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Prosperity theology teaches that God always rewards faithful believers with riches and happiness. Joel Osteen, the foremost preacher of this “health and wealth gospel,” told Time magazine, “I preach that anybody can improve their lives. I think God wants us to be prosperous. I think he wants us to be happy.” He also writes in his book Your Best Life Now, “Be a giver, rather than a taker. . . . If you are generous to people in their time of need, God will make sure that other people are generous to you in your time of need.”
He has found a lot of takers for this idea. According to a 2006 survey, one-third of Christians believe that “if you give your money to God, God will bless you with more money.”
But this attitude turns prayer and good works into tools that try to manipulate God into bestowing blessings upon us. How can we respond to this false gospel? Let’s look at two questions that completely unravel the extravagant promises of prosperity gospel preachers.
Why aren’t more Christians rich?
Continued below.
Why the Prosperity Gospel Is Bankrupt
He has found a lot of takers for this idea. According to a 2006 survey, one-third of Christians believe that “if you give your money to God, God will bless you with more money.”
But this attitude turns prayer and good works into tools that try to manipulate God into bestowing blessings upon us. How can we respond to this false gospel? Let’s look at two questions that completely unravel the extravagant promises of prosperity gospel preachers.
Why aren’t more Christians rich?
Continued below.
Why the Prosperity Gospel Is Bankrupt
