The Deadly Teaching of Prosperity Gospel.
Prosperity gospel, also known as the "name it and claim it" gospel is erroneously being preached today from behind many pulpits teaching that believers can "use God" to gain financial wealth and worldly materialism. The apostle Paul warned Timothy against such teachings by describing these purveyors of false doctrine as "men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who use godliness as a means of gain for riches and the fulfillment of all their (worldly) desires. Stay away from such men and teachings. Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (I Timothy 6: 5 & 8). We could clearly stop right here with no further need of clear evidence at all that prosperity gospel is completely un-biblical with no scriptural basis of merit what so ever. For as we have seen in the previous scripture prosperity gospel is the exact opposite of biblical Christianity. However, let’s continue by looking at the main thrust of Prosperity Gospel’s teaching which is that its followers can and should "use God" for worldly and financial gain. Also called the "name it and claim it" gospel, prosperity gospel teaches that faith is more a matter of what we say rather than in Whom we believe, thereby prohibiting God from working on His own because He cannot work until we verbally release Him to do so by "positively claiming his obligations" to us. Prosperity gospel refers to this as "positive confession," teaching that any favors we verbally demand of God, if stated positively, "requires" God to answer and to give us that which we ask for. Clearly, there is absolutely nothing scriptural which lends credence to such abhorrent teaching. God owes man nothing. Man owes everything to God. He paid a debt that He did not owe because we owed a debt that we could not pay. It is complete and utter foolishness to think that we can "use God" for our own selfish purposes. God "uses the believer" to do His will. He does not bow to our will nor is he (as Prosperity Gospel teaches) "obligated" to fulfill our requests. Prosperity Gospel is in essence and for all intents and purposes the very same destructive greed sect that infiltrated the early church. Paul and the other apostles did not condone this false teaching or those who taught such heresy. In fact, they identified them as dangerous "false teachers" and urged Christians to "avoid them" because such teaching was foolishness and served to do nothing more than bring them and those who followed their teachings to ruin and destruction.
As is so clearly stated in God’s Word, riches and worldly gain are not goals to be pursued by the godly. Prosperity Gospel is in every way totally refuted, rejected and abhorred by Jesus Himself when He said "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth....but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6: 19-21). The Bible also tells us that we are to "set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). It should also be remembered that the only disciple who was concerned with riches and worldly gain - was Judas!
The one major problem for the teaching of prosperity gospel is - the Bible itself. Prosperity Gospel teaches that if you are a believer and you are not experiencing great financial blessings, worldly prosperity, and a life of ease it is because you have willingly given satan complete authority over your life. However, wasn’t Joseph sold into slavery? Didn’t God’s call to Moses to lead the Israelites to the promised land lead to years and years of hardship for Moses? Didn’t Israel spend 40 years in the wilderness before crossing the Jordan River? And Moses never did cross. Didn’t David suffer years of family struggles? Didn’t Jeremiah spend the majority of his life in tears. Daniel certainly did not have a cushy life. And what about Job? These were all devoted men of God, but according to "prosperity gospel teaching" these were actually men who had given satan complete authority over their lives, because they suffered.
Rather than stressing the importance of wealth and worldly gain, the Bible strongly warns against pursuing it. The apostle Paul stated that he did not seek for "worldly" gain through Christ, but rather he sought for the spiritual profit of many, that they might be saved, as Christ used him and worked through him." Yes, the Bible clearly states that God will supply the needs of His children but note that it says "needs", not "wants." "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). It must also be noted that the riches we receive by knowing Christ as Lord and Saviour are HIS riches, not materialistic, worldly riches. The riches of His grace, the riches of His mercy, the riches of His love, the riches of His strength, comfort, peace and wisdom.
All believers, the Bible teaches us, are to avoid the love of money. And it is those teaching the prosperity gospel who are among the first named in the Bible to refrain from it. First Timothy clearly sets forth the proper, Godly behavior of preachers, deacons, and all church leaders. It says that they must be temperate and moderate in all their actions and in the use of, and desire for, things of the world. They must take heed of pride, the very sin that turned angels into devils, and set their heart on things above and not on things below. And God will carry them through all difficulties and reward their faithfulness with eternal life in His presence. God was manifest in the flesh to take away our sins, to redeem us from iniquity, to purify us unto Himself through His shed blood upon the Cross. These are the doctrines which must shine forth from behind the pulpit. Anything less, anything else is in complete opposition to the Word of God. Prosperity gospel teaches "name it and claim it," or "blab it and grab it" and live a life of ease and luxury, arguing that God created the universe by speaking it into existence and that man is also endowed with the ability, or power, to speak things into existence by harnessing the Holy Spirit. However, God’s Word, the Bible, clearly says "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer" (II Timothy 3:12). The Bible says that living for Christ is not an easy road, it says that it is a hard and tough road filled with trials and tribulations and persecutions. Jesus said that we would have to take up our cross on a daily basis, every single day of our lives, if we are to follow Him (Luke 9:23). He said we will be hated, that we will be reviled. But then He also promises that if we remain faithful that we will indeed be rewarded, at the end of this life, with an eternal home in heaven.
Worldly things do not provide true happiness. Yet prosperity gospel teaches that those are the very things God wants us to have. The Bible says that "worldly riches make wings for themselves and then fly away" (Proverbs 23:5). They have no lasting value. It says also that it is the desire for riches, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust for the pleasures of life which enter into a life and choke out the Word of God, and that person becomes completely unfruitful (Luke 8:14). It is all vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:10). The Bible says that we have peace and confidence in life ONLY by having peace with and confidence in God. Knowing beyond all doubt that He will always give us what is best for us according to HIS riches in glory. Thereby giving us His perfect hope in life, in death, and for ever. It is this which God promises to us, His heavenly riches, not worldly riches.
Prosperity gospel? Name it and claim it? The Bible states that preachers, pastors and church leaders are to teach and lead their flock to the Cross, only to the Cross, and "not for filthy lucre" (I Peter 5:2). The Bible says and promises that when we come to Christ we have the following: "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, and the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Conspicuously absent from this is any mention of money, new cars, fancy houses, boats, large screen televisions, fur coats, jewelry etc. The Son of God did not leave the glory of His throne in Heaven and willingly come into the world to suffer beyond all human comprehension to be a "genie on the Cross" giving to us any and all worldly gain that we demand of Him. He gave His life upon the Cross as payment in full for our sins.. establishing a way of escape from earthly things to heavenly things.. providing a peace and a hope that the world can simply never provide.
One of our duties as a Christian is "contentment." Paul said "I do not speak of my wants for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11). Covetousness is a sin in direct opposition to our duty to be content. We have great treasures awaiting us in heaven. Those who are not content with that knowledge would never be content no matter how many worldly goods they have in this life. There are completely irreconcilable contradictions between prosperity gospel teaching and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which are best summed up by the words of Jesus Himself, "you cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24).
God bless you.
Mark Shutts
This article, and all other content on this website, is copyright and the sole property of Mark Shutts Ministries and may not be used in any form or manner without express written permission of Mark Shutts Ministries.