The History of the Prosperity Gospel: Metaphysical Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
The Americanized prosperity gospel is a "metaphysical" wolf in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15). The "language" by which the prosperity gospel utilize is its language of the Bible, that of mainstream biblical Christianity, and that of its own "distinctive" languages are diametrically opposed to the clear teachings of scripture (Rom. 16:17, 18). The Late Dr. Walter Martin, cult apologist and founder of The Christian Research Institute now out of Charlotte, North Carolina once says in regards to the semantic language of many cults today, "In order to scale down the language barriers of cults is to insist that they define Christian biblical terminology as to the standard definition of the Bible." Dr. Martin continues to go on to say also, "The study of cults is a serious business. The student of the Bible must be familiar with Christian theology as to the "what" and "why" of believing the essential of the Christian faith before dabbling into the study of cultism. The study of cults is a serious business!
The Prosperity Gospel: New Thought Metaphysics
The historical origins of the prosperity gospel originated with E.W. Kenyon (1892) which was steep into New Thought metaphysics (1 Tim. 6:20). E.W. Keyon was familiar with many of the "concepts" of Christian Science so as to compete with of the cults of his day: that of the principle of "divine" healing (1 Pet. 2:24). Many practitioners of Christian Science believe in the "principle" of science that they can actually healed themselves without the divine intervention of a Sovereign Creator. In so many words it is "mind over matter" theory. Thoughts are believed according to New Thought metaphysics to transform one's circumstances and reality based upon the "principle" of science backed by the Bible. Many Faith televangelists will readily be in denial about the fact that what they teach is not Christian Science nor the New Age techniques, but based upon God's Word.
Some of the Teachings of New Thought Metaphysics
The doctrinal distinctive of New Thought metaphysics is that of human beings possessing such divine nature, and utilizing the Mind to change reality. The prosperity gospel which in fact fit within the category of Christian Science by which it have reached into the annals of many evangelical churches and "liberal" Protestant denominations (1 Tim. 4:1).
1. Human beings possessing such "divine" nature. One of the components of the prosperity gospel is that Man possesses that of the nature of God: that of Omnipotence, Omniscience. The divine nature of God is that He is All-Powerful, but according to the legacy of the prosperity gospel is that the "Faith" believer possess such "power" in overcoming sin, sickness, disease, and death. There is a "caste" system that the prosperity-faith movement adheres to and that is the God-class of men. The "Faith" believer are not only "powerful" in nature as to be "gods" spell with a small "g," but the proponents of the teaching of prosperity claim that the "elite" or God-class of men are All-knowing: to go beyond human knowledge and understanding. The depths of the knowledge and wisdom of God is inherent of the "Faith" Christian. The fact of the matter is that God is "unlimited" in His knowledge; Man is "limited" in his or her knowledge of Who God is despite the contrary of the prosperity gospel. When it comes to the Church possessing such "divine" nature is that of the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit by which a person is saved (Titus 3:5).
2. Utilizing the mind to alter reality. According to New Thought metaphysics is that practitioners of "New Thought" can utilize their minds in order to change their circumstances of their own environment through believing in the "principle" of science. The whole of the legacy of the prosperity gospel is that of "faith" backed by the Bible. For the "Faith" Christian to see themselves living a life of prosperity or living a robust prosperous lifestyle they must "act" in fact claiming God's promise, that of visualization, Faith "words," and the "power" to create one's own reality. Even though such luminaries (i.e. Kenyon, Hagin, and Copeland) will deny the fact that what they teach in regards to prosperity is not associated with that of Christian Science, but nonetheless have made an attempt by distancing themselves from the scourging of the cult of New Thought metaphysics without making any difference. The theological scheme of the prosperity gospel is the replacing of the science of the "mind" in place of Faith, but despite of the repackaging, reinvention, and innovation of its many concepts {e.g. "Faith") that it always leads into the same interception of the highway of "science": that of such positive confession or positive affirmation of faith . As the writer of Proverbs once says, "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he" by which proponents of the positive confession movement have both misconstrue, misinterpret, and misapply this particular verse of scripture so as to teach "positive" thinking theology when in fact it does not teach otherwise (1 Tim. 6:3-5).
These are some of the teachings of New Thought Metaphysics that have in fact come in the disguise of the prosperity-faith movement antithetical to the whole of traditional biblical Christianity. In order that the Church can avert such a crisis within Christianity is to have discernment in spiritually deceptive times.
Rev. Darryl L. Miller, president of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the author of numerous books especially his bestselling book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From." As a conference speaker Darryl is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl is Radio Host, "Answer In Focus" that is aired in Atlanta and beyond. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside of Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
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