Health, Wealth and Faith

What is the "Word of Faith" or "Prosperity Gospel" all about? From what I've managed to gather so far, it teaches that people can achieve wealth, health and all their other needs simply through faith in God. If that's the case, why is it considered wrong and unscriptural? 3 John 2 (Amplified Version) states "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers." This scripture seems to support prosperity of those who are in Christ, don't you think?
How about when Jesus said that we shouldn't worry about what to eat or drink but to seek first the kingdom of God? He then went on to say that our Heavenly Father knows that we need these things. Wasn't He talking about prosperity? How about Abraham, Job, Solomon and many other servants of God who were abundantly rich?
We know that there are Christians who are poor, as in Jesus story of Lazarus and the rich man. It is also clear that prosperity can’t be used as a measure of faith or Christianity. But having said this, questions on prosperity still stand.
The Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel are slightly different, but exhibit similarities. Word of Faith is the general idea that a person can speak or pray something into existence, the idea that God responds to us when we say a magical prayer (as opposed to an unmagical prayer), when we use a mantra or pray a prayer of "positive confession." According to Word of Faith teaching, God is obligated, once we say and/or do the correct thing, to give us what we want. Word of Faith teachers cite biblical passages, but cite them out of context, and abuse them in an effort to prove their teaching, which is, at its foundation, superstition. Word of Faith suggests that our prayers are not answered because we don't have "enough" faith. That teaching leads to oppressive religious legalism when people are convinced that their prayers will be answered if they acquire more faith. The acquisition of faith, of course, involves endless rites, rituals, ceremonies and performance of religious deeds.
The Prosperity Gospel teaches that God's will is for us to be healthy and wealthy. It amounts to selling religious lottery tickets to the weak, sick and poverty stricken, who are the ones who are most easily misled by this teaching. Health and wealth churches are extremely popular in inner city areas of the United States and in disadvantaged, economically challenged areas around the world.
3 John 2 is not a promise that all Christians will be healthy and wealthy, but rather it was a normal salutation to a letter at the time John wrote. We might say today, as we write a friend, "I hope you are doing well," or "I pray that all things are going well for you." That's the reason the passage should not be used as a promise of health and wealth - when those who quote it in such a way are hopefully unaware of how they are twisting Scripture.
John 10:10: “. . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” is another Prosperity Gospel proof text favorite that falls apart on logical examination. First of all - none of us will be healthy forever. Sooner or later each of us will die of disease, accident or old age. Many devoted Christians are sick. They have horrible health, confined to their beds in hospitals and nursing homes. Have they done something wrong? The Prosperity Gospel says so. Have they not repented of some secret sin, and when they do will they be delivered from their illness? The health and gospel says so. But logic and experience (not to mention the Bible) tell us otherwise.
What about poverty? Is there any biblical promise that Christians will all live lives of luxury on this earth? No - but there are statements about the riches of God's grace. There is a promise that we, by God's grace, become rich because we are the heirs of his kingdom - but all of these statements are about spiritual riches. Once again, the health and wealth gospel twists such statements, and tries to assure poor people that God wants them to be rich - and of course, coincidentally, one of the best ways for poor people to get rich quick is to give their money to health and wealth preachers. Health and wealth preachers often dress well, drive fancy cars, wear flashy watches and rings - because, among other things, if the preacher of health and wealth is himself not healthy and wealthy, then why should others follow him (or her)?

Back to Home