Prosperity gospel teaching in the U.S. is big and needs to be thought through biblically. If you have many Christian friends you probably have some friend or family member who believes in this false teaching. It is not that you are not a Christian if you adopt this mentality, though for many who do the gospel according to the Bible is unclear and often times pushed to the periphery for other things. This ought not to be so. From a Christianity Today resource (click here to see the complete blog post), I read a post that contained these two quotes, who do you think is right, if any, and why? (Leave a comment)
Joel Osteen says:
“Does God want us to be rich?” he asks. “When I hear that word rich, I think people say, ‘Well, he’s preaching that everybody’s going to be a millionaire.’ I don’t think that’s it.” Rather, he explains, “I preach that anybody can improve their lives. I think God wants us to be prosperous. I think he wants us to be happy. To me, you need to have money to pay your bills. I think God wants us to send our kids to college. I think he wants us to be a blessing to other people. But I don’t think I’d say God wants us to be rich. It’s all relative, isn’t it?”
Rick Warren says:
“This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy?”, [Rick] Warren snorts. “There is a word for that: baloney. It’s creating a false idol. You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn’t everyone in the church a millionaire?” (Elsewhere, as quoted on the blog post Rick Warren has said) “I don’t think it is a sin to be rich. I think it is a sin to die rich.”
For Al Mohler’s thoughts on this, you can read his blog (posted 9/13) or a radio show he dedicated to this topic.
The whole concept is blown out of proposion. There are too many “mega’s” fighting over minors, while the real issue of the Gospel is left hanging short of the cross!
Comment by Dr. Plez Lovelady, Jr. — September 25, 2006 @ 8:21 pm |
FULFILLING YOUR DESTINY: YOUR LIFE HAS MEANING”
My name is Aaron Fraser and I am the author of “ fulfilling Your Destiny: Your Life Has Meaning”. Based on biblical principles of prosperity, success, reaping and sowing, and God’s overall purpose for all of his elect. I have written a book that outlines god’s blueprint for true happiness and success in our lives. There is no substitute for the bible. This is simply a self-improvement manual that focuses on a few key areas of God’s infallible word that will set the true believer on a course of self-discovery and divine purpose from a Christ centered perspective. I am sending you this E-copy with an expectation that the Holy Spirit will illuminate its truths in your heart and move you to action. If you find the book to be helpful to your congregation or the general body of believers, feel free to direct them to: Lulu.com where they can purchase a printed copy. As an incentive to spread this life giving teaching of hope, prosperity, and restoration, I will partner with you to afford your church the opportunity to print and sell my material so that the work of Christ can be spread through the financial seeds from the sale and distribution of this book. By selling the book on your website, I will donate two dollars to your congregation for each book sold. I hope this work can be a great benefit to your work in Christ. I can be reached via the following contact mediums. Email: asante137@yahoo.com,ojackson73@netzero.net. By phone: 718-443-0011, 347-742-7338. Thank you and God Bless!
Aaron Fraser
Comment by Aaron Fraser — October 5, 2006 @ 4:31 pm |
The Lord doesn’t care if we are prosperous, or even happy in this life, in fact we are to “Hate the world”. We are NOT to seek treasures here but in heaven. Our PURPOSE IS TO GLORIFY, THAT IS, DISPLAY GOD’S GLORY in this world, anything that comes secondary is a blessing. “Seek ye first the kingdom, THEN all these things will be added unto you” I mean do you guys even READ THE BIBLE? The Lord is concerned with our spiritual health, not our pocketbooks!
Comment by Mike S — July 25, 2007 @ 3:28 pm |
Lets really learn how to read the bible! What did Jesus teach?
Comment by Dan — July 25, 2007 @ 5:25 pm |
You should see the latest sermon video from MHC. Pastor Mark Driscoll takes Joel Osteen to task & calls him out as being “wrong” on this topic. See it on iTunes.
