Editing Word of Faith (section)

===Faith and confession===
In Word of Faith teaching, a central element of receiving from God is "confession", often called "positive confession" or "faith confession" by practitioners. Practitioners will claim and affirm they have healing, well being, prosperity, or other promises from God, before actually experiencing such results. They do so in demonstration of their faith, which they believe will ultimately result in the fulfillment of their words. While similar, it should not be confused with [[Norman Vincent Peale]]'s [[Optimism|positive thinking]] theology focusing on the individual, as evidenced by the motto, "Faith in God and believe in oneself".{{Citation needed|reason=Previous citation was just a link to a donation page|date=November 2023}} Noted Word of Faith teachers, such as [[Kenneth E. Hagin]] and [[Charles Capps]], have argued that [[God]] created the universe by speaking it into existence ([[Genesis 1]]),<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|1}}</ref> and that God has endowed believers with this power. Thus, making a "positive confession" of God's promise and believing God's word stirs the power of resurrection which raised Christ from the dead ([[Epistle to the Ephesians|Ephesians]] 1:19–20,<ref>{{bibleverse|Ephesians|1:19–20}}</ref> 3:20),<ref>{{bibleverse|Ephesians|3:20}}</ref> and brings that promise to fulfilment. This teaching is interpreted from Mark 11:22–23.<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|11:22–23}}</ref> A more recent variant of positive confession is "decree and declare".<ref>Denver Cheddie, ''Is Decree and Declare Scriptural?'', Bible Issues, [http://www.bibleissues.org/declare.html bibleissues.org]</ref> Word of Faith preachers have called [[faith]] a "force".<ref>Kenneth Copeland, ''The Force of Faith'', (KCP Publications, 1989)</ref>

Conversely, "negative confession" is believed to be harmful, and so it is taught that believers should be conscious of their words. This is argued on the interpretation of [[Proverbs 18]]:21,<ref>{{bibleverse|Proverbs|18:21|KJV}}</ref> "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and they that love them will eat the fruit thereof", and also [[Numbers 14]]:28,<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|14:28|KJV}}</ref> "...saith the Lord, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do", among other scriptures.{{which|date=January 2024}}