The Prosperity Gospel is Crap
The only thing worse than no hope is false hope.
8 Responses to “The Prosperity Gospel is Crap”
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November 7, 2009
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November 21, 2009
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Very interesting video, and it most definitely opens a LARGE can of worms. Unfortunately, many people have been mislead by the prosperity gospel, and many pastors in reaction to this are afraid to teach the right Godly principles of tithing. To me, there has to be a balance. I don’t think we can be afraid of encouraging people to tithe and give, but the prosperity gospel is also overkill. Where the balance is… I don’t know, still trying to figure that one out.
Agreed Aaron.
The message that God will bless you if you do” this or that” is legalistic at best. The ultimate blessing was Christ and we did nothing to earn the blessing of the gospel. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God may or may not bless you financially but that’s not predicated on your performance but on his sovereign grace.
The Lord warned us not to wish someone to eat well, be well, unless we were willing to hand over that needed food or clothing. Sometimes I wonder how close those who preach prosperity, even the more Biblical prosperity with a purpose (God will bless us so we can bless others), are to sinning in that way. I don’t have the answer, and I believe in praying for the sick and all of that, but if it’s in our human power to do something for another human, shouldn’t we? Doesn’t the Bible teach us to help immediately and not make excuses?
Absolutely Tasi.
The big issue I have with the prosperity gospel is it proposes Jesus as merely the means to get your real god- money, possessions, power, etc.
You know what’s better than any gift that God gives? The gift of God himself.
God’s favor doesn’t equal wealth. If it did, Jesus would have been wealthy.
It doesn’t mean we won’t be wealthy or that it’s wrong to be. It’s not. But to find your ultimate joy, comfort, and security in wealth means you worship it as god. That’s where the problem is.
I think that teaching people to not think that the opposite, God prefers poverty, is also good though. Some people need to hear that, because why be poor on purpose? That’s silly. What would we have then to give to others. Instead, we might be the ones in need. But, I know, that we always have something, something, that we can give to our fellow man and even to the earth and creatures. Always…look at the widow who fed Elijiah, I think? Anyways, fed the prophet the last of what she had, but it increased. Wealthy people may need something that maybe is dwelling inside someone who’s poor, and many that guy could use a good meal. I think we all just need to look for ways to bless each other and to know that we’re never too poor/dumb/smart/broken/rich/sinful/Republican/Democrat/denominational/nondenominational/etc. that we can’t be used by Him for His glory! He really is that big of a God! So, I know that I’ve learned good things listening to the toned down “Prosperity with a Purpose” message, but I came to it hunting for Jesus, not money. I think people find what they seek, be it this message or another. Though, this video…with the amounts…that’s the tipoff, but I must say I’ve sat through sermons a lot like that (minus the amounts)…and when I saw it here, it really made me think. Thank you, Jason, for challenging us to keep our minds on the Lord for our answers, since He truly is the best gift we have.
The “poverty gospel” is just as dangerous.
1Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
We see here that should we have earthly riches they are to be enjoyed (not worshiped) and we are called to be generous and ready to share. God’s call isn’t to be poor- but help the poor. And most of all, to love him and others as ourselves.
At the same time, prosperity gospel teaches that if you have enough faith, you will be materially blessed by God (which may or may not happen). Using God as a pinata so we can get what our hearts really desire is not the way. Let God be the treasure. To find our ultimate joy, comfort, and security is anything or anyone other than him is idolatry.
Good discussion.