The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?

A must read book

Just a few days ago I just published on Amazon.com my book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? which is an revised, expanded, new edition of the previous book that have the same title. Within this new edition I have added several chapters along with questions of discussion at the end of each chapter.The aim of this new book is to give a clear, but precise analysis of the prosperity gospel from a historical, theological, and biblical perspective. The "language" of the proponents of the prosperity gospel is quite distinct, but diametrically oppose to the language of the Bible thus also have "spiritualize" such biblical language as well as the historical characters of the Bible (2 Pet. 3:16, 17). 

In order to witness and evangelize cultist within the Word-Faith movement especially within the context of the African American Word of Faith movement churches is for the student of the Bible to know the basics of the Christian faith in knowing the "what" and "why" as to what they believe about what the Bible teach. Also the student of the Bible must have such a working knowledge of key biblical terms (i.e. "anointing"), and properly interpreting the text of scripture in light of its immediate and surrounding context by which the prosperity gospel have greatly distorted (2 Pet. 3:16). Scripture interprets scripture (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). In order to have a proper knowledge and understanding of scripture is comparing scripture with scripture by which many of the proponents of the prosperity gospel ignore that of the "plain" meaning of the context of scripture in favor of "spiritualizing" many Bible passages so as to destroy the content of the whole message (2 Tim. 2:17, 18).

   It is also important that to witness to cultist in the African American Word of Faith movement churches is to know and understand the "buzzwords" of its own distinctive language (e.g. "force of faith") that are contrary to the clear teaching of scripture (Rom. 16:17, 18). 

   What is so striking about prosperity gospel is that of its connection to New Thought metaphysics: that of human beings possessing such divine nature, utilizing the mind to change reality, and that of  "positive" confession or affirmation of faith "backed" by the Bible can free the "Faith" believer of sin, sickness, disease, and poverty.  The history of Gnosticism is that the "avenue" of salvation is recognizing the spark of "divinity" from within by which the prosperity-faith movement teaches a "little" gods doctrine (Jn. 10:38, 39). As "little" gods the "Faith" believer can speak those things that be not as thou they were: that of decreeing and declaring a thing through the "force" of his or her own faith through the "power" of words (Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:3).

  The whole of the false teaching of the prosperity message have in fact infiltrate that of many evangelical churches, Charismatics, Pentecostal groups and "liberal" mainline Protestant denominations. There is a "cancer" that has in fact spread throughout the Body of Christ where there have to be such "spiritual" surgery so that Christianity can avert such a crisis. Many African American churches from which I came from are hit the hardest when it comes in terms of knowing what is the content of biblical truth. Experience cannot take place of what is the content of solid biblical truth when it comes to having a proper knowledge and understanding of God's Word (2 Pet. 3:16). To be improperly taught God's Word is a disservice the Church; to be properly taught is to grow spiritually and to live such godly lives.

   The book that I have just wrote, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From?" aim is to give the Church a "broader" knowledge and understanding of the issues at hand so that people can see the prosperity gospel for what it truly is that it lacks the very nature and character of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). It is a very timely message whereby the Church have been led down a dark path by which many believers have been led astray as to believing that the ends that justify the means: that of accomplishing what is earthly material; not what is eternal in heaven. The whole of the prosperity gospel is a works movement; not a grace movement. 

   It is my prayer that those who read my book will have the courage to read it with an open mind and heart so as to see the error of there way and begin to embrace the real message of Christ (Jn. 3:36).       There are many souls at stake by which many have made a decision to embrace the false teaching of the prosperity gospel as to what is temporal; not what is eternal. Souls that are lost is a tragic of all tragedies. 

In His Service,

Rev. Darryl L. Miller

Founder & Lead pastor, Contending for the Faith Church of Atlanta, Georgia

President, Darryl Miller International Ministries