What Does the Prosperity Gospel Really Believe about the Bible?
The prosperity gospel and that of its proponents believe that the Bible is God's Success Book (Joshua 1:8). Their are principles within God's Word by which many Faith believers can claim prosperity, healing, and deliverance based upon them "meditating" upon scripture by an act faith (Rom. 10:17). Meditating upon God's Word is within a person's [human] spirit; devoid of studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15). In so many words meditation is not study nor is study meditation. To meditate upon God's Word is the reading of scripture by which the Holy Spirit bring to remembrance those things that are written within the revelation of the Bible (Jn. 14:26). It is not hearing audibly God's voice nor "private" "spiritual" revelation or revelation of the Spirit (2 Pet. 1:19-21).
As believers we must become students of the Bible by studying God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15). In order to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ is to have a proper understanding of what God's Word teach so as to live out a life that is pleasing unto the Lord. We cannot experience God's grace without having a proper understanding of what grace is so as to experience the grace of God by being gracious unto others. People who are judgmental of others have not experience God's grace nor will they be gracious unto others but to judge them based upon living by such man-made standards or rules (Matt. 23). Legalism, perfectionism, moral plank, and sacrilegious is at the heart of apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1). These are doctrine taught by demons.
Within this particular article I will begin to address the prosperity gospel and its proponents understanding of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20). When it comes to the "authority" and "inspiration" of the Bible that the prosperity gospel in principle teach that it believe in the Bible's divine inspiration, but in practice clearly deny the nature and character of the Bible (Matt. 5:18; 2 Tim. 3:15, 16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21). The fact of the matter that the absolute authority of the Bible is what the church believe about the Bible and "how" it ought to govern its life. The inspiration of the Bible has God as the Author of scripture whereby it is complete without any "additional" or "further" revelation (2 Pet. 1:19-21). Jesus Christ is God's Final revelation (Heb. 1:1-2a). For anyone to add or take away from the prophecy of this book is to incur God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18-19).
Just to reiterate what the prosperity gospel and its proponents believe about the Bible as to its understanding of scripture is that (1) the Bible is God's Success Book (Joshua 1:8). (2) the revelation of the Bible is revelatory in nature: that of "revelation" within a person's [human] spirit (Deut. 29:29). And (3) That of the misunderstanding of the prosperity gospel and its proponents understanding of the doctrines of illumination, inspiration, and revelation (2 Pet. 3:16, 17).
The prosperity gospel understanding of the Bible is that the Bible is God's Success Book (Josh. 1:8). Looking closely at Joshua 1:8 where it says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth but you shall meditate upon it day and night." The purpose of reading and meditating on God's Word is to reflect what God's Word says. Joshua mentioned that of the book of the law. As we as God's people read by meditating upon God's Word is a way by which the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance what God's Word says. There are emerging church leaders who treat God's Word as a "mere" Book by which only the spiritually "mature" can understand the Bible through means of what is revelatory (2 Pet. 1:20). Many of these so-called emerging church leaders who call themselves "new" evangelicals are convinced by convincing many of their followers that even though the Church have God's written Word but that the Spirit must give spiritual "insight" that are "beyond" what God's Word says. God's Word must come "alive" through such personal prophecies, spiritual "revelation" and fresh word that must automatically "jump off" the page of scripture. According to the prosperity gospel's understanding of the Bible is that the "God" of the Bible gives both "revelation" and "inspiration" by which it denies that of the authority and inspiration of God's Word (2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16). Many Charismatics and Pentecostal leadership believe that based upon them "meditating" upon God's Word is to attain such esoteric or spiritual "insight" into what God's Word says as if they can read the mind of God. Paul the apostle warns against mysticism in the church today (Col. 2:18, 19). There are "Christian" mystics in the professing church today who are always seeking to get a "personal" word from God as if there relationship is based upon the amount of "revelations" they receive from God. Having a personal relationship with God is to know the Person of Jesus Christ; not based upon the "amount" of spiritual "revelation" that "Christian" mystics get from God (Jn. 3:36).
