Prosperity theology

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For a related Pentecostal and charismatic teaching, see Word of Faith.

Prosperity theology is the teaching that an authentic religious belief and behaviour in a person will result in their material prosperity. That is, the doctrine holds that material prosperity, particularly financial prosperity and success in business and personal life, is to be expected as external evidence of God's favor. This favor may be preordained, or granted in return for efficacious prayer, merit-making and/or appropriate faith.

Other terms have been used interchangeably with prosperity theology such as prosperity doctrine, health and wealth, etc. but it is perhaps most commonly referred to as the Prosperity Gospel.

Prosperity theology is not the same as Word of Faith theology, though most, if not all, Word of Faith teachers hold to some level of prosperity theology.

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[edit] In Christian traditions

Prosperity theology is most commonly found within the charismatic and pentecostal traditions of Christianity although it is not exclusive to these traditions. In some countries belief in prosperity gospel type teaching is a more commonly held belief amongst charismatics than the belief of speaking in tongues.[1]

It cannot easily be argued that it is a part of the evangelical movement. Prominent evangelicals reject the teaching as non-evangelical and none of the major Prosperity Gospel proponents belong to well-established evangelical organizations such as the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability or the National Association of Evangelicals [2] [3] [4] [5]

The Prosperity Gospel gained more prominence in the 1980s through the teaching of the so-called televangelists.

[edit] Belief and critique

Prosperity theology proponents promote the idea that God wants Christians to be "abundantly" successful in every way, including financially.

Biblical support for the Prosperity Gospel is believed to be found in specific verses and in the lifestyles of biblical characters. Critics argue that all of the verses Prosperity theology teachers use are taken out of their textual, cultural, historical and/or literary context.[6]

The following verses are used by Prosperity teachers to support their theology:

  • (Deuteronomy 8:18) "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day" (New American Standard Bible)[7].
  • (Malachi 3:10) "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.'" (New American Standard Bible)
  • (John 10:10) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (King James Version)

[edit] Criticism

While some proponents claim that prosperity's ultimate purpose is the funding of evangelism and Christian charity throughout the world, critics argue that the teaching actually is a teaching of materialism masquerading as theology. Futhermore, it seems to promote more self-gratification than true spirituality.

Critics point out evidence that it is the accumulation of wealth and material goods and not "Gospel work" that is the major hallmark of this movement[8].

Biblical criticism includes:

  • 1 Timothy 6:7-10 - "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
  • Mark 10:17-22 - " . . . go, sell what you own, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven . . ."
  • Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
  • Luke 18:22-25 - ". . . it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
  • 1 John 2:15 - "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

[edit] Prosperity Gospel teachers

Critics claim that the doctrine is used by its proponents to become wealthy at the expense of donors and that it promotes materialism. While many prosperity teachers also believe in Word of Faith theology, but the terms should not be used interchangeably. Many of these same individuals are also the so-called televangelists, but again, not all televangelists hold to prosperity teaching.

Some of the proponents of prosperity theology include:

Pat Robertson calls this theory the "Law of Reciprocity" on his show, The 700 Club.[9] The theology was previously the basis of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL Club, but it was renounced by them in the 1990s following Jim Bakker's prison term for fraud.

[edit] New Thought Movement

A somewhat similar (yet strikingly different) belief appears in most "New Thought" religions, Unity, Religious Science, Divine Science denominations.The major differences are that this sort of prosperity theology teaches that God wants all people to prosper (regardless of religion), leaves it up to the individual to define prosperity (rather than defining it in terms of material wealth), and does not condone the accumulation of vast fortunes at the expense of others.

The concept is similar to that which is proposed in many "New Thought" philosophies. "The Secret", which was largely based upon the concepts with in New Thought of being blessed by following the power of positive thinking.

[edit] New Thought Prosperity teachings

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "What Really Unites Pentecostals?", Christianity Today, December 2006
  2. ^ Alcorn, R. Money Possessions and Eternity, page 75. Tydale, 2003
  3. ^ Fee, G. The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels. Regent College Publishing, 2006
  4. ^ Piper, J.: "Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly", Desiring God, http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/1993_Prosperity_Preaching_Deceitful_and_Deadly/
  5. ^ Minchakpu, Obed. "Materialism, Heresy Plague Churches", Christianity Today, May 24, 1999
  6. ^ Lowry, Robert: "Idolatry and Gree: Exposing the Health and Wealth Gospel", Christian Standard, May 13, 2007
  7. ^ Ulmer, K: "Making Your Money Count", page 72. Regal Books, 2007
  8. ^ Van Biema, David & Jeff Chu: "Does God Want You to Be Rich?", TIME Magazine, September 18, 2006, page 54.
  9. ^ http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/giving_and_tithing.aspx

[edit] External links