Trump adviser says ignore flu shots and 'inoculate yourself with the word of God'

At a loss here, just don't know what to think, I do know the Flu shot has been controversial for a long time, but I do believe in "some" medicine.

Trump adviser says ignore flu shots and 'inoculate yourself with the word of God.

A Texas-based evangelist with ties to President Donald Trump came under fire this week after video re-surfaced of her telling followers that they don't need to get a flu shot because "Jesus himself gave us the flu shot."

Gloria Copeland, a member of the president's faith advisory council, posted the video last Wednesday, but it began to gain traction this week after a number watch groups re-posted it on social-media channels.

"Listen, partners, we don't have a flu season," Copeland, 75, said in a Facebook video posted Jan. 31. "We've got a duck season, a deer season, but we don't have a flu season."

"And don't receive it when somebody threatens you with, 'Everybody is getting the flu,'" she added. "We've already had our shot. He bore our sicknesses and carried our diseases. That's what we stand on."

A devastating flu outbreak has killed dozens since October. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 14,676 people have been hospitalized with influenza since the flu season began in October, double the number from all of last year and the highest ever recorded. The agency urges those who haven't been vaccinated to get a flu shot.

At least 53 children have died from the flu this season, including 16 just last week, according to the CDC.

Why this year's flu season is so bad and what you can do about it

Deadly flu outbreak shows no sign of easing up

Copeland, a co-founder the Fort Worth, Texas-based Kenneth Copeland Ministries, went on to pray for those who were already displaying flu-like symptoms, telling them to protect themselves by declaring "I'll never have the flu."

"That's great -- that's the way it's supposed to be," she continued. "Just keep saying that 'I'll never have the flu. I'll never have the flu.' Inoculate yourself with the word of God. Flu, I bind you off the people in the name of Jesus. Jesus himself gave us the flu shot. He redeemed us from the curse of flu."

Why not get the flu shot AND pray against it?

A guy I work with got the shot (he was line right in front of me) and he was sick as dog for about 10 days with flu.

Of course we have no way of knowing how many have not become sick (or only get slightly sick) because of the flu shot.

Here's what she said if you want to watch the video, it's 1:45 long... Copy and paste this in youtube's search bar: pvoKMgHca0k

I do NOT watch Gloria or Kenneth Copeland but the premise 'inoculate yourself with the word of God' is not a false statement.

It's up to each individual whether they get a flu shot or not, I haven't had one in years but I also make my own deodorant and charcoal toothpaste too (for cents on the $)!! LOL You can wonder why I do that as well! :)

But God is good and I believe inoculating ourselves with the Word of God works wonders and miracles!

The Word of God is life and
medicine to your flesh.

Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22For they are life to those who find them,
And health (medicine) to all their flesh.

"He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:20).

I wouldn't quite call her a "Trump adviser." She was one person on the president's faith advisory council. This is a very loose definition of "adviser."

Of course, she is also made a career as a name-it claim-it prosperity preacher. I used to sit back and shake my head at the TV and radio preachers who say that it isn't God's will for you to ever be in need who then turn around and virtually beg for donations for their own ministries' needs.

As for the flu shot: I wonder if she has ever taken any other "earthly" preventive steps for her health or finances. If her "faith" lead her to buy health insurance, life insurance or invest money in the hope of a return during retirement, then I suspect that her faith shouldn't have a problem with a vaccine.

I agree! That’s scary Gloria Copeland "Trump advisor”. The Copeland’s are the WOF gurus, it’s sad, but I can’t stand to hear either one of their voices, both of them are loud mouth prideful people.

That’s prideful, WOF loudmouths WITH a multimillion dollar private jet🙃

If Gloria Copeland really has the faith she thinks she does she should go into a leper colony and touch lepers like Jesus did

Don't these prosperity preachers understand that God can use sickness for His glory? One of my pastors was accidentally exposed to toxic mold and had respiratory problems for years. When he asked God in exasperation "Is this REALLY necessary?!" God answered "Yes!"

