Book 3 of Musings Positive Thinking

Those who stress only that which is positive are seeking their own glory.

Those who stress only that which is negative are ill. The Bible is both positive and negative

Some time ago there was a great emphasis on "positive preaching." The idea was that whatever we said would come to pass. So we should be careful to speak positively.

Added to this was the idea of the "creative word."

I have no intention of criticizing any Christian leader and will not do so. I am interested only in things that will help believers stay on a constructive path with the Lord.

The idea of the word of faith, the creative word, positive thinking, name it and claim it, are too close to metaphysics, in my opinion. In metaphysical thinking, one's attitudes and words are very significant.

I do not see this idea in the Bible. The ways of the Bible are much more rugged than this. Peeping and muttering words of faith are weak compared with calling on the name of the Lord.

The most dangerous aspect of the word of faith is its invitation to the believer to exert power and authority according to his own understanding. If he can learn the metaphysical principles of positive thinking and speaking he can manipulate his environment according to his own will.

There is a personage, or a spirit, mentioned in the Book of Revelation. This personage is a great help to Antichrist. Sometimes Bible scholars refer to this individual as the False Prophet.

From my point of view, the False Prophet consists of Christians who are not living in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, but who have learned to use metaphysical principles to work miracles.

It is one matter to have faith in faith. It is another matter to have faith in God.

It is one matter to "speak the word of faith." It is another matter to speak to the Lord Jesus and look to Him to move. There is an uncrossable chasm between these two approaches. Make no mistake about this!

One time when I was praying in the woods in Arkansas, I asked the Lord if He was going to allow the "faith message" to prosper. He said to the effect that it would soon die out but be revived in the last days.

On another occasion I asked the Lord about preaching that which is positive. The Lord said, "He who preaches only that which is positive is seeking his own glory. He who preaches only that which is negative is mentally ill."

Then the Lord took be back to Genesis and showed me that the Bible consists of both the positive and the negative. There were trees you could eat. There was one tree you could not eat; and so forth.

There are some good Christians who make a practice of forcing God to honor His Word. Their idea is you only pray once. For example, you declare a person healed because we were healed by the stripe laid on Christ.

Then, no matter what, you are to regard that person as healed.

Have you ever run into this approach?

I don't believe it is of God. I have been healed miraculously on more than one occasion. So has my wife, Audrey. But when we were healed we were healed. We did not have to say "I'm healed. I'm healed. I'm healed" when there was no evidence we actually were healed.

When Audrey was healed of a thyroid condition her medicine did not act properly any longer. That was the first evidence she had that she was healed. She had been prayed for, and then she really was healed. But she didn't realize it until she started to take her medicine.

When I was healed of arthritis I was getting ready to go to the hospital. I suddenly was healed in the front room of my house. I didn't expect to get healed. But when the Lord touched me I knew it, and I have kept this healing over many years.

When the Lord moves it can be verified in the physical world. We don't have to try to force it by trying to believe the miracle into existence.

The following passage gives some idea of the power that is unleashed when we cry to the Lord.

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. (Psalms 18:6-7)

You can read further in this Psalm. Can you see the difference between our pitiful "I believe. I believe. I believe. I believe" and what happens when we call to the Lord in our distress? There is no comparison. One is a metaphysical approach, trying to change our circumstances by believing the change into existence; or imaging (imagining) the change into existence.

When we call on the Lord in our distress, powerful events occur!

We should not attempt to use metaphysical principles, or the latent power of the soul. We should not try to find things by sensing where they are or attempt to read minds. All such metaphysical efforts are to be avoided. We are to pray for what we want in Jesus' name and trust Him for the answer.

When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. (Deuteronomy 11:29)