Prosperity Gospel: The Faithless Gospel

Prosperity Gospel: The Faithless Gospel

Introduction

The Prosperity Gospel promises much and delivers little. It is the message of worldly gain dressed in spiritual language, offering earthly reward in exchange for faith. Yet the biblical Gospel promises something altogether different: suffering in this life, glory in the next (Romans 8:18). The so-called "Word of Faith" movement is, in reality, a faithless gospel — rooted not in the unseen hope of Hebrews 11, but in the seen and temporal blessings that 2 Corinthians 4:18 warns us to not fix our eyes upon.

The irony is staggering. The movement that claims to exalt faith actually demands sight. If there is no financial breakthrough, no physical healing, no earthly reward, then supposedly faith has failed. But Scripture says, "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see" (Hebrews 11:1, NLT). By definition, faith cannot depend on visible success. The Prosperity Gospel, then, is not merely misguided; it is anti-faith.

I. Core Scriptures for Refutation

1 Timothy 6:5–10

Paul exposes a particular type of false teacher: “To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy” (1 Timothy 6:5, NLT). He does not leave this lie unchallenged:

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (vv. 6–8, NLT)

Paul isn’t just disapproving of greed; he is dismantling a theological lie. Godliness is not a means to material gain. In fact, he warns:

"For the love of money [Greek: φιλαργυρία / philargyria, Strong’s G5365] is the root of all kinds of evil." (v. 10, LEB)

The KJV renders this more literally: "the root of all evil" — likely a Hebraic idiom underscoring its severity. Regardless, this warning is direct: greed opens the door to every kind of sin.

Matthew 6:19–24

Jesus instructs us to store treasures in heaven, not on earth:

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other... You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." (Matthew 6:24, NLT)

Context note: Jesus was teaching the Sermon on the Mount. He follows this with a discourse on anxiety. The true Gospel does not guarantee riches; it offers peace without them.

Luke 6:20–26

Jesus pronounces blessings on the poor and woes on the rich:

“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now. What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.” (Luke 6:24–25, NLT)

This is the reverse of the Prosperity Gospel. It is not that riches are evil, but trusting in them is.

James 5:1–6

"Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you... This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment." (James 5:1,3, NLT)

Context note: James is addressing unrepentant, oppressive landowners. These verses function as prophetic judgment.

Revelation 3:17–18

"You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!' And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." (NLT)

Context note: Jesus is rebuking the Laodicean church for their spiritual complacency hidden behind material success.

2 Corinthians 11:4, 13–15

"These people are false apostles... They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (vv. 13–14, NLT)

The Prosperity Gospel claims spiritual authority, but distorts the Gospel. Paul calls such distortions satanic camouflage.

Acts 8:20

"Peter replied, 'May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!'" (NLT)

Simon the Sorcerer was rebuked for trying to commodify the Spirit. This remains a warning to all who would sell the supernatural.

II. Greek Word Studies

πλεονεξία (pleonexia, G4124)

Often translated as "greed" or "covetousness," it denotes an insatiable desire for more. Jesus includes it in the list of things that defile a person (Mark 7:22).

φιλαργυρία (philargyria, G5365)

"Love of money." Paul uses it in 1 Timothy 6:10 to warn that it is the root of many evils.

εῖσέβεια (eusebeia, G2150)

"Godliness." The Prosperity Gospel weaponizes this term. Paul says it is great gain when coupled with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6).

III. Theological Points

• The Prosperity Gospel falsely promises earthly reward in exchange for faith. But true faith often costs us everything (Mark 10:29–30).

• The disciples were not wealthy. Peter says, "We have left everything to follow you!" (Mark 10:28).

• Paul speaks of suffering as the mark of apostleship, not affluence (2 Corinthians 6:4–10).

• Jesus was not rich. He had no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58).

• Hebrews 11 lists the faithful who did not receive what was promised in this life.

• The movement is often titled "Word of Faith," but true faith is rooted in the unseen (Hebrews 11:1). What they teach is not faith, but demanding sight.

• Paul calls us to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

The Prosperity Gospel is short-sighted, faithless, and fleshly.