"If Gloria Copeland really has the faith she thinks she does she should go into a leper colony and touch lepers like Jesus did"

Haven't you ever wondered why all the pastors that claim they can heal, can only do it in their church or a congratulation, to be shown on TV? Why don't they step out and into a hospital and start healing all the folks at the hospitals, especially the little children. You think maybe they loose their healing powers beyond the building walls?

How come that is everyone's response to these people, "go clean out the hospitals or go clean out the leper colonies"?

Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: and nothing shall by any means hurt YOU."

YOU includes you who are talking down about these other people. Or was not that verse in two or more of the transcripts, so therefore the church gives it no respect?

I'm not yelling nor am I "mad" upset, I'm just wondering, my friends. Lift up instead of tearing down. My granny used to say if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. Perhaps, we should take the elders advice.

It's sad to watch Chrisitan's jump on the bandwagon. I don't agree with the Copeland's but God hasn't struck them dead yet, so God must have need of them for something besides other Christians talking bad about them.

Let US take the power He's given US, you and me, and do something constructive!! How 'bout that? :) :) :)

God bless us all,
Lisa

Lysa-

Unfortunately the gross excesses of the Charismatic Movement commands that such cynical questionable be asked.

There are too many parlor tricks (eg leg lengthening "miracles”) and not enough truly 100% verifiable miracles.

I know without a doubt that God still heals miraculously. But people still get "healed” fraudulently.

Maybe I'm confused here on the meaning of these scriptures.

Ephesians 5:11 ….Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees "a generation of Vipers” Matt. 3:7. Today, he would be accused of being unloving, unkind, and unchristian.

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24, NKJV).

Jesus said to the religious Pharisees, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt. 12:34). To many evangelicals and some fundamentalists, this would be unacceptable language today, but it is biblical language and it came from the mouth of the Son of God.

There is a difference between judging and exposing, judging can sometimes come from opinions, but in my world, exposing is scriptural.

Lisa, I am not trying to slander the Copelands, I actually do love them as Jesus commanded me to love my enemies. But I see them destroying lives with their false teaching. Every chance I get I will expose false teachers.

God bless you sister.

Great post! if we as Christians do not expose these folks, especially to the new Christians, the new Christians will just wind up supporting these false teachers with their time and tithes. You probably couldn't drag the old supporters away from these false teachers, because most have to much time and money involved in their ministries, and of course they're still waiting on their miracles to come to pass for all their support.

If you want to address why Gloria Copeland is wrong about the prosperity message then why not start a post on that subject, but it is wrong to use a part of a quote implying that she said not to get a flu shot. This is her personal belief. If you belief that you will catch the flu without getting a flu shot, then you probably ought to get one.

Gloria Copeland is right
about the healing power
that is in the Word.

Do not let them (the Word) depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. (Proverbs 4: 21,22)

Derek Prince confirms this
truth in his teaching on healing:

"God’s Medicine Bottle”
https://youtu.be/9-vcKWgCScg

I do believe in healing. However it is erroneous to believe we will never get sick. Sometimes God uses afflictions and sickness to bring us closer to Him. Remember Paul's thorn in the flesh?

Brother Mike with all due respect, I started this thread, and in my opinion it hasn't been hijacked. I feel the the comments so for are still relevant to my original thoughts on starting it. If you feel you don't agree, I respect your opinion, but you don't have to post.

I believe *responsible* teaching on healing is sorely lacking in the church. It seems like we have two extremes and the truth lies smack dab in the middle.

I personally think that our mindset must be that when we pray for someone to be healed that God wants them healed and that our prayer will result in healing for Jesus’ sake.

If that is not our mindset we cannot pray in faith. If we are "hedging our bets” it is not possible to be in faith.

When Peter healed the lame man he was not hedging his bet.

We must pray in faith and leave the results to God. We do not need to make excuses or hedge our bets. Why? Because Jesus went around healing people and we are called to be like Jesus.

29 For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.

29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Seems pretty straight forward....

Again, are we (who are the body) discerning the body of Christ?
If not, why not? What is our motive? (Ourselves or Christ)

Fletcher-

Are you saying that in those verses "discerning the body” means the Church (ie those who make up the body of Christ)?

I have never taken the phrase that way and I was curious if that is what you meant.

