Prosperity Gospel False Teachers—False Hope! by June Hunt Introduction Wesley Parker was an active eleven-year-old boy—a diabetic taking regular insulin shots. One day at church, after hearing a Word of Faith message to confess and claim their sons healing, Larry and Alice Parker intentionally withheld their sons insulin. As a result, Wesley went into a diabetic coma. In spite of warnings, these parents believed the Prosperity Gospel teaching: Dont make a negative confession (dont say hes sick). Make a positive confession (say he is healed). Three days later, Wesley lay dead. Because of the revelation knowledge these parents believed they had received through Word-Faith teaching, they held a resurrection service instead of a funeral service. In the end, young Wesley was not resurrected. Larry and Alice Parker were arrested and jailed... then charged, tried, and convicted of manslaughter and child abuse. Though they believed they were right, their thinking was dead wrong. This passage from the Bible tragically fits far too many people who have let Prosperity Theology become central to their thinking. Too many discover too late what the Bible says, There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12) I. Definitions If God were to appear before you saying, Ask Me for whatever you want, what would you request? Think about it... seriously. Possessions?... Position?... Popularity?... Power? There is a king who could ask for anything, but instead he asks for wisdom, and later (in his case) he gets much more. The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream, saying, Ask for whatever you want me to give you (1 Kings 3:5). Humbly, Solomon makes a request that will benefit Gods people, not himself. Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? (1 Kings 3:9). Solomons request pleases God and moves Him to bestow abundance and honor, in addition to the wisdom sought. Ultimately, no man proved to be wiser than Solomon, who manifested a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore (1 Kings 4:29). The physical prosperity Solomon experienced was clearly not the result of his seeking it; he never asked God for it. It did not come because he sought gifts from God. Nor did it come because he gave gifts to Gods work expecting more in return. It came because he sought the Giver of the gifts and His wisdom that he might fulfill the tasks God had for him. He asked for what he truly needed in order to do Gods will, not what he wanted in order to do his own will. His priorities were right. And God rewarded him for that... without Solomons ever requesting a reward at all. This is a picture of what Jesus gave as a principle... Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33) A. What Is Prosperity Theology? And what is Prosperity Theology not? Look at Paul, who was 100% in the will of God, yet weak and in want... but after—and only after—committing his life to Christ. Paul—whose pedigree was impressive (Philippians 3:5-6)—later knew little of health and wealth. And rather than naming it and claiming it, Gods premier New Testament missionary spoke of... Being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12) How odd, in light of the current popularity of the Prosperity Gospel! · Prosperity Theology teaches that every believer should always be healthy and wealthy—never in a state of need. If the Children of the King are in need, it is because they have not properly asked the King for what they want. · Prosperity Theology is also referred to as the Health & Wealth Gospel, the Word of Faith Movement, Positive Confession, and Name It and Claim It Theology, along with a few other similar labels. · Prosperity Theology places guilt and condemnation on those who are not experiencing good health and wealth with statements such as Poverty is a curse. · Prosperity Theology is based on a premise that faith makes Christians able to name and claim whatever they desire. Proponents believe they can create a binding transaction with God in which He is absolutely obligated to bless and provide what is asked of Him. In contrast to Prosperity Theology, the Book of Wisdom (Proverbs) in the Bible says, Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread (Proverbs 30:8). Prosperity teaching: Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in faith, we will receive: I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24). Biblical Truth: At face value, these verses appear to back up their beliefs. Yet, the apostle John gives us clarification, If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And... we know that we have what we asked of him (1 John 5:14-15). If your desire conforms to Gods will, He will look upon your request with favor and allow it to come to pass. Christians are not to dictate to God, but to petition (make requests of) Him. In Prosperity Theology, people have become the rulers, and God has become the servant. In the Bible, God is sovereign over the entire universe, and His people are His servants. B. What Is Prosperity? In terms of prosperity, Solomon owned 12,000 horses... his daily provisions were a feast befitting of a king—of course, he was the king—testifying to the lands rich agricultural abundance. And because of his wisdom, Solomons fame spread, drawing people from all over the world to come... just to sit at his feet... just to learn. He possessed not just physical prosperity, but also intellectual and spiritual prosperity. