Faith as a Force: Word of Faith theology teaches that faith is a tangible spiritual force that believers can use to create their desired reality. This teaching is often summarized by the phrase “name it and claim it.” Faith, in this view, is not just trust in God but is a substance or power that, when spoken aloud in the form of positive confession, brings material and physical blessings into existence. This belief essentially makes faith a tool for believers to manipulate their circumstances.
- This teaching is based on an interpretation of passages like Mark 11:24 (“Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”) and Proverbs 18:21 (“Death and life are in the power of the tongue”).
Word of Faith is normally associated with what is called “the faith movement.” The term is taken from Romans 10:8-10:
“But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, (9) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (10) for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Word of Faith shares several beliefs with many other Pentecostal and Charismatic groups but its main distinction is its emphasis on Words and Faith, hence,
