Faith or Positive Thinking?

Faith is so much different from positive thinking although many people are confused by the two. Faith is not merely a positive confession in a negative situation. In positive thinking, we declare positively the things which we think we need and deny the fact that we lack it. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of the things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In faith, we do have conviction of the things "which we do not see", yet we are fully assured that God will provide for it. In positive thinking, we make ourselves believe we have the things which we do not see and refuse the fact that we lack it. For example (this is even taught in the church), don't say "I don't have money" (although it's a fact), instead say, "I do have money" even if you lack it.

Well, lets apply this principle in our salvation. In Ephesians 2:8-9, we are saved by faith and not by works (nor by positive thinking). Now if we are going to apply positive thinking here, it would look like this; a lost soul applying faith through positive thinking keep saying to himself, "I'm saved, I'm saved!" without the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16) and make himself believe he is. Genuine faith is different from positive thinking, instead of refusing to acknowledge the things he lack, a person would come to the point of admission that there is nothing in his hands that he can offer for salvation, and believe in the Gospel and put his faith in Christ. A person do not get saved by a mere profession or by the power of his mind. Faith isn't about what you say, it is about what God says. Faith is looking through God's word and not a positive mantra that you invite through your positive incantations. God is sovereign above all things, he doesn't bend to our wills unless, it is his will to happen.

Acknowledging the fact in our everyday lives that we lack something isn't doubt. It is just plainly, a fact. Doubt comes when we start to waver in our trust that God can do something about the fact that we do lack something, for example, in our finances. But faith comes when, despite the reality that there is nothing in our hands right now, God is sovereign and is in control of all things. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. We will be rest assured to trust God that he can do something for His glory to be revealed, and in every circumstances God has a plan to get glory for Himself.

By the way, I am not against positive thinking. I agree that it is good for a person to be optimistic. There is nothing wrong with positive thinking, but it is wrong to take positive thinking as faith.

Soli Deo Gloria