“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 theWord 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 willhappen.

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 base 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 and instead sees Jesus as little more than a way of getting what we want right now. …Matthew 13:44…44 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.…Jesus' message is that a Christian is called to…Matthew 16:24-24…24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[a] Is anything worth more than your soul?…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…2 Timothy 3:12…12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.…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 what does John say in his letter:

1 John 2:15…15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

in fact, those with a fondness for the things of the world become enemies of God…James 4:4…4 You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

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 imple 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, …Matthew 6:19-21 …19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.…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…Philippians 4:11…11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.