Liberty Advocate

http://www.libertyadvocate.com

We Are Little Gods?

by

Karen Pansler-Lam, J.D.

Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch, Joyce Meyer and other televangelists preach we are little gods.  They purposely pervert the following Scriptures:

I have said, Ye are gods;

and all of you are children of the most High.

Psalms 82:6

Jesus answered them,

Is it not written in your law,

I said, Ye are gods?

John 10:34

First, Psalm 82 is an impeachment of unjust rulers or judges, who were officially called "gods" (Exodus 22:28). The "gods" are the judges of Israel, the official representatives of God on earth, therefore, they are earthly gods, or great men of the earth.  In other words,  those godlike in their majesty and power were earthly gods.

Specifically, Psalm 82 represents God Himself judging the earthly gods and denouncing their corruption and other wickedness.  God the Supreme Ruler and Righteous Judge brings charges against the earthly rulers:  "How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?" (v.2).

Then in verse 5 God declares them incorrigible, and in verses 6 and 7 pronounces sentence upon them: "But ye shall die like men."  In other words, the name of "gods" is merely a name given to those who represented God, but they were men and will be judged by God and die like men: God will bring down the wicked, including the mighty. 

In sum, Psalm 82 is directed to earthly judges or rulers. God judges earthly "gods" and pronounces them as judging unjustly.  They have failed in their duty to observe God's Law, administer justice with impartiality, and are corrupt.  

For Copeland, Hinn, Meyer and other televangelists to preach we are gods based on Psalm 82 is a gross perversion of Scripture.  

But, of course, televangelists are arrogant and see themselves as gods.  More important, they want you to worship them as gods with blind obedience; and lavish them with praise and money.

Next, in John 10, Jesus declares to the religious leaders of Israel that He is the Christ, the Son of God: "I and my Father are one."

Then the Jews took up stones to stone Him.  They accuse Him of blasphemy.  

In response, Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6:  "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" (John 10:34). Here Jesus appeals to their Law in which judges are called gods. Again, judges were given this lofty name because they were commanded to judge righteously on God's behalf as His representatives.

Matthew Henry comments: 

VII. Christ’s reply to their accusation of him (for such their vindication of themselves was), and his making good those claims which they imputed to him as blasphemous (v. 34, etc.), where he proves himself to be no blasphemer, by two arguments:—

1. By an argument taken from God’s word. He appeals to what was written in their law, that is, in the Old Testament; whoever opposes Christ, he is sure to have the scripture on his side. It is written, I have said, You are gods. It is an argument a minore ad majus—from the less to the greater. If they were gods, much more am I. Observe,

(1.) How he explains the text (v. 35): He called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken. The word of God’s commission came to them, appointing them to their offices, as judges, and therefore they are called gods, . To some the word of God came immediately, as to Moses; to others in the way of an instituted ordinance. Magistracy is a divine institution; and magistrates are God’s delegates, and therefore the scripture calleth them gods; and we are sure that the scripture cannot be broken, or broken in upon, or found fault with. Every word of God is right; the very style and language of scripture are unexceptionable, and not to be corrected.

(2.) How he applies it. Thus much in general is easily inferred, that those were very rash and unreasonable who condemned Christ as a blasphemer, only for calling himself the Son of God, when yet they themselves called their rulers so, and therein the scripture warranted them. But the argument goes further (v. 36): If magistrates were called gods, because they were commissioned to administer justice in the nation, say you of him whom the Father hath sanctified, Thou blasphemest?  
http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1676&commInfo=5&topic=John

Unquestionably, it  is utterly absurd to declare we are gods based on Psalms 82:6 and John 10:34. It is not only absurd...it is devilish.  Remember Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden with the promise "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5). Satan told a seducing lie to Eve promising divinity if she ate the forbidden fruit. 

So, if according to wicked televangelists God created us as gods, why would Satan tempt Eve with the words "ye shall be as gods"?

Moreover, the apostles never declared us to be gods. 

We are made in the image of God, but we are not gods. Man was created a "person" not a thing or a plant or an animal.  Psalm 8:4, 5 declares we are a little lower than the angels: 

What is man, that thou art mindful of him?

and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,

and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Now, if we are little gods, wouldn't we be made higher than the angels?

Irrefutably, there is no Scriptural authority for the perverted doctrine that we are gods. This is not bad theology.  This is blasphemy - a doctrine of devils.  

Beware...Satan whispers in our itching ears "ye are little gods" echoing his words in the Garden of Eden..."ye shall be as gods."  

So, when Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch and other seducing spirits tempt you to believe ye are gods, remember the words of the serpent who tempted Eve... "ye shall be as gods."  

September 2012

Karen Pansler-Lam, J.D.

Liberty Advocate
http://www.libertyadvocate.com/

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