Selling Jesus: Acting Like You Believe The Prosperity Gospel When You Don't
The Prosperity Gospel is the belief that God rewards faith and speaking positive things into existence, especially concerning health and wealth. This belief is directly connected to the idea that financial gifts to a specific ministry will lead to a life of economic prosperity and physical well-being.
The Allure
We understand the allure of the Prosperity Gospel (PG). You've poured sweat, tears, and countless hours into your job, only to be stuck in a perpetual cycle of financial quicksand. Each payday feels like a tiny gasp of air before you're pulled back under by bills, debts, and unexpected expenses. Or, the doctor walks in and says, “I have terrible news for you: the biopsy is malignant.” The word "malignant" hangs in the air, dense and suffocating. Both of these scenarios create a tidal wave of dread and uncertainty.
Then you lay in your bed scrolling, and it's as if your phone has been reading your bank account or listening to your doctor's appointment. The algorithm is sending you posts like;
Don’t let downstream doubt keep you from your upstream blessing!
Your miracle is just a seed away!
God wants you to live your best life now!
Activate your blessing!
Your words have power. Declare your prosperity!
Life is complicated, but this teaching offers a straightforward formula: faith + giving = blessings. It appeals to one of the most basic human desires: to have more. Also, many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness. Being told that God wants to bless you materially can significantly boost self-esteem.
People in tough times cling to this formula, seeking a way out. As for the allure to the already healthy and wealthy, it taps into their FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). They see others who appear to be benefiting from this teaching and become afraid of missing out on God's blessings. So, they are hooked!
WHY WE DON'T BELIEVE IT
1. It's Biblically unsound. Here’s one example: God’s covenant that Abraham and his descendants would be blessed so that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3) is the foundation on which the PG is built. The primary purpose of the covenant was for God to bless Abraham and his descendants materially. When you recognize that prosperity is part of God's established covenant, you should understand that this abundance is already yours!
Prosperity teachers appeal to the first half of Galatians 3:14 to support this assertion: “Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham…” However, these teachers ignore the second half of the verse: “...so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” which makes clear that this blessing is spiritual and not material wealth or a promise of good health!
2. It loses sight of our ultimate hope. Don’t be tempted to confuse the American Dream with the promises of the Kingdom of Heaven. The PG tells us to focus on immediate rewards like health and wealth. Jesus tells us to seek the Kingdom of God first. This teaching tells us to seek perks. It’s the gospel of instant gratification and makes us forget the real essence of our hope in Christ. Sure, there are blessings and benefits to be had in this life due to Christ’s sacrifice, but these are just a teaser, a trailer for the epic blockbuster of a new heaven and a new earth. The PG emphasizes the "here and now" rewards too much and glosses over the "yet to come" promises.
3. Because it is untrue, it repels non-Christians from the Gospel of Jesus. “Non-Christians see the prosperity gospel as a pyramid scheme. Spiritually lost people need to know that Jesus does not promise a life of comfort, but what He is offering is much more fulfilling than a fat 401(k) and a long life.” - Brad Arnold (FB Post)
WE OFTEN ACT LIKE WE BELIEVE IT
Let's pause and look in the mirror. We reject the PG, but do we align indirectly with its principles sometimes? Have elements of this detrimental teaching found their way into your faith?
Do you ever find yourself approaching prayer with a transactional mindset? "If I pray hard enough or do enough good deeds, God will grant my requests." This mindset might not be as overt as the PG, but it's a subtle form of expecting material blessings in return for faith. It's the "Vending Machine" prayer life; insert our prayers and expect immediate rewards.
Have you ever found yourself hopping from one spiritual high to another, seeking constant emotional uplifting? Whether seeking the most powerful worship song experiences or emotional spiritual experiences, this pursuit of spiritual "feel-good" moments can be a subtle form of the prosperity gospel's promise of an always-abundant life.
Have you ever thought, "I'm blessed with this new job or house because I've been faithful and obedient?” While God does bless us, and sometimes financially, equating material success directly with spiritual faithfulness can be a slippery slope toward a PG mindset.
