Word of Faith vs. The Secret - Positive Confession with or without God.

It seems these days that the Word of Faith movement has been on the defense as the Secret society has developed with the help of Oprah's advertisement into a huge force.

If you don't know what I am talking about here's a brief summary.

The Word of Faith movement is based on positive confession. They believe that God would have you to prosper in every way, financial, health, career and experience no hardships. If you do experience hardships you are not having enough faith. You think positive thoughts and you will bring good things into existence. You have faith and claim the blessings. That's how they got the name...Name it, Claim it. Saddly it is one of the fastest growing sects of "christianity".

The Secret is a recent book written by Rhonda Byrne and foundation of 52 Worldwide teachers that came out with a recent book that has spread like wildfire that believes the same thing but with out Jesus. As of today it is still #1 on the New York Times Bestseller Advice Book List and has knocked prosperity preacher Joel Osteen's , "Your Best Life Now" book off the top #10.

Now it seems that prosperity preachers like Creflo Dollar and others are backpedaling as the formula seems to work without Jesus. There is the sense that if the power of positive thinking works without God why would anyone need a church to tell them the secret to abundance?

According to Rev. Dollar "There is no prosperity apart from the Word of God, so the Word must be the basis of your prosperity."

One can only hope that this competition and possible blow for prosperity theology will force those inside and out to examine the teachings compared to the actual teachings of Christ in scripture.

Here's an excerpt of the thinking a teaching of one of the cornerstones of prosperity theology the late Kennith Hagin's from his book "How to Write Your Own Ticket with God".

In the opening chapter, titled "Jesus Appears to Me," Hagin claims that while he "was in the Spirit" -- just like the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos -- a white cloud enveloped him and he began to speak in tongues. "Then the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to me," says Hagin. "He stood within three feet of me." After what sounded like a casual conversation about such things as finances, ministry, and even current affairs, Jesus told Hagin to get a pencil and a piece of paper. He then instructed him to "Write down: 1,2,3,4." Jesus then allegedly told Hagin "if anybody, anywhere, will take these four steps or put these four principles into operation, he will always receive whatever he wants from Me or from God the Father." That includes whatever you want financially. The formula is simply: "Say it, Do it, Receive it, and Tell it."

1. Step number one is "Say it." "Positive or negative, it is up to the individual. According to what the individual says, that shall he receive."
2. Step number two is "Do it." "Your action defeats you or puts you over. According to your action, you receive or you are kept from receiving."
3. Step number three is "Receive it." We are to plug into the "powerhouse of heaven." "Faith is the plug, praise God! Just plug in."
4. Step number four is "Tell it so others may believe." This final step might be considered the Faith movement's outreach program.