Prosperity Gospel

Do "Prosperity Preachers" Prey On Hope?

The Truth about Tithing by Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty

In the last 30 years, prosperity teaching have referred to our ability to have wealth from God through our faith. There's alot of talk about "doctrine of Prosperity" coming from various teachers, especially from Word of Faith teachers. Their faith and prosperity teachings states that we can have the nice cars, big homes, and great lifestyle if we have faith in God and plant seeds. Jesus never preached how to be earthly prosperity. The Apostles surely didn't either. My main problem with Word of Faith preachers are using "prosperity" to attract people with itching ears so they will be motivated to do something for themselves rather than sound spiritual docrine. When I do, I am reminded of this verse: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. — 2 Timothy 4:3. Word of Faith's effort to popularize the Christian faith has been extremely damaging to Christian faith. Such teachers only want your money. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money 2 Peter 2:3 (NLT).

My concept Prosperity Gospel (i.e. Word of Faith) is that they focuses on works in terms of "faith" towards health, wealth and prosperity. I don't view these as the essentials of Christian life and practice. Our motives in our Christian lives should be both holy and genuine. We are to present our bodies "as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (see Romans 12:1-2).

I reject Prosperity Gospel (i.e. Word of Faith) doctrines for many reasons. Its a long list. If its a long list, then the doctrines they believe are not essentials for my relationship with God. Nothing wrong with prosperity but the desires and the dreams of prosperity ties to idolatry. When we accumulate our possessions for our own selfish sake--those possessions have become idols. Idols when a Christian have a selfish heart of greed is your master.

How much more should an average Christian have a clear understanding about the doctrine of prosperity? God is asking Christians to surrender their own selfish little kingdom and interests of their excessive lifestyle. People are so used to seeing everyone serving their own interests that no other kind of spiritual conduct is expected.

Get to know two things about a man- How he earns his money and how he spends it- and you have the clue to his character, for you have a search light that shows up the inmost recesses of his soul. You know all you need to know about his standards, his motives, his driving desires, and his real religion. Robert J. McCracken

We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. (D.L. Moody)

Benjamin Franklin “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

There is nothing wrong with having a desire to prosper as long as our motives are correct. Christians' view of money and material possessions is an effective barometer of our spirituality. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). In Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." (NLT) In Proverbs 21:2, "People may think they are doing what is right, but the Lord examines the heart." (NLT)

When Jesus wore a crown of thorns, do you wish to wear a crown of gold? Johann Arndt, *True Christianity*.