In 1952 Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book, The Power of Positive Thinking, which quickly became an international best seller. In that book Dr. Peale introduced the revolutionary idea that we have the power in ourselves to change our lives for the good. Much in the book is interesting, and over the years other thinkers have expanded on the belief that we can control our own future.
A good example would be Remez Sasson, who recently authored a book titled “Visualize and Achieve.” He claims that his book shows you “… how to use the power of visualization to create success, attract money, get the things you want, and improve your life….With the right use of your imagination and visualization, you will be able to attract into your life a new job, a new house, a new car, money, love, better health, promotion at work, and much more.”
The power of positive thinking has also invaded modern Christianity in movements like one called “Word of Faith.” It teaches that our words can actually manipulate God into providing us with good health and desired wealth. This philosophy is being pushed by popular TV preachers like Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, Kenneth Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, and Fred Price.
Robert Tilton, for example, talks about the “Law of Compensation.” He teaches that if Christians give generously, God will give them more in return. This is how Gloria Copeland put it, “Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000… in short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal.” (They only quote the first half of that verse!)
In his book, The Laws of Prosperity, Kenneth Copeland wrote that “faith is a spiritual force, a spiritual energy, a spiritual power. It is this force of faith which makes the laws of the spirit world function.”
Let me be clear. These men are not accurately explaining what the Bible teaches. They are taking parts of verses to support what they already believe. The positive thinking they are encouraging has made them all very wealthy.
What is often overlooked is that there are some big problems with misrepresenting faith as positive thinking. As a chaplain, I have seen sick people who were absolutely positive that their faith would make them well. I have watched at deathbeds with family members who were positive that their faith in God was still going to heal their loved one, right up until the doctor gave them the news that their family member was gone..
Thankfully, the faith that the Bible actually teaches has a better way for us to face both life and death.
Instead of being POSITIVE that we can get life to work our way, Christians can be POSITIVE that their lives are being controlled by an all-powerful God who loves them.
You can know that God loves you too, if you respond to what Jesus did for you. He volunteered to suffer a type of hell for you on the Cross so that you can enjoy His presence now, and enjoy eternal bliss later. If we turn from our sin and follow Him, He gives us this gift of eternal life. No matter what temporary, difficult circumstances we may experience in this life, we can still be POSITIVE that God loves us.
That is why Paul, who endured a lot of physical suffering (see II Corinthians 11:23-28) could have a very positive attitude. “… If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? … Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 31–32, 34–35, 37–39).
Don’t be fooled by religious teachers who exalt faith more than they exalt God Himself. The ultimate source of power only comes from the One who made us, not from within us. Even as our broken world continues to break, Christians can remain calm and positive. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name…. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth” (1 Chronicles 16:8–12).
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