S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The "name it and claim it" or "prosperity gospel" is not biblical and is in many ways antithetical to the true gospel message and the clear teaching of Scripture. While there are many different ver...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jim Tumlinson One beggar leading others to where the bread is

No and Yes, Let me start with my experience in and out of the prosperity gospel from before and after. My life and biblical experiences have led me to the gospel that Paul preaches which is the gospel of grace. I found that the prosperity gospel teaches scripture that is not in context. What I mean by that is the scripture Mark 11:23,24 is frequently used and Jesus was not talking to Christians but to Jews. Though Jesus did later say that "All things are possible to him that believes". 

Another problem with the prosperity gospel is that it teaches Christians to tend to be greedy and self serving. It is not a gospel of generosity though the scripture of "give and it will be given" is often used. Which is once again used out of context, Jesus was talking to Jews and not Christians. We need to remember that almost every time Jesus was talking in the gospels He was talking to Jews, Christians did not exist until after Jesus' resurrection.

Another thing I found was that it was very frustrating to try and believe for things and trying to use "My faith" which is not biblical either. Many Christians have become angry and frustrated and confused because the prosperity message does not work all the time nor does it work most of the time. It does work when people are taught to give and they will get, the reason for the most part is because it is a biblical principle but they begin to believe Gods promises which simply translates as they begin to trust God and not "Their faith" which is not our faith at all but the faith of Jesus. (Acts 3:16, Heb 12:2) How it works is by grace= a divine influence upon the heart and its reflection to the life; when God places a desire into ones heart and then Jesus' faith is used and the desire God placed into ones heart is manifested. Another note; http://graceoveryou.blogspot.com/2015/07/can-we-really-have-what-we-say.html

Now the gospel that Paul preaches, the gospel of grace. Grace also meaning unmerited favor works like this. God loves us and we are His children and He is pleased to give us the desires of our heart as well as give us things richly to enjoy whether we give or try and manipulate Him into giving us what we want. Many times Christians don't prosper is because they believe they shouldn't based on their sin or behavior which is then no longer grace but debt. And since we continue to sin in different areas or the same area mixed with that way of believing then we will never prosper, remembering all things are possible to him that believes, even if it is negative believing so we can make it possible not to prosper because we believe we shouldn't which does not agree with scripture.

Scripture does not say we should be poor however Jesus did say the poor will be with you always and so some will be poor and others not, many for reasons we will not know or understand nor is it any of our business. Here are two examples of what the bible says about prosperity; 1 Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence

These are just two scriptures that indicate we can prosper by what God has done for us and if we can start trusting that God will prosper us because He loves us and for no other reason then we will begin to prosper in addition to being a good steward of finances and property. We do need to take care with not believing that God does not want us to prosper because we won't.

Perhaps we can believe Jesus and follow this mans example;
Mark 9:23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.

February 18 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report