“Prosperity Gospels” are not the Gospel

In Lagos, Nigeria, preaching has become ‘big business.’ Many pastors are millionaires who dress expensively, have rich homes and drive luxury cars. This scam perpetuates the lie that God gives material blessings to his favoured people. Style is central to marketing this new religion. One church leader acknowledged that ‘Church is a game,” “Where the container is bad, it is difficult to sell.” Many preachers have to protect their living by employing teams of security guards.

For them religion is a means to prosperity. They teach that prosperity is a sign of spiritual blessing. They promise healing and riches to the gullible public, who are searching for a way out from their problems, but deliver neither. Their services are full of exciting drama but the Biblical gospel of repentance from sin, trusting in Christ and eternal salvation for those who follow Jesus is not taught. People will always flock to where they are offered excitement, health or riches. Not surprisingly such churches do not encourage independent audits of their claims.

Channel 4 broadcast a documentary film about these Nigerian churches.i It focussed on a preacher, Dr Sign Fireman who was breaking into the ‘big time’. It begins showing what happens in one of his missions, ‘The Burial of Satan Mission’ which was attended by two thousand people. The event started by Dr Fireman calling those who had been ‘unsuccessful in life or unlucky in love’ to come forwards. Many Nigerians believe that demons are the root cause of problems so he wakens the demons in these people. Some of those standing at the front start to sway then stagger around before falling to the floor. Some screamed. Dr. Fireman then exorcised these ‘demons’ from one lady who was screaming as she rolled around. He demanded, in a commanding way, ‘Silence and Out’.

Then those who were sick were asked to come forwards for miracle healing. One man told the crowd he was crippled and blind. The reporter however had seen him walking unaided before the service. He was told, ‘In Jesus’ name stand up.’ He stood up hesitantly then walked off the to the great applause of the congregation. Others were supposedly healed but all declined to be interviewed afterwards.

At the end of the performance people swarmed forwards and threw money at Dr. Firman’s feet. There was so much that it had to be collected in dustbins.

Later the reporter, Seyi Rhodes, went to the headquarters of ‘The Perfect Christianity Mission’. He recognised the embarrassed receptionist as one of those from whom a demon had been exorcised. He interviewed Dr Fireman and gave his opinion of what he had seen.

“Everyone in there seemed to totally believe what they are told, but from my point of view, people who hobbled in half paralysed left in pretty much the same state. The only thing that seems to have changed is that the bags that were completely empty are now full of cash.”

Such manipulative forms of worship have been exported from the United States to Britain and throughout the world. Some such churches may give lip service to being based on Biblical teaching but this is highly selective teaching and the balance of Scripture is certainly not taught. Manipulative techniques are frequently used to encourage listeners to respond to the appeals. A friend of mine attended such a church and during the appeal, when everyone was supposed to keep their shut, those who wanted God’s salvation were told to put up their hands. Soft music was played. My friend kept his eyes open. No hands went up but the minister kept saying, ‘Thank you,’ ‘God bless you,’ until one or two hands were lifted.

Why is this ‘prosperity gospel’ so wrong?

Protagonists will claim that Jesus healed all who came to him, so should the church not offer the same promise in his name today? If Christians are children of the king, should they not dress and drive around in expensive cars in recognition of this link? Weren’t many ’heroes of faith’ in the Old Testament very rich indeed? Wasn’t Ruth told’ ‘May you be richly rewarded by the Lord.’ ‘What is wrong in demonstrating that God is a powerful God by demonstrating miracles today?’ Such arguments manipulate the Bible’s teaching as much as they manipulate their hearers. It is another gospel altogether.

It is not that riches themselves are wrong, it is how we use what God has given us.

Jesus’ teaching

Jesus warned that the love of money would be a major problem for religious people. The use of our money reflects where our hearts are focussed.

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight? Luke 16:11-15

God knows what we are thinking and where out hearts lie. He can see the hearts of the merchants of the so-called prosperity gospel.

Similarly Jesus warned against using miraculous signs to convince people. They would follow him for the wrong reasons. If they see Christians driving expensive cars and they are poor, won’t anyone say ‘I want that’? Jesus taught, as the crowds increased,

“This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:29

Jesus rejected followers who were not willing to turn their backs on sin. Jonah, like Jesus, taught that repentance from sin was vital if God was to forgive people. The death and resurrection of Jesus, just as Jonah was three days in the stomach of the fish, was the means by which God took our sin on himself. These are essential ingredients in the churches message.

Jesus did not teach that his followers would be blessed materially in this life. On the contrary he warned of hardship and persecution. This is why he warned his disciples,

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Jesus sent his disciples out to preach but they were to take nothing with them except one set of clothes and a staff. Their message, like that of Jesus was to be repentance from sin. John the Baptist had also taught that repentance from sin was the key message. When the apostles preached they also emphasised repentance from sin, trusting Christ’s work on the cross for their forgiveness and the necessity to then live for Christ. This has always been the true churches message, God hates sin and selfishness. Yet here these prosperity preachers are filling their churches by giving false promises.

Philip Yancey tells the true story of a faith healer from the United States who led a healing campaign in Cambodia where there are few Christians. It was very well advertised throughout the country. At great personal cost many sick people travelled to Phnom Penh for the rally. One of the consequences of the Vietnam War is that one in two hundred Cambodians has had an amputation because of the many landmines used. Such people flocked to the crusade. However when no amputees were healed a riot broke out in the soccer stadium. The evangelist had to be rescued by an army helicopter. Later the angry crowd besieged the evangelist’s hotel forcing him to flee the country. ii How do such episodes honour the Lord Jesus? Have those attending the crusade learned the Christian gospel that they can be forgiven and put right with God because Jesus came and died for them?

A rich young man came to Jesus asking how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus sent him away. He was outwardly morally upright but he loved his riches more than Jesus.

Jesus followed this story by teaching that riches are a great snare when he said,

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:24-26

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns his disciples,

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where most and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

So why do these preachers teach differently to Jesus?

Paul’s teaching

Paul and the other apostles suffered greatly in the cause of the gospel. He emphasised that all Christians should follow the example of his life, just as he followed Christ’s example. This will involve going along the hard, narrow road of life. Our lives should be for God’s glory, not our success. We must do all we can to help others follow Christ faithfully.

“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:32-11:1

The apostles did not see riches as a sign of God’s blessing for Christians. Jesus himself is our blessing and to live like him is our goal. We should all have apostolic priorities, whatever our position in life. Our mind should not be on earthly goals. Paul warns the Philippians to thing in this way,

“ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.  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 Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:17-20

The tendency for church leaders to drift from Christ’s priorities and his apostles teaching has always been a problem. Paul wrote to Timothy specifically about the danger making financial gain a priority. Jesus wants better for us.

“ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.“ 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Nothing could be clearer. Focussing on prosperity and health in this life is not what Jesus wants for us. No, we are to lay up treasure in heaven

Consequences

If this man-centred prosperity gospel prevails, where will the people come from who will, at great cost, go to other countries and groups to share the gospel. This is what Jesus commissioned his people to do. There are 13,000 people groups in this world and still 1,568 of these have not heard the gospel. How will people brought up in Islamic societies hear the glorious message about who Christ is and of the eternal life he offers to those who follow him. Will such missionaries come from those whose real goal is to live for the here and now? No way.

This new teaching is man-centred and therefore evil. They may use the name of Jesus but have little else in common with him.

i ‘Unreported World’ Episode 14, ‘Nigeria’s Millionaire Preachers’, shown on October 28th 2011

ii Philip Yancey, ‘Prayer’ , Hodder and Stoughton 2006 p. 253