What the Bible says about the prosperity gospel
1. Prosperity Gospel is of Satan
Prosperity Gospel is not Biblical. It hammers on “positive thinking” by saying, “claim it, declare it.” God will bless you if you do this, think, and act this way. In short, the prosperity Gospel offers you EVERYTHING that Satan offered Jesus.
According to apologist John MacArthur, “the idea that Jesus wants everybody healthy, wealthy, and prosperous is an absolute lie; it is deception. All this prosperity, health, and wealth kind of preaching is a fabrication and the deception you want.“
2. It takes our focus away from God’s redemptive work
Although Prosperity Gospel inspires us to look at God who provides (Jehovah Jireh), it distracts the redemptive work of Jesus because it causes us to focus on earthly rewards rather than Christ, the source of ultimate joy.
Preachers of Prosperity Gospel appear to encourage people toward God and bless the church and others. However, it says little or none about daily sanctification, which is more important than seeking a comfortable life. Repentance and faith are two sides of the Gospel; prosperity has nothing to do with it.
Prosperity Gospel offers EVERYTHING that Satan offered Jesus.
3. Bible verses that show prosperity gospel is not from God
Money is not evil—but the love of money is. Although God may bless us with a comfortable life, we see in the Bible that too much wealth can also destroy us, just as it did with King Solomon. He lived with so much wealth, boasted of it, and became complacent along the way, sinning left and right.
1 Peter 1:7 says faith is much more precious than gold because the true Gospel isn’t about us, nor wealth but worshiping God— evident in our faith, despite various trials.
1 Peter 1:7
The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Faith, not wealth, is the proof you are a Christian
If you say, “I am a Christian; I believe in Jesus,” the best way to test it is by how you cope with suffering and trials. If you collapse under petty problems and start blaming God, you should question your faith. “If you deny him and walk away, the trial you faced just revealed the legitimacy of your faith,” MacArthur said.
If you can say “Glory to God! despite insurmountable suffering, your faith is more valuable than prosperity.
James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that testing your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
This kind of faith is more valuable than prosperity.
THE RELIGION OF MORALISTIC THERAPEUTIC DEISM.
4. Jesus did not preach about seeking a very comfortable life
Jesus and His followers did not live a prosperous life
Most charismatic preachers say, “It’s not just wealth but health! Only believe, leap, shout, and clap—you will land on your feet praising God.” Jesus did say it’s about faith—but His life wasn’t lived like this.
Jesus said we would have tribulations
Jesus did not preach how to acquire wealth and good health on earth. He taught the opposite. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have tribulations” (John 16:33).
Jesus promised life to the fullest
When Jesus said, “I have come that you may have an abundant life” (John 10:10), He was not referring to a life of prosperity, although that we can have. He offers life in its abounding fullness of joy in knowing Him—and the rest becomes rubbish.
Philippians 3:7-9
“But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.“
Ref flags of a prosperity Gospel church?
- “Progressive fake preachers” are sleek on stage.
- The church uses a lot of performative acts they dub a “Jesus miracle.”
- They twist “Jehovah Jireh” to mean God providing money. It means God providing a Lamb.
- They are high on fashion and live extravagantly with huge houses and jets that match what they preach.
Prosperity Gospel offers you EVERYTHING that Satan offered Jesus. #john15rocks #prosperitygospel #wealth #materialistic
— John15.Rocks! (@john15rocks) April 17, 2021
