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Another Side of the Coin Reviews

Few have seen the books that have responded directly to Hank Hanegraaff’s landmark book, Christianity in Crisis. Hanegraaff’s book, according to him, exposes the Word-Faith Movement as a “cult” by quoting statements by its major leaders. Yet, many of the accused Word-Faith leaders have kept to an understandable policy to neither read nor respond to criticism. Nonetheless, many Word-Faith adherents have wanted someone to contend with Hanegraaff for what they believe to be out-of-context quotes, strawman arguments, false allegations, and bias theology.

One person attempted to answer that call. In 1994, Michael Bruno wrote Christianity in Power, responding to Hanegraaff using love, Scripture, and reason. We are thankful to God for Reverend Bruno’s book, as it has restored the faith of millions of Christians. Though we laude Bruno’s courage in responding to the Bible Answer Man, and his efforts were certainly blessed by God, Bruno’s book did not address many of Hanegraaff’s interpretations that make the faith teachers appear to be guilty of teaching heretical doctrine.

However, God has raised another author to take up where Bruno has left off. Gregg Huestis in his excellent book, Another Side of the Coin, not only answers Hanegraaff’s literary investigation with scripture and reason, but he also takes the quotes that Hanegraaff used and places them within their contextual setting. By doing this, Huestis demonstrates to his readers that Hanegraaff appears to have put words into the mouths of the faith teachers that were not originally there.

Huestis also uses quotations by faith teachers that Hanegraaff did not cite since they would have proven counter-productive in painting them as “cultic” and “heretical.” Many adherents to the Faith Movement believe that Hanegraaff has misinterpreted this teaching but cannot afford to purchase all of the books and tapes to investigate their position. Huestis, however, provides them with the necessary resource for this endeavor.

Huestis begins his thesis by citing a number of apologists, those in the same field as Hanegraaff, who disagree with how he has handled the Faith Movement. Afterwards, Huestis covers such subjects as the Force of Faith, the Formula of Faith, the Faith of God, the alleged deification of man, the alleged demotion of God, the Jesus-Died-Spiritually (JDS) doctrine, and other subjects of interest. You will find Huestis’ handling of these controversial subjects done with care and precision?

If you have been questioning the genuineness of Hanegraaff’s work, but have been waiting for someone to provide the needed answers, then your prayers have been answered in the form of Another Side of the Coin. You will find this to be a great resource for maintaining your faith as well as providing an accurate response to Hanegraaff’s allegations.

Pastor Troy J. Edwards, Victorious Word Christian Fellowship

Another Side of the Coin Reviewed By Faith Writers.com

Reviewer: Deborah Porter

In 1993, Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanegraaff, released Christianity in Crisis—a book that was a bombshell aimed at the Word of Faith Movement, teachers and teachings.

Thirteen years later, Gregg Huestis published his well researched and thoroughly investigated reply in the very aptly titled book, Another Side of the Coin--The Other Side of the Controversy Surrounding the Faith Message.

In his personal introduction, Huestis states: "This book has not been written as an attempt to say, "We are right and they are wrong!" Rather, this is a prayerful effort at giving a proper answer to the critics of the Word of Faith. It is the desire of my heart that this writing be a tool to bring about restoration between both sides of this controversial debate."

The author also concedes that his book "may not 'convert' those who are already opposed to the teachings of the Word of Faith. But...knows that it will be an important source of help to many who are still unsure of their motives and teaching." It is from this angle that Mr. Huestis writes in an attempt to set the record straight and provide balance to the comments made in Christianity in Crisis.

At times, Mr. Huestis' statements regarding Hank Hanegraaff did come across as just a little "edgy." However, this reviewer concluded that his comments weren't totally inappropriate, given the nature of many of Mr. Hanegraaff's comments in his own book. In no way could it be called "tit-for-tat," but perhaps more along the lines of "with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

My personal opinion, after reading this book, is that anyone who has made a judgment decision regarding the Word of Faith movement based on the evidence outlined in Christianity in Crisis, really should, for the sake of fairness, take the time to read Another Side of the Coin. I say this not because I have any strong opinion one way or the other, but because it is not always wise to make a rock-solid decision after hearing only one half of an argument. To read one, without the other, is somewhat unbalanced.

The importance of getting both sides of the story was brought home quite powerfully when I saw how many quotations by Word of Faith teachers were apparently abbreviated or taken out of context in Christianity in Crisis--something Mr. Huestis highlights often in his book. In doing so, he states:

"Perhaps you are wondering why I have used so many long quotations. Again, the purpose of this book is not merely to write what I think the Faith teachers are teaching, but rather to clearly display, from their own words, exactly what they believe and teach. I believe it is best to allow their teachings to speak for themselves."

A little further on, he quite sincerely states, "I am not attempting to imply that they are infallible, but rather that they have never attempted to propagate erroneous doctrine."

 It is this attempt to provide balance that makes Mr. Huestis' book such a valuable companion to Mr. Hanagraaff's statements in Christianity in Crisis.

This book is thought provoking and, at times, somewhat challenging. Even so, ultimately, it may or may not change anyone's mind regarding Word of Faith teachings. However, the important thing is that it provides every Christian with Another Side of the Coin.

To View Deborah Porter's Original Review