THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL is a doctrine that America exports worldwide, especially to places such as Africa. Africa is a continent that is rich with all the natural resources humankind needs for survival. Yet, despite its natural resource wealth, many people in Africa live in poverty.
So, the Prosperity Gospel appeals to poor people seeking a way out of poverty. The Prosperity Gospel, which is nothing more than materialism dressed up in Christian clothing, is a seductive message because it makes getting out of poverty sound so easy. You must pray, have faith, make positive confessions, and pay tithes or sow (financial) seeds.
Unfortunately, the poor people, seduced by this gospel, don’t realize they are victims of financial abuse – in the name of God.
Table of Contents
- Financial Abuse
- Preying on the Poor
- FAQs About the Prosperity Gospel
- Outsmart the Prosperity Gospel Preachers
Financial Abuse
The Prosperity Gospel is also a form of financial abuse perpetrated on poor people. What makes this so tragic is the Lord didn’t require the poor to pay tithes.
That’s right. Poor people were exempt from paying tithes. The Old Covenant/Mosaic Law required that ancient Israel, especially the priests, care for the poor with the tithes. Furthermore, there was a tithe for the poor, commonly called the Poor Tithe.
Israel paid tithe to the poor people who lived in ancient Israel every three years.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (KJV)
At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shall lay it up within thy gates: and the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Deuteronomy 26:12 (KJV)
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Although tithing is not carried over into the New Testament, scripture encourages believers not to neglect the poor.
Galatians 2:10 (NIV)
All they asked was that we should continue to REMEMBER THE POOR, the very thing I was eager to do.
Preying on the Poor
The appeal of Prosperity Gospel is that poor people can tithe their way out of poverty. Prosperity Gospel preachers offer a pie-in-the-sky doctrine that preys on the desperation of poor people. It’s a form of financial abuse because it takes so-called tithes or money from poor people under false pretenses.
It’s a shame that the Prosperity Gospel preachers take from the very people the Bible says to take care of.
FAQs About the Prosperity Gospel
How Is Prosperity Gospel Taught in Churches?
The prosperity gospel is often taught in churches by interpreting biblical scriptures to emphasize wealth, health, and success as a sign of God’s favor. Preachers of the prosperity gospel may encourage congregants to sow financial seeds into the ministry, promising that in return, God will bless them abundantly, multiplying their offerings many times over.
They may use compelling testimonies, emotional appeals, and charismatic preaching styles to persuade people to give generously, often targeting those in vulnerable financial situations. Critics argue that this teaching exploits the poor, as it pressures them to give money they cannot afford to lose, all while enriching the leaders of such ministries.
What Is the Basis for Prosperity Gospel?
The prosperity gospel is based on a controversial interpretation of certain biblical scriptures, with proponents claiming that financial blessing and physical well-being are the will of God for them.
They often emphasize verses that speak of blessings and prosperity, interpreting them to mean that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s wealth. Commonly cited scriptures include the “seed-faith” principle, where believers are encouraged to “sow a seed” (give money) in faith, expecting a return on their investment.
Critics argue that this teaching exploits the poor, as it disproportionately targets individuals in financial distress, promising them financial blessings in exchange for their donations, often leading to further financial strain.
What Does the Prosperity Gospel Say?
The prosperity gospel, also known as the health and wealth gospel, teaches that God rewards faith, positive speech, and tithing with financial prosperity and physical well-being. Advocates of the prosperity gospel believe that financial giving leads to blessings of health, wealth, and happiness from God.
They often interpret and emphasize specific Bible verses to support their claims, suggesting that prosperity is a sign of God’s favor. Critics argue that the prosperity gospel exploits vulnerable people by pressuring them to give money they cannot afford in return for divine rewards.
Outsmart the Prosperity Gospel Preachers
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