What Does It Mean to Prosper? (Part 3)

As we begin once again looking at 3 John 2 is that this biblical text has in fact been misunderstood by those who support that of the prosperity message. Never in the history of the church today where there is widespread distortion of God's Word in this new millennium. It has become worse and worse and it is alarming. It has also reached into the annals of the professing church with such accelerating speed. Lives are hanging in the balance and the prospect of returning to historic biblical Christianity is very much blurred.  As errors begin to surface there are more errors that are to be fought against. It is a tedious but difficult task in preserving the purity of the true faith in the faces of those who would pervert that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:8-9).  As Jude admonish the church by saying, "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3). The stakes are high and millions of souls at stake. People's faith hinges upon what they believe about what God's Word teaches but the outcome of such misunderstanding of scripture carries such enormous consequences (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). To defend the faith of the gospel is not optional; it is mandatory. It is not confine to scholars in Bible colleges and seminaries but that God's people are called to give an answer to everyone that ask for the hope that we have (1 Pet. 3:15).

   As I continue to write a series of articles entitled, "What Does It Mean to Prosper? (Part 3)" it is very much needed to address this particular subject of discussion.  Even though the prosperity gospel is of age but the recurring theme of its beliefs and practice continues to "resurface" itself in light of New Thought and the present-day "Grace Empowerment" movement. The "mindset" of the tenets of the prosperity gospel is for people to change what they believe in order to experience success-in-life by envisioning themselves so as to be prosperous without any prospects of good work ethics. It is like placing a coin in a slot machine expecting to get 1,000 dollars back. The goal of the prosperity gospel is in the business of changing what people think; not man's sinful heart (Jer. 17:9).  It is focus on Self at the exclusion of others. Preoccupied with what is temporary material gain; not what is eternal in the heavens. Also within the package of the prosperity gospel is to include that of what is called, "Grace Empowerment" or "Grace Revolution" movement spearheaded by both Creflo Dollar and Joseph Prince who are advocates of the prosperity gospel (Gal. 1:8-9).  The underlining message of the "Grace Empowerment" movement's theology is to appear that it is based upon the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ but are a "admixture" of grace and works (Eph. 2:8-9).  Faith televangelist like Dollar and Prince along with others of the prosperity gospel movement are ill-advised when it comes to understanding the doctrine of grace. Grace is God's unmerited divine favor by which we cannot earned in order to gain God's approval.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; not based upon any works nor human achievements.  Even though many prosperity teachers have some basis understanding of what grace is but the spin-off of their theology is that in order to be prosperous or living a robust lifestyle is something people must do so as to live a life of prosperity (Mark 11:22-24).  It is based upon a system of belief that goes contrary to the clear teaching of scripture. Such individuals like Dollar and Prince talk about grace but have no understanding of what grace is. We cannot buy salvation with money by which millions of viewers of a "Faith" telecast are kept from embracing the claims of Christ and the gospel (2 Cor. 4:1-4).

   The apostle John's letter to his well beloved Gaius was a letter of greeting or letter of salutation in his express concern for Gauis physical health (3 John 2).  Physical health not in the sense of the word of believers experiencing "perfect" divine health nor does John's letter to Gaius guarantees material financial prosperity by which it is foreign to that of the Bible.  The meaning of prosper is "to go well with" by which it does not allure to that of financial blessing nor prosperity. It is a express concern for a person's physical health (Gaius).  Whenever someone writes a letter to a dear friend or loved one to express concern for their physical health does it means to be prosperous financially and materially? The resounding answer is, "No." It does not give indication of any sort nor does the Bible support that of the prosperity gospel analysis and assessment of 3 John 2.
   In light of how the system of the prosperity gospel view that of 3 John 2 is that of its misrepresentation of the context of the Bible, cultural biases, innuendos, and preconceive notions by which it inserted such Hellenistic philosophy (Col. 2:4, 8). Instead of the Bible speaks for itself that the system as well as the proponents of the prosperity has in fact put words in God's own mouth.
    Many "inexperienced" and naïve of believers within many Charismatic and evangelical circles are not aware nor are they skilled in syntax, wordings, and grammatical analysis of the biblical text of scripture (Eph. 4:14). They are given a "wrap" sense of the Bible and its Author so as to reject what is the content of biblical truth in favor of the cravings that fuel that of its lower sinful nature. A mindset that is focus on what is temporal; not what is eternal.


Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" He is the Podcast Host of, "Ask Darryl" which airs 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside of metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."