PROSPERITY GOSPEL

“Force God to perform a miracle by sowing thousands of dollars and your last dollar ... Do you have a sick child?  Don't go to Jesus in prayer, plant cash into the church and God will make your child well." These are some of the messages being blurred from the pulpit by the so-called Prosperity Pastors. For the prosperity gospel, God could be seen as “The Vending Machine God”: just put in faith and out pops blessings – money, homes, cars, beautiful spouses, clever kids, good neighbors, big churches, and plush vacations. The prosperity gospel also has been called the "name it and claim it" theology. God wants His people to prosper, so they maintain in their preaching. Those who follow God and give generously to his ministries can have anything, and everything they want.

So what is this Prosperity gospel? Is it biblical for Christians to follow the principles outlined in these messages?

What is it

Prosperity theology (also known as prosperity doctrine, health and wealth or prosperity gospel) is a religious belief centered on the notion that God provides material prosperity for those he favors. It implies both that people who are favored by God will be materially successful, and also that materially successful people are successful because God favored them. The prosperity gospel is often used by its promoters to elicit donations, on the premise that donations will be materially repaid and rewarded through divine intervention. Prosperity gospel, as also defined, is the teaching that "believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the 'sowing of seeds' through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings. The prosperity gospel, however, is a phenomenon that cuts across denominational barriers since it can be found in charismatic and Pentecostal as well as mainstream Protestant churches.

Most of the preachers begin with a "sincere desire to spread the faith but the pressure of fundraising slowly moves all of them in the direction of a greed-based theology

Prosperity theology has been the target of criticism. Within the Christian community, prosperity theology has been criticized as being antithetical to traditional biblical teaching. More generally, prosperity theology has been criticized as being exploitative of its followers, and for the financial excesses and lack of financial transparency of its leadership.

 Christian Tradition

Prosperity theology is not the same as Word of Faith theology, though most, if not all, Word of Faith teachers hold to some level of prosperity theology. The Word-Faith Teachers are the group that would seek to convince us that Jesus and His disciples were rich, that to be poor is a sin, to be sick is a sin, and that faith is a creative force that we can use to shape our world just like God supposedly created this world and universe that we live in through His "faith". They proclaim, "You can have what you say”; "The reason you haven't been healed is that you don't have enough faith”; "We can write our own ticket with God if we decide what we want, believe that it's ours, and confess it," "He wants you rich and healthy," "What is the desire of your heart? Name it, claim it by faith, and it is yours! Your heavenly Father has promised it. It's right there in the Bible." Such statements reflect the models which set forth a theology of the spoken word or of thought-actualization, commonly known as "positive confession", which stresses the inherent power of words and thoughts.

Beliefs

Prosperity theology proponents promote a main idea that godliness and prosperity have a causational relationship. That is Godliness causes prosperity, meaning that godliness is both necessary and sufficient for prosperity,

Arguments for

Support for the prosperity gospel is believed to be found by proponents predominantly in the Old Testament. These commonly include:

• Abraham, who God stated would bless him with as many children as there were stars.
• King Solomon, who built Solomon's Temple, which was one of the greatest civil infrastructures of the Old Testament times.
• Deuteronomy 8:18 -  “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day”. (King James Version).
• Malachi 3:10 - "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (King James Version).
• 3John 2 - " Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (King James Version).

Critics

Most Christians do not deny probabilistic causation between godliness and prosperity. However, critics argue that verses the prosperity gospel proponents use are taken by them out of their textual, cultural, historical and/or literary context thus falsely supporting their claims; but more importantly, they do not consider differences between Old Testament and New Testament theology. Furthermore, critics argue that Jesus himself was not living in what would be considered "prosperity".

Critics further argue the teaching is a teaching of materialism masquerading as theology in spite of no valid biblical support. Proponents defend that prosperity's ultimate purpose is to fund evangelism and Christian charity world-wide. Critics however argue, evidence shows that the accumulation of wealth and material goods is not for the purpose of the Gospel, which has been the hallmark of the prosperity movement.

