Living by faith in God requires knowing the difference between biblical and non-biblical faith.

From the heart of Dr. R. L. Taylor, Bible Teacher & Expositor. There’s a dangerous teaching among Christians which promote and emphasize the so-called “power” of positive confession and belief in God's promises to bring about desired outcomes, including wealth, health, and success. The teachings include a misinterpretation of biblical texts, a focus on human potential rather than God's sovereignty, and a distorted view of faith. The following is a more detailed look at the errors. The movement falsely teaches that believers can “name and claim” or “blab and grab” blessings from God, believing that people can speak things into existence and make them happen. Speaking things into existence is God’s domain. Only He does this. A core tenet of this false teaching is the belief that God's will is for believers to be healthy and wealthy. This error leads to the idea that financial and physical success are signs of God's favor, while suffering and poverty are seen as signs of a lack of faith. There’s an emphasis on human ability over God's power. The teachings place excessive emphasis on the so-called “power of human faith,” suggesting that believers can control God's actions or manipulate spiritual forces through their own faith. But biblical faith has God as its object, meaning there’s no power inherent in faith! The power of faith resides in its object, which is God. This leads to a distortion of God's Character. The so-called power of faith without an object will naturally focus on human potential and leads to a view of God as being obligated to grant whatever is desired and spoken. Faith without God as its object downplays and ignores the sovereignty of God. These teachings downplay God's sovereignty and control over events, suggesting that believers can essentially dictate outcomes through their faith. These teachings ignore the reality of sickness and suffering. Many with these false views have said to me, “The doctor diagnosed me with having diabetes, but “by faith, I reject it!” You can “reject” it all you want, it’s still in your body and, if not medically attended, will kill you. The movement's emphasis on material wealth leads to a denial of the reality of suffering in the lives of believers, and a failure to understand that suffering can be part of God's plan. This inevitably leads to the negative consequences of guilt and bondage. The pressure to “name and claim” blessings leads to guilt and feelings of inadequate faith when the things “named and claimed” never show up. This false teaching often brings about dishonesty and superficial Christianity. For many, the emphasis on positive confession can lead to dishonesty, as people hide their struggles or doubts to appear more faithful. This false teaching leads to financial exploitation, as these false teachers and preachers compel followers to give large sums of money (they can't afford to give) with the promise of a return which never comes. Biblical faith giving teaches, "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). In conclusion, though this false teaching emphasizes the importance of faith, it contains several errors in its interpretation of Scripture and understanding of God's character. These errors lead to negative consequences for those who follow its teachings. Be encouraged to know God well enough to discern the difference between biblical and non-biblical faith.