PROSPERITY
AND HEALING:
IS IT
PROMISED TO THE BELIEVER?
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
I)
INTRODUCTION
II)
THE EMERGENCE OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
III)
AN EXPLANATION OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
A)
HOW TO BE HEALTHY ACCORDING TO THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
1)
THE PROVISION OF HEALING
a)
ISA 53:5
b)
MT 8:16-17
c)
1 PET 2:24
d)
DEUT CHAPTER 28
e)
GAL 3:13
2)
PROSPERITY ADHERENTS CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT IN GOD'S WILL FOR ANYONE TO BE
SICK
3)
THE POSSESSION OF HEALING
a)
MK 11:23-24
4)
FAITH DEFINED AS SPEAKING OR CONFESSING
5)
THE PROBLEM OF NOT RECEIVING
B)
HOW TO BE WEALTHY
1)
THE PURPOSE OF WEALTH
a)
ECCL 11:1
b)
2 COR 9:6
c)
GAL 6:7
2)
THE PROMISE OF WEALTH
a)
JOSHUA 1:8
b)
2 CHRON 20:20
c)
NEH 2:20
d)
PSALM 1:3
e)
PSALM 35:27
f)
3 JOHN 2
3)
THE PROVISION OF WEALTH CENTERS ON THE APPLICATION OF THE ABRAHAMIC
COVENANT
a)
GAL 3:14
b)
DT 28
4)
POSSESSION OF THE WEALTH PROVIDED THROUGH THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT IS
ACHIEVED BY KNOWING, OBEYING AND BELIEVING
a)
KNOWING
b)
OBEYING
i)
JOB 36:11
c)
BELIEVING IS FALSELY REDEFINED AS CLAIMING AUTHORITY OVER FINANCIAL
RESOURCES ALREADY GUARANTEED BY GOD
5)
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL'S PROSPECTS OF WEALTH ARE CLAIMED AS ASTOUNDING
a)
MK 10:30
C)
HOW TO BE DEMON FREE
1)
THE PRESENCE OF DEMONIC ACTIVITY IN THE LIVES OF CHRISTIANS IS AN
IMPORTANT PLANK IN THE PROSPERITY PLATFORM
2)
THE PROCESS OF CASTING OUT DEMONS SOLVES THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL'S
'DEMONIC DILEMMA'
a)
1 JOHN 4:4
b)
MATT. 10:1
3)
IN THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL PROCEDURE FOR CASTING OUT DEMONS SATAN IS BOUND
BY THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS SO THAT HE CANNOT RENDER AID TO HIS EVIL
ASSOCIATES
IV)
AN EVALUATION OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
A)
INTRODUCTION
B)
BIBLIOLOGY = THE ACTUAL ROLE OF GOD'S WORD IN THE MATTER OF THE
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
FALSE CLAIMS FOR GOD'S INSPIRATION BEYOND THE BIBLE ARE MADE FOR
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES BEING ON A PAR WITH AND EVEN OVERIDING GOD'S WORD
3)
THE METHOD OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLICAL TEXT IS HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE AND
ARBITRARY LEADING TO DISTORTION AND FALSE INTERPRETATION
a)
JOSHUA 1:8
b)
MARK 10:29-30
c)
3 JOHN 2
C)
CHRISTOLOGY = ARE HEALING AND PROSPERITY IN THE ATONEMENT
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
PHYSICAL HEALING
IS NOT PART OF THE ATONEMENT
a)
ISA 53:4-5 & MT 8:17
THESE PASSAGES DO NOT
SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT HEALING OF ALL DISEASES IS GUARANTEED BY THE CROSS
3)
FINANCIAL PROSPERITY IS NOT PART OF THE ATONEMENT
a)
2 COR 8:2, 7, 9 & 1 COR 4:11, 16
b)
1 COR 4:11
c)
1 COR 4:8
d)
PHIL 4:11-12
D)
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES = THEOLOGY PROPER
1)
THE WILL OF GOD AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD DO NOT INCLUDE FINANCIAL
RICHES FOR EVERY BELIEVER
a)
INTRODUCTION
b)
THERE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE OF THOSE WHO DID NOT PROSPER WHILE
IN THE WILL OF GOD
i)
HEBREWS CHAPTER 11
c)
JESUS'S OWN LIFE TESTIFIES TO THE FACT THAT THE WILL OF GOD DOES NOT
ALWAYS INCLUDE FINANCIAL PROSPERITY
i)
INTRODUCTION
ii)
MT 8:20
iii)
MT 17:24-27
iv)
LK 23:34
v)
JN 19:26-27
vi)
CONCLUSION
d)
THE BIBLE STATES THE WILL OF GOD FOR THE BELIEVER STRICTLY IN MORAL
TERMS NOT ECONOMIC
i)
1 THESS 4:3 & 1 THES 5:18
ii)
EPH 5:17
e)
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IS UNDERMINED IF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL IS TRUE -
FOR MANY BELIEVERS INDEED DO NOT PROSPER
i)
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL FALSELY MAINTAINS THAT GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN'S
PROSPERITY FAILED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, NECESSITATING ANOTHER PLAN
ii)
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL'S FALSE PLAN B PROVIDES FOR MAN TO MANIPULATE GOD
INTO PROVIDING FINANCIAL REWARDS SIMPLY BY BELIEVING THAT THEY WILL BE
PROVIDED
iii)
GOD IS BOUND BY
HIS OWN LAWS - MAN IS THE INITIATOR WITH GOD HAVING TO COMPLY
