Name It and Claim It!
Question:
"Is 'name it claim it' teaching biblical?"
The “name it and claim it” or “prosperity gospel” is not
biblical and is in many ways antithetical to the true gospel message and the
clear teaching of Scripture. While there are many different versions of the
name it and claim it philosophy preached today, they all have similar
characteristics. At its best, this teaching comes from the misinterpretation
and misunderstanding of some Scriptures and, at its worst, it is a completely heretical
teaching that has the characteristics of a cult.
The
roots of the Word of Faith movement and the name it and claim it message have
more in common with new age metaphysics than with biblical Christianity.
However, instead of us creating our reality with our thoughts, as new age
proponents advise, name it and claim it teachers tell us that we can use the
“power of faith” to create our own reality or get what we want. In essence
faith is redefined from trusting in a holy and sovereign God despite our
circumstances to a way of controlling God to give us what we want. Faith
becomes a force whereby we can get what we want rather than an abiding trust in
God even during times of trials and suffering.
There
are many areas where name it and claim it departs from biblical Christianity.
The teaching really exalts man and his “faith” above God. In fact many of the
more extreme Word of Faith teachers teach that man was created on terms of
equality with God and that man is the same class of being that He is Himself.
This dangerous and heretical teaching denies the very basic tenets of biblical
Christianity which is why the extreme proponents of the name it and claim it
teaching must be considered to be cultic and not truly Christian.
Both
the metaphysical cults and the name it and claim it teaching distort the truth
and embrace the false teaching that our thoughts control reality. Whether it is
the power of positive thinking or the prosperity gospel, the premise is the
same—what you think or believe will happen is ultimately what controls what
will happen. If you think negative thoughts or are lacking in faith, you will
suffer or not get what you want. But on the other hand if you think positive
thoughts or just have “enough faith,” then you can have health, wealth and
happiness now. This false teaching appeals to one of man’s most basic
instincts, which is one reason why it is hugely popular.
While
the prosperity gospel and the idea of controlling one’s future with his
thoughts or faith is appealing to sinful man, it is insulting to a sovereign
God who has revealed Himself in Scripture. Instead of recognizing the absolute
sovereign power of God as revealed in the Bible, the name it and claim it
adherents embrace a false god who cannot operate apart from their faith. They
present a false view of God by teaching that He wants to bless you with health,
wealth and happiness but cannot do so unless YOU have enough faith. Thereby God
is no longer in control but man is. Of course this is completely antithetical
to what Scripture teaches. God does not depend upon man’s ‘faith” to act.
Throughout Scripture we see God blessing who He chooses to bless and healing
who He chooses to heal.
Another
problem with the name it and claim it teaching is that if fails to recognize
that Jesus Himself is the ultimate treasure worth sacrificing everything for
(Matthew 13:44) and instead sees Jesus as little more than a way of getting
what we want right now. Jesus’ message is that a Christian is called to “…deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what
will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what
shall a man give in return for his soul” (Matthew 16:24-24). Contrast that to
the message of the prosperity gospel. Rather than being a message of
self-denial, the prosperity gospel is one of self-satisfaction. Its goal is not
becoming more Christ-like through sacrifice but having what we want here and now,
clearly contradicting the words of our Savior.
The
Bible teaches that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), but the name and claim it message is that any
suffering we undergo is simply the result of a lack of faith. The prosperity
gospel is completely focused on us getting the things the world has to offer,
but 1 John 2:15 tells us we should not “love the world or the things in the
world” and, in fact, those with a fondness for the things of the world become
enemies of God (James 4:4). The message of the prosperity gospel simply cannot
be any more opposite of what the Bible really teaches.
In
his book Your Best Life Now, prosperity teacher Joel Osteen says that the key
to a more rewarding life, a better home, a stronger marriage and a better job
is found in a “simple yet profound process to change the way you think about
your life and help you accomplish what is truly important.” How different that
is from the biblical truth that this life now is nothing compared to the life
to come. The message of the prosperity gospel is focused around the “treasures”
or good things we want and can have now, while Jesus said, “Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Jesus
did not come to give us health, wealth and happiness now. He came to save us
from our sins so that we can have an eternity of bliss with Him. Following
Christ is not a ticket to all the material things men desire in this life but a
ticket to eternal life. Our desire should not be to have our best life now but
should be that of the Apostle Paul who had learned to be content “in whatever
state I am” (Philippians 4:11).