Biblical criticism includes:

• Job. The entire book of which seems to have been written as a rebuttal to a variation of this belief.

• 1Timothy 6:5-11 - "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (King James Version)

• Matthew 6:19-21, 24; Luke 16:13 - "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourseIf treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also; v24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
• Matthew 6:31-33 - Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

• Luke 18:22-25 - "... Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

• 1 John 2:15-16 - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.."

• 1Timothy 6:3-5 - "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."

• Matthew 19:21 - " Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

• Proverbs 22:16 - “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."

• Revelation 3:17 - "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."

• Proverbs 28:22 - "He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him."

• Acts 8:20 - "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

• Proverbs 13:7 - "There is he that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches."

• Habakkuk 3:17-18 - "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

• Galatians 2:10 - " Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."

Prosperity teaching seems to promote more self-gratification than true spirituality. Furthermore, aspects of its theology seem overly simplistic and formulaic with critics commonly referring to the doctrine as "Name-It-Claim-It”.

The prosperity theology defines quality of life based on quantity of possessions. This deceptive movement teaches that financial lack is based on limited faith and minimal giving. The theme of Christianity is not money. How to get rich and have everything you ever wanted is Satan's message modernized. Money is a mere illusion. God gave his only Son so that life would become more meaningful, namely spiritual. Money does not make life valuable, God does."

Bible views

"Peter warned that false prophets would arise and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2Peter 2:1-4).

Covetousness is "excessive cravings".  It is a constant reaching for more, for that which is bigger, more luxurious. It is a trap multitudes of Christians are falling into in these wild times. Peter warned us to beware of covetous ministers who would use the word to exploit believers – greedy preachers who would develop a false doctrine of avarice and greed.

God's word says of these rich, greedy preachers, “Their judgment is near, and their destruction will not sleep" (See 2 Peter 2:3).  They have become blatant and arrogant in their greed.  They now preach that you cannot receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit until you prosper.  That's blasphemy!

Beloved, do not listen to this false gospel. It is satanic. It comes from the heart of men who are light, frivolous and greedy for more.  Isaiah the prophet has their number:  “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter..." (Isaiah 56:11).

Mark 4:18-19: And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Luke 12:15- And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Eccl. 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Acts 8:20 - But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Some Great Men and Prosperity

Abraham waited and waited for the son promised. Joseph experienced being sold into slavery by his God-elected brothers. Moses' call to ransom captive Israel led to years of hardships and testing. Israel only crossed the Jordan River after 40 years in the wilderness (and Moses never crossed the Jordan). David was the prototype of the Messiah-King but suffered years of waiting, family struggles, and a son who fell away from faithfulness. Jeremiah spent most of his days in tears. Daniel was a devoted Israelite who had anything but a cushy life. And what about Job? His faithfulness seems to have gotten him into the cross-hairs of the Adversary. Even the Disciples of Christ did not boast of material wealth/prosperity but testimonies of Godly hope through righteousness and holiness, irrespective of the persecutions. What about Paul, who preferred more persecutions to glory in the Lord (2Corinthians 12:10)

Conclusion

That, the Bible teaches that God blesses us is unquestioned – from the great blessing of Abraham in Genesis 12 to Deuteronomy 28's famous list of blessings and promises and Jesus' beatitudes to James' famous statement that God's blessing means there is a theme in the Bible that God blesses. Indeed, God is good; God's goodness means he blesses us and will continue to bless us.

If materialism was ever to satisfy anyone, it would have been Solomon, the richest king the world has ever known. He had absolutely everything and had more of it than anyone, and yet he found it was all worthless and futile. It did not produce happiness or the satisfaction our souls long for. He declared, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). In the end, Solomon came to the conclusion that we are to “fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

I hope the above discussion will set your hearts and itching ears on things above rather than on things that moth will destroy. Amen!