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CAN PROSPERITY GOSPEL STAND UP TO SCRUTINY?

Proponents of prosperity gospel and Word of Faith Movement believe that it is always the will of God that believers are of good health, abundant wealth and happiness. They point to the Abrahamic promises, and quote certain scriptures to support this view. Other Christians, however, are of a different opinion. While accepting and praying for God's blessings, they assert that a life of abundance is nowhere promised in scripture. The only question is: which of these views align with the Bible? Is prosperity promised by God for all Christians? This article will attempt to answer these questions and perhaps shed some light on this important topic.

While the scriptures do not explicitly declare it morally wrong to be wealthy, healthy or prosperous, there is no evidence from the scriptures that a life of abundant wealth, health and happiness is guaranteed for Christians. Whereas it is true that the Abrahamic promises are fulfilled in Christ, Jesus himself declared, "My Kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36, NKJV) and "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."  (Mathew 6:19-21). To the contrary, believers are warned against covetousness (Luke 12:15, Hebrew 13:5), focus on temporal things (1 John 2:17) and the pursuit of wealth (Timothy 1:69, Proverbs 23:4-5, Mathew 19:24). The followers of Christ rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name". (Acts 5:41). Ellen G. White writes in the Desire of Ages, "The Gospel of the grace of God, which is the spirit of self-abnegation, can never be in harmony with the spirit of the Wold."

Prosperity gospel can be seen as "another gospel" for it is not for the salvation of souls.

Is Prosperity Gospel another Gospel? No mention is made of prosperity gospel in the Bible. There is not even one instance where the Gospel of Christ is said to accomplish any other purpose other than the salvation of souls. In Ephesians 1:13-14 the Gospel is called "the gospel of salvation". In Romans 1: 16 it is called "The power of God for salvation to everyone who believes". In 1 Corinthians 15:2 it is called "(the gospel) .. by which you are being saved". This alone precludes prosperity gospel whose object is to "save" people from poverty and disease. The gospel was given to save souls from sin and its penalty.  The Bible warns us against preaching any other gospel (Galatians 1:6-12). Prosperity gospel can be seen as "another gospel" for it is not for the salvation of souls. 1 Peter 1:9 says that salvation of our souls is "the outcome of our faith". Moreover, if Prosperity was God's will for all believers then the Apostles of Christ would have been very wealthy but we know they were not. In Mathew 19:27 Peter says, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?". The answer that Jesus gives dispels any doubt as to whether the reward for following Jesus is to be received in this world or the world to come. Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Mathew 19:28, ESV).

Prosperity Gospel negates the truth of God's word, making it of no effect. Prosperity goes against the doctrine of self-denial, the doctrine of total dependence on God and the doctrine of sovereignty of God. So, as you can see, Prosperity Gospel is a distortion of scripture and not the truth of God's word.

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