It is the responsibility of the church to read by "meditating" upon God's Word but that it is not to "substitute" that of the study of God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15). Meditation is not study nor studying God's Word is meditation. The meditation and the study of God's Word are on two opposite side of the pole. To meditate upon God's divine law is to reflect upon what God's Word says but to study God's Word is to understand the Bible in light of its context (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). The basics of studying God's Word is to study a biblical passage or passages of scripture by comparing scripture with scripture so as to shed light upon its immediate but wider context. It is unfortunate that many prosperity "theologians" are ignorant of what God's Word really teach. They by-pass that of seeking to understand the plain meaning of scripture to seek spiritual "revelation" within their human spirit as a guiding principle to their decision-making process. They rely upon the "inner" voice of the spirit as their source of authority; not the absolute truth of God's Word (Heb. 1:1-2a).
According to Deuteronomy 29:29 where it also says, "The [secret] things belongs to the LORD thy God but those [things] which are [reveal] belongs to us and to our children children's." The goal of Gnostics within the professing church today is to "unfold" that of God's divine mysteries as if they can read "into" the mind of God. The knowledge by which God possess is way "beyond" Man comprehension of Who God is. The dangers of mysticism is for the mystic to "dabble" into the spirit world by which they leave themselves upon for such "demonic" possession. Most "Christian" mystics who claim to have such spiritual "insight" into the spirit realm are very much self-deceived by which they are delusional and hallucinogenic in what is called, "apocalyptic" vision. The moral vision of many "Christian" mystics is to envision themselves above the earthly plane by which they believe they are "spirit" beings (Col. 2:18, 19). They claim to not be of this world; nor in this world simply because as "spirit" beings they are no longer "imprisoned" by the flesh or to be contaminated by the corruption that is in the world. Asceticism and libertinism is at the core beliefs and values of many "Christian" mystics within that of evangelicalism (Col. 2:20-24).
The prosperity gospel understanding of the Bible is to go "beyond" the written Word of God to seek some "fresh" word or "newer" revelation by which to unlock that of God's divine mysteries. It is impossible to crack open what God's Word says so as to "unravel" the mysteries of God. It is way out of the sphere of Man whose attempt is to make such mathematical accuracies of divine prophecies. The "secret" things belongs to God simply because He is "unsearchable" in all His ways and the extent of His divine knowledge. Whenever the church attempt to "substitute" the written Word of God for such "fresh" word or "newer" revelation that are outside the boundaries of scripture is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18-19; [2 Pet. 2:1]). Pragmatism, subjectivism, postmodernism, and relativism is at the heart of apostasy. The remedy for spiritual apostasy is to be severely judged by God (Rom. 1:18-32).
The prosperity theology misunderstanding of the Bible is to misunderstand that of the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination. When it comes to the doctrine of revelation as it relates to the whole of scripture is the written Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). In so many words that the Bible is "inspired" by God by which the Holy Spirit is the Author of scripture. The character of the Bible is that God's Word is perfect (Psa. 119:4, 6). The perfection of God's divine character reflect of the holy scripture (2 Tim. 3:15). Also God's Word is true by which the Holy Spirit is Divine truth (Jn. 14:26).
The Holy Spirit does not contradict that of the truth of God's Word because the Spirit of God is divine truth.
How is it that many prosperity "theologians" greatly misunderstood that of the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination as it relates to God's written revelation of the Bible according to 2 Timothy 3:16 where it says, "All scripture is God-breathed...." When it comes to the doctrine of revelation is that God has already given to the church everything that they need to know pertaining to life and godliness. The revelation of the Bible is God's way of making it known to the Church as to what they ought to believe and how they are to live holy lives. The problem with many Faith leaders is that they deny the absolute truth of God's Word in favor of what is revelatory: that which is "revealed" outside the boundaries of God's Word for such supernatural revelation of the spirit within a person's [human] spirit. This is the prosperity gospel understanding of the doctrine of revelation (2 Pet. 1:20).
When it comes to the inspiration of the Bible many emerging church leaders also deny that of God's Word being inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). The extent of the inspiration of the Bible is from Genesis to Revelation. As the apostle Peter declares according to 2 Peter 1:19 that the church must pay attention of every word of scripture. Also when it comes to the inspiration of scripture that God is the Author of the Bible (v. 16). There are self-proclaimed false prophets, prophetess, and seers claim that there writings are on par with the Bible as if what they wrote are apart of the canon of scripture. Such Books like the Aquarian Gospel, the Gospel of Barabbas, and many of the pseudo-text that seek to supplement that of the inspiration of the Bible are in fact spurious books that are definitely not apart of the closed canon of scripture. Scripture is complete without any additional revelation nor revelation of the spirit (Heb. 1:1-2a). It is safe to say that many of the writings of many prosperity "theologians" claim to be under the Spirit's guidance in what they are writing to the church. Never in the history of the church today is there such an attack upon the Bible so as to deny the nature and character of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). Not only does many Faith leaders claim that there writings are "inspired" by God but also based upon the numerous "revelations" they claim to receive "directly" from God within their [human] spirit (Deut. 13:1-2ff; 29:29; 2 Pet. 1:20; Jude 8-10).
