Faith Assembly (Hobart Freeman)

Many of us have heard TV evangelists make statements like this: "God's love and His will for you is to enjoy perfect health; He wants you rich; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Would an earthly millionaire make his own children eat poor food, wear shabby clothes, and ride in a broken down family car? Of course not! Neither will your heavenly Father give you anything but the very best! What is the desire of your heart? Name it, claim it by faith, and it is yours!"

Hobart Freeman (October l7, l920 - December, l984) was one who adhered to the same tenets. He was born in Ewing, Kentucky, grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, became a succssful businessman, coverted at the age of 31 into the Southern Baptist Church.

His theological background includes a Th.D. degree and a seminary professorship in Hebrew and Old Testament.

All this took place within about ten years of his conversion experience.

He left the seminary ranks and started a church of his own, the Faith Assembly, located in northeast Indiana. Among the beliefs he espoused was what is commonly called the gospel of guaranteed prosperity and health.

The November 23, l984 issue of Christianity Today says, "According to Freeman's faith-formula theology, God is obligated to heal every sickness if a believer's faith is geniune. Faith must be accompanied by `positive confession,' meaning that believers must `claim' the healing by acknowledging that is has taken place."

Freeman wrote in his book, Positive Thinking and Confession (Faith Publications), "We must practice thought control. We must deliberately empty our minds of everything negative concerning the person, problem or situation confronting us."

He taught that after healing is claimed, symptoms of illness or injury that remain are viewed as deception from the devil. When death occurs despite a positive confession, it is interpreted as discipline from God or a lack of faith.

This type of thinking is the same as other cult leaders like Victor Paul Wierwille of The Way International who died of an illness. Apparently something was wrong with his faith, and also for Hobart Freeman, who too, died of an illness that may have been medically treatable.

The saddest part is that it did not stop with Freeman. There have been over 100 people (members) of Freeman's Church who have died as a result of his teachings. Numerous lawsuits have been filed and parents convicted of child abuse.

The late Hobart Freeman said, "To claim healing for the body and then to continue to take medicine is not following our faith with corresponding action.... When genuine faith is present, it alone will be sufficient for it will take the place of medicine and other needs," (Positive Thinking and Confession).

Christians need to be careful and not fall into such shallow teachings. God never promised perfection in the here and now on planet Earth. Perfection, for the believer, is reserved for Heaven.

© 1996 Watchman Fellowship, Inc. The material on this site shall not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without permission from the publisher.