Are Affirmations a Sin? A Christian Perspective…

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Have you ever heard the saying, “You are what you eat?”  In reality, “We are what we speak.”  From a Christian perspective, we look at powerful statements of positivity as more than affirmations. We look at them as declarations!  We declare what scripture (the word of God) found in the Holy Bible says about us to help us overcome stress, anxiety, and self-limiting behaviors and attitudes. 

For instance, scripture tells us that as we honor God, he will give us strength in moments of weakness.  In addition, God will supply all our needs, and we will be prosperous and find success. 

What are your thoughts on affirmations?  Are affirmations a sin? What are sinful affirmations? Affirmations are great, and also necessary, in order to get our minds in the right place. But, having the power of God's word behind those affirmations can make us feel unstoppable

I personally quote scriptures from the bible daily.  I speak the promises from scripture over my life as daily affirmations and declarations of faith.  It helps me to get my mind in the right space… while also allowing myself to believe that God will help me do things beyond my own abilities. 

(Side note: One of the best ways to increase your happiness and life satisfaction is to plan your day, so you focus on your TOP goals. To get started, watch this free video that details the 7-minute habit for planning your day to focus on what's important.)

Are affirmations a sin?

No.  Affirmations are not sin. They are a vital part of our faith.  They are not viewed as a sin, unless they contradict the nature and laws the Lord asked us to follow in scripture. For instance, scripture says “God loves us.” Therefore, his genuine desire is for us to do the following:

  • To feel loved by Him 
  • Love Him in return
  • Love others as we love ourselves

See, Mark 12:28-32 for God's greatest commands. Sin can enter the picture when we make affirmations or speak things that are contrary to God's desires.  Those are negative, and make us feel devalued, depressed, and weak.

Affirmations are powerful statements we can use to help us overcome challenging situations, self-sabotaging behaviors, and negative thoughts. But, unfortunately, those thoughts, feelings, and challenges are often brought on by negative affirmations taken to heart and past traumatic experiences.

The terminology of making “affirmations “refers chiefly to the method of positive thinking and self-empowerment. Affirmations are made on the premise that “a positive mental attitude supported by affirmations will fuel success in anything.”  See 45 Positive Affirmations for Anxiety Relief and Stress Reduction.

When Affirmations are a Sin?

Some Christians, when asked are affirmations a sin, believe they are. They feel affirmations are only self-focused, and Christians shouldn't make them. Instead, they believe the power of God is the alternative.

However, positive affirmations are considered declarations of faith to many more Christians. Our affirmations are the structure, built on the foundations of our faith in our powerful God. Our faith helps us have the proper perspective and rely on the Lord’s willingness to act on our behalf.  So, our faith is not in the positive thoughts and words alone for success (though they have power) but in God and His desire for us to succeed. Which is far greater.

Affirmations become sin when they're spoken harmfully to us and others in ways that are denigrating, wishing ill-will, or self-sabotaging.  If God loves us and thinks so highly of us, it is a sin to put down what God has esteemed so highly.  In addition, affirmations are a sin when they begin to change our lives in a negative way. For instance, when they are carrying a message leading to depression, low confidence, and lack of self-esteem. It affects our happiness and well-being.  Whether you’re a Christian or not, almost all of us believe that words have power.

The power of spoken words has even been studied in science.  In fact, there have been many spoken word studies and experiments done with plants.

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Affirmations become sin when they're spoken harmfully to us and others in ways that are denigrating, wishing ill-will, or self-sabotaging.

Three of the same plants were placed in separate rooms for the experiments.  In one room, harsh words were spoken over the plant. In the second room, there was complete silence. However, kind words and positive affirmations were communicated to the plant in the third room.

The final results showed that the plants which received kind words conveyed to them grew more than the other two.

The experiment revealed that words are important and affect all living beings. For more on the science behind the power of words, visit dailytimes.com & the science-behind-power-of-words.

If words do this to plants, imagine how it impacts human beings? When we speak, sound waves carry the message spoken and affect the person on the receiving end. In many cases, the impact lasts forever.

If it’s kind affirmations, it can boost a person’s energy and bring out their good side. If negative, it can create a hurtful thought about the person speaking it and recreate feelings from past trauma. 

But as a believer and followers of Christ's teachings found in the Holy Bible, we believe positive words spoken in faith move mountains. 

Final Thoughts on Are Affirmations a Sin

Again, are affirmations a sin? No. In fact, we encourage speaking positive affirmations daily! We live in a world that consistently tells us what is wrong with us in a sinful way. As a result, we are often made to feel inadequate, unloved, and unwanted. In addition, we try so many things to make us feel accepted and included because of the negativity. So, speaking positive affirmations and declarations from the word of God helps us to become happier humans.

There are many resources available to help us stay positive and encourage us as we go through the daily grind of life. A few of these include the Holy Bible, apps featuring positive affirmations and promoting self-empowerment… and our website at HappierHuman.com. 

Finally, if you want to increase your happiness and life satisfaction, then watch this free video that details the 7-minute habit for planning your day to focus on what's important.

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