IV. Common False Claims Refuted

“Jesus was rich”

This is a distortion. The term prosper in some verses refers to spiritual wellbeing (3 John 2). Jesus’ lifestyle was marked by simplicity and dependence on others (Luke 8:1–3).

“The disciples were rich”

Not according to Scripture. Peter says, "We have left everything to follow you!" (Mark 10:28).

“Faith brings financial breakthrough”

This contradicts both Jesus and Paul. Paul learned to be content in need or plenty (Philippians 4:12). Jesus said, "In this world you will have many trials and sorrows" (John 16:33).

“Sow a seed for your miracle”

This phrase is never found in Scripture. Paul calls out such deceit in 2 Corinthians 2:17: "We are not like many who peddle the word of God for profit."

V. Commonly Misused Scriptures by Prosperity Preachers – and the Truth in Context

1. Malachi 3:10

   “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… I will open the windows of heaven for you…” (NLT)

   
   

   Refutation: This is addressed to unfaithful Israel, not a universal promise of financial wealth. In context, they were robbing God (Malachi 3:8), and verse 15 says “evildoers not only prosper” but also “test God”—which contradicts Jesus’ command: “You must not test the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7, NLT).

   
   

2. 3 John 2

   “I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” (NLT)

   
   

   Refutation: This is a greeting, not doctrine. Twisting John’s personal wish into a universal prosperity promise is a clear category error.

   
   

3. Mark 10:30

   “…will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses…” (NLT)

   
   

   Refutation: The context (Mark 10:28–31) includes persecutions and eternal life—not luxury. Jesus said the disciples had left everything, and even then, they faced suffering.

   
   

4. Philippians 4:13

   “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (NLT)

   
   

   Refutation: The full context (vv. 11–12) is about being content with poverty or abundance. This verse strengthens us to endure, not to accumulate. Paul is writing this from prison!

   
   

5. Luke 6:38

   “Give, and you will receive…” (NLT)

   
   

   Refutation: This is about grace and forgiveness (see vv. 36–37), not seed-money for a new Bentley.

VI. James: The Deathblow to the Prosperity Gospel

The Book of James offers a blunt and unrelenting critique of the very foundation of the Prosperity Gospel. Written to scattered, suffering believers, it doesn't cater to comfort or materialism. Instead, James calls Christians to endure trials, pursue wisdom, and resist the pull of worldliness. His message leaves no room for the idea that faith guarantees wealth or ease.

James 1:5–8 strikes at the heart of the common misapplication of John 14:14, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Prosperity preachers twist this into a blank check. But James places a massive condition on prayer: "But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver... Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." (James 1:6–8, NLT)

This isn’t a vague suggestion—it’s a warning. God is not obligated to grant the requests of those whose motives are double-minded, who treat Him like a vending machine while secretly clinging to worldly desires. James doesn’t say they’ll receive less. He says they’ll receive nothing.

Then comes James 4, the knockout punch: “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?” (James 4:4). He accuses those with worldly motives—especially those who ask for things merely to spend them on their pleasures (James 4:3)—of spiritual adultery. That’s covenant language. James is essentially saying: When you pursue the blessings of this world instead of the blessing of Christ, you’re cheating on God.

Where prosperity preachers say, “Name it and claim it,” James says, “Check your motives and repent.” Where they promise earthly reward for faith, James promises trials, testing, and wisdom through endurance (James 1:2–4). The Prosperity Gospel has no place in the theology of James—and by extension, in the life of a mature believer.

 VII. Application

• Reject the lie that godliness guarantees wealth.

• Embrace contentment as a mark of faith.

• Understand blessing as primarily spiritual (Ephesians 1:3).

• Study the Scriptures, not soundbites from TV preachers.

• Examine leaders who flaunt wealth; test their message against the Word.

• Give cheerfully, not manipulatively (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Conclusion

The Prosperity Gospel is not simply an alternative theology. It is an outright distortion of the Gospel. It demands sight instead of faith, comfort instead of contentment, greed instead of godliness. It exalts money as a measure of righteousness and redefines faith as a means to wealth.

But the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to die to ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him — often through suffering, always in faith.

"But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (1 Timothy 6:8, LEB)

Let us not measure God’s favor by our finances. Let us measure our hearts by our contentment, our generosity, and our willingness to suffer for what is unseen.