extended across the country through a tape ministry and his books. But his uncompromising stance on faith healing—teaching that believers should avoid doctors and medicine—ultimately led to the deaths of possibly ninety people, including Freeman himself. This episode dives into how someone with such fringe doctrines could gain a following and what it tells us about false teachers, deception, and the responsibility of believers to test everything against Scripture.

Main points

• Introduction to Dr. Hobart Freeman and his influence on Faith Assembly Church.
• The rise of the Word of Faith movement and its core teachings.
• Dr. Freeman’s distinct approach as an academic preacher made him believable despite his radical views.
• How Freeman’s teaching led to tragic consequences within his church, including his own death from untreated gangrene.
• Examination of false teachers through the lens of 2 Timothy 3:13 and 2 Peter 2:3.
• Insights into how false teaching gains traction and why believers are sometimes willing to accept unorthodox doctrines.
• The importance of testing every teaching against Scripture, as exemplified by the Bereans in Acts 17:11 .
• A reflection on the responsibility of believers to seek sound doctrine and resist the temptation to follow teachings that simply scratch itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3).

Bible references

2 Timothy 3:13 , 2 Peter 2:3, Titus 1:11 , Acts 17:11 , 2 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 4:3, Matthew 17:20

Recommended reading

Counterfeit Miracles by B.B. Warfield
This classic work explores the history of miraculous claims in the church and critiques movements like Word of Faith. Warfield's scholarly approach provides a robust theological foundation for understanding biblical miracles versus modern healing claims.

The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink
Pink’s profound reflection on God’s sovereignty offers a biblical corrective to the Word of Faith movement’s teaching on health and prosperity. He provides deep theological insights into the nature of God’s will and human suffering.

Strange Fire by John MacArthur
This book examines the theological errors of the Charismatic movement, with a particular focus on Word of Faith doctrines. MacArthur's clear and biblical arguments guide our understanding of the dangers of false teachings in modern Christianity.

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