Before starting argumentation about this matter I want to DEFINE a few key concepts:
- Positive thinking: Doctrine invented by Norman Vincent Peale (Protestant Preacher) which taught that obstacles and difficulties in life can be overcome by the power of the mind and positive thinking. He taught that his “techniques” which leaded to relaxation, self-help and positive-thinking could lead people to build their own happiness.
- New Age: Collection of “metaphysical thought systems, a conglomeration of [Pagan] theologies, hopes, and expectations held together with an eclectic teaching of salvation, of "correct thinking," and "correct knowledge." The theology of the New Age holds as its fundamental goal the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, suffering is viewed by new-agers as the result of “spiritual ignorance”. The New Age theology is man-centered; in it, humans are seen as part of God and therefore, have the right to live luxurious lives. They propose that nothing bad can happen to them.
- Word of Faith/Positive Confession: The teaching that says that words itself have creative power. Teachers of this doctrine affirm that “what you say determines what will happen to you”.
Sadly, these doctrines have infiltrated in Christianity and today popular preachers defend the tenets of the New Age straight from the pulpit. Without saying names, I will analyze some of the claims of the most renowned pastors of our time.
- “You will not be blessed if you don’t see yourself as a blessed person!” - Well, first of all, this declaration is based on the “positive thinking” doctrine proposed by Vincent. In order to receive you just have to visualize it and that’s it. This is nothing more than new-age paganism. This, in some way, relegates God’s role to a secondary one. Is not God who decides whether He will bless you or not, it’s your thinking. Even more dangerous, this kind of thinking displaces God. If you are blessed, it’s not God who, in His marvelous mercy, decided to do it; it was your discipline to think positive what made the miracle happen.
- “Nothing bad happen to children of God.” Really? We should ask Paul the Apostle about that; he said: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” (2 Corinthians 11). But maybe we should look at Jesus’ words about this “you-will-not-suffer” issue: “‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.” (John 15:20). Or maybe we should ask Joseph, who was sold as a slave and spent a few years in prison falsely accused of rape. We should also ask this one to Stephen, the first martyr of the New Testament, who died stoned because of His faith in Jesus. Or maybe we should go to the Middle East and ask the thousands of Christians who are in prison for their faith. (see www.persecution.org). This nothing-bad-happens lie is repeated over and over again in Churches, TV programs, books...rather the Bible says that bad things will happen to us but it also says we should rest on the fact that even those things will work for good: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
- “Your words have enormous creative power. The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it”: First, the ONLY creator is God; therefore, He is the ONLY ONE who has creative power. The Word became flesh in Jesus Christ. That Word made flesh has “enormous creative power”. Actually, to Him was given all the power. We cannot give birth to anything, the only One who makes things happen is God: “For apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) This kind of declaration, that gives power to the “words” just calls Jesus a liar. It makes us take our eyes off Him and makes us trust our own words’ “creative power” rather than in the Only One who Has it.
- “God wants you to enjoy your life now, God wants you to live a happy life.”: This proposed heaven-on-earth is so far from what the Bible says. Does God really wants us to live happily or did His Holy Spirit advise us to live in a constant warfare against evil? “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6) This kind of “peaches and cream” Christianity is very dangerous for it makes us feel at ease, relaxed, not watching over the strategies of the evil one. This doctrine aims to make us feel good, therefore, it makes people live alienated from the spiritual reality surrounding us. As long as Christians are entertained, cool and relaxed, Satan is free to do whatever he wants without them even noticing.
- “God does not want any adversity to come over you.” : To answer this, we just have to take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:14: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.”
- “Your best days are ahead of you.” “God will give you your better life now.”: As far as I know, and as the Scriptures say, the Only One who knows what the future will bring is God. Let us see what the Bible says about this: “No one knows what is coming...” (Ecclesiastes 10:14); “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.” (James 4:14-16)
- “Your own wrong thinking can keep you from God’s best.” The will of God will ALWAYS come to pass. The Bible says that God’s hand cannot be stopped: “He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35) ; “If He snatches away, who can stop Him? Who can say to Him, 'What are you doing?'”(Job 9:12); “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever.” (Salmo 33:11); “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” (Psalm 115:3); “For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27). God’s best for you will come to our lives no matter what, we just have to trust Him, love Him and acknowledge His sovereignty.
- “Start calling in victory. Start calling in divine health. Start calling in abundance. You can prophesy your future.” This is in no way different from the Metaphysical Law of Strong Conviction and Positive Expectations* of the Pagan New Age religion. But even worse, it is contrary to the Scriptures. The Holy Bible says: “...prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” A prophecy, in order to be a prophecy, HAS TO BE INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. This doctrine of “prophesy-your-future” is pure heresy. Once again, if I can prophesy MY future, and MY words have “creative power”, and I give birth to things as soon as I speak, who has the power? Who does not have it anymore? Who is the center of the “miracle”? Men. God is way out of these equations of “faith”. Is not His will that will be done, it is MY will, with MY words and MY creative power.
- “God wants you to be wealthy and rich. He wants you to have that new big house and that fancy car you crave for.” I will not even comment on this one, I will let the Word of God do it: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16); “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32); “Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, godliness is just a way to become wealthy.Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Timothy 6:4-8); “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-21).
May God open our eyes to see the works of the devil to deceive us...
*It states that whatever you believe with absolute conviction and confidently expect to happen becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and will become a reality in your life. The author explains how this happens: If you continuously build your convictions about your inevitable success in life, you will instinctively take the appropriate actions that will bring about the results you reverently desire. What we expect to happen, happens. (http://www.cherrysage.com/articles/TitleLink.php?nId=62&pageName=The%20Six%20Metaphysical%20Laws%20Of%20Prosperity)
