Prosperity Gospel? (part one: Scripture)

Okay everybody, get ready for a slew of theological posts. I haven't written anything too academic lately, but I've always been passionate about seeking to better understand our God. My professor Dr. Kent Eilers says that theology is simply faith seeking performative understanding. In other words: it has real effect on the way we live daily life. This case study analysis is an example of something I have been dealing with not only in South East Asia, but my own cultural context as well. I want to clarify that this is only one instance and does not depict our full (and many wonderful) church experiences overseas.

So without further adieu, click read more and get the full story.

This Sunday my husband and I were very excited to attend church with our overseas host family. This week, a visiting pastor’s sermon was about the “Steps to Living a Blessed Life.”

He said that blessing meant accumulating wealth and honor. He used a Bible verse to “prove” that God wanted all of his people to be rich and have the respect of the world. He said that thanking God that you are better than other people helps you to stay positive on your road to blessing. He made it seem like fearing God was more of a means to an end… the end being riches and honor.

 I have heard the prosperity gospel before, but only on television or online. I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I’m not sure I agree with what the pastor was saying.

For this reason, I have chosen this case study for analysis by the theological quadrilateral. In four separate posts, through Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience, I will seek to explain the dangers of the Prosperity Gospel and what it means to be blessed as a child of God.

Scripture is the norming norm when it comes to our theology (faith seeking performative understanding).  The Word of God has much to say about money, what it means to be blessed, and the Christian’s call to suffering. All of these Biblical themes lead to the conclusion that the prosperity gospel is dangerous and false.

Jesus himself said in Matthew chapter six,

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Christ’s teaching is that the disciples’ heart must choose between submission to God and submission to materialism. His entire argument culminates in “You cannot serve both God and money.” The greek word in this passage for “serve” is douleuō. It means to submit, and has connotations of slavery. Sometimes, it even means yield, like money is luring the person and they eventually give into its persuasion. In this passage, Jesus describes money as a tempter and slave driver that can lead away from God.

Hebrews chapter thirteen verse five says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” In this verse, the author explains that the reason we should be content with what we have is because Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. The “for” connecting the two parts of the verse indicates that with Christ, we are satisfied… not by the love of money.

With this view of money in mind, what does it mean to be blessed by God?

The pastor in the case study obviously believed that blessing meant riches and worldly honor, but the Scriptures say something different. One verse that can be misconstrued is Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Some might pull this out of context and say that God promises a safe and comfortable life, but this is a mistake. Jeremiah was a prophet during the time of the Israelite exile, which definitely wasn’t comfortable. In fact, he is often called the “Weeping Prophet.”

A key word in this verse is “prosper” or “shalowm” in Hebrew. Other translations of the Bible use “peace” instead of “prosper.” It means completeness, and peace with God in covenantal relationship. Kingdom prosperity is about right standing with God. That is blessing.

If there are still questions about what it means to be blessed, Jesus clearly explains in Matthew 5:3-10,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, 
for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Christ takes the worldly view of blessing and flips it upside down! The comfortable are not blessed. Those who are suffering are considered blessed.

For the disciple of Christ, the way is clear, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39). The prosperity gospel is contrary to the Bible’s teaching.

So why does this matter?

It matters because there are people who feel oppressed by a false gospel. They, myself included, have had people tell them that it is because of a lack of faith that they are suffering. Or, worse yet, we believe that being a Christian is supposed to be glamourous and easy. Let's really think about this. Do we as American Christians think less of those who struggle financially? Do we feel entitled to a safe and comfortable lifestyle?

I do.

I wish I didn't.

Pray with me.