A Different Gospel, Health, Wealth, and Prosperity By Bruce W. Robida

 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! GAL 1:6-9

The apostle Paul’s obvious displeasure with the Galatians’ desertion of God by allowing others to preach a different gospel and believing them instead of the truth, should not be overlooked. His stern warning was that some people have been perverting the gospel of Christ and the Galatians were deserting God by falling for it.  The apostle Paul is so disturbed by this development in the Galatian Church that he makes a harsh proclamation, even repeating himself so that there would be no doubt. “…If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” The prosperity gospel is one that is being preached by many, mostly Charismatic preachers today.  You may have heard this gospel referred to as the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel or the name it and claim it gospel. Whatever the case may be, the prosperity gospel is a different gospel than that which the apostles preached.  The apostle John and the apostle Peter confirm that the prosperity gospel is not of God and they too make strong proclamations concerning those who seek such things, but especially those who promote them.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1JN 2:15-17

It is human nature to desire good health and to be wealthy and prosperous.  There is nothing inherently wrong with these things.  The problem comes in when these things are preached from the pulpit, causing people to abandon God in exchange for a false gospel.

These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:17-19

This false gospel is conveyed when the prosperity preachers appeal to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, enticing people to follow them rather than God.  This appeal to prosperity is contrary to what Jesus taught:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 see also Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23

Prosperity preachers say that if you have enough faith you can have all that you desire simply by claiming it for yourself, health, wealth or prosperity.  These preachers tell their listeners to take what is rightfully theirs by standing on the promises of the Word of God.  They say to speak directly to the object of your desire, claiming that object for yourself.  They also teach people to speak words of faith to your illness, saying things like, “I’m not really ill”, or “I don’t really have cancer.”  Even people who are not Christians can supposedly tap into the power of naming and claiming because there is power in the words, just as God was able to speak things into existence.  But what does the Bible teach about these things?

It is true that in the past, God did prosper His people as they chose to obey His commands (Deuteronomy 5:32-33, 28:11, 29:9, 30:5-10, 30:15, Joshua 1:8, 1 Kings 2:2-4, 2 Chronicles 24:20, 31:20-21, Job 22:21, 36:11, 42:10, Psalm 1:2-3, 72:7, 128:2).

And even today, there are principles that Christians can employ in order to receive prosperity from God (Proverbs 3:1-2, 8:17-18, 11:25, 13:21, 16:20, 19:8, 21:21, 28:25).

But it must be understood that all prosperity comes from God (Isaiah 45:7), and trusting in man will only bring curses rather than prosperity (Jeremiah 17:5-6).

In our giving, God prospers the generous giver, not so that the generous giver can benefit himself, but so that he can continue to be generous on every occasion (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-15). 

And again, Jesus teaches us not to seek after things, but to seek after the kingdom of God first.  It is as a result of our seeking the kingdom of God that He gives us these things as well (Matthew 6:28-34).

Prosperity preachers shamelessly promote getting, taking, and having, rather than giving.  Oh, they promote giving as well, but not in the ways that you might think.  Prosperity preachers want you to give abundantly to their cause; their mission, which is to build beautiful buildings, earn huge salaries, possess nice cars large homes, and lots of land.  They promote prosperity for their own benefit.  They are greedy and the more they get, the more they want.  They rob the people of God while they fill themselves, but are never satisfied.

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-4

Look at your prosperity preacher if you have one.  Is he an example to be followed?  Does he appear to be greedy? Is his salary comparable to the average person in your church?  Are his home, car, and other personal possessions comparable to those of the rest of the congregation?  How many collections are taken on an average day of worship?  Are you and the others compelled to give tithes and offerings (Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver)?  Are you made to feel guilty if you don’t give?  Does the prosperity preacher lord his authority over the congregation?  Does he make you feel inferior to himself?  Does he claim to possess power and ability in spiritual matters that is beyond what you might possess?  Does he call himself a prophet or apostle?  Does he receive special revelation from God?  There are many signs to look for in a prosperity preacher that are contrary to what the Bible teaches.  These preachers are preaching a different gospel and those that allow it and believe them, the apostle Paul tells us have abandoned God. 

This is what the LORD says:  "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. JER 17:5

Listen carefully to those that claim to speak for God.  Test their teachings against that Word which has already been preached; that Word which is complete (Colossians 1:25), unchanging and which will last forever, that Word which Christ and the apostles have already preached  (1 Peter 1:25).  Don’t be fooled into believing in and following a different gospel, because although your faith and devotion might be sincere, it will be in vain.  Take heed to the instructions that the apostle Paul gave to Timothy:  “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

Why would he say this unless false doctrine can cause Timothy and his hearers to lose their very souls?  Because following preachers that teach a different gospel has the same effect as abandoning the One true God.  There will be no excuse because His Word is made abundant and plain. That is why the apostle Paul wrote:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!  Gal 1:6-9

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