E)
ANTHROPOLOGY
1)
IN THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL SCENARIO MAN IS THE RULER AND GOD THE SERVANT
2)
OBJECTION #1 TO THE PROSPERITY SCENARIO:
ILLNESS DOES NOT ALWAYS
LEAVE AND WEALTH DOES NOT ALWAYS COME EVEN WHEN THE DECREE FOR IT HAS BEEN
PROPERLY ISSUED AND BELIEVED IN
3)
OBJECTION #2 TO THE PROSPERITY SCENARIO:
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
DEIFIES MAN OVER GOD
F)
HAMARTIOLOGY = SIN IN THE BELIEVER'S LIFE
1)
THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN AS TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE IS IGNORED EVEN
CONTRADICTED AND REPLACED WITH THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE BELIEVER INSTEAD
2)
THE ONLY SIN GIVEN ATTENTION TO IS DOUBT OR UNBELIEF THAT ONE WILL BE
MADE HEALTHY OR WEALTHY
3)
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL'S EMPHASIS ON DOUBT AND NEGATIVE THOUGHT IS
UNBIBLICAL IN A NUMBER OF WAYS
a)
IT PLACES AN ENORMOUS AND UNBIBLICAL BURDEN ON THE BELIEVER TO CONTROL
HIS THOUGHTS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROSPERITY AND/OR HEALING
b)
THE EMPHASIS ON HAVING TO MAINTAIN ONE'S FAITH IN ONE'S PROSPERING OR
HEALING PROVIDES A READY ESCAPE HATCH FOR THE PROSPERITY AND FAITH
PREACHER
G)
UNBIBLICAL DEMONOLOGY
1)
THE PROSPERITY MOVEMENT IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN UNBIBLICAL AND UNTRUE
OBSESSION WITH DEMONIC CAUSATION
a)
UNWARRANTED AND UNBIBLICAL SUPERNATURALISM ABOUT DEMONS CAUSES FEAR AND
FRUSTRATION NOT SPIRITUALITY
b)
THE PROSPERITY
MOVEMENT HAS DIVERTED FROM THE BIBLE AND HAS REVERTED TO A FORM OF DEMON
ANIMISM LIKE THAT OF PAGAN WITCH DOCTORS
c)
THE PROSPERITY MOVEMENT'S DOCTRINE OF SATAN IS UNBIBLICAL AND PLAYS
RIGHT INTO HIS HAND
i)
PROSPERITY ADHERENTS CLAIM THAT SATAN CAUSES ALL SICKNESS AND FINANCIAL
WOE SO USING A COMMAND TO BIND HIM AND THEN SPEAKING PROSPERITY AND
HEALTH INTO EXISTENCE IS THE ANSWER
ii)
BUT THE PROSPERITY DOCTRINE OF SATAN CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE WHICH
PRESENTS HIM AS FAR MORE CRAFTY AND DECEPTIVE AS THE PROSPERITY
ADHERENTS DO
iii)
PUTTING THE BLAME ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S LACK OF FAITH OR HIS FAILING TO
BIND SATAN FOCUSES THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE REAL CAUSES OF FINANCIAL
WOE AND PHYSICAL AILMENTS:
SIN, AN IMPERFECT BODY DUE
TO THE FALL, THE WORLD SYSTEM, AND SOMETIMES A DEMON
H)
UNBIBLICAL ANGELOLOGY
1)
PROSPERITY THINKERS FALSELY CONSIDER ANGELIC OBEDIENCE TO BE DIRECTED BY
MAN RATHER THAN BY GOD
2)
ON THE OTHER HAND, SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT ANGELS ARE DIRECTED BY GOD NOT
BY MAN
a)
HEB 1:7-8, 14
b)
DAN 10:12
I)
PROSPERITY ADHERENTS PROMOTE AN UNBIBLICAL VIEW OF THE ABRAHAMIC
COVENANT
1)
DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 28 APPLIES TO ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES AND NOT
TO NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS WHO ARE UNDER GRACE NOT THE LAW
2)
GAL 3:14 APPLIES TO GENTILES RECEIVING SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF THE
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT AND NOT MATERIAL ONES
J)
FAITH HAS BEEN FALSELY REDEFINED
1)
FAITH IS FALSELY REDEFINED AS A FORCE GOVERNED BY LAWS AND CONTROLLED BY
MAN
2)
PROSPERITY ADHERENTS MAINTAIN THAT FAITH IS A POWER MAN EXERTS TO
MANIPULATE GOD.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT FAITH
IS TRUSTING IN GOD TO DO HIS WILL NOT THE WILL OF MAN
3)
PROSPERITY ADHERENTS FALSELY MAINTAIN THAT THE WORDS YOU SPEAK ARE IN
EFFECT WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND HAVING BEEN SPOKEN THEY WILL MAGICALLY COME
TO PASS
a)
SCRIPTURE REFUTES RATHER THAN SUPPORTS THIS PROSPERITY POINT OF VIEW
i)
MK 11:23-24 & ZECH 14:4, 10
ii)
1 JOHN 5:14-15: ALL REQUESTS IN FAITH MUST STILL BE IN ACCORD WITH THE
WILL OF GOD FOR THEM TO COME TO PASS
K)
AN UNBIBLICAL REDEFINITION OF THE WORD PATIENCE IS A PARTNER TO FAITH IN
THE PROSPERITY SCENARIO IN ORDER FOR THE BELIEVER TO PRODUCE PROSPERITY
OR HEALTH ON DEMAND
L)
THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE OF SOWING AND REAPING IS TWISTED BY THE
PROSPERITY ADHERENTS INTO PROFIT ON DEMAND
V)
CONCLUSION:
THE PROSPERITY SCENARIO
ALMOST COMPLETELY IGNORES THE WORDS OF GOD'S WORD
VI)
FOOTNOTES
