Hi Trish & Crystalpc,
I think I see where you are coming from on the confess it/possess it turn this thread has taken. Your position is not as bizarre at least the way you are presenting it as it is sometimes practiced by some more gullible believers.
Some years ago a young couple I knew in the Houston area, both brand new Christians who came to the Lord in a Charismatic church, spent a little too much time watching TBN during one of their semi-annual Moneythons, and happily bit the confession/prosperity bait hook-line-and sinker. To their untaught minds, young believers that they were, the Lord wanted them to be rich and have all the toys their favorite prosperity preachers had, but in order to get those things they had to empty their meager bank account and send a huge check to TBN.
So they started confessing a big two-story house in an upscale neighborhood, the Jaguar they always wanted, brand new Victorian furniture, a huge big screen TV, etc. etc. Within months they had secured loans for all of this. But, of course, none of this would be theirs until they sent in their huge pledge to TBN. They kept saying, God will not let go of what is in His hand until we let go of whats in our hand. So, they sent in their life savings to TBN just as they had promised to do and confessed a windfall. Then they sat back and waited for the big ship to come in.
And they waited. And waited. And all the while they confessed all the good things they honestly believed God would soon bring their way.
Then the bills came due and, in just a matter of months their elation during the lies they had been sold on TBN became desperation in the face of reality. They lost their home, Jag, toys, savings
every material thing they had worked so hard to own for the few years they were married. They wound up declaring bankruptcy and to this day are trying to pick up the pieces, refusing themselves the joy of having children because, well, they cant afford it. Their pastor, also a confession-guy, has been of little help to them. His solution to their need is to advise them to be patient. He says that they have cast their bread on the water, but it will take many days for it to return to them. He keeps telling them, you dont reap in the same season you sow, and a lot of other cute slogans that come over TV and on the pop-theology shelf of their local Christian bookstore.
But it has been a decade since they sent their seed offering to TBN and they are still in dire strats financially. Today, they live in a small mobile home on run-down lot in a run-down neighborhood, drive a six-year-old junker of a car, and fight over finances regularly. Worse still, they have become disillusioned with Christianity at least the bitter taste of Christianity they initially bit into and are no longer involved in the Kingdom. In fact, she is extremely angry at all-things-Christian and their marriage is constantly in trouble. They are today among the unchurched. Personally, I do not expect them to stay married (I know that is a bad confession, but I am being honest).
This is just one of several horror stories I have encountered that is the fruit of the confession doctrine gone wild.
Meanwhile, TBN continues to expand, "proof" of the correctness of their prosperity/confession doctrine.
I've got another one about a family -- big fans of Ken Copeland -- who "adopted" an unchurched cancer patient, daily confessed her healing, and, despite daily visits, anointing with oil, fervent prayer, and confessions of healing, watched her slowly waste away and die. The last time we saw them they were totally disillusioned and clinging to their shredded faith. Fortunately, they had a more balance (Assemblies of God) pastor to advise them and help get them back on track.
And there are more stories.
Sigh.
