There’s been a lie going around for so many years, often referred to as “The Prosperity Gospel.” This is the belief that if we have enough faith and use the right words, then we can claim whatever we like from God and he will give it to us. This is sometimes known as “Health, wealth and prosperity” because it includes guaranteed healing and health. In other words, not just that we can and should pray for healing, but that people definitely will be healed and even won’t get sick if they show enough faith. Alternatively, it has also been called the “word of faith movement” because it relies on people using the right words that show faith.
There are all kinds of problems with Word of Faith/Prosperity teaching. However, I want to suggest that the biggest lie is not what we presume it is. We tend to respond as though the lie is that it encourages us to believe something too big, that we are offered prosperity when that is never going to happen. I want to suggest that the problem is the other way. Prosperity Gospel is too weak, it offers us something too small. After all, Paul says in Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
In Ephesians 1:3, he says:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
We might even say that Paul is offering a type of prosperity. But (and this is a big ‘but’), Prosperity teaching misunderstands and misrepresents what this offer is and so doing sells us short. The prosperity Gospel offers us the chance to snatch and grab a little bit of material security and physical health now, for a finite time, to be enjoyed individually here.
Of course there may be a theoretical belief that heaven will be prosperous too but the impatient to lock it down now points to a lack of trust in God’s perfect timing.
In contrast, the Gospel means that we have the spiritual blessings of redemption, forgiveness, union with Christ and freedom from fear of the evil one here but we also look forward to the day when we will be physically raised to enjoy the new creation.
In contrast to the Prosperity Gospel’s “get what you can for yourself now”, the Gospel offers us something far greater to be enjoyed together for eternity. Oh and notice the big difference. All of this comes through the riches of his grace.” The prosperity Gospel depends on my efforts, I must have the right amount of faith, say the right words, listen o and go to the right people. It’s about my works.
I also find that it lacks that grasp of how it is all about our union in Christ. The Biblical image is of the church as Christ’s bride becoming one with him so that all we enjoy from God is with through and in Christ. In fact the prosperity, the riches are Christ himself. An old hymn talks about how once it was the gifts I sought, now the giver. A more recent worship song says “Christ is my reward … Christ is enough for me.”
The true Gospel is all about what God gives to me freely and undeserved because of his grace in Christ.
Faithroots 