A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
God, and expect God to answer according to His will and
timing, which may not always correspond to their desire
or expectation. The Positive Confession doctrine, however,
is essentially an abstract principle that purportedly
operates by a natural power within humans. When people
decide what they want and speak that desire in complete
faith, then their desire will surely come to pass.
Positive Confession teachers use the Greek word
rhema for the “word of faith.” For them, logos is God’s
eternal Word, while rhema is an individual’s spoken confession
that secures a particular desire. (Actually, however,
the Greek New Testament often uses these words
interchangeably.) This word spoken in faith becomes
anointed, powerful, and creative.
The practical effect of this teaching is to shift the
focus of faith: the object of faith and the effective cause
of miracles is no longer God Himself but the mental state
and utterance of the individual. Instead of stressing the
sovereignty of God, this teaching stresses techniques and
formulas for receiving answers to prayer. Some of the
writers speak of faith formulas, formulas for healing, and
formulas for prosperity. Some explicitly say that faith, not
God, causes the results and that even people who reject
the gospel can achieve these results when they use these
principles.
When the Positive Confession doctrine is taken to its
ultimate conclusion, faith becomes a natural law that
operates apart from the sovereignty of God, much as
Christian Scientists teach. Here are some book titles that
illustrate the problem: How to Have Faith in Your Faith,
The Tongue: A Creative Force, God’s Will Is Prosperity,
The Laws of Prosperity, Having Faith in Your
306