Just guessing…but your friends may be members of “Word of Faith” within the charismatic/Pentacostal groups.I keep hearing this from my Evangelical and Protestant friends. When you are in need, you “claim” it. I want to understand fully what is the theology behind it. I know roughly its about saying, “I will get this because I believe in God.” At the same time I find the term to presumptuous. Are we always worthy of God’s blessings? Also, who are we to say what God gives us? Aren’t we supposed to subject ourselves to the will of the Father?
This is how I understand it. But I guess I want to know more behind it because I may be being prejudiced against them.Without really taking the time to understand the theology behind what it is to “claim” a blessing, I have explained to funfamentalist friends who have shared this idea with me that Catholics do not “claim” power, grace, or blessings…we accept what good that Gos allows imnto our lives. To “claim” is to presume on God’s grace, which is a sin.
One is Alliance Church, the other is PentecostalJust guessing…but your friends may be members of “Word of Faith” within the charismatic/Pentacostal groups.
One “claims” the promises of God in “faith”…abuses have led to the “prosperity gospel” that uses similar terminology.
I would think the Alliance is more of “claim the promises of God and believe He will do what he promises”…the other I would see as a “proclaim it and claim it” type belief…the latter would be more of a “Word of Faith” I would think.One is Alliance Church, the other is Pentecostal
The context is a very specific claiming of something.I would think the Alliance is more of “claim the promises of God and believe He will do what he promises”…the other I would see as a “proclaim it and claim it” type belief…the latter would be more of a “Word of Faith” I would think.
Not this too.I’ve heard the so-called “wealth and health” churches encourage people to make “claims” on luxury cars, exotic vacations, etc. The scam they use is to tell people to give their ministry a lot of money, and in return God will give you even more money. It’s anyone’s guess what motivations the givers have, but the motivations of the receivers are pretty clear: greed and sloth.
The Alliance church isn’t a "name it and claim it’ “Word of Faith” type fellowship.The context is a very specific claiming of something.
Well then why is this person whom I speak with talks to me that way?The Alliance church isn’t a "name it and claim it’ “Word of Faith” type fellowship.
Friend, I don’t know why…perhaps he/she is listening to “name it and claim it” teachers…but “Word of Faith” is not an Alliance focus of belief. All Alliance fellowships have a set standard of beliefs…what one particular member believes and practices in no way reflects what the Alliance faith tradition standard statement of beliefs are…just as one particular Catholic belief system is not indicative of Catholic teachings across the board.Well then why is this person whom I speak with talks to me that way?
Besides, knowing Protestants there really isn’t a set in stone doctrine. What one Alliance Church believes definitely won’t be the same as what the other one does. I know one of their Pastors is married to one who used to go to the Pentecostal Church of the other friend I was talking about. Its not surprising if they’ve injected Pentecostal elements of worship into that specific congregation.
Hi,Not this too.
It has to do with this. For example I ask God for something very specific. Then I “claim” that, meaning I expect God to give me that very exact thing.
It has been defined by the belief that “Jesus blesses believers with riches”[1] or more specifically as the teaching that "believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the ‘sowing of seeds’ through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings."[3] In the words of journalist Hanna Rosin, the prosperity gospel “is not a clearly defined denomination, but a strain of belief that runs through the Pentecostal Church and a surprising number of mainstream evangelical churches, with varying degrees of intensity.”]
The thing is, I don’t believe that anyone has a right to blessings based on their actions, regardless of their intention in making good choices. It sounds more like Hindu karma or the Wiccan ‘Rule of Three.’
I will also posit that people who believe that blessings always stem from good works are looking at God’s grace like a spiritual gumball machine: if you put in a quarter, you are owed a piece of candy. Anyone mature in faith knows that this isn’t true.
It is also ironic that sola fide people would put so much stock in blessings in exchange for good works. As blessings received are an indication of favor with God (Who is no respecter of persons, btw), It seems wholly superstitious.
The bible is full of promises that God has made to man. Arguably the most famous inI keep hearing this from my Evangelical and Protestant friends. When you are in need, you “claim” it. I want to understand fully what is the theology behind it. I know roughly its about saying, “I will get this because I believe in God.” At the same time I find the term to presumptuous. Are we always worthy of God’s blessings? Also, who are we to say what God gives us? Aren’t we supposed to subject ourselves to the will of the Father?