The heresy of Positive Thinking, also known as the "Positive Confession" movement or "Word of Faith" theology, is a modern theological error that teaches the power of positive thoughts, words, and beliefs to shape reality, including one's health, wealth, and overall well-being. This view promotes the idea that Christians can access God's promises of material prosperity, physical health, and personal success through the proper use of faith-filled words and positive thinking. It is considered heretical by many because it distorts the biblical understanding of faith, the sovereignty of God, and the reality of suffering in the Christian life.
History of Positive Thinking
Origins in New Thought and Mind-Science Movements: The Positive Thinking movement has roots in the New Thought and Mind-Science movements of the 19th century. These movements, which were heavily influenced by transcendentalism and metaphysical spirituality, emphasized the power of the mind and human thought to influence physical reality. Thinkers like Phineas Quimby and Mary Baker Eddy (founder of Christian Science) promoted the idea that mental attitudes could directly affect one's physical health and circumstances.
Norman Vincent Peale and Positive Thinking: In the 20th century, Norman Vincent Peale popularized the concept of Positive Thinking within Christian circles with his best-selling book, The Power of Positive Thinking (1952). Peale's message emphasized the idea that maintaining a positive mental attitude, affirming good things, and visualizing success could bring about personal and material success. While not overtly metaphysical like earlier New Thought movements, Peale’s work blurred the lines between Christian faith and secular self-help ideologies, making positive thinking a key aspect of Christian spirituality.
The Word of Faith Movement: The Word of Faith movement, which emerged in the mid-20th century and is associated with figures like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, and Oral Roberts, is perhaps the most influential strand of Positive Thinking theology within modern Christianity. It teaches that faith is a force that can be activated by speaking "faith-filled" words (also called positive confessions) to bring about health, wealth, and other forms of prosperity.
This movement often quotes biblical verses out of context to support the idea that believers have the power to declare God's promises into existence through their words and that negative words or thoughts will lead to negative consequences. The Word of Faith movement has been heavily critiqued by many within orthodox Christianity for its man-centered theology and its prosperity gospel, which promises material success as a sign of God's favor.
Prosperity Gospel: Closely related to Positive Thinking is the Prosperity Gospel, a theological movement that teaches that God’s will is for every believer to be financially prosperous, physically healthy, and successful. Preachers like Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, and Creflo Dollar are associated with this teaching, which encourages believers to claim their material inheritance through positive declarations and faith.
Theology of Positive Thinking
The theological core of Positive Thinking and its related movements is the belief that faith and positive thoughts or words have intrinsic power to bring about desired outcomes in life. This theology often distorts key Christian doctrines and emphasizes a man-centered approach to faith. Key theological elements include:
Faith as a Force: Positive Thinking theology treats faith not as a trust in God’s promises based on His sovereignty, but as a spiritual force that believers can use to influence their circumstances. According to Word of Faith teaching, faith-filled words can cause physical healing, financial success, and personal well-being. This reduces faith to a form of self-empowerment, making the believer the active agent in creating reality, rather than trusting in God's will and sovereignty.
Positive Confessions: Central to Positive Thinking theology is the practice of making positive confessions—speaking out loud declarations of faith, health, wealth, and success. This is based on the idea that what a person speaks or confesses has the power to create or bring into existence the desired outcome. Verses like Proverbs 18:21 ("Death and life are in the power of the tongue") and Mark 11:23-24 ("If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart...") are often cited in support of this practice.
Health and Wealth as Signs of God’s Favor: Positive Thinking theology, especially in its Word of Faith form, teaches that material prosperity and physical health are guaranteed for those who have enough faith and make the right confessions. Sickness, poverty, or failure are seen as signs of lack of faith or failure to speak the right words. This perspective diminishes the biblical teaching on suffering, discipline, and the Christian call to carry the cross (Matthew 16:24).
Human-Centered Theology: Positive Thinking theology shifts the focus of Christianity from God's glory and sovereignty to the individual's desires and perceived rights. Instead of emphasizing submission to God's will (as taught in Matthew 6:10, "Your will be done"), Positive Thinking theology often implies that God exists to fulfill the personal aspirations of believers, making human desires central to the faith experience.