Dear brother they are one in the same:)

The Lords body= Christ’s body= church

... and not just figuratively
So simple I walked/read right past it for years-

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

It is the mystery hidden for ages revealed.... now the question comes back to square one, do we believe?
Do we believe God is who He says He is?
Do we believe God has accomplished what He claims to have done through Christ Jesus?
Do we believe we have victory?
Do we believe we have been imbued with power from on high?
Do we believe we are reconciled to God through Christ?
Do we believe we are in union with Christ?
Do we believe we are in Christ (presently) seated with Him at the right hand of God?
Do we believe He has given us all things pertaining to life and Godliness?
Do we believe in Jesus Christ?
If we really do then,..
Our actions will align with His will
Our life will reflect His righteousness
Our faith will illuminate the way
Our fellowship with the saints will facilitate unity
Our words will be His glory and His words our food

Here we are 2000+ years out and we are weaker not stronger...
we were given to be the lights of the world yet we fight among ourselves
We make excuses for ourselves whilst condemning others
Daily we fail His grace and act as tho it’s normal, expected/inevitable even!!??
It’s no wonder we are weak and sickly,...

But in the context of communion in 1Cor 11 it seems Paul is talking about taking communion in an irreverent manner by not properly discerning the body of Christ, ie His body as represented by the elements of communion.

"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.”
1 Corinthians 11:27-31

Brother Todd,
Yes of course, but that includes the members of His body...
So, He was broken- so were you...
He died- so did you
He was raised- so were you
His death=yours
His resurrection=yours
Hence, "the life I now live, yet not I but Christ” Gal2:20
So when Paul speaks about discerning the body, he’s pointing us to the appropriation of Christ’s victory by faith... meaning if we miss what was accomplished by Christ on the cross, we will miss the value of the resurrection as it applies to us presently= communion:)
Else how could it possibly affect our physical disposition?
Does that help to illuminate the correlation?

I always understood it in context as to how we treat others in the body of Christ,ie other members, and wrapped in that was also the warning to those who would take communion with unconfessed/repented of sin. That the very communion could bring judgement on some.

Brother D.
Yes and Amen!

"For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

"Do unto others as you will have them do unto you”
"Forgive just as you have been forgiven”
"Love others as you love yourself”

Wether it’s repentance, giving a cool glass of water, prophesying, ministering or whatever it is God has us doing,... communion with God is always contingent on obedience. When we are obedient we are IN communion with whom ever we are obeying. In the acts of obedience our lives are yielded, we become literally living sacrifices. Which is why Paul tells us to "be ye renewed in the spirit of your minds” because we may in fact be acting obediently to God but not discerning the body, appropriating the glory of Christ’s victory by faith- if our minds are not renewed then we are open (moreso) to distractions and lying deceptions which in turn will, if left unchecked, will produce sickness. Remember the battle may be "for” our souls but the battlefield is "in” our minds!

Read slowly with special attention to verse 21:)

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Dear brother Miller,

This is how we are to examine ourselves:

2 Cor. 13:5 (NASB)
-----------------------
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?

1 John 3: 6 -- No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

If Christ is living in us, our lives will be right.

If Christ is living is us, our relationship with other members in the body of Christ will be right.

Christ lives in us through faith.

Eph. 3:17 -- …… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith……

Phil. 3:8-12
------------
…… that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him,
not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law,
but that which is through faith in Christ,
the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect,
but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Col. 1:27 ”“ …… Christ in you, the hope of glory.

2 Thess. 2:14 -- …… He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fletcher and Dohz-

This is a tough one because I cannot argue and agree with what you say about the body of Christ.

**But** in this instance and in this specific passage of scripture I think you are taking it beyond where it was intended by Paul. If you read carefully he is specifically talking about Christ's body-- not the Body of Christ.

From Matthew Henry:

The Corinthians came to the Lord’s table as to a common feast, not discerning the Lord’s body””not making a difference or distinction between that and common food, but setting both on a level: nay, they used much more indecency at this sacred feast than they would have done at a civil one. This was very sinful in them, and very displeasing to God, and brought down his judgments on them: For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Some were punished with sickness, and some with death. Note, A careless and irreverent receiving of the Lord’s supper may bring temporal punishments.

