From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part nine of a series. Read part 8.

"The prosperity gospel couldn't be worse for our Christian witness. Men and women who preach the prosperity gospel on Sunday are laughing all the way to the bank on Monday."

As he continues his analysis of the falsehoods of the prosperity gospel, Costi Hinn next addresses prosperity preachers' financial fraud and its effect on Christian witness.

To make His point that worship of material possessions is not the mark of his followers, Jesus said, "So therefore, any of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). Yet the prosperity gospel worships material goods - and the world knows it.

The prosperity gospel couldn't be worse for our Christian witness. Men and women who preach the prosperity gospel on Sunday are laughing all the way to the bank on Monday. The world looks on as these impostors make a mockery of Jesus, the pastoral leaders of the church, and the Bible as the foundation we stand on for teaching. [1]

God's Condemnation

Pastor Hinn goes on to say, "Unfortunately, many people are leaving the church because of this abuse of power." I would instead say, "fortunately" - because the so-called churches where leaders practice such fraud and abuse are no true churches of Jesus Christ. It is far better to be out of them. On this Scripture is clear.

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. (Titus 1:10-11)

A bishop then must be blameless...not greedy for money... Likewise deacons must be not greedy for money... (1 Timothy 3:2-3, 8)

In the parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of

the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)

God's Commands

God's instruction to those who are the true followers of Christ leaves no room for doubt as to their course:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what [a]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)

In his Answers magazine article, Pastor Hinn continues:

Christian leaders are expected to be free from the love of money (1 Timothy 3:3), not obsessed with raiding the offering buckets. Christian leaders are expected to care for people as loving, humble shepherds (1 Peter 5:2), not to act as manipulative salesmen. Finally, Christian leaders are expected to use their God-given authority to protect people from deception and boldly steer the church into truth (Hebrews 13:17).

Once again we have the example of the Apostle Paul, who had renounced the things of this world for the cause of Christ:

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:17-21)

Likewise Paul exhorted the Colossian believers:

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

And likewise to the Ephesian believers:

I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:33-35)

In these things Paul followed the example of his Lord, who said,

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [literally, riches]. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:24-34)

References:

1. Costi W. Hinn, "Healthy, Wealthy, and Lies", Answers magazine, January-March 2022, page 74. Used by permission.

Next: The Prosperity Gospel's Un-Biblical View of Money Abuses Vulnerable People

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