No matter what name is used, though, the teaching is the same. Simply put, this egocentric gospel teaches that God wants believers to be materially wealthy. Listen to the words of Robert Tilton, one of the prosperity gospel’s most well-known spokesmen: “I believe that it is the will of God for all to prosper because I see it in the Word [of God], not because it has worked mightily for someone else. I do not put my eyes on men, but on God who gives me the power to get wealth.”4
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I’m not one to defend the totality of the prosperity teachings but neither do I fully support condemning them. When reading the Bible one cannot but notice the words used to describe the blessings for obedience. Job, Abraham, David and many others were rewarded with great wealth and prosperity for being faithful.
Yes, in the O. T. God blessed His people Israel with prosperity when they were obedient to Him and warned them about calamity if they did not obey and follow His commandments (such calamity being fulfilled more than once in their history), although God promised to not destroy them completely.
Yes, God does give man wealth and does give man the power to get wealth, but there sure is a whole lot in His Word (the O.T. and N.T.) that warns about the SIN in gaining wealth unjustly, in striving for and focusing on wealth, and in serving wealth. To ignore this is to one’s own peril.
Absolutely true that correct doctrine leads to correct beliefs.
God’s people are responsible to know, understand,and share the truth of God’s Word, and it doesn’t come by osmosis—two verses come to mind along those lines:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
If we are trusting in men instead of God, we will be holding to deceit and falsehood and taking the road to destruction.
Just studied some of Jeremiah this morning...here’s a good one: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. ...Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. ...” (excerpts from Jer. 17:5-8)
—still holds true for today and forever.
Matthew 19:27Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?"
28And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.
30"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Luke 16:13"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth."
14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.
15And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Seeking wealth has one trait with it. Its seeking "greatness".
Jesus said "But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." (Mark 10:31)
The God of the universe humbled himself and became a man.
The King of Kings came as a poor child, in a cave for animals, sleeping in a feeding trough.
NEVER did Jesus ever seek wealth or "prosperity" or glory.
Not really big on prosperity theology, but I don’t have a problem with a Christian becoming wealthy as long as the wealth is accumulated honestly. But I don’t really see the need to attack those who do believe in prosperity theology it only leads to division. And division plays into the hands of our opponents.
The 4th century historian Ammianus was writing about the emperor Julian and his efforts to set Christians against one another by encouraging doctrinal argument and forbidding them recourse because “He found from experience that no wild beast are as hostile to men as Christians are to each other.”
Worrying about the points of one an-others beliefs only makes us weak in the eyes of the faithless.