I totally understand what you are saying and offer no contention- I would however offer this; be reminded that this was one complete letter, (without the study guides of chapters and verses) so if we were to back up even one "chapter” and read through the "chapter” after the text in question, I have found it to provide a more comprehensive context for what Paul and ultimately Holy Spirit, is trying to get across-

(For me) there is a theme or point that is consistenty reiterated in a number of different ways, this point being our identity as the body of Christ and in the middle of this teaching is placed "chapter” 11- which (for me) necessitates it’s inclusion in the overall point or theme being transmitted.

For example, in chapter 10 we read;
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

I hope this helps dear brother and your patience and gracious disposition are not only appreciated but serve as a fine example:)
It’s not easy for many to disagree without being disagreeable but you do this quite admirably-

Do you hold to the doctrine ofSinless Perfection?

Fletcher-

You have given me much food for chewing. Love when that happens!

Firstly,
-------

This is a genuine question:

What is the doctrine of Sinless Perfection?

I am no good with doctrines. I just study the Bible.

Secondly,
--------

Do we fix our eyes on self or on Christ?

Heb. 12:2 -- fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith

Ps. 25:15 ”“
My eyes are continually toward the LORD,
For He will pluck my feet out of the net.

John 1:29 ”“ (((((Behold))))), the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

2 Cor. 3:18 - But we all, with unveiled face, (((((beholding))))) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Thirdly,
---------

Are we qualified to examine God’s workmanship?

Eph. 2:10 -- For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Isa. 55: 8-9 ”“
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isa. 42:16 ”“
"And I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone.”

Prov. 3:5-7 ”“-
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes……

Add:

1 Cor. 1:30-31 -- But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

thank you for the scripture. they were encouraging. In the context of communion self evaluation may be the wrong way to express what I wrote. David said search me o God and see if there be any wicked way in me. In that context is how I understand 1Cor 11 I see it strongly played out in my personal hidden walk of faith as well as how I handle my interactions with the Body of Christ the individual members who make up that local body of believers

That was what I was getting at. Hope that makes it clear for you

Speaking of the Flu, it's terrible! I just read where a young Texas mother/school teacher passed from flu complications after reportedly deciding that the $116 medication to treat the virus was too costly. It goes on to say, that her husband picked up the drugs himself after finding out she skipped on them, but it was too late and she ended up in the intensive care unit at a hospital on Friday, and she passed on Sunday. Gloria Copeland says.. "ignore flu shots and 'inoculate yourself with the word of God" this can be very confusing for some, and could cause harm to high risk folks. Personally, I'm torn in what she said, but we will never know how many lives were saved either way, this country really needs our prayers over this Flu, it's taken even the healthiest out.

You are spot on MrBill, it is so hard to determine where a person is spiritually. Some teachings are best to be given in such away that there is space for The Holy Spirit to bring to light certain graces like being willing to die instead of taking certain medications. The WOF doctrines aren’t all bad in themselves but they tend to remove The Sovereignty of God in a matter from the equation with blanket type teachings that guilt some into following, which in essence becomes like the teaching of the Law of Moses. I believe somethings need to be grown into,if that makes sense.?

I hear you Mr. Bill,... it’s a conundrum for sure-
Honestly I don’t remember the flu ever really killing healthy people, especially not in such vast numbers, when I was growing up??

Seems like every year a "new” virus shows up, kills lots of people then disappears without any cures being found, only to be followed the next year by another.... 🧐
Zika,West nile,swine flu, Ebola, etc etc....
I mean where do these things come from and then disappear to?

I recently saw a fascinating PBS show about the flu epidemic of 1917. People came into hospitals sick in the morning and were dead in the afternoon from literally drowning in fluid.

However because of the outbreak my great grandfather who was slated to head to the French front in WW1 was instead quarantined in Chicago- so perhaps his life was spared thereby allowing me to type this!

It wreaked it’s havoc for several months then quickly went away.

Who knows.

In the meantime, avoid all people at all cost.