The Prosperity Gospel Error

In my opinion, the worst tragedy to hit Africa wasn't colonialism or the many Ebola outbreaks but the prosperity gospel. Africans flock to charismatic preachers promising "breakthroughs" of wealth and marital partners. All the victims are coaxed to part with what little money they have so they can "sow a seed" in the preacher's ministry.

How I wish those victims could realize that these false teachers are robbing them. I wish the Lord would do what he did in John 2:15 (KJV). "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;"

The Pharisees were of the same mind as today's prosperity gospel hucksters. They use the gullibility of the people to rob them of money. And when the "breakthrough" doesn't happen, they blame the victims for lacking faith or not sowing a large enough seed into the ministry.

If only those Africans could understand what Paul wrote in Romans 16:18 (KJV) about false teachers. "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

Sadly, this movement has swept through other parts of the globe, including North America. But robbing the poor is one thing God hates and doing it in his name is an abomination. They shall finish up like the folks Paul warned about in Philippians 3:19 (KJV). "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

The truth is that many of God's followers were and are poor. Read Hebrews chapter eleven and you'll find out about many people who weren't living their best lives now. They looked forward to Christ and the city of heaven, caring not for the pleasures of this world.

The prosperity gospel is no gospel at all. That's why I'm writing a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People need to read and heed the real gospel, not one geared to their lusts. As I've warned before, many professing Christians will end up on the left side of Christ on the day of judgement and will be told to go to hell.

I'll be writing in my next post about how people obsess over the end times. We need to be watchful but we also need to mind today's needs.