Q & A: What is Kabbalah?-KCM

Kabbalah is the study of Jewish mysticism. Kabbalah is an esoteric system (that just means it requires knowledge that is restricted to a small spiritual group) of interpretation of the Scriptures based upon a tradition claimed to have been handed down orally from Abraham. Despite that claimed antiquity, the system appears to have been given its earliest formulation in the 11th century in France and from there spread most notably to Spain.

Kabbalistic interpretation of Scripture is based on the belief that every word, letter, number and even accent of Hebrew writing contains mysteries interpretable by those who know the secret. The names for God are believed to contain miraculous power, and each letter of the divine name is considered potent; Kabbalistic signs and writings are used as charms (especially red-string bracelets) and in magical practices.

Kabbalah did not originate from God’s Word, but from the teachings of various rabbis. Because Kabbalah’s source is not the Bible, we believe it should be avoided by Christians.

It is important for us to take note, that much of the new “pop” Kabbalah preferred by those in Hollywood sounds much like word-of-faith teaching, in that it focuses on the power of words and receiving blessings. However, we must remember Kenneth Copeland’s teaching from the Word of God that all of these good things hang on the royal law of love (Matthew 22:37-42; James 2:8) which is loving God with all of our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. There is no religious system that will provide true prosperity if it is not founded in a loving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And this type of relationship requires submission to God and His Word.