The Power of Positive Confession

The apostles and the prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement make a startling claim. They claim they are restoring teachings that were lost after the first century of the church.One of the teachings they claim to have restored is known as "Positive Confession."According to the Positive Confession teaching, the words we speak have tremendous power to create reality. So we should only speak--or "confess"--positive statements that reflect our desires. Then God will honor our expressions of faith and grant us those desires.But we should never speak "negative confessions." If we do, our lack of faith will cause those negative things to come to pass. For example, we should never say things such as "I think I'm coming down with a cold" or "I'm worried I could lose my job" or "I don't know if I will have enough money to retire."One of the key Bible verses NAR leaders use to support the "Positive Confession" teaching is from Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." They claim this verse teaches that our words have metaphysical power to cause death or life--that is, they can cause things to happen that are very bad or very good.But Proverbs 18:21  cannot properly be used to support the "Positive Confession" teaching. I will show you why.The Proper Interpretation of Proverbs 18:21First let me say: This verse does teach that our words are powerful. But it is not talking about a power like a magical force that can cause our desires to be fulfilled just by uttering mere words. This idea comes from New Age thought, not from the Bible. Instead, it is talking about the influence our words can have on our lives and the lives of others.Also, this verse is not talking about using the tongue to speak words that are only "positive." Rather, it is talking about speaking words that are wise--that is, words that are gracious and carefully thought out before they are spoken. In other words, think before you speak.This proper interpretation of Proverbs 18:21 becomes clear when you look at the full verse, not just the first part--which is usually the only part NAR leaders cite. But the full verse says:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,and those who love it will eat its fruits."

Notice that the second part of the verse says that those who "love" the tongue--that is, those who show wisdom  by choosing their words carefully-- "will eat its fruits"--that is, they will enjoy the blessings and satisfaction that come to those speak wisely.Wise Words vs. Foolish WordsAnd the proper interpretation of Proverbs 18:21 becomes even clearer when you look at the entire book of Proverbs. Wise speech is one of its major themes.Throughout the book, we see the speech of a foolish man is frequently contrasted with the speech of the wise man. And what is shown by the contrast is that the words of a foolish man get him into trouble. He mouths off and gets into brawls (18:6). He slanders people (10:18). He gossips and causes strife. (16:28).But the words of a wise man bring blessing to himself and others. His counsel provides guidance for others and gives them joy (15:23). He speaks graciously and wins favor with people in positions of influence (22:11). His words are tactful and persuasive (25:15).The True Power of the TongueSo Proverbs 18:21 does not mean that positive words can magically fulfill our wishes and give us perfect health, a dream job, and a big bank account. Rather, wise words--words that are carefully measured--have the power to help those around us and give us personal joy and satisfaction.An excellent book that addresses the Positive Confession teaching is The Health and Wealth Gospel by Bruce Barron.What experiences have you had with the "Positive Confession" teaching?