It is very important that the Church as a whole examine the writings of pseudo-teachers who claim that there writings are "inspired" by God (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11). There is an array of false spiritual leaders who parade about their writings as to be inspired by God but that their claims to divine inspiration is self-defeating. When the Bible speaks about God's Word as inspired by God is that the church must establish the fact that God Who inspired that of the scripture is the Author of the Bible. We have to ask the question by saying, "Who is the Author of the Bible?" Once establish as to its true Source that we have to determine what is the character of God as it relates to that of the integrity of scripture. There are many pseudo-cults and heresies claim that there particular writings or sacred Bible are "inspired" by God as to be on par with that of God's written revelation of His Word. The Bible is not some mere literature book that "mere" men have wrote by it is a product of the God divinely written Word (2 Tim. 3:16). The inspiration of the Bible extent to every word, alphabet, sentence, commas, semicolons, even "untrue" statements made by Satan and some of the biblical characters of scripture is that God inspired the scripture. The nature of scripture is to make people wise unto salvation (2 Tim. 3:16; [Rom. 10:9-10]).
Also when it comes to the doctrine of illumination of scripture is that the Holy Spirit Who is our divine Teacher gives the church the understanding of what God's Word says. In order for people to be able to understand God's Word is to be saved (Jn. 3:5-6, 7). In so many word a person must be "born again" or to be "born from above" as to the regenerating power and work of the Holy Spirit as it relates to a person's salvation (Tit. 3:5). It is impossible for the "unsaved" to understand God's Word; it is also difficult for believers to understand God's Word when they are not properly nourished in God's Word. As the apostle Peter declares according to 2 Peter 3:18, "But to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." In order for believers to grow in grace is to understand that grace is something that people do not work for nor is it an "addition" to the believer's salvation experience. It is all of grace; not of works. (Eph. 2:8-9; [ Acts 15:1-2ff] Gal. 1:8-9; 3:1, 2-4). Also in order that God's people grow in the knowledge of God is to have such clear knowledge and understanding of God's Word. What causes people to not grow spiritually in the Lord is their "faulty" knowledge and understanding of God's Word.
In conclusion when it comes to the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination of the Bible is that the nature and character of scripture. The truthfulness and reliability of God's Word reflect that of the character of God Who the believer can trust and rely upon what God says in His Word.
When it comes to the prosperity gospel understanding of the Bible is clear indication it have no understanding of the nature and character of scripture. Revelation is not inspiration nor is inspiration revelation. The doctrine of illumination is to not gain such "spiritual" insight into what God's Word says or within a person's spirit but that the Holy Spirit gives believers understanding of what is already written within God's Word. Many prosperity "theologians" are "mere" teachers but not biblical scholars when it comes to studying God's Word.
In order that the Church can know what the issues are and what is involved concerning the issue of the prosperity understanding of the Bible is to begin studying the nature and character of God's Word in contrast to many prosperity "theologians" understanding as it relates to the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination of scripture.
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is president & Chairman, "Darryl Miller International Ministries" in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. He is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" Darryl is the Podcast Host of, "ASK DARRYL" which airs regularly @ 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 metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
It is the responsibility of the church to read by "meditating" upon God's Word but that it is not to "substitute" that of the study of God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15). Meditation is not study nor studying God's Word is meditation. The meditation and the study of God's Word are on two opposite side of the pole. To meditate upon God's divine law is to reflect upon what God's Word says but to study God's Word is to understand the Bible in light of its context (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). The basics of studying God's Word is to study a biblical passage or passages of scripture by comparing scripture with scripture so as to shed light upon its immediate but wider context. It is unfortunate that many prosperity "theologians" are ignorant of what God's Word really teach. They by-pass that of seeking to understand the plain meaning of scripture to seek spiritual "revelation" within their human spirit as