Thread: The prosperity gospel

I had a discussion on facebook with Wheeze about the term "the prosperity gospel" and the way an article used that term. We seemed to disagree on what the term means. From my previous experiences with discussing with dozens of anti-charismatics they would label anyone who believes that it's God's general will for everyone to be either free of disease and/or free of poverty a believer in "the prosperity gospel" aka "the health and wealth gospel".

Here's the definition found on wikipedia :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology

"Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, or the gospel of success) is a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity.
The doctrine emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, proposing that it is God's will for his people to be happy. It is based on interpretations of the Bible that are mainstream in Judaism (with respect to the Hebrew Bible), though less so in Christianity. The atonement (reconciliation with God) is interpreted to include the alleviation of sickness and poverty, which are viewed as curses to be broken by faith. This is believed to be achieved through donations of money, visualization, and positive confession."

The definition contains many elements and very few people would subscribe to all of them but what I bolded seems to be the core belief and it's also what the anti-charismatics I referred to above thought sufficient to be labeled as a believer in "the prosperity gospel" or "health and wealth gospel".

What do you think ?

I do of course believe that freedom from sickness and from abject poverty (not to be confused with "poverty" according to some ridiculous Western definition of the term which involves the absence of a swimming pool in one's garden or similar) are in fact part of the atonement and accessible to everyone by faith. If that makes me a "prosperity gospel heretic" then so be it.

There is no such thing in the Bible as a "prosperity gospel."

The Bible speaks of poverty as something bad, even includes a description of poverty in Deut. 28 as the curse of breaking God's laws, and speaks of it coming on the lazy and the slothful.

The Bible speaks of blessing for God's faithful children. there are multiple Scriptures that promise prosperity for God's people who love Him and serve Him, and for those who give liberally to the work of God.

Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

God promises to open the windows of heaven to pour out a blessing upon those who tithe.

Christ stated that He came that people might have life "more abundantly," or "a rich and satisfying life."

The apostle John wrote, "I wish/pray above all things, that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers."

God wants His people to have their needs met and to have an overflow so that they can give to support the work of God in winning souls to Him all over the world.

I've been poor and I've been rich. Rich is far better. Sometimes religious people are blinded by the Devil and are unable to see that simple truth.

Prov 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

So Wheeze, is what Ari described the heretical "prosperity gospel" ?

Originally Posted by wheeze

To many anti-charismatics, "the prosperity gospel", as can be seen at the wikipedia link above, refers to the belief that God desires all men to prosper in this life, which could be financially or in terms of health. What you are referring to when you use that term on this forum isn't at all clear. What is clear is that the same anti-charismatics would place you in the prosperity gospel camp, at least in part.

Every scripture is relevant but not every scripture is for every believer

There are many scriptures for married people but some are called to be single or choose to be unmarried

There are many scriptures regarding financial blessing but it also depends on what your calling is, the place where you live or minister etc etc
Many believers never get a chance to be have worldly possessions as they live in constant threat of danger

It is very easy for western beleivers to declare financial prosperity but put them in Bangladesh or other places and it is very difficult to prosper materially.
God will provide their needs but many faithful beleivers do not have a over supply like the west

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

Every scripture is relevant but not every scripture is for every believer

There are many scriptures for married people but some are called to be single or choose to be unmarried

There are many scriptures regarding financial blessing but it also depends on what your calling is, the place where you live or minister etc etc
Many believers never get a chance to be have worldly possessions as they live in constant threat of danger

It is very easy for western beleivers to declare financial prosperity but put them in Bangladesh or other places and it is very difficult to prosper materially.
God will provide their needs but many faithful beleivers do not have a over supply like the west

That means that you boil general prosperity down to freedom from abject/crippling poverty. That works the same everywhere. Liberty from the curse of sickness works the same everywhere.

In general, the anti-WoF anti-charismatic will state that noone can define that God is obligated to bless anyone with any level of health or prosperity and that one cannot receive these things by faith in God's promises because they aren't general enough. According to them, believing that one can is a matter of adhering to "the health and wealth gospel". In their minds, some adherants are more extreme than others but it's all based on the same basic premise of making God obligated to do something - in this life. Salvation in afterlife for "those who believe" or "the elect" is a different matter - people are born again but that's not sufficiently concrete to make it a form of "prosperity" in this life.