The Prosperity Gospel: Faith, Revelation, and The Bible

In order to address the prosperity gospel for what it truly is to give a clear definition of what it truly means. First, the overarching theme of the Prosperity message, "God's Will Is Prosperity" written by Kenneth & Gloria Copeland. Secondly, the defense of the prosperity gospel are that of 3 John 2, Matthew 6:33 and John 10:10 by which many of its proponents have in fact arbitrary misinterpret the plain meaning of the context of scripture to fit within the culture context of the prosperity-faith message (2 Pet. 3:16, 17).  In order to give a clear definition of the prosperity is that God wants to bless the Faith Christian in all areas of a person's life in one's own finances, health, spiritual, and business ventures. Therefore there is no where in the text of scripture (i.e. 3 John 2) that gives indication of any sort, but John letter to Gaius was that he wishes his recipient that everything will go well with him even as his soul is getting along well.  Most definitely the apostle John was in fact praying for the physical well being of Gaius even as his soul is getting alone well (3 John 6-7).  That is in fact the rendering of the text of 3 John 2; not what is financial nor having "perfect" divine health (contrast, Rom. 5:12-24).  As a result of the Fall of Man humanity will experience both spiritual and physical death due to Adam's sin and disobedience quite opposite of "perfect" divine health that are taught within the healing in the atonement theorist (Col. 2:8).

  Throughout this article I will begin to address the distinctive teachings of the prosperity gospel understanding of faith, revelation, and inspiration in "how" it is diametrically oppose to the clear teaching of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16).  It is also important to know that the proponents of the prosperity gospel have in fact utilize at will the biblical language of the Bible (e.g. "anointing") to give it a "new" set of biblical meanings contrary to the standard definition of the Bible. To strip the Faith cultist of its most powerful arsenal is to insist that they define Christian biblical terminology in light of scripture; not in light of the movement's cultural understanding of the Bible (1 Jn. 4:1).

   The prosperity gospel understanding of the doctrine of Faith is that Faith is a force; words are the containers of the Force to speak things into existence.  Does the Bible really teach that Faith is a force? Is Faith some electrical tangible force by which the Faith believers can speak words of faith to speak their world into existence? Does God needs faith to create the world? The biblical precedence of the prosperity gospel understanding of faith is according to Hebrew 11:3 where it says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds  were framed  by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:5)

   The fact of the matter that Faith is not a force; nor words the containers of the Force by which the Faith Christian can speak their world into existence.  Neither did God utilize His force of His faith to create the world (contrast, Col. 1:15-17).  Because of the nature of God's divine power He spoke the universe into being by saying, "Let there be light and there was light." When God spoke the universe came to be; not through His mind's eye (i.e. "visualization") and as a result He utilized His force of His faith to create the universe.  The doctrine of Faith hinges upon our belief in the Bible, God, Christ, and salvation.  If in fact a person's understanding of Faith is inward; not what is propositional truth based upon the veracity of scripture is in fact a false faith (2 Tim. 2:17-18). 

   Secondly, the prosperity understanding of the doctrine of revelation is that of Revelation Knowledge (e.g. 1 Tim. 6:20).  In so many words "Revelation Knowledge" comes within a person's human spirit whereby the Faith believer can understand what the Bible teaches.  The basic beliefs of Gnosticism is that, "Spirit is good; flesh is evil." The system of neo-Gnosticism belief is that it is impossible for the Spirit Christ to reside in the Man Jesus. In essence Jesus is not the Christ (1 Jn. 4:1, 2-3). Also the "avenue" by which Gnostics attain salvation is there "spiritual" knowledge; not personal faith in Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:36).  The revelation by which God have given to the Church today is in the form of propositional truth based upon the veracity of scripture; not what is revealed in a person's human spirit (2 Pet. 1:19-21). The prosperity understanding of the doctrine of revelation is to read "beyond" the mere words of scripture to unravel God's divine mysteries as if the proponents of the prosperity gospel knows the mind of God. Man is limited in His knowledge of Who God is; God is unlimited in His knowledge.

   Thirdly, the prosperity gospel understanding of the doctrine of inspiration is that of its inspired writings and doctrines of the prosperity-faith message (1 Tim. 4:1). As one African American Faith televangelist says, "God gives inspiration as well as revelation." God who is the Author of scripture inspired God's Word (2 Tim. 3:16). Scripture is complete without any further revelation or revelation of the spirit (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21). Many proponents of the prosperity gospel believe that many of their writings, doctrines, and revelations are "inspired" by God which are in fact paying attention to deceiving spirits and doctrines taught by demons. (1 Tim. 4:1)

   The proponents of the prosperity especially within the context of African American Faith televangelism clearly deny the authority and inspiration of the Bible in principle and practice: that of its own faith and duty.

   Here you have it both the skin of the truth mixed in with a monstrous lie so as to make it impossible to detect the deadly errors of the prosperity gospel: that of utilizing the language of the Bible to appear authentic in biblical faith thus have such a radically different meanings (2 Cor. 4:1-4). In order to strip the Faith cultist of its most powerful arsenal is to insist that they define Christian biblical terminology according to the standard definition of the Bible (1 Jn. 4:1).

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the Lead pastor of Contending for the Faith Reformed Church of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the president and Chairman of "Darryl Miller International Ministries" and travels extensively throughout the United States and the continents. Darryl is bestselling author of the book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? which is available at Amazon.com. He is also the Radio Host, "Answer In Focus" Ministries that is aired throughout metro Atlanta and around the world. As a apologist, pastor-teacher, senior researcher/editor 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."