Word of Faith

==Teachings==
Distinctive Word of Faith teachings include physical, emotional, financial, relational, and spiritual healing for those who keep their covenant with God.{{Citation needed|reason=Previous citation links to forum content that no longer exists|date=November 2023}} The movement urges believers to speak what they desire, in agreement with the promises and provisions of the Bible, as an affirmation of God's plans and purposes. They believe this is what [[Jesus]] meant when he said in Mark 11:22–24<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|11:22–24}}</ref> that believers shall have whatsoever they say and pray with faith. The term ''word of faith'' itself is derived from Romans 10:8<ref>{{bibleverse|Romans|10:8|KJV}}</ref> which speaks of "the word of faith that we preach".<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/char/more/w-f.htm | publisher = Rapid net | first = Gary E | last = Gilley | title = The Word-Faith Movement}}.</ref>

===Healing===
The Word of Faith teaches that complete healing (of spirit, soul, and body) is included in Christ's atonement and therefore is available immediately to all who believe. Frequently cited is Isaiah 53:5,<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|53:5|KJV}}</ref> ("by his stripes we are healed"), and Matthew 8:17,<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|8:17|KJV}}</ref> which says Jesus healed the sick so that "it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet, 'Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses'."

Because Isaiah speaks in the present tense ("we {{em|are}} healed"), Word of Faith teaches that believers should accept the reality of a healing that is already theirs, first by understanding that physical healing is part of the New Testament's promise of salvation. It is reinforced by confessing the Bible verses which assert this healing and believing them while rejecting doubt. This does not deny pain, sickness, or disease, but denies its right to supersede the gift of salvation in Isaiah 53:5 and many other passages.<ref>Kenneth E. Hagin, ''Right and Wrong Thinking'', (Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1966)</ref> According to adherents, sickness is generally [[Satan]]'s attempt to rob believers of their divine right to total health.<ref>Jerry Savelle, ''If Satan Can't Steal Your Joy...'', (Harrison House, 1982)</ref>

===Prosperity===
{{main|Prosperity theology}}
Word of Faith teaching holds that its believers have a divine right to prosper in all areas of life, including finances, health, marriage, and relationships. Prosperity is not desired for the hoarding of finances but to be an avenue God uses to fund missions for the spreading of the gospel and to help the needy.{{Citation needed|reason=Previous citation was just a link to a book check-out page, no source material or appropriately formatted book reference|date=November 2023}}

Word of Faith preachers such as [[Creflo Dollar]] and [[Kenneth Copeland]] claim that Jesus was rich, and teach that modern believers are entitled to financial wealth.<ref name="harrison" />{{rp|30}}<ref name="blake">{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=John |title=Was Jesus rich? Swanky messiah not far-fetched in Prosperity Gospel |url=https://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/faithandvalues/stories/2006/10/18/1022SLJESUS.html |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104111823/https://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/faithandvalues/stories/2006/10/18/1022SLJESUS.html |archive-date=4 November 2006 |date=22 October 2006}}</ref>

===Faith and confession===
In Word of Faith teaching, a central element of receiving from God is "confession", often called "positive confession" or "faith confession" by practitioners. Practitioners will claim and affirm they have healing, well being, prosperity, or other promises from God, before actually experiencing such results. They do so in demonstration of their faith, which they believe will ultimately result in the fulfillment of their words. While similar, it should not be confused with [[Norman Vincent Peale]]'s [[Optimism|positive thinking]] theology focusing on the individual, as evidenced by the motto, "Faith in God and believe in oneself".{{Citation needed|reason=Previous citation was just a link to a donation page|date=November 2023}} Noted Word of Faith teachers, such as [[Kenneth E. Hagin]] and [[Charles Capps]], have argued that [[God]] created the universe by speaking it into existence (Genesis 1),<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|1}}</ref> and that God has endowed believers with this power. Thus, making a "positive confession" of God's promise and believing God's word stirs the power of resurrection which raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19–20,<ref>{{bibleverse|Ephesians|1:19–20}}</ref> 3:20),<ref>{{bibleverse|Ephesians|3:20}}</ref> and brings that promise to fulfilment. This teaching is interpreted from Mark 11:22–23.<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|11:22–23}}</ref> A more recent variant of positive confession is "decree and declare".<ref>Denver Cheddie, ''Is Decree and Declare Scriptural?'', Bible Issues, [http://www.bibleissues.org/declare.html bibleissues.org]</ref> Word of Faith preachers have called [[faith]] a "force".<ref>Kenneth Copeland, ''The Force of Faith'', (KCP Publications, 1989)</ref>

Conversely, "negative confession" is believed to be harmful, and so it is taught that believers should be conscious of their words. This is argued on the interpretation of Proverbs 18:21,<ref>{{bibleverse|Proverbs|18:21|KJV}}</ref> "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and they that love them will eat the fruit thereof", and also Numbers 14:28,<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|14:28|KJV}}</ref> "...saith the Lord, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do", among other scriptures.{{which|date=January 2024}}