In recent years, the prosperity gospel has gained significant attention, with its proponents promising health, wealth, and happiness to believers. However, a closer examination reveals that this teaching is far from the true gospel. In this article, we will explore the heresy of prosperity gospel, shedding light on its distorted message and the dangers it poses to true biblical Christianity.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:3-4
Jude warns Christians to be aware of the heresies that revolve around Christendom and that we must be Scripturally equipped to defend the faith. Also, part of Jude’s warning is about false teachers who creep into churches with the intention of perverting the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus, Christians must learn to determine heresy and apostasy, defend sound doctrine, and distance themselves from heretics and apostates.
The Heresy of Prosperity Gospel: The Abrahamic Covenant and Material Entitlement.
One of the foundational doctrines of the prosperity gospel is the misinterpretation of the Abrahamic covenant. Prosperity teachers claim that the primary purpose of this covenant was for God to bless Abraham materially. Since believers are now Abraham’s spiritual children, they have inherited these financial blessings.
However, a contextual reading of Scripture reveals that the Abrahamic covenant primarily concerned spiritual blessings and God’s promise of salvation through faith. The prosperity gospel’s focus on material entitlement is a misinterpretation of the true intent of this covenant.
The Heresy of Prosperity Gospel: The Misunderstanding of Jesus’ Atonement.
Another critical error of the prosperity gospel lies in its misunderstanding of Jesus’ atonement. Prosperity teachers claim that Jesus’ death on the cross provided salvation and guaranteed physical healing and financial prosperity.
However, a careful study of Scripture reveals that the atonement primarily addressed the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation between God and humanity (Colossians 1:14.) Jesus did not die to ensure material wealth but to offer eternal life and spiritual blessings to those who believe in Him.
The Heresy of Prosperity Gospel: The Distorted View of Giving and Material Compensation.
Prosperity gospel teachers often emphasize the act of giving, claiming that generous giving will lead to material compensation from God. They propagate the idea that the more one gives, the more God will bless them financially.
However, this teaching is built on faulty motives, as it encourages believers to give, expecting greater material wealth in return. True biblical giving should be motivated by love for God and others, not the desire for personal gain (2 Corinthians 9:7-8.)
The Heresy of Prosperity Gospel: Faith as a Self-Generated Force.
Orthodox Christianity teaches that faith is trust in the person of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. However, the prosperity gospel distorts this view, presenting faith as a self-generated spiritual force that leads to material prosperity.
According to prosperity teachers, faith is a means to manipulate the universe’s spiritual laws and bring about desired outcomes. This understanding of faith is not aligned with Scripture and diminishes the true nature of faith as reliance on God rather than a tool for personal gain.
The Heresy of Prosperity Gospel: The Manipulation of Prayer for Personal Prosperity.
Prosperity gospel preachers often emphasize the power of prayer in obtaining personal success and material blessings. They teach believers to use prayer to force God to grant their desires.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1 John 5:14
However, this teaching disregards the true purpose of prayer, which is to align our hearts with God’s will and seek His glory above all else. One of the reasons why God doesn’t answer our prayers is because of wrong motives that might draw us further from Him (James 4:3.)
Remember that God is the creator of everything and reigns sovereign above all. God does not owe us anything, and it is prideful to think otherwise. Prayer should never be used as a means to manipulate God but rather as a means to surrender our desires to His sovereign wisdom.
The Heresy of Prosperity Gospel: The Love of Money and Pursuit of Wealth.
A central theme in the prosperity gospel is the pursuit of wealth and the belief that God desires financial prosperity for all believers. However, Scripture consistently warns against the love of money and the pursuit of wealth as idols (1 Timothy 6:10.)
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 12:15
Jesus Himself cautioned against the dangers of greed and emphasized that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. The prosperity gospel’s focus on material gain contradicts the teachings of Jesus and the biblical emphasis on contentment and spiritual riches.
As a result, churches that preach the prosperity gospel are made up of people who pursue wealth and material riches instead of God.
The Danger of Distorted Teachings.
The prosperity gospel presents a distorted view of the relationship between God and man. It reduces God to a cosmic bellhop, attending to the desires and needs of His creation. This view undermines the sovereignty of God and elevates man as the measure of all things.
The prosperity gospel’s emphasis on wealth and success also distracts believers from the true message of the gospel, which is centered on the forgiveness of sins, redemption, and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Call to Embrace True Gospel Teaching.
In light of the errors and dangers associated with the prosperity gospel, believers are called to embrace the true teachings of the gospel. This involves recognizing the true nature of the Abrahamic covenant, understanding the significance of Jesus’ atonement, and approaching giving, faith, and prayer with a biblical perspective. Christians are called to prioritize spiritual riches and the pursuit of God’s kingdom above earthly wealth and personal gain.
The prosperity gospel’s distorted message poses a significant threat to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Its misinterpretation of Scripture, focus on material gain, and manipulation of spiritual practices undermine the core teachings of biblical Christianity.
As believers, we must remain vigilant and grounded in the truth, recognizing the heresy of the prosperity gospel and embracing the richness of God’s grace, which transcends material wealth and offers eternal life in Christ.
