What is wrong with Prosperity Gospel?
Should we not ask, expect and receive blessings from God?
Of course not, but the problem with prosperity gospel, is that, it has defined God's blessings into being worldly and materialistic.
Prosperity gospel claims that when you give your life to Christ, He will give you financial prosperity in return. It is too focused on gaining material wealth, and teaches that money is how God blesses His children. It is a wrong doctrine in many ways, and we will tell you why as we go on.
Jesus came to redeem mankind from sin, and when sinners repent and turn to Christ, freedom from that bondage is received by those who believe. That is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Nowhere in the Bible claims that all Christians will be made rich "financially" when they accept Jesus in their lives. And Jesus himself never taught nor promised that He will make all Christians rich and not suffer in this world.
Let us look at the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke Chapter 16:19-23
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
Lazarus suffered and lived in poverty, yet he received eternal life, and went to heaven when he died. While the rich man who was living a luxurious life, died and went to hell. This story contradicts the teachings of prosperity gospel of God promising Christians a wealthy life, because clearly, Lazarus was saved, but he never experienced financial breakthrough in his lifetime.
Some Christians equate a man's faith in God into the amount of money that he has. They believe that people who are suffering in this world are not faithful enough to receive the promises of God in their life. Prosperity gospel teaches Christians that the reason why they are poor and having financial difficulty, is because they don't give their tithes and offerings regularly to their local church, and so, the heaven's door are not open for them to receive the promised financial blessings. What's to best describe this doctrine? - a complete heresy.
Now, are we to say that Lazarus was not faithful? And that the reason why he was poor was because he did claim the promises of God? Absolutely not, Lazarus, going to heaven, shows that he was a faithful servant of God. And the rich man, obtaining all the riches of the world, showed that money can't buy you a ticket to heaven, as he went to hell when he died.
God will never reward our faith in Him with money or wealth, God is not materialistic. God's standard of being blessed, is not measured in money, fame or popularity in this world.
Jesus' sermon on the mount summarizes what God considers a blessed person. Matthew 5:1-12 says:
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
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.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Nowhere in the beatitudes taught us about money as a sign of a blessed person, because the amount of money we have doesn't define our "blessed" status in the eyes of God. God never taught us to focus on temporary things, like money, wealth, power, that will all soon fade away. Rather, God taught us to seek things that are heavenward.
1 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
God never taught us to focus on storing and gaining wealth here on earth. He never commanded us to keep enriching ourselves with money, God actually wants us to set our eyes on things that will give us eternal rewards. Matthew 6:19-20 teaches us this:
“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."
I'm not saying that it is evil to have financial stability, but that should not be the goal of our Christian lives. Sadly, the prosperity preachers teach that the material stuff are how God rewards us here on earth. They say that when we give to God (give here is specifically about money), He will multiply it and give us more money in return. Christians fall to this bait, and set aside money to give to their churches, and wait in expectation for God to give them more money in return. For most Christians, the reason why they give is because they want something in return, and that is nothing but a selfish gain, which is the complete opposite of God's unconditional love.
God gave His son Jesus for us, to set us free from the bondage of this world. Jesus gave without asking anything in return. He gave himself selflessly, simply because He loves us.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He "gave".
Jesus gave without any hidden agenda of getting something in return. But Christians today give, because they want to get material things in return. Prosperity gospel are turning God's people into becoming materialistic and worldly.
The true gospel of Christ is all about salvation and freedom. It never promised a life of financial abundance. The full life that God promised to those who will receive Him, can only be achieved thru obedience to God's will. Jesus accomplished the will of His Father by dying on the cross and giving His life to set men free.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28
As God's child, we should also set our hearts into doing the will of God, and that is to live a life proclaiming the truth, fighting for justice, and helping the poor and the needy, for that is how Jesus lived His life, a ransom for many.
"For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity]" - Philippians 1:21
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