The "health and wealth" gospel teaches that the human mind and tongue contain a "power." When a person speaks expressing his faith in supposedly divine laws, his positive thoughts and his positive verbal expression (such as, "I am healed of my heart attack") are supposed to produce a "divine force" that will heal, produce wealth, and influence the environment. According to the "health and wealth" teachers, God automatically responds and accomplishes what we command when we positively confess our needs and desires. The non-biblical part of this teaching is that God is obligated to do what we decide. We are in charge, not God. Charles Capps and other "faith" teachers clearly state, "Words are the most powerful thing in the universes." The teachings and emphases in this movement vary, but in general there are at least five major tenets of "health and wealth" or "faith" gospel.

1. Perfect divine healing was made available to all believers through the death of Christ. A person's healing is limited only because of his insufficient faith to receive it.
2. It is God's desire that all believers prosper - financially, physically and spiritually.
3. A person must "claim" his health and wealth. He can do this immediately by believing he already has it and by positively confessing these conditions, even though all outward appearances seem to be different. When sense perceptions do seem to contradict health and wealth beliefs (such as when a person is not healed of his heart attack), our senses must be rejected and a person must live by "faith." The reason given is as follows: The mind is so powerful that "negative confession" is just as potent a force as positive confession and therefore can become a destructive force.
4. "Health and wealth" teachers often insist one must experience the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" which is usually evidenced by speaking in tongues.
5. Many "health and wealth" teachers rely on "angelic" contact. They receive guidance and in turn command angels to do their will! "Angels" appear to be responsible for directing the ministries of several of the leading "health and wealth" teachers.
 

    "Health and wealth" or "faith" teachers often claim divine visions, divine inspiration, or divine interpretations of Scripture passages which give their teachings absolute authority. This is an especially serious claim and Christians need to examine it carefully.
 

John Ankerberg & John Weldon