THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL

For some reason I have been thinking about the so-called “Prosperity Gospel” the past couple of days.

I’m sorry. I just can’t “buy into it.”

Funny, I was just scrolling down the homepage of a social media site to which I belong, and found a post which read,

“You will see 2019 and beyond!”

And I thought,

“Well now, maybe I will and maybe I won’t”

I guess the writer of this prophetic utterance has a 50-50 chance of being right about anyone who reads his or her providential assurance.

Of course, the Prosperity Gospel does not limit itself to the health, and extended life of the believer, but also includes a promise of wealth.

There are any number of problems inherent in the assurances of the Prosperity Gospel, foremost of which is…God never made such absolute promises to those who have invested their trust in Him.

I mean, what are we to do with Jesus’ parable of the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus? The rich man died in his sins and received a sentence of eternal death in the flames of hell. Whereas, the poor beggar inherited eternal life. The rich man enjoyed everything the world could dump into his lap during his mortal life, whereas Lazarus begged and went hungry. If there was a Prosperity Gospel for the beggar, it only “kicked in” when he arrived on the other side of this life.

Pt. 2

And what are we to do with the martyrs of Hebrews Chapter 11?

Where were the security, health, long life and riches for them?

They lived in caves, they were destitute, they were hungry, they were persecuted, they were devoured by lions and tigers, (“of whom the world was not worthy”).

No one could accuse these heroes of the Faith of, well, lacking faith.

And what are we to do with a man like the Apostle Paul?

“I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often. Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews, three times I was whipped by the Romans, and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from my own people and from Gentiles. There have been dangers in the cities, dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends. There has been work and toil. I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing.” (2^nd Cor. 11:23-27)

Hmmm, I don’t see a whole lot of Prosperity Gospel operating in Paul’s life. And yet, I think I can safely say, and without contradiction, that other than the Lord Jesus Christ, not a better, nobler, humbler, more spiritual man ever moved, and lived and breathed among us.

The Prosperity Gospel is little more than a spiritual myth, and is much more about the gift than the Giver of gifts. It is a gospel of entitlement, and virtually denies any potential for lack, sickness, suffering and martyrdom among the people of God. It relegates God to the role of a servant, gift-giver and enabler.

Moreover, the Prosperity Gospel is all about the “now and now,” rather than the hereafter, and the multiplied blessings and riches which God wishes to pour into our spiritual cornucopias.

The Prosperity Gospel conveniently subtracts scriptures such as Romans 8:18 from the New Testament.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time aren’t worthy to be compared to the glory which will be revealed in us.”

No, my friend, God doesn’t owe us anything, and anything we receive on this side of heaven is no more, and no less than a gift from the Creator’s hand.

It is high time that believers invest their time and energies in the pure and unadulterated Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than the so-called prosperity gospel which is bound to leave us disillusioned and disappointed.

by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright Pending

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