I’m gearing up for a lengthy post on Steve Munsey. But there are two important heresies that first need to be understood prior to discussing his teachings. The first danger that many preachers buy into, including Munsey, Joel Osteen and many others, is the “positive confession” teaching from motivational business philosophy. It stresses the inherent power of words and thoughts. Each person predestines his own future by what he says verbally and by how well he uses spiritual laws. As such, it is as if we live in a mechanistic universe instead of a personal one. This erroneous doctrine is often taught alongside the prosperity gospel. The “prosperity gospel” is the teaching that God will reward signs of faith with health and wealth. It was popularized by a number of preachers during the 1950s, especially by Oral Roberts and his Expect a Miracle television broadcasts. It is also called “Word of Faith,” “name it and claim it,” “blab it and grab it,” “health and wealth gospel” and “positive confession.”
Let me begin by saying that I am not trying to preach some sort of intellectual legalism in how we must teach, but we must be careful to teach what Scripture is saying about prosperity, not what motivational speakers have to say misusing Scripture to back it up. The Bible guarantees no health or wealth to followers, but it does show we will have joy in suffering and that we will overcome the world. Our treasure needs to be in heaven. I am not saying we cannot accumulate earthly wealth, but if it remains the focus of our preaching it will become the object of our faith. There must be balance, we must teach the entirety of the word of God and warn people of the days ahead as well as encourage them with God’s blessings.
The basic premise of ‘positive confession’ is:
- God created things by speaking them into existence.
- We are created in God’s image.
- Therefore we, too, can create things (or situations) by speaking them into existence.
There is great power in our words – life and death! This teaching is accurate in many respects, but we must also be careful to teach this using Scripture, not Zig Zigler and other business leaders.
Did Jesus promise to give literally anything we ask for in faith?
In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” On the surface, this verse seems to be saying that God will grant literally any request we make of Him as long as we believe.
However, it is important to recognize that there are limitations on what God will give, which is indicated both by the context and by other texts, as well as by the laws of God’s own nature and the universe.
Second, all passages should be interpreted in harmony with other clear statements of Scripture. As an illustration, it is clear that God does not promise to heal everyone for whom we pray in faith. Paul wasn’t healed, though he prayed earnestly and faithfully (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). Jesus taught that it was not the blind man’s lack of faith that hindered his being healed. Rather, he was born blind “that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3). Despite the apostle Paul’s divine ability to heal others (Acts 28:9), later he apparently could not heal either Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25) or Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20). It clearly was not unbelief that brought Job’s sickness on him (Job 1:1).
Finally, when the rest of Scripture is taken into consideration there are clear conditions placed on God’s promise to answer prayer in addition to faith. We must “abide in Him” and let His Word “abide in us” (John 15:7). We cannot “ask with wrong motives,” out of our own selfishness (James 4:3). Furthermore, we must ask “according to His will” (1 John 5:14). Indeed, on all except God’s unconditional promises, this “if it be your will” must always be stated or implied. This is not a cop-out, it’s how Jesus taught us to pray!
Look for part 2 tomorrow, which will contain a great quote about praying according to God’s will.
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