This is a huge problem in the church, particularly the charismatic branches. .

I have observed various “hyper” interpretations that are Bible teachers’ pet doctrines:

Hyper-faith, hyper-charismata, hyper-eschatology, hyper-Israel focus, hyper-prosperity, hyper-grace, hyper-honor culture (allows bullies in leadership), hyper-empathy, hyper-compassion, hyper-sovereignty, hyper-platform performances, hyper-attention seeking (narcissism), and so on,

In other words, these teachers are out of balance. Take off the prefix “hyper” and you get biblical doctrines. Yes, prosperity is good for the business you work at.

¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. […] (Deut. 8:18, NIV)

Everyone can get a job or start a business to create wealth. No problem.

However, hyper-prosperity preachers who twist Scriptures to enrich themselves? No. They harangue people to give them money and then buy luxury items like huge houses and jets.

The locus of these out-of-balanced teachings is usually Paul’s epistles. The teachers twist or distort his teachings. More specific example of hyper-prosperity: they twist Galatians 3 and claim that the blessing of Abraham is his wealth; therefore, they too get to be wealthy. No. Paul’s argument is that the blessing of Abraham is Christ himself, Abraham’s highest and Messianic descendant, and his gospel. Then by extension everyone in Christ is included in being a blessing to the world because they are equipped to preach Christ and his good news.

Here is a passage that warns the “hypers” to stay away from distorting Scripture:

¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. ¹⁶ He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15-16, NIV, emphasis added)

The ESV says “twist” instead of “distort.” The outcome is the same. They are heading for destruction. Note also that they twist other Scriptures, so the problem is not just limited to Paul’s epistles.

Here is the warning:

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

When teachers get up behind the pulpit or turn on their computer and cameras and links to their socials, to teach the church, God leans forward on his throne to listen very carefully. If they are not well studied and moderate, destruction and stricter judgment will ensue, on this earth or at final judgment or both.

The solution is to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) and follow Jesus in his balanced ministry of teaching and helping the needy and healing the sick and expelling demons.

I pray that everyone on their own platforms, wherever they may be found on social media or behind the pulpit, will come back into balance. But if these teachers refuse or cannot see their own hyper, pet doctrines, then let’s raise up a new generation, who will be balanced. And you the reader can be balanced before a new generation is raised up. Be balanced today by avoiding the hyper-teachings.

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