Championed by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lady Gaga, who all testify to its power, the practice of Manifesting is more popular than ever. It’s all over social media and a massive commercial industry offering people the chance to ‘claim’ what they want in life through positive thought and rituals. I’ve also noticed it popping up in conversations with family friends and on TV programs; just light hearted stuff- “I’m going to manifest this treat” or “Let’s manifest winning this competition”.

Framed in the language of ‘positivity’ and ‘good vibes’, for many it’s hard to see the harm in it when ‘all it does is help people achieve their dreams’. However, as Christian believers what are we to make of this increasingly popular trend of MANIFESTING?

It’s potentially confusing territory because Manifesting has much of the language and the principles of faith outlined in the scriptures regarding Christian practice, for example, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). So in this article I will identify what scriptural manifesting is, where the modern cult of Manifesting comes from (which I will designate for the sake of clarity with a capital M) and what we can learn from this about our own faith walk.

MANIFESTING IN THE BIBLE

As Christians we should be very familiar with the term ‘manifest’ or ‘manifesting’ because it is used throughout the scriptures to describe the phenomenon of something spiritual becoming physical.

The Greek words translated as manifest or manifesting (phaneroō, phanerōsis, apokalýpto) in the Bible are words that mean revealing or being made known. The sense of the word is that when something is purely spiritual it is hidden, but when it is made physical it is revealed, made known or manifest.

GOOD MANIFESTATIONS IN SCRIPTURE

For example, the letter to Timothy tells us that God himself was made manifest in Jesus:

“God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16

In fact the gospel itself is said to have been made manifest – a mystery that was kept hidden but now made known:

“the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” Colossians 1:26

Jesus is also said to have manifested his glory or divinity through the miracles he performed:

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:11

It is evident that believers also manifest the power of God as we read of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit through the spiritual gifts that he gives to each one for ministries like healing and prophecy:

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬

NEGATIVE MANIFESTATIONS IN SCRIPTURE

However, the term manifesting is also used in a negative context in scripture, because, as we have seen, manifesting simply means that what is hidden or spiritual is being revealed:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…” Galatians 5:19

There are many spiritual powers which, according to the scriptures, seek to dominate and destroy us by driving us towards greed, lust and pride. The spirit of the flesh is one of these powers along with the spirit of the world and the devil (Ephesians 2:1-3). This is key to understanding the dangers of ‘Manifesting’.

So we have established that ‘manifestations’ in the context of the scriptures is neither good nor bad in itself, but a way of describing the revealing of what is spiritual or hidden. Furthermore, the wilful act of manifesting is not a passive thing but a powerful reality or life changing power that is determined by the will of a spiritual personality – whether that be divine, angelic, demonic or human.

What we as Christians should desire is more manifestations of the indwelling Holy Spirit; less of our manifest will and more of his. 

THE MODERN CULT OF MANIFESTING

The practice of Manifesting may draw on this same scriptural principle of ‘revealing that which is hidden through spiritual power’ – but its root is not in the Holy Spirit (though proponents may like to think its the same thing). In this respect – because it is invoking spiritual powers to bend to a human will, it is basically a subtle form of witchcraft.

It’s important to stress that many of the methodologies employed by Manifesting literature are simply natural laws observed in empirical sociological and psychological studies. For example, ‘the laws of attraction’ (or the Pareto principle), or ‘the power of single mindedness’ (many of which are found in scripture, for example: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8). It’s a mistake to think these principles are evil in themselves but rather – just like the act of faith – it’s not the faith itself but what or who we are putting our faith in that is critical.

In regard to this, the faith and spirituality which are employed in Manifesting are often drawing on spiritual powers in ignorance – not realising that there is always a price to pay for a transfer of spiritual power. In Christianity we believe this price was paid by Jesus through the cross and that is why we are able to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. However, in the cult of Manifesting, instead of a particular god or gods there is a vague notion of a benign universe of which we can ask for anything we want – a bit like a divine Father Christmas.

These roots of modern Manifesting can be traced back to an early 19th century metaphysical cult called the New Thought Spiritual Movement. Behind the practice of manifesting is an underlying quasi-religious belief that we are inherently good and powerful; having the ability within us to influence circumstances (and therefore positive outcomes) from a spiritual source.