My church recently read The Biblio Diet, by Jordan Rubin and Dr. Josh Axe, for our church book club. While I fully support living a healthy lifestyle, my radar goes up anytime I see someone trying to use scripture to support their research into healthy ways of living. This is because nine times out of ten, they are promoting a health-and-wealth gospel, the doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), or New Thought. And sadly, like so many other “Christian” health books out there, The Biblio Diet does just that.
This book is riddled with the false idea that we can command our bodies to be rid of diseases like cancer and that our negative thinking contributes to our lack of weight loss success. While the health tips in The Biblio Diet may be helpful, there is so much in this book that is not Biblical that I have to warn Christians to read it at their own risk.
Finally, we will discuss some other disturbing statements made by Josh Axe in his book Think This, Not That: 12 Mindshifts to Breakthrough Limiting Beliefs and Become Who You Were Born to Be. I will then let you determine whether it is right for you and your family to study these books (1 Corinthians 8:4-13).
What is the NAR and New Thought?
NAR
The New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, is an unbiblical religious group that prioritizes mysticism over doctrine, experience over Scripture, and contemporary “apostles” over the Bible’s plain text. The position and authority of spiritual leaders and miracle workers, the acceptance of “new” revelations from God, an excessive focus on spiritual warfare, and the quest for social and political dominance are all particularly noteworthy aspects of the New Apostolic Reformation.
However, the biblical qualifications for apostleship include characteristics that cannot be met today. For instance, authentic apostles were required to have personally witnessed the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:7–8), to have been directly appointed by Jesus (Galatians 1:1; Acts 1:2; Luke 6:13), and to have demonstrated their authority through confirmed miraculous signs (Matthew 10:1; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 5:12).
Additionally, the concept of receiving new revelations from God—especially those that are ambiguous and open to shifting interpretations—conflicts with the biblical process for distinguishing true prophets from false prophets. True prophets must be 100% accurate; anything less, even one, or giving teachings that lead to the worship of false gods makes them a false prophet.1See “True Prophecies by False Prophets?,” and “False Prophets Prophesying Falsely”
New Thought
Phineas Quimby was a 19th-century American folk healer, mentalist and mesmerist, whose ideas served as the foundation for the New Thought movement. Quimby was a devotee of Franz Mesmer, a physician and hypnotist. Quimby thought that physical ailments might be cured by the “Truth” because mental problems were the source of physical illnesses. He believed that the body would be cured of its illnesses and issues if the mind were cleared of false beliefs.
Some of Quimby’s theories can be found in the theology of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science and one of his patients. She discussed the notion that mental health issues are the root cause of physical illness.
Summary of NAR and New Thought Statements Made by Rubin and Axe.
The following are statements made by Rubin and Axe that illustrate their propensity for NAR and New Thought thinking. Misusing the Bible as the basis for claiming we have the authority to command nature to conform to our will is nothing but Christianized witchcraft.
NAR
- Identify negative thoughts. Think about what you are thinking about. When you catch yourself thinking that you’ll always be tired, sick, or overweight, stop! Replace that lie with the biblical truth that God “heals all your diseases” (see Psalm 103:2–3). Make a list of scripture that points to the healing and wholeness you desire and meditate on it daily, praying out loud. Speak life over yourself. Remember that your tongue holds the power of life and death (see Proverbs 18:21).2Rubin, Jordan, and Joshua Axe. 2025. The Biblio Diet. Worthy Books. Pg. 228
- Cancer, you are healed in Jesus’s name. I command you to be normal in size and to function.
- Therefore, I will not allow sin, sickness, or death to lord over me. I will not allow the devil any inroad to attempt to steal, kill, and destroy me.
- He wishes above all things that my soul prosper and that I would be in good health.
- He says in His Word that He has given me power to tread on serpents and trample on our enemy. 3Rubin, Jordan, and Joshua Axe. 2025. The Biblio Diet. Worthy Books. Pg. 228
We cannot become healthy by claiming to be so, nor can we construct our own reality by “positive thinking.” Proverbs 18:21 does not suggest that we can manifest life or death with positive or negative speech. The context of this chapter is about taming the tongue to prevent further sin and destruction. In actuality, the fall of creation is what causes bodily diseases. Death and decay entered the earth as a result of Adam’s sin (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12). Since we are created beings and are part of creation, our natural bodies are equally impacted by the havoc that sin brought into nature.
