The Identity of the Legacy of the Prosperity Gospel

The language, or "buzzwords" of the legacy of the prosperity gospel is to identify the movement for what it truly is: that of the word of faith, Faith believers, positive confession, word, name-it-claim-it, blab-it-grab-it, Revelation knowledge, faith, covenant, God-man theory are languages that are "cultic" in nature and that it must be examined in light of the Bible; not the Bible in light of the legacy of the prosperity gospel (1 John 4:1 with Acts 17:11).

   It is important to know "how" the legacy of the prosperity gospel and its proponents utilizes such "language" that are in sharp contrast to the standard definition of the Bible, that of true biblical Christianity and the historic Christian church.  Much of the "language" of the legacy of the prosperity gospel steep in New Thought metaphysics that is connected with such cults like that of Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, Swedenborgianism, Harmonialism (Mind-Cure), and Theosophicalism (1 Tim. 6:20). Historically, the architect of the legacy of the prosperity gospel is E.W. Kenyon (1892) who widely read and familiar with the cult of Christian Science literature. Mr. Kenyon was in competition of the cults of his day in the area of divine healing (1 Pet. 2:24).  Such New Thought has in fact influence that of the modern-day Word-Faith movement beginning with Kenneth Hagin, Sr. who is responsible for the production and proliferation of many prosperity teachers like Kenneth Copeland, and Fredrick K.C. Price who have spawned a host of "imitators" within the African American Word of Faith movement churches. Also the "influence" of New Thought "metaphysics" have in fact "poison" the stream of many evangelical churches, sect-cult groups like that of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. (1897), The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (1992), and  many "liberal" mainline Protestant denominations (1 Tim. 4:1).

   First, in order to evangelize "cultist" within the prosperity-faith movement known as the Word of Faith movement especially within the context of the African American Word of Faith movement churches is (1) to know "what" you believe. (2) know "why" you believe what the Bible teaches. There are many Christians who are ill-equipped in witnessing and evangelizing cults in the mission field.  The average Jehovah's Witness can make a doctrinal "pretzel" out of a Christian in 30 seconds. Why? Because they know "what" they believe and "why" they believe about what the Bible teaches (i.e. "New World Translation"). Jehovah's Witnesses that come to our doorsteps also "utilize" the language of the Bible by which the "average" person are "unskilled" in breaking the language barriers of many cultist today.  They utilize the "language" of the Bible by which the cult of Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses have "different" meanings. In order for Christians to effectively witness to cultist at their doorstep is to insist that they Christian biblical terminology (e.g. "Firstborn" [Col. 1:17]) according to the standard definition of the Bible.

   Secondly, to "identify" or the "buzzwords" of the legacy of the prosperity gospel for it truly is in the form of prosperity-faith movement within the whole of the Word-Faith movement especially within the context of the African American Word of Faith movement churches (Rom. 16:17-18).

  

 The Bible

word of faith (i.e. Christ's gospel, Rom. 10:17)

Believer walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7; 2 Cor. 4:16, 17, 18)

Positive confession ("knowledge" so-called, 1 Tim. 6:20 with Col. 2:18)

Word ("word of Christ," Rom. 10:17)

Revelation ("special," 2 Pet. 1:19-21)

Faith ("trust," [Heb. 11:6, "believe"])

Covenant ("grace," [John 1:17])

Prosperity-Faith Movement (Word of Faith)

word of faith ("activate" one's faith)

Believer's walk of faith ("act" in faith)

Positive confession ("stake" one's claim based upon God's Word (1 Pet. 2:24)

Word ("no creed," "no doctrine")

Revelation Knowledge (Rehema word, revealed word)

Faith ("force")

Covenant (Abrahamic, Ge. 12:1-2ff)

God-man theory ("God-class" of men," [John 10:35; Col. 2:8])                                                                                          

Thirdly, What may appear to be biblical according to many proponents of the "legacy" of the prosperity gospel is none other than a cheap imitation of Christianity. As cult apologist the late Dr. Walter Martin once states, "Is it Memorex, or is it real." Many of the established cults and world religions mimic the language of the Christian faith, but have "refashion" it to fit within their own worldview with such scripture-twisting to support their perverted theology (2 Pet. 3:16, 17). There are also many within the church that wave the flag, "Jesus Is Lord," but promotes the teachings of cultic beliefs and practice (Rom. 16:17-18) through which it have infiltrate the Christian church (1 John 2:18). Their are cults within the corridors of biblical Christianity and the historic Christian church known as the modern-day Word of Faith movement especially within the African American "Word of Faith" churches (2 Cor. 11:3).

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & CEO of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and the continents. He is Radio Host, "Answers N Focus" which airs weekly in metro Atlanta. Darryl is the author of his bestselling book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" As an apologist, senior researcher, pastor, evangelist and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside of Atlanta, Georgia with their puppy "Little Baby."