The doctrine of Word Faith, sometimes referred to as Word of Faith, is a teaching promoted by some of the more radical elements of the
Charismatic movement. The term implies that Christians not only need faith in God, but that they need to have faith in the power of the words they speak. If they use the "word of faith," according to a number of formulas which such teachers believe they have found in the Bible, they do not need to pray to God and request answers to their prayers most of the time. They need only search the Bible to find what they consider "unconditional promises" of God, and then merely "confess" with their mouth-using the word of faith-that the blessings they seek are theirs, and they shall have those blessings. Such blessings would include health and prosperity. One of the typical sayings Word Faith adherents are supposed to internalize is "What I confess, I possess." A related catch phrase used in many Word Faith books is "confession brings possession." Critics sometimes refer to this as a "name it and claim it" doctrine.