The most egregious statements by Rubin and Axe come when they teach that we can command cancer to leave our bodies. While I admit to leaning toward cessationism, I also know that scripture tells us not to quench the Spirit or despise prophetic utterances (1 Thess 5:19-20); therefore, it’s possible that some people today do have the gift of spiritual healing. However, we need to finish reading that passage in 1 Thessalonians because it also states to test everything (1 Thess 5:21). This is where I get very concerned with Rubin and Axe’s claims because they are rely on an unfalsifiable narrative. There is no way to determine if Rubin and Axe’s claimed research is correct, because there has not been any scientific study of it done.
I also get concerned when they say our success at improving our health is very much dependent upon our mindset. Specifically, the book states,
We needed to arm ourselves with a biblical mindset and a faith that moves mountains. When we walk in defeat, we set ourselves up for failure. But when we adopt a mindset rooted in faith, anything becomes possible.
So I made a choice. I was going to endure with hope. It was hard to believe in healing, but that morning I knew that if I didn’t start to shift my mindset, I would end up feeding the worst-case scenario.4Rubin, Jordan, and Joshua Axe. 2025. The Biblio Diet. Worthy Books. Pg. 218-219
Optimists tend to handle stress better, lead healthier lifestyles, and take proactive steps, especially in difficult times. Optimism isn’t dictated by circumstances; it’s rooted in a mindset that thrives despite challenges.5Rubin, Jordan, and Joshua Axe. 2025. The Biblio Diet. Worthy Books. Pg. 227
This is the same lie told to us by those in the health and wealth gospel movement, and it can easily be used to manipulate and control someone. More care needs to be shown by Rubin and Axe to prevent their book from being used by others to abuse or gaslight people.
New Thought
Our goals are beautifully summed up in this quote from Hildegard of Bingen, a German Benedictine abbess from the 1100s: “God created humankind so that humankind might cultivate the earthly and thereby create the heavenly.” Refining how we farm, eat, and live isn’t just mundane or personal work; it is the work of heaven.6Rubin, Jordan, and Joshua Axe. 2025. The Biblio Diet. Worthy Books. Pg. 6
Hildegard of Bingen was a Catholic mystic and Panentheist, and thus believed God lives in creation and that all of creation lives in God (i.e. man and God share the same essence.) This is the same lie Satan told Eve in the Garden all the way back in Genesis 3.
Rubin and Axe also promote the use of vision boards (pp. 222-224) to prepare your mind for success. Vision boards are from the New Age, and Axe apparently uses them in the New Age way. Axe thinks God wants us to succeed and be happy in the world; thus, if you create a vision board and believe it, it will happen. You can manifest happiness. This is the occult “Law of Attraction”, made popular by Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, a book championed by Oprah Winfrey. Rubin and Axe state,
Visualization is biblical. In Genesis 15, God promised Abraham, who had no children, that he one day would have countless children. God told him, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5). Abraham believed God, and this vision eventually came to pass.7Rubin, Jordan, and Joshua Axe. 2025. The Biblio Diet. Worthy Books. Pg. 223-224
No. Visualization is not Biblical.8See, “Visualization, Guided Imagery, Imaginative Prayer and More,” By Marcia Montenegro Genesis 15 is a vision God gave Abraham. It was not a vision Abraham made for himself.
Think This, Not That.
