Prosperity Gospel, Is it Biblical?

Some televangelists like to preach the gospel of prosperity to large audiences, setting examples in the Bible where certain men who followed God's commandments prospered in wealth (Job, for example). Many of these evangelists are themselves very wealthy, living in multi-million dollar homes, driving big expensive automobiles, wearing Armani suits, and sporting expensive jewelry. Seemingly, their justification for living such high lifestyles is "God does not want his people to be poor."

If you would listen to the preachers teaching this teaching, they would insist that all Christians should be wealthy and they should always be healthy they claim that if a Christian is sick or in poverty it is because they are in a sin and that is why God is not blessing them in that manner. If they are not wealthy, then it is because they don't have enough faith. According to these "ministries", all a poor Christian should have to do is invest some "seed faith" (what they mean is cash) in one of these ministries. After investing some "seed faith", the poor Christian just has to wait for the money to come rolling in. Do they not read scripture?

Out of one side of their mouths the prosperity preachers say that the purpose of their ministry is to help people get out of debt, and help people prosper so they can give large sums of money to the spreading of the gospel. But out of the other side of their mouths they teach that we can have whatever material possessions we want, such as a luxury home or a Rolls Royce and other perishable wealth. Basically they focus on ones material goods than the spiritual.

When we begin to claim scripture (give and it shall be given, pressed down and running over, etc.) and not deal with the issues and motives of our heart, we're treating God like a vending machine...give so I can get back. This is how I view those who preach the prosperity gospel, Copeland among others. I don't hear them talking about dealing with the heart issues, only about "blab and grab" theories. God wants us to give joyfully, not under compulsion or obligation. That's a heart issue. God tells us that if we have disagreement with our brother that we should LEAVE OUR GIFT and go make peace FIRST, then come back. That's a heart issue. What I'm hearing and reading about prosperity preachers is the exact opposite...be faithful in DUTIES but don't deal with the heart issues.

These preachers are preaching what humans (the flesh) likes to hear. That is why right now in America and in other parts of the world the prosperity Churches are the biggest and the fastest growing Church. And one thing I have noticed listening to TV prosperity preachers is that they do not have sound biblical doctrines. They have a concept of who God is but they, lot of times deny most of the Historical Christian doctrines. One of the preachers once stated that if you do not have a luxury car than you are not a blessed Christian. These people are looking at the material wealth and judging a Christian based on what they have and what they do not posses. The first and the biggest blessing to any Christian is SALVATION, I think that is the biggest blessing that any one can receive from God. These preachers have perverted the concept of someone getting blessed and put their listeners focus on the material.

Even in the New Testament times the Apostles faced with the prosperity Gospel. There were people than that thought that preaching and serving God was a way to get rich.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. ... Quarrels about words ... 5 ... who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ...

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wondered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:3-10)

Notice also that Paul said those people who follow the false teachings, because they desire to get rich, have fallen into a trap and a snare and that path is not the path that our Lord Jesus has for us. God wants us to be content in everything and in everything and in every life situation give Him thanks and Glory.

verses from the bible to consider

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ''Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Heb 13:5

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. - Proverbs 23:4,5

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. 2 Cor 2:17

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 1 Tim 3:2,3

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ''Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Heb 13:5

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Tim 6:10

Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)

In conclusion what I want to make clear is that the "prosperity teachers" are to be looked as false teachers and that the prosperity (word faith) is very dangerous movements in the Charismatic movement. If you are in a prosperity (word faith) church I am humbly asking you to start praying daily and search the scriptures daily like the Bereans (ACTS 17:11) and see if what these people are preaching is according the WORD of God or is it contradicting the Word of God?. To those of us that the truth has been revealed let us not see us more righteous and judge them self righteously but, we should pray for these millions of people that have fallen in the snare and are going now were and accomplishing nothing in Christ. True happiness is in the Word of God and not in riches and material goods. Do not get me wrong I am not saying that God will not or can not bless a Christian but, what I am saying is that God looks at the heart and if you are seeking money (mammon) He will not bless you. We have to seek HIM and HIS righteousness and everything shall be added on. God bless