Why Positive Thinking is Considered Heretical
Positive Thinking theology and the Word of Faith movement are considered heretical by many in the historic Christian tradition for several reasons:
Distortion of the Doctrine of Faith: Positive Thinking turns faith into a force that can manipulate reality, rather than an attitude of trust in the sovereign and wise will of God. Biblically, faith is about trusting in God’s promises and submitting to His purposes, not creating our own reality through mental or verbal declarations. Hebrews 11 shows that faith sometimes leads to triumph but also involves suffering and endurance without immediate visible reward.
Undermining God's Sovereignty: Positive Thinking theology often diminishes God’s sovereignty by suggesting that the outcome of a person’s life is solely dependent on their faith and positive words. This removes God from the rightful role as the sovereign King who works all things according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11). It implies that humans, rather than God, control outcomes by their declarations, which places human will and words above God’s sovereign plan.
The Problem of Suffering: Positive Thinking theology provides a distorted view of suffering, often suggesting that suffering is always the result of sin, a lack of faith, or failure to make the right confessions. This denies the biblical teaching that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life and that God uses trials and suffering for His purposes (Romans 8:28; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-13). The Bible teaches that God’s grace is often most evident in times of weakness and suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Focus on Material Prosperity: The Prosperity Gospel, as a manifestation of Positive Thinking theology, reduces the message of the gospel to a promise of health and wealth. This is contrary to the teaching of Jesus, who warned against the love of money (Matthew 6:19-24) and called His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross (Matthew 16:24). The Bible teaches that true riches are spiritual, not material, and that Christians are called to be content in any circumstance (Philippians 4:11-13).
False View of the Nature of God: In Positive Thinking theology, God is often depicted as a genie who grants the desires of believers based on their faith and words. This is a far cry from the biblical portrayal of God as a sovereign and holy King who acts according to His eternal purposes and perfect wisdom (Isaiah 46:9-10). God is not obligated to fulfill our desires, and prayer is about seeking His will, not demanding our own (Matthew 6:10).
The Historic Christian Orthodox View
The historic Christian orthodox view stands in stark contrast to Positive Thinking theology in several key areas:
Faith as Trust in God’s Sovereignty: Christian orthodoxy teaches that faith is trust in God’s character and promises, not a force to control reality. True faith submits to God’s will, knowing that He is good, wise, and sovereign over all things (Proverbs 3:5-6; Hebrews 11:6). Faith recognizes that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and seeks His will above our own.
Suffering in the Christian Life: The Bible makes it clear that suffering is an expected part of the Christian life (John 16:33; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Rather than being a sign of a lack of faith, suffering is often used by God to sanctify believers and display His glory. Paul writes in Romans 5:3-5 that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. Christian orthodoxy affirms that believers are called to share in Christ's sufferings, knowing that suffering can be redemptive and glorifying to God.
God’s Sovereignty Over Circumstances: Orthodox Christian theology teaches that God is sovereign over all aspects of life, including prosperity and suffering. God's plans and purposes cannot be thwarted by human actions (Job 42:2). He works all things for the good of those who love Him, according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), even when the outcome is not what we would choose.
The Gospel of Spiritual Riches: The true gospel offers spiritual riches—forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life—not guaranteed health, wealth, or success in this life. The Bible teaches that Christians are called to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20) and to value their spiritual inheritance in Christ above any earthly riches (Ephesians 1:3-14).
Prayer as Submission to God’s Will: The Lord’s Prayer teaches Christians to pray, “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10). Orthodox Christian prayer is not about commanding God or declaring outcomes but about humbly seeking God’s will and submitting to His purposes. Jesus Himself prayed this way in Gethsemane, submitting to the Father’s will even in the face of suffering (Luke 22:42).
Conclusion
The heresy of Positive Thinking distorts biblical faith by emphasizing self-empowerment, prosperity, and the belief that humans can shape reality through positive confessions. This theology reduces God’s sovereignty, misunderstands the role of suffering, and shifts the focus of Christianity from God’s glory and eternal salvation to earthly success and material wealth. The historic Christian orthodox view teaches that faith is trust in God’s will, that suffering is part of the Christian life, and that God’s greatest promises are spiritual and eternal, not material. Christians are called to rely on God’s sovereign grace, trusting Him through all circumstances, rather than attempting to manipulate reality through human effort.