The Prosperity Gospel





The simplest definition of the word "gospel" would be "good news." While Christ himself is proclaimed as the good news of the Christian faith, the main task of the church is to continue proclaiming this gospel to the ends of the earth until Christ returns. It is a gospel that saves, redeems, restores, heals, and gives peace to the believer.

Over the years, various adjectives have been added to the word "gospel." "Social,", "full,", "prosperity," etc. Each time such adjectives have been added, the wholistic message of the good news of Christ, has been hauled to extremes and distorted in its simplicity.

The prosperity gospel has been in circulation since the 1950s, while its roots can be traced to the 19th century. Sri Lanka, too, has had these prosperity gospel preachers over the last few decades, and we can't deny the pull it has on people.

The prosperity gospel teaches that material prosperity is proof of divine favour. Faith is presented as the instrument through which believers attain their desires. People are encouraged to "speak your faith," "release your faith," and "believe God for." They sound very Christian! But the danger is that it makes people think that they can order things to happen just like God does. The Scriptures teach us that God has promised to supply our needs. However, it does not teach us that he will fulfill all of our desires and wants. The prosperity gospel confuses people between needs and wants. It does not teach that God can refuse to give us what we want for our own safety. In 1 Kings 3, King Solomon is seen as a person who has learned to know what he really needs. His prayer was according to the will of God, and it pleased God to answer him. King Solomon had learned to pray for what delights God and not want what he wants. Very sadly, people are duped by prosperity gospel preachers into believing that the desires of the heart are unchangeable.

The prosperity gospel preachers maintain that God blesses "the holy with prosperity; the absence of prosperity means the presence of sin." But this contradicts the basic teaching found in the book of Job. Job’s story teaches us that wealth and holiness are not directly interrelated. Even after losing wealth and everything, Job's faith remained unbroken.

The gospel calls people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. This experience brings us to a whole realm of new desires based on the values of God’s kingdom. Instead of seeking to be rich in this world, the riches of heaven are to be desired. Instead of  seeking to look great before others in this world, the desire is to make Christ look great around the world. All desires are focused on bringing glory to God, not just verbally but through the inward change of every believer.


Rev. Asiri P. Perera
January 10th, 2022


 

Comments

  1. Rev. Asiri P. PereraJanuary 10, 2023 at 12:29 PM

    Further thoughts from Rev. Prince Devanandan
    Thank you Asiri for the thoughts you shared.
    I am not sending a response, but would like to share a few thoughts.
    The fundamental issue behind prosperity gospel is GREED. It contradicts the scriptures. The prayer I use is, Proverbs 30:8
    "8. Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need,"
    Prosperity gospel can be traced even earlier than the 1950s. For example, the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church against which Luther protested is buying blessings for the dead. Annania and Sapira in Acts is another of the origins. The goldsmith asking for the gift of healing for money another instance of prosperity gospel.
    Just a few thoughts to add to your blogpost.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rev. Asiri P. PereraJanuary 10, 2023 at 12:58 PM

    From Rev. S.J. kathiresapillai


    "Thank you for your expository comment on the prosperity gospel. Wait patiently the power of Jesus will move away from people
    JESUS SAYS,
    " MY POWER IS ALWAYS MOVING AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO LOVE POWER AND MONEY. MY POWER IS ALWAYS MOVING TOWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING IT AWAY AS I DID."
    (JESUS THE KING BY TIMOTHY KELLER . page 150.
    So prosperity gospel is a trap. The heart of the gospel is the cross and the cross is all about GIVING UP.

    May the good lord bless your teaching ministry.
    The need of the hour is teaching ministry.
    Kathiresapillai.

    ReplyDelete

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