Prosperity Theology?

  I am not against being happy, wealthy and healthy.   Being in an unhappy, poor and unhealthy state is not comfortable.  It's not fun.  It's not a goal of mine in any way, shape or form.  Being unhappy is such an epidemic in our culture today, that the pharmaceutical companies, alcohol and illegal drug business is booming!  Psychiatry is a lucrative field to be in these days.  What about those who abuse food for comfort?  In spite of all of the luxuries and abundance of material things, entertainment and food in this country (USA), the latest statistic from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that 10% of Americans 18 or older, or 23 million people, are affected by depression.  It is quite possible that this number is low as many suffer in silence and don't show up on any statistics.  Instead of listening to our conscience and changing our choices and behaviors, we treat the symptoms.


  Sadly, there are also many "Christian" leaders using their skills of positive speech, influential platforms and book-writing to help people overcome sadness by "thinking or saying positive things".  Some even go as far as saying if you send in so much money, God promises to return it 100%!  This is called Prosperity Theology.  Pews and stadiums are full of people seeking happiness and prosperity, even if it means going to Church to find it.  There is a lot of money being made in Christian book sales, donations, and tithes on the promise of success and prosperity.  We own a Christian Book Store and could probably have paid our year's rent in 6 months if we sold these books (but we don't).


  But, what does Christ and the Apostles in Scripture teach?  Did Jesus walk around preaching that the Christian's goal in this life is to live happy, successful and sickness-free on earth?   He healed people--yes, but it wasn't for their own benefit so they could go just live life happy and wealthy.  He healed people to reward their faith in Him, to demonstrate that He was God in human form, and to bring others to saving faith as they witnessed the miracles and went out and told others.  Actually, in Matthew 19:23-24 Jesus made an astounding comment:  “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  Jesus wasn't saying that being rich meant you could not go to Heaven, but He is warning that being wealthy makes it harder to live in faith and trust in God.  This teaching is totally opposite of what the Prosperity Gospel preachers are touting and making so much money and building mega Churches on today.  Jesus' entire sermon on the mount as told in Matthew 5 flies in the face of the Prosperity Gospel preachers of today.


The Apostle Paul, asked God to heal him of an ailment but God's answer was no.  Here is how that entire conversation and resulting response by Paul is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10:


  "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". 

 Also, 10 of the 12 original disciples (minus Thomas and Judas Iscariot) were killed for their faith.


  Do you think the stadium would be full of people today if a preacher preached "delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties"?  Or telling believers that by following Christ, they could very well loose their life...and should be willing to do so if necessary?


  But Jesus tells us that the Truth will set us free!  Being a follower of Christ means to "deny ourselves and take up their cross and follow Him.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." (Matt 16:23-25)  Christ would not sell many books today based on that advice would He?  


  I'm not saying that Christians need to live in a depressed state. Not at all!  As a matter-of-fact, Christians should be the most joy-filled people on the planet because this life is but a vapor, a mist, and we are living this life temporarily and storing up for ourselves, treasure in Heaven that will last for an eternity!  One day, Christ will return and put all things to right and we will be living with Him in the perfect state of being!  To me, being "happy" is knowing that all of His promises for the future are true, and that today is temporary.  True prosperity in this age means obeying His commands and following Him as closely as I possibly can.  As Christians, we are pilgrims on this earth.  This is not our home and therefore we will always feel out of place and homesick while here.  I for one do not want my best life now and forfeit what God has for me in eternity.  That doesn't mean we'll be miserable here, but we won't be completely satisfied in our souls until we're home where we will be extremely prosperous in Christ!



  Do you have more questions or want more info on the Prosperity Gospel teaching/teachers?  Check out this site:   Got Questions.org