Name it and Claim it Theology

The Word of Faith teaching, also known as having a positive confession is a theological belief in the power of words. It derives from a Pentecostal movement that developed in the United States during the early 20th century.

This teaching espouses that if an individual speaks words in faith, believing in the power of what these words represent, then the speaker will come to experience the material, spiritual, and emotional results of his or her words. This reveals that the error is having faith in faith and not faith in God.

According to Word of Faith beliefs, one’s spiritual life is determined by one’s words, and powerful spiritual forces are put into motion through speaking "words of faith". There are thousands of disciples of Christ that believe in the messages of the word of faith teachings.

Word of Faith teaching can be traced to the ideas of E. W. Kenyon, who has been recognized as one of the founders of the modern-day "Name it and claim it" movement. Kenyon, a former New England Congregational minister-turned-holiness teacher, is known for his popularization of the theme of "claiming one’s faith", which is often referred to as "name-it-and-claim-it" theology.

Kenyon's teaching taught that faith is based on believing God's Word and that one must claim the promises of God in faith before they come to pass. He believed that in order to receive the blessings of healing, harmony, joy, and financial gain, one must speak the words of faith out loud and with conviction.

Another of Word of Faith’s influential early leaders was Kenneth Hagin (1917–2003). Following in the footsteps of E. W. Kenyon, Hagin gathered many of Kenyon’s ideas into a practical set of instructions for believers, which formed the basis for modern-day Word of Faith teaching.

Hagin was widely considered an influential leader in the charismatic movement, which was an attempt to revitalize traditional Pentecostalism. Along with Kenyon’s teachings, there were other major influences on the Word of Faith movement, such as Oral Roberts and Kenneth Copeland.

Oral Roberts was an influential American evangelist and faith healer. In 1947, Oral Roberts founded a healing-revival radio program that was broadcast around the country. He believed that people could not only experience physical healing through the power of faith but also financial, emotional, and spiritual healing. Therefore, his radio programs contained positive affirmations and confessions. As part of his teachings, Roberts urged his listeners to "name what they desired and claim it in the name of Jesus Christ". Roberts was also a great influence at the beginning of the televangelism era. 

Kenneth Copeland is another influential leader in the Word of Faith movement. He founded the Kenneth Copeland Evangelistic Association in 1967. Copeland is best known for his teachings on the "power of the spoken word", which is a central lesson of Word of Faith theology. He is a leading proponent of the power of "positive confessions" and "speaking faith" into the circumstances of one’s life. Copeland’s ministry has popularized the teaching that a saved person’s words have the power to create what he or she desires.

In conclusion, the Word of Faith teaching has been derived from Pentecostal and charismatic teachings, which were based on the ideas of E.W. Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, and Kenneth Copeland. These early leaders have helped popularize and establish "name-it-and-claim-it" theology in the modern church.

This Word of Faith teaching emphasizes the power of words in creating one’s physical, emotional, and financial reality and believes that through "speaking faith" into a situation, believers can experience healing, harmony, joy, and financial gain. 

In conclusion, the Word of Faith movement has both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, the Word of Faith teachings put the power of God's words at the forefront, emphasizing the importance of belief in the power of words, and the power of prayer and positive confession in bringing about desired changes in one's life that line up with the will of God. On the other hand, critics argue that the “name it and claim it” theology encourages a kind of “magical thinking”, where people expect to receive whatever they ask for just by speaking words of faith, without taking any real action. Moreover, they say that unbridled emphasis on obtaining financial wealth can be corrosive, as it can lead to greed and selfishness. Ultimately, the power of God's word is undeniable, but it is important to remember that faith in God requires action and wisdom to be effective. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com