In his 2024 book Think This, Not That: 12 Mindshifts to Breakthrough Limiting Beliefs and Become Who You Were Born to Be, Axe promotes the philosophy of Abraham Maslow, whose work gave “shape and purpose” to the burgeoning Human Potential Movement.9Dr. Josh Axe. 2024. Think This, Not That. Thomas Nelson. Pgs 63-64 According to Melissa Dougherty,
New Thought’s teachings on the “true authentic self” align with Ralph Waldo Emerson’s transcendental ideas. Emerson anticipates Abraham Maslow, the 20th-century psychologist and father of the Human Potential Movement (i.e. man’s return to his divine nature). In New Thought, being made in the image of God is equivalent to being God.10Dougherty, Melissa. 2025. Happy Lies. Pg. 78
Transcendental beliefs were widespread throughout America in the early nineteenth century. We see them in full fruition today. Thanks to transcendentalism, people were encouraged to trust their feelings and emotions because that’s where God dwells.11Dougherty, Melissa. 2025. Happy Lies. Pg. 78
In Gnosticism and New Thought, the truest part of who you are is spirit. Your body, therefore, your mind, holds you back from the supposed truth your spirit has, which is in your heart. This is why so many gnostic and New Thought teachings focus on controlling and overcoming the mind.12Dougherty, Melissa. 2025. Happy Lies. Pg. 82
If you want to see the product of the Human Potential Movement, take a trip out to the Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada each summer. I guarantee you that it will only take one visit to see how demonic this ideology is and how pervasive mysticism and panentheism has become within not just society, but the church.
Conclusion
The Biblio Diet suggests we can become healthy by claiming to be so, and that we can construct our own reality by “positive thinking.” Rubin and Axe are false teachers who claim we can manifest life or death with positive or negative speech. They quote people who believe in the divinity of man, and their statements that we can cure cancer if we change our mindset are not only theologically wrong, but they are also dangerous. They run the risk of creating a very abusive environment within the church. People may feel that their illness is a result of some sort of negative energy (i.e. negative thinking) they are putting out into the universe, and thus, their illness is their fault. This is nothing but Christianized witchcraft and can cause someone to want to take their own life. I cannot stress enough that if you read this book, you are reading it at your own risk.Ω
Stephanie Potts is the author of, Social Justice and the Deification of Man: What to Know When Talking with the Christian Left. She and her husband, Jim live in Dayton, Ohio, and have been married for 24 years. She worked with the federal government for 15 years as an intelligence analyst and then entered full-time Christian service in 2015. She first joined Haven Ministries in Denver, Colorado, in 2015 and then transferred to Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc in 2021. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Florida State University and her Master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems from Penn State University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary. She has special interests in indigenous religions – especially Native American spirituality – and in responding to Catholicism and the social justice movement. Stephanie’s personal website: rainbowapologetics.com
© 2026, Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc All rights reserved. Excerpts and links may be used if full and clear credit is given with specific direction to the original content.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful analysis on the book
You are most welcome!
Stephanie, thanks for writing this. I have been warning about Josh Axe for over 10 years. He is not a doctor, he is a naturopath and chiropractor. I have pointed out how naturopathy is a mixture of new age and pseudoscience; it is not medical, it is an ideology. Not only does he believe in vision boards, but he also believes one can use astrology for insight. I decided a number of years ago that he is probably New Thought. However you would not believe how angry my warnings made many Christians who are devoted followers of Axe.
This false thinking about health has permeated the church and introduced New Age outlooks on health. I don’t think there can be enough warnings on books like this or people like Rubin and Axe. I always say, that the danger with people like this for Christians is not that Christians become New Agers as much as they start thinking like them. And that is what has been happening, I have been watching it for years.
Thank you for your encouraging words!
Thank you! These men were promoted on CTN here in Florida. Satan is so clever. We need always to be on guard.
You are most welcome!
Stephanie, first question. Why are you at a church that has no description for this book?
Second, we were in the Charismatic movement for 18 years until we learned how to study the Bible properly. Not one church we have ever been in taught us how to study the Bible to find God’s will which is in His word. When you say you are not a cessationist by using the verses you used you may change your mind if you dug deeper into wjat the definition of prophecy was and is. And modern tongues are not Biblical languages as how can one who is taught by men how to pray in literal gibberish call that any kind of prayer? How would we know the answer. Christ never spoke in tongues (languages) although being the Creator. He taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. We dont have to accept any labels such as con or cess. We have to focus on biblical gifts vs chasing them but chase the Gift Giver. Ps well written.
Thanks for reading my article. To clarify, I do lean in the direction of cessationism, but I’m open to discussion on the subject. However, I would never attend a church that speaks in tongues these days because it’s always gibberish and not edifying.
We recently left our church for several reasons. One of which was a lack of discernment. Please pray that we find a new church home.
