Many church's in today's generation are deceived by the gospel of health, wealth, and prosperity. Some go as far as saying, "Jesus had designer clothes"... can someone please find this in the Holy Scriptures and I will say no more about this topic. The churches today rejoice over there wealth than salvation. Did Jesus pay for your sins or your car loan? Well, if you attended a prosperity church the preacher will say, "Well, he died for your sins, but gave you the blessings of God"! Imagine a non-christian speaking with a christian something like this: "Non: Hey, did Jesus give you that? Christian: Yeah! Non: Well, I'll take Jesus!" That's idolatry. John 1:29 states that Christ takes away the sins of the world not your loan. When the Scripture says the word "blessing" in the New Testament does it mean "the blessings of salvation" or wealth?
Paul identified himself as a christian who suffered for Christ in Philippians 3:8, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." When you read scriptures like this were is the prosperity gospel? I have heard preachers say, "I was broke, but now because of the blessing of God upon me; I drive a BMW." Can you imagine the Apostle Paul saying, "I used to ride a donkey to Jerusalem, but now because of the blessing of Abraham; I ride a stallion." You would NEVER hear that preached out of the mouth of the Apostle or write this to the body of Christ.
Peter encourage believers that suffering is part of Christianity in 1st Peter 4:1,"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lust of men, but for the will of God." Christians were marked as people who suffered for Christ not gain for Christ. I'm not against God blessing His people; I'm opposing the prosperity gospel, its not biblical. Peter continues saying in verse 12, "Beloved (Anytime you see the word "beloved" that's to the Christian) do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ blessed are you..."Did you read that? You are blessed if you are reproached for the name of Christ! Why than are we hearing the health and wealth gospel from preachers, and the Apostles are preaching suffering for Christ, the loss of all things and blessed if you are reproached for Christ? Many will say, "Well the bible says that we should prosper just as your soul prospers." The "soul prospering" is speaking about eternal life not wealth. Question: What do you tell the Christians in Asia and Africa that are being murder for Christ? God wants you rich?
If this message is being preached and it is, this will produce false converts in Christianity. Jesus gave a parable in Mark 4 about the sower (the preacher) sows the seeds (the gospel) to people and some receive it with gladness, but they have no root. So, when trials and tribulation arises for the Word sake, immediately they stumble. Can you imagine these people receive it with gladness, but are not saved, they have no root and the evidence is they did not preserver. Christ goes on to say that the seed is spread to others, but the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for others things choke the Word and they become unfruitfull.
Is the church ready to suffer for Christ? Is the body of Christ ready to lose all things to gain Christ? No. The bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness(1 Timothy 6:10). I heard a preacher say one time, "money is not bad, its the love of money that's bad." But, when you preach more prosperity then Christ you show were your love is. Christ said you cannot server both God and money...does anyone remember that scripture? My motive is to show how far we have gone astray form sound doctrine and follow any teaching as long as they quote a verse. Please reconsider and read the scripture within its context not out of context. I encourage you to view the video from John Piper and please reconsider the health, wealth, prosperity gospel.
