The Prosperity Gospel: A Dangerous Deception
Have you ever been told that following Jesus guarantees wealth, health, and success? If so, you may have encountered the Prosperity Gospel – a dangerous lie that's infiltrating churches worldwide, including right here in Mansfield.
As a pastor, I've witnessed firsthand the damage this false teaching can cause. Today, I want to expose the Prosperity Gospel for what it is and call us back to the true message of Jesus Christ.
What is the Prosperity Gospel?
The Prosperity Gospel is a false teaching that claims "Jesus came to not only rescue you from your sins and give you new life experiencing forgiveness, but he also came to rescue you from poverty and sickness and to give you a life of health and wealth." Simply put, it teaches that if you believe in Jesus, you'll get material blessings in return.
Let me be clear: I do not believe Jesus Christ came to make you prosperous. I do not believe Jesus Christ came to promise you that you'll always be healthy if you believe in him.
Three Major Problems with the Prosperity Gospel
1. It Expects Now What God Promises Later
The Prosperity Gospel takes Biblical promises meant for the future and incorrectly applies them to the present. In Revelation 21:4, we read about a future where God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. Grief, crying and pain will be no more because the previous things have passed away."
These are beautiful promises, but they're for the future, not the present. The Prosperity Gospel dangerously collapses God's timeline, expecting now what He has promised for eternity.
2. It Obscures God's True Gift: His Presence
At its core, the Prosperity Gospel "elevates the gifts above the giver." It focuses so much on material blessings that it misses the greatest gift of all – God Himself.
Remember this truth: "The greatest gift God gives us is himself." Not stuff, not health, not wealth – but His very presence in our lives.
3. It Preys on the Weak and Vulnerable
Perhaps most disturbing is how the Prosperity Gospel exploits those in desperate situations. It's spreading like wildfire in developing countries, where false teachers promise material blessings to those who have little.
"You know, the place that the prosperity gospel is spreading like a wildfire is in third world countries, places in the global south, places in Africa, places in South America, where false teachers in the name of Jesus will go into tribes, will go into very remote places and say, if you believe in Jesus, you'll have material possessions, you'll have everything you've ever wanted."
This false hope leaves people devastated when the promised prosperity doesn't materialize.
A Biblical Perspective on Suffering
The Prosperity Gospel fails to account for the reality of suffering in the Christian life. When believers face cancer or other trials, prosperity preachers often blame a lack of faith. But this completely misunderstands God's purposes in suffering.
"God uses cancer. He uses physical suffering not to hurt us, but to purify our hope in Him." Some of my closest moments with God have come through times of hardship, not prosperity.
Putting It Into Practice
If you've bought into the Prosperity Gospel, I urge you to reconsider. Here are some practical steps:
1. Study what the Bible really says about suffering, wealth, and God's promises.
2. If you're in a church teaching the Prosperity Gospel, find a Bible-believing congregation that teaches the whole counsel of God.
3. Shift your focus from material blessings to the presence of God in your life.
4. When praying for healing or provision, do so with an open hand, trusting God's wisdom rather than demanding specific outcomes.
Remember, the true gospel isn't about getting rich or avoiding all hardship. It's about being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, receiving forgiveness for our sins, and experiencing His presence – both now and for eternity.
Let's reject the false teaching of the Prosperity Gospel and embrace the true riches found in Christ alone.