SHOULD CHRISTIANS DECLARE AND DECREE THINGS OVER THEIR LIVES?

To declare is to speak out loud a fact, and to decree is to issue an authoritative command. Declaring and decreeing are common practices amongst many Christians in the contemporary Church. It’s taught by many popular preachers, and there are proof texts that are often used to justify this practice. Unfortunately, many Christians have embraced the concept of positive confessions in every area of their lives.

As we explore this Word of Faith theology, we’ll try to answer the following questions? What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Secondly, does our words have power to create? Thirdly, what are the implications of the belief and practice of declaring and decreeing? As we try to answer these questions, my appeal to you is, for you to consider these questions, and compare them with what the Bible teaches.

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 ESV 

Some have said that God created man in His own image, therefore, those who are created in the image of God, could do exactly as God.

In addition, Genesis 1:28, is understood this way, that God granted man the authority and dominion on earth to create. The truth is, human beings do have authority and dominion but to rule and care for God’s creation.

This misunderstanding and misinterpretation is seriously problematic. However, to be created in the image of God, refers to the moral aspect of our being. Human beings, are different from the animals, as humans, have souls to relate and communion with God.

Knowledge, righteousness, and holiness are the moral disposition of man created in the image of God. As well as, Intelligence, and dominion to rule over the entire creation. 

Therefore, to be in the image of God, does not mean divine attributes on per with God. However, man reflects God in His communicable attributes and the incommunicable attributes are unique to God alone. Although, human beings are created in the image of God but we need to understand that, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Amazingly, those who are in Christ are a New Creation. They are called, redeemed, and restored to be conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Knowledge of God, righteousness and holiness are the moral disposition of the New Creatures in Christ (Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10). Nonetheless, these attributes of man doesn’t necessarily imply that humans are little gods but image bearers in the moral sense.

I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die,

and fall like any prince.” Psalm 82:6-7 ESV 

In the Hebrew Language gods can refer to angels, kings, judges and human leaders. If psalm 82:6 was speaking about human beings as divine, then the next verse confirms the opposite for what they truly are. The gods in this context are human leaders which can also mean sons of God.

As we can see in verse 6, they are men who will certainly die. Psalm 82 was a warning from the supreme Judge who will judge the oppressive human leaders Psalm 82:1). Furthermore, Jesus quoted this psalm in John 10:34 to make the point that if humans are called gods by God, how much more for Jesus who is truly God to not declare that He is God.

Does our words have power to create?

as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Romans 4:17 ESV

The argument from Word of Faith theology is that believers can speak things into existence. The idea is as image bearers of God, Christians are able to create with their words just like God. 

However, to deduce such meaning from this verse is a violation of Scripture. Therefore, a faithful and clear way of understanding Romans 4:17 is what stated in the verse, that is, God is the one who calls into existence the things that do not exist. This incredible verse speaks of the Doctrine of Creation as Paul was referring to eternity past or the pre creation of the world (Genesis 1:1).

In addition, Paul was specifically referring to God’s great power at the miracle of Sarah giving birth to Isaac in her old age. Abraham and Sarah believed God’s future decree and that was what God had declared to them, that it will come to pass. The great irony is that it’s only God that has decrees and can declare His sovereign plan to His creatures. 

The only true response from Christians should be awe at the Almighty but also to trust in Him. We can only conclude that it’s God that has the power to cause the dead to be raised. Well then, if Christians can’t create with their words through faith, how come there’s a verse in the Bible that speaks of the power of the human tongue.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21 ESV 

In response, the writer of Proverbs gives a wise counsel on the power of our words in building and breaking a person. The things we say to each other has the power to crush someone or to empower them. For instance, if a boy is constantly belittled by his father, it will lead to negative effects on the boy’s life. The point of proverbs 18:21 is that words are powerful and has significant impact both positively and negatively. However the power of the tongue is not attributing divine power to humans. On a serious note, it would be difficult to ignore the words of our Lord.

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23 ESV 

Let’s take a closer look at this crucial verse that many believe that they can declare and decree things into existence. Did Jesus give a blank cheque to Christians to command sickness, poverty and many other issues with their faith? This cannot be further from the truth. The expression of say to this mountain was a metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what was seemingly impossible (Isaiah 40:4; 49:11).

It’s basically referring to great teachers that can solve incredibly difficult problems which are classed as the impossible. So what’s the point Jesus was making? Christians are to grasp the unlimited power of God that’s available to them. Therefore their faith should rest on God who can do mighty things, according to His sovereign will.

We can conclude that those who are created in the image of God are those who are part of the new creation and are being transformed into the image of Christ. Therefore, the image of God is knowledge, righteousness and holiness. So also the object of our faith is God, the one who creates out of nothing. Our faith don’t create but rather should submit and trust in the only wise and sovereign God.

What are the implications of declaring and decreeing?

Most importantly, there are implications for believing and practicing this theology of declaring and decreeing. In a way, this practice directly tries to undermine God’s sovereign authority. Secondly, this unbiblical notion crosses over to the New Age. Thirdly, this idea teaches that Christians are little gods which is similar to what cult groups like the Mormon church believes. The Apostles, the early Church and throughout Church history, never taught or believed Word of Faith theology.

Sadly, one of the early proponents of this was a man called (Essek W Kenyon 1867 - 1948). He championed the metaphysical and Christian Science into mainline Christianity at the turn of the twentieth century. Kenyon's philosophy was a combination of biblical fundamentalism and transcendental mind cure. He believes in human potential over the sovereignty of God.

The truth is, declaring and decreeing is unbiblical, there’s no biblical command for Christian’s to practice such things. Shockingly, word of faith theology is more in line with new age metaphysics than Biblical Christianity. This aberrant theology portrays God like a genie in the bottle. Scripture gives a very different picture of a powerful sovereign God who directs and sustains His creation. Humans are finite, fallen creatures that needs to be rescued by God. In His mercy and Grace some have been called by God and therefore believed in Him. 

Are we to declare and decree? Absolutely not. What about using your faith to claim things? The biblical understanding of faith is that God is the object of our faith as a result we trust in Him. The Bible never teaches that faith is something that we conjure or exercise to claim things. In His sovereignty God will open and shut doors and the Christian should trust in His wisdom despite the outcome. Finally, what should you do, if you practice the word of faith theology?

Repent and stop this practice but also seriously learn prayers that are rooted in scripture. Another key thing is to understand the God of the Bible. The Doctrine of God will teach you the full scope of the Trinity which then shows how unbiblical word of faith theology is. So how should Christians pray or approach God? Amazingly, our Lord prescribed a pattern for prayer. He shows us how we should approach the Holy One  “Our Father, Hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9-13). Our approach to the throne should be with reverence, to seek His glory and will on earth (Luke 22:42).

The second half of the Lord’s Prayer focuses on our needs. Our daily needs not our sinful desires but our needs for daily repentance of our sins. Prayer is communion with our Holy Father, who has called us from the kingdom of darkness in to His kingdom of light. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with reverence and boldness and submit to His sovereign will. Let’s trust that He will work all things for His glory and for our good (Romans 8:28).