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomons wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:34) · Prosperity refers to a thriving, successful, flourishing condition in which a person has all that is needed along with the capacity to enjoy it. · Prosper is one translation of the Hebrew word saleah, which suggests a successful venture, in contrast to being a failure. As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. (2 Chronicles 26:5) · Prosper is one translation of the Greek word euodoo, meaning literally, to help on ones way (eu: well + hodos: away or journey). Prosperity is not a onetime occurrence, but successive circumstances of varying prosperity as week follows week. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2 NKJV) Everyone Prosperous and Healthy Prosperity teaching: Since the Bible says that [Everyone should] prosper in all things and be in health (3 John 2 NKJV), those who are not healthy and wealthy are not in the will of God. Biblical Truth: The apostle John begins his third letter with a warm greeting expressing his desire for his friend Gaius. Often quoted by Word of Faith teachers, this Scripture is used to support their stance that it is Gods will for all believers to prosper and that it would be ludicrous not to partake of the prosperity offered. However, this greeting is not a universal guarantee of health and wealth, but merely a standard greeting during that era of antiquity... much as we would say, I hope everything is going well for you. C. What Is Positive Confession? One of the largest religious broadcasting networks stretches around the world with programs on literally thousands of channels and in more than a dozen different languages. In 2004 it collected more than $120 million from its viewers, more than any other TV ministry. Undoubtedly, promises of prosperity helped prompt the receipt of such generous gifts. According to the head of this ministry, Gods response to sacrificial giving is that Hell give you thousands, hundreds of thousands. Hell give millions and billions of dollars. This leader states that if people give their fair share, they shouldnt be afraid to ask God for a reward: If my heart really, honestly, desires a nice Cadillac... is there something terribly wrong with my saying, Lord, it is the desire of my heart to have a nice car....I believe I can have it. · Positive confession is speaking spiritual or faith-filled words with the belief that whatever is spoken will be received or will come to pass. By faith, you can speak or conceive your desires and bring them into existence. Speaking positively releases the power for your desires to come true. This belief is based on many Scriptures such as... The tongue has the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21) · Positive confession means that what you believe and confess, you get from God. The English word translated as confess is homologeo in Greek, meaning to agree with—literally—to speak the same thing (homos: same, lego: to speak). However, instead of confessing to God—agreeing with God about your sin, changing, and doing what He wants you to do—according to Word of Faith teachers a positive confession means that by your having spoken your desires, God is agreeing to do what you want Him to do. · Positive confession sometimes called a word of faith holds to the premise that faith-filled statements have authority over the physical world. Just by speaking, you have the power not only to change the circumstances of life, but you can also manipulate your environment in order to experience the desired results. Two or Three in Agreement Positive Confession: According to Matthew 18:18-20, the Bible says when two or three agree on something on earth, God is obligated to meet the need. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:18-20) Biblical Correction: Based on context, the issue addressed in Matthew 18:15-20 is church discipline, including the steps that Christians are to take if your brother sins against you (verse 15). The teaching of church discipline is not a general, across-the-board scriptural promise. The two or three witnesses is an ancient law for the purpose of establishing and verifying or corroborating evidence. (See Deuteronomy 19:15.) · —If your offender does not respond in repentance when privately approached by you, then you are to take two or more with you (as witnesses) to confront him again (Matthew 18:16). · —If the offender still refuses to listen, the final step is to take the issue before the church (Matthew 18:17). Therefore, in this context, the two or three gathering in the Lords name is for the purpose of reproving another brothers or sisters sin, not for agreeing about any material prosperity. D. What Is Negative Confession? · Negative confessions, whether made by speaking or even thinking negative thoughts, are believed to produce negative realities. · Negative confession, which includes doubts and disbeliefs, are forbidden by Prosperity proponents. · Negative confessions result in bad consequences including disease, tragedy, and death. Undesirable situations can be avoided merely by refusing to speak of them—refusing to make a negative confession. If the concept of negative confession is truly biblical, how could so many godly, positive people in the Bible—including Jesus—make negative statements? Consider the following: Negative Confessions by Godly People in the Bible · Job—the godly man whom God called blameless—suffered so much physical pain that he cried out to God with a death wish... I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.... Why then did you bring me out of the womb? I wish I had died before any eye saw me. If only I had never come into being, or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave! (Job 10:1, 18-19) —Did Jobs negative confession bring about his death? No, in fact after many trials, Jobs trust in God was strengthened, and he lived many more years. · Elijah, the godly prophet who had been given the death sentence by evil Jezebel, not only ran for his very life, but also verbalized a death wish... I have had enough, Lord.... Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors. (1 Kings 19:4) —Did Elijahs negative confession result in his death? No, he went on to serve God in mighty ways. · Jeremiah, the godly, weeping prophet, said to Judah, This is what the Lord says: Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. (Jeremiah 30:12) —Did Jeremiahs negative confession cause Judahs punishment? No, Jeremiah spoke what the Lord God told him to say; therefore, it was sanctioned by God Himself. · Isaiah, the godly prophet, verbally acknowledged Hezekiahs illness and said that he would die... he wouldnt recover. Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah... went to him and said, This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover. (Isaiah 38:1) —Did Isaiahs negative confession seal Hezekiahs fate? No, God extended his life another 15 years. · David, who became King of Israel, verbalized his many negative thoughts and fears including being poor and needy. I am poor and needy.... O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.... Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. (Psalm 86:1; 22:2, 13-15) —Did Davids negative confessions result in his being poor? No, he had abundant wealth. In fact the Bible calls David a man after Gods own heart. · Paul, the great Apostle, spoke about his illness and his many trials... I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may rest on me.... I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) mdash;Did Pauls negative confession cause his trials and hurt his ministry? No, the Bible says his trials caused him to live in dependency on Christ and ultimately impacted him to become what many call the greatest missionary in the world. What others deemed as negative, God designed for good. (See Galatians 4:13.) · Jesus made these negative statements... About Himself: My heart is troubled.... How distressed I am! (John 12:27; Luke 12:50). About people: In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). —Did Jesus negative words cause His troubled, distressed state? Did His words cause us all to have trouble? No, if Jesus had spoken only positive words, He still would have been troubled and distressed at the end of His life.... Likewise, He knew we would all face trouble in our lives. Does Jesus negative confessions give promoters of speaking only positive confessions the right to say that Jesus was wrong, misguided, or not living up to his full potential? No, since Jesus is God and since we are to be like Jesus, speaking truthful negative statements as Jesus did is not wrong, but right. E. What Is the Name It and Claim It Practice? If you want it, when you name it (believing that its yours), and claim it (in the name of Jesus), then your desire will come true. · This belief is an example of positive confession through which you can write your own ticket with God. · According to Prosperity Theology, Christians have a blank check from God. This belief is based on Scripture such as, Ask and you will receive (John 16:24). Name It and Claim It Positive Confession: Since the tongue has immense power, anything your tongue asks for—in the name of Jesus—you will receive. If you need $10,000.00, just name it and claim it—in the name of Jesus—and it is yours! Biblical Correction: Ask yourself: Is this teaching transcultural? Will this teaching work anywhere in the world? Will name it and claim it work for godly Christians in godless countries who for years have been imprisoned because of their faith? The answer is obviously no. Bundles of $10,000 will not be lacing the prison cells in places like communist China or the former Soviet Siberia no matter how often you name it and claim it. F. What Is the Seed-Faith Principle? Positive Confession: Donors who give to the work of God will reap rich returns on their monetary investment—even 100-fold. Biblical Correction: The Seed-Faith principle is looked upon as giving to get—as sowing some money and then reaping much more money. Several verses are combined by Prosperity Gospel teachers to support this principle: If you sow a seed, even as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), you will receive a hundred times as much in this life (Mark 10:29-30). Giving in order to get is foreign to the Scriptures. Generosity of your money toward God does not guarantee material success. This principle suggests that God is a cosmic genie, whose favors can be bought. Human greed makes the principle appealing. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) TO BE CONTINUED
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:19:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015