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

By Dr. Paul M. Elliott
"The prosperity gospel attracts those who are looking to get rich off people desperate for hope."

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part ten of a series. Read part nine.

"The prosperity gospel attracts those who are looking to get rich off people desperate for hope. What these desperate, vulnerable people need is a pastor who will love them, protect them, and give them real hope. "

We saw in our last article that the hypocrisy of prosperity gospel preachers causes the name of God to be blasphemed - the same effect that the Apostle Paul described because of the hypocrisy of unbelieving Jews who boasted in the Law yet constantly violated the eighth commandment:

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?... For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written. (Romans 2:21 & 24)

Empty Promises for the Vulnerable

As he continues his Answers magazine article, Costi Hinn focuses on another devastating characteristic of prosperity preachers' theft: their abuse of vulnerable people who give sacrificially to support their lavish lifestyles:

Money is like a microscope, magnifying the treasure of our heart. Knowing that money would be no small issue for human beings, God gave instructions that help us use and view money the right way. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom that can save us from health-and-wealth headaches. It tells us wisdom is better than riches (Proverbs 3:13-14), trusting in riches does little good (Proverbs 11:28), money gained by deception doesn't last (Proverbs 10:2), and it's better to have little money but keep your integrity (Proverbs 16:8). Beyond Proverbs, the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). It is certainly at the root of the prosperity gospel.

The prosperity gospel attracts those who are looking to get rich off people desperate for hope. What these desperate, vulnerable people need is a pastor who will love them, protect them, and give them real hope. Yet prosperity gospel pastors and evangelists are too motivated by money and material gain to care for people. This can be seen in the contrasting lifestyles of the preachers and their followers - private jets, luxury cars, opulent houses, extravagant travel. In fact, this gross inequality was one of the issues that made me rethink my involvement with spreading the prosperity gospel.

Pastors and evangelists are meant to minister and sacrifice. They should target vulnerable people to serve their spiritual and physical needs, not to squeeze every dollar out of them in exchange for empty promises. [1]

Where True Hope Is Found - And Guaranteed

Hope is to be found not in the empty promises of a prosperity preacher or in material health or wealth, but in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the inspired, infallible, inerrant written Word of God:

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21)

If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper [Greek parakletos, Comforter or Advocate], that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:15-18)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience [Greek hypomones, endurance or steadfastness] and comfort [Greek parakelsios, encouragement] of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:4-6)

References:

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

Next: Taking Action Against Prosperity Gospel Falsehood

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