We are in the same place.
I go to that church and I feel obligated to reply. Whenever the pastor talked about the Biblio Diet book as part of the weekly announcements he would always follow up with a warning that the book does contain ideas that are not endorsed or held by the church and that it should be read with discernment. So church leadership did (nearly constantly) warn congregants that the book and its authors have some bad ideas and beliefs. From my understanding, the book was selected because a few members of the church found it on their own and said it had some good ideas. Leadership recognized that it also had many bad ideas or underlying beliefs. So interested readers could read the book and then we all could sharpen each other by discussing its good and bad ideas to collectively help each other discern what to keep and what to throw away about the book.
Also, the book was only mentioned during the announcements part of the service. The book or its ideas were never referenced in the sermon teaching.
Where in this article did I say that our pastor did NOT address it? This article wasn’t focused on the church, but on the dangers of the book. Please don’t confuse the two. I didn’t address his response because I didn’t think it was a strong enough response. In my opinion the book should not have been chosen at all.
While I have moved on from this church please know it was for many other reasons than just this book. But I still love and care about the leadership there very much. I learned so much from them and thank God that He brought them into my life. They were a blessing to me and my husband while we were there.
Sorry if my previous comment seemed directed at you, Mrs. Potts. I have no issues with your article and found it to be very insightful. I was only trying to correct a misunderstanding that Ric Joyner had. They had the wrong impression that there was no discretion/discernment about the book by the church creating a “red flag”. So I felt obligated to make sure that they knew that church leadership made it abundantly clear that the book contained problematic ideas not endorsed by the church and that it would be discussed together at the book club. I think it was discerning of leadership to constantly warn of the book while also discussing it since it had been brought up by several congregants as something of interest. So my comment was to help correct a misunderstanding that Ric Joyner had about my church warranting a “red flag”.
Sorry no discretion vs description aka discernment? That is a red flag.
Thank you, Stephanie –
As your father (full disclosure), I’d like to add my vote to your statement that, “Misusing the Bible as the basis for claiming we have the authority to command nature to conform to our will is nothing but Christianized witchcraft.”
You quote Rubin and Axe as writing on page 228 of The Biblio Diet, “Remember that your tongue holds the power of life and death (see Proverbs 18:21).”
In the NASB95, Proverbs 18:21 reads, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
And the immediately preceding verse 20 reads, “With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.”
Wow! That clearly says I never have to go to the grocery store again! All I have to do is speak the word and my stomach will be full!
Taking Bible passages out of context is very dangerous.
– – – – –
When he was full of remorse over having betrayed Jesus, Matthew 27:5 tells us that Judas “went and hanged himself.”
And, in Luke 10:37, Jesus tells us, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
Therefore, when we are beset by grief over something we have done, we should commit suicide???
– – – – –
Definitely dangerous.
But, what context should we use? The immediate context of a few surrounding verses? A whole chapter? An entire book such as Luke or John?
Ultimately, the entire Bible is the context we should consider. Every single item that God tells us in the Bible is impacted by the entire message of the Bible as a whole.
But that’s hard work. That means we would have to know the entire Bible. Whoa! That means we would have to READ the entire Bible. Probably several times! Who can do that these days?
Two answers. 1. Priorities – That which is most important in your life gets the most attention. Jesus loves you so much that He died for you … on the cross … probably the most excruciating form of torture ever devised by man. Stop reading this right now and click on https://www.biblegateway.com . Read Jesus’ book for awhile and then come back here. My point is: Spend less time reading ABOUT the Bible and more time reading the Bible itself.
2. “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17). Yes: Spend less time reading ABOUT the Bible and more time reading the Bible itself. But don’t entirely neglect the comments and exegesis of others. No one this side of Glory will ever be able to comprehend the entire Bible and all of its nuances. We need to interact with others and what they have gleaned from their study of the scriptures to gain insights we might never have otherwise discovered. Just don’t take everything you read as gospel without comparing it very carefully with what the Bible itself is telling us. After all, the Bible is God’s love letter to us.
And, take courage! As your knowledge of the Bible itself grows, your ability to detect false teachings will also grow as well.
Thanks for your kind feedback Dad! Love you lots!