The prosperity gospel is a kind of teaching that Jesus Christ came and died so that we may live in an abundance of wealth and health. I know it is foolish to think that someone should follow something like that. But it always hits differently when you meet some preacher who tells you that you will healing and wealth when you give money to his ministry.
In this article, we will explore the emptiness of this false gospel of prosperity. Proponents of this false teaching are Kenneth Copeland, Beth Moore, Cleflo Dollar, and Benny Hinn (Who had a state-sponsored crusade in Kenya) among many others all around the globe. Here in Kenya, the prosperity gospel has taken root, and undiscerning congregants are being milked the left right, and center of their hard-earned money.
What Prosperity Gospel offers is material; wealth and health. Nothing more.
Prosperity gospel never offers anything of eternal value. All its benefits are material; material and wealth. What if you are rich? Prosperity will promise that by giving your money to the preacher, you will make more. They will claim that also by sowing seed to their ministry you will get protected from getting sickness.
Now the truth of the matter is that whether you are rich or poor, death is inevitable. Whether you are sick or healthy, we are all going to die. It is appointed for man to die once (Hebrews 9:27). Just because you are well now and wealthy does not mean you cannot die. Statistics show that masses die daily from accidents who are well in health and prosperity. To make matters worse, your last day is approaching fast. You are going to leave all that you have accumulated back here on earth. So as long as matters of eternity are concerned, you have no hope.
Prosperity Gospel never delivers what it preaches
Another sad reality is that the prosperity gospel never makes anyone rich or healthy. It does not deliver. Of course, the preachers of the gospel grow rich because you are giving to his ministry. What about you? When they say you will find money, how will you exactly get it?
Nowhere in the whole Bible does God promise wealth and health to believers. Reading the Bible out of context will have you asking what God never promised. Jesus never died for you to get a Bugatti. Christ died for our sins, paying all the wrath we owed to God.( Isaiah 53)
At the core, Prosperity Gospel not even the Gospel.
Prosperity Gospel is not even the gospel. It may sound like good news to the natural man but it is fake. It is another gospel. The true gospel is that Christ Jesus died on the cross to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-17) from the wrath of God (. Redemption in Christ Jesus is free and open to all who believe (Romans 6:23). Those who believe in Jesus Christ are sanctified, and justified and will be glorified at Christ’s return. The good news is that those who were once children of wrath can now become sons of God. The gospel is that Jesus Christ has paid for every sin and there is freedom for those who believe in Christ Jesus. Do you desire this?
Prosperity gospel only focuses on the gift more than the giver. People are drawn by their greed to desire wealth and health, instead of seeking God, from whom all blessings flow. Are you seeking God or you are seeking material things in the name of God? Gospel is a call to walk and have a relationship with God, not some magic formula to get super rich.
Judgement for False Teachers.
The preachers of the prosperity gospel are enemies of the cross. They are driven by greed and their belly is their god. They are full of sweet swelling words looking to solicit money from the weak and undiscerning believers. Be on your watch. Their judgment is sure.
For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 3:18-21