I’ve sat in many one-room casitas in Central and South America, built out of trash, and lived in by some of the most faithful and effective Christians I’ve ever met, who did not even have certainty about next week’s food supply for their family. Our wealth often relates more to birthplace than divine blessing for faithfulness. Ask many OT prophets and NT disciples who served Christ and died penniless and in sickness.
How often have we judged others' misfortunes as a lack of obedience or faith? These judgments might not be intentional, but they align with the prosperity gospel's emphasis on material and physical well-being as signs of God's favor.
I’ll complete this list with the most toxic idea for us in America. Pursuing the perfect life – perfect family, job, perfect church – has become an idol. While seeking excellence isn't wrong, an obsession with perfection leads to a performance-based faith reminiscent of the prosperity gospel's emphasis on outward success.
In a world valuing instant rewards and appearances, subtle forms of the prosperity gospel can sneak in—even if we reject its core beliefs. But here's the good news. Recognizing these tendencies is the first step towards realigning our faith with the authentic teachings of Christ. It's a journey of self-awareness, humility, and reliance on God's grace, not our efforts or appearances.
THE ANTIDOTE
Embrace the Mystery of Prayer: Instead of treating God like a vending machine, we want to see prayer as a sacred conversation where we ask and listen. Think of the Book of Job, where faith exists without immediate or tangible rewards, even in the face of personal, financial, and health tragedies.
Pursue Spiritual Depth: Chasing after spiritual highs is like being on a sugar rush—you'll crash eventually. The Psalms show us that genuine faith is about ups and downs, embracing God in moments of joy and despair.
Understand the Complexity of Blessings: God does bless us, but let’s remember the Book of James, which tells us that challenges are also a form of blessings that build our character. Let's not equate God's favor solely with material gains.
The Humility of Health and Wealth: We must recognize that health and wealth are not moral judgments. Jesus says in Matthew 5 that God makes the sun rise on the evil and the good. They are not necessarily indicators of moral or spiritual superiority.
Embrace Imperfection: 2 Corinthians 12 tells us that Paul took pride in his weaknesses because that’s when God’s strength became perfect. We must learn to see beauty in imperfection and humility, not just worldly successes.
Tithe because you have already been blessed: When our giving to the work of ministry through our local church is less than a tithe, it is a clear, biblical sign that we are still making that area of our faith about ourselves. We’re saying, “Having these things, which prevent me from giving my tithe, is more important to me than the work of God.”
Then, often, when we do give, it is seen as a transaction, like we're trying to unlock God's blessings. But let's get this one straight: We give because we have already been blessed with this income! The idea is evident when we look at Genesis 14 and Leviticus 27. Tithing isn't God's GoFundMe; it's a 'Thank You' note in monetary form that goes on to benefit God’s work through His body - the local church.
In the New Testament, in places like Matthew 23, we see that Jesus isn't anti-tithe. Instead, He's all about the heart behind it. Jesus says, 'Look, it’s not just about ticking off the religious checkboxes. You’ve got to focus on the big stuff: justice, mercy, and being faithful.' So, giving that tithe shouldn't be either grudging or showy.
In the eloquent simplicity of a tithe, we express gratitude, acknowledge God's sovereignty over our lives, and invest in the eternal. It's a humble act, yet deeply profound, a small step towards aligning our lives with the deep truths of the Gospel. It's a nod to the fact that our income is a blessing and a loaner from God anyway, and we're faithful to thank Him through our tithes and offerings.
CONCLUDING CHALLENGE
Let's acknowledge that the Prosperity Gospel's allure taps into our most basic desires and fears, offering quick fixes and immediate rewards. It's an easy sell in a world driven by the same. But the Gospel of Christ isn't a get-rich-quick scheme or a health insurance plan. It invites a deep faith and a relationship with God beyond mere transactions and highs. From Abraham's covenant to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the Scriptures remind us repeatedly that blessings will come, but they're not the point. The goal is to know God, embody His love, and serve His Kingdom on Earth. That work isn't always glamorous and doesn't promise earthly wealth, but it's profoundly fulfilling and eternally significant.
©2023 Greg McNichols, All rights reserved.
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