What is actually meant by the term “prosperity gospel”?
What is actually meant by the term “prosperity gospel“?
This term confuses me because I see many different shades of belief in how God rewards us and I know that it is not wrong to believe what the Bible said about prosperity, but some ministries have the reputation of preaching a so-called “Prosperity Gospel” and this is not good. We need to all come to a unity of faith as much as possible. Thanks for considering this.
One other thing is I believe too many have jumped on the wagon of pointing their fingers at the churches they think are doing this and can become wrongful judging and contribute to the downfall of a good ministry.
Best answer:
Answer by Lincoln6
Prosperity Gospel is just a term that they use to attract people to what they preach. They know that most people need money.
Give your answer to this question below!
Writer’s Creativity Package – 22 Ways To Re-think A Story…and More
You Can’t Get Published Without A Unique Story. Screenwriter Steve Barancik Presents 44 Ways To Fracture A Fairy Tale And 22 Ways To Re-think A Story, Ebooks That Help Authors Dream Up Plot Choices That Will Let Their Work Stand Out. Wow Those Publishers!
Writer’s Creativity Package – 22 Ways To Re-think A Story…and More
The Tyranny of Dead Ideas: Revolutionary Thinking for a New Age of Prosperity, M
 | US $5.58 End Date: Saturday Jun-02-2012 13:24:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $5.58 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Related posts:
What is going on now is “prosperity gospel”. so it is very easy to know.
If we are expecting, asking anything material is because of it.
Giving up every thing material, and our self is the real starting point of the real Gospel that Jesus taught. But it is very difficult.Thank you
What is wrongful about judging that “prosperity gospel” goes against the teachings of Jesus?
You tell the suckers they can get rich if they believe in god and jesus and give you money. You become very prosperous as a result.
It’s also known as the ‘Health and Wealth’ gospel. Basically, it is a teaching that says you will increase in health and wealth the more obedient you are to God. It simultaneously says that obedience to God includes tithing your income to that denomination. That should set loud alarm bells ringing! Especially when the preachers of the prosperity gospel are flaunting wealth, big cars, private aeroplanes and the likes. Sickening, isn’t it?
Selective scriptures are used to build up this false teaching, and the other ones that obviously deny such a doctrine are explained away as meaning something else. The reason why this gospel needs to be exposed is that anybody who either adds a word to the gospel of Christ, or who takes a word away from it, has corrupted the gospel. Just read Galatians 1:6-10. The gospel is centred solely on what Jesus has already done to accomplish our salvation from sin. It has absolutely nothing to do with financial or physical health matters. Nobody’s salvation can be guaged by those things. No matter what ‘good’ things are in such a ministry, the corruption of the gospel dishonours God and Christ. Salvation is not about improving our own situation or standing in this life. It is about becoming citizens of heaven and being sojourners on earth now, forsaking all to follow our Lord, pointing to the Lord at all times, not ourselves.
well there is a lot of abuse in the name of christ from child abuse to pastors running off with the elders wives ,monetary larceny, bad theology ,women preachers , gay pastors/ priests ,unbiblical theology to manipulate , tithe ..etc … judge ment begins in the house of the lord and we need to study to show ourselves approved .. like the bereans .. not looking for pastors who will preach what we want to hear …I have been thinking about job and what satan did vs. what god did in restoring and blessing job .. but god also allowed the testing of job ..
I just hate people misquoting scripture to say what they want it to say …. like …… Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 john 1:2
Even the location of the statement ought to give a person an understanding of what it’s meaning is .. Lots of other translations seemed to get the gist of what john was saying here and it wasn’t that you deserve a new car … If the bible says that … than get to that quote and leave this one alone …
What and where is our faith based is it on faith … or jesus .. because if it’s on jesus , you can bet he will let you take a punch … you can name that .. and claim that ….
New International Version (©1984)
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
New Living Translation (©2007)
Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.
English Standard Version (©2001)
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
International Standard Version (©2008)
Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy.
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Dear friend, I know that you are spiritually well. I pray that you’re doing well in every other way and that you’re healthy.
King James Bible
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
American King James Version
Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
American Standard Version
Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Bible in Basic English
My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well
Prosperity gospel basically means that God blesses people He loves with prosperity. Sometimes, though not always, it entails sending money in to ministries with the promise that God will return the blessing. I respectfully disagree with it, and what I believe the Bible teaches is that if we are blessed with prosperity, it is for the purpose of glorifying God. Here’s another way of looking at it. I have been blessed with a gift of being able to teach well, and I use that gift to teach others about the good news of Jesus Christ.
Sadly, there have been people, seeking to serve themselves, who have taken advantage of people seeking hope from God. Robert Tilton, the PTL ministry, and others, badly contributed to tarnishing other sincere ministries. But, here’s something interesting while I’m on the subject. I recall that after PTL was in the news that Jimmy Swaggart referred to Jim Bakker as a cancer in the body of Christ. Jim Bakker had served some time in prison, and admitted that he read the Bible for the first time while he was there. He said that he repented and wanted to teach people the real good news from the Bible. Larry King on his show was talking with Rev. Billy Graham and asked if someone like Jim Bakker should be taken seriously. Billy Graham said that he believed that the Lord could use anyone for His glory, and that the Lord may still use Jim Bakker.
The point is that while I disagree with prosperity theology, all people are of God’s creation and He still loves all of us even when our sights fall short. Remember that Saul of Tarsus, with his contempt for Christians and active persecution of them, was an unlikely candidate for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
How do we reach people with the good news? Granted, it can be hard to compete with television. But, here’s something else to consider. I don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to find people who have never heard the Gospel. As indicated in my profile, I had walked away from a walk of faith for many years, and I recently answered the Lord’s call to come back home. Anyway, my step-daughter recently started going to a church after some people invited her. She had never been to church. She didn’t even know the Christmas story of the story of the Nativity. I am sincerely joyful that she is going. But, that got me to thinking. She lived in our home for several years. I knew the gospel. As someone who grew up with church all my life, I had a lot of knowledge to share. In spite of my knowledge, she lived in the same home with me for several years, and she still didn’t know anything about the good news.
So no, I don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to find people who don’t know the good news. I don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to find people without any hope in their lives. They’re right here in the same town where I live, and they’re the same people that I see everyday as I walk around town and pass them by. The Lord has been so wonderful to me, and it breaks my heart to think about how I’ve been holding on to good news when there are so many people out there who are without it.
You have so many thoughtful questions for folks. Thank you so much for reaching out to people and sharing the His good news!
God bless!