Comment by A little bird — October 9, 2007 @ 4:22 pm |
I’m sick of the Joel Osteen bashing. So many don’t even attend his church yet act like they know the deal. Did you know he asks those watching to admit their sinners, repent, and become born again while seeking out a good Bible believing church. He is a life coach. He’s a good Christian. He accepts nothing from tithings to live on–he sells books for that. His church provided hope to many weary katrina survivors of all colors while many so called good Christians wouldnt allow blacks into their cities and were armed with shotguns just in case one attempted to cross in. God DOES LOVE US. HE DOES WANT US HAPPY. i’m not talking rich but able to be a blessing to others. i do agree osteen needs to say more in his tv broadcasts or else call it a life coaching session and not church. want to see a phony? look no further than benny hinn or paula white. joyce meyer is now in trouble with the tax people. and dont forget TBN–paul crotch and jan!!—-supposedly paul loves the men a bit too much!!!! but joel osteen i believe has something to say–that God does want us to turn from sin–wants our obedience–but he does love us and grieves when we do. joel osteen is a powerful motivator. he could motivate a tree to become successful. he is sincere. and you know what if we are successful here on earth we can help those in need. my heart goes out for starving children. one day i hope to become a huge success and stop letting kids die from hunger. i will give almost everything i make to stop the hunger in the world. like someone mentioned its what you do with your blessings. they are worth nothing if we dont share and do good. yes we are saved by grace and not works–but God wants our hearts doing good not evil. i could go on but i gotta stop. so many people are suicidal–dont have anything–hope is everything and osteen is providing it. not false hope but a fervent wish to look inside ourselves to find what makes us special and take those God given gifts into society and make ourselves and the world better. i one day will talk to joel and tell him how i feel. couldnt talk to hinn if you wanted to–tons of armed guards!!! is that a preacher? or a charlatan? yes joel is successful cause there is a need for his words. but maybe he will grow too in God and oneday talk about the full gospel. but even so he is a man of God. prosperity gospel is wrong–but being all you can be in Christ is a-ok. let us shine through Christ. and no God dont care if you become a millionaire unless your heart is in such a place you can do good with it. poor rich whatever–it dont matter as long as your heart is right. but God certainly dont want us miserable. soooo stop saying that. be prosperous on earth -do good for your family and more importantly the less fortunate. and keep a good heart. a pure one. one rooted in God. Also with everyone now a days calling Christians delusional and nuts–joel is putting a positive light on being God’s children. PROSPERITY JOEL TALKS ABOUT DOES NOT MEAN BEING RICH ONLY–HE MEANS PROPEROUS AS A VICTOR not VICTIM…….
Comment by Greg — December 2, 2007 @ 2:20 am |
Both are false, one preaches mammon for happiness and the other seeker friendly for attendance. The church is falling apart with these false teachers. Sound doctrine is played out and no longer a value for the church. What a shame?! It is the end times?
Comment by Angel77 — April 29, 2008 @ 12:01 pm |
God want us prosperous in all angles of life. What God require of us is to love Him and serve Him, and His blessings will be ours. The bible said in Leviticus 26:3 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and do them,
4 I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field yield their fruit. Also, in 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14, God promised a great of blessing for us if we seek Him. He said, “If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” Your land shall yielding her increase and the trees of the field yielding their fruits, is one definition of prosperity.
Truely, God want us prosperous. But take note here that you don’t have to be a millionaire to be prosperous. Apart from material wealth, you can be prosperous in health. If you have good health, when others are running up and down in the emergency rooms of various hospitals, then you are prosperous. And God want you to be in good health. The bible said in 3 John 1:2 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.
Let’s leave Pastor Joel alone to fulfill his calling. God called him for a purpose and no man can distort his calling. We should not forget the book of Rmans 14: 10, which says “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God”.
Comment by Osaiwe — May 6, 2008 @ 3:36 am |
“Let’s leave Pastor Joel alone to fulfill his calling. God called him for a purpose and no man can distort his calling. We should not forget the book of Rmans 14: 10, which says “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God”.”
The comment above is only half faithful to God’s Word! In principle it can fit 1Thes5:19-20 but miserably fails verse 21-22! Joel Osteen (and any minister for that matter) is accountable to God and to the church community. If what he is teaching is consistent with the Word of God in Scripture then it will withstand criticism. But if it is not then let it be exposed and Joel Osteen needs to listen if he is truly a man led by the Spirit and the Word and not just what’s in or popular in today’s culture dominated Christianity. Jesus did not preach positive messages–he didn’t preach negative messages either. WHat He preached was GOd’s Word speaking to the real issues and needs of the world and humanity. All ministers should follow that example. The prosperity gospel is really the American Dream in Gospel language. It is not the Gospel of Jesus CHrist!
Comment by bogs — May 7, 2008 @ 10:53 pm |
“Jesus did not preach positive messages–he didn’t preach negative messages either. WHat He preached was GOd’s Word speaking to the real issues and needs of the world and humanity”.
I think Jesus preached positive message. There is no doubt His emphasis was on the kingdom of God. He urged His followers to seek the kingdom of God, with the assurance that the needs of the world and humanity will be theirs if they put God first in whatever they do. Or how do we interpret Matthew 6 : 33 which says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.
Comment by J T — May 12, 2008 @ 9:08 pm |
Why does mankind get hung up on gagging at a nat.God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves,follow and worship Him. Earthly things answer the flesh but not the spirit.If we seek more of the Spirit and not the flesh we will be able to see how to serve HIM and not ourselves!
Comment by Sylvia — June 26, 2008 @ 9:21 pm |
Any teaching that takes your focus away from God and puts it on yourself is false teaching. Believing in God means you focus your attention on God, whether you are rich or poor, healthy or sick. That’s why Joel Osteen’s teaching is dangerous. He is basically telling people that if you are sick and poor, your faith is weak. If you pray hard enough, you will eventually be rich and happy and successful in this world. Joel Osteen is treating God like a ‘celestial ATM.’ That’s just garbage.
Comment by Diana — May 21, 2009 @ 10:21 am |
Im confused – why is there such a Battle within Christanity? – I love the Lord but dont get it – What does God actually want for us or from us – To Prosper or Not – or maybe he is saying that this life 70 – 100 years on the earth will not be our “Best Life Now”
Comment by earthslayer — June 8, 2009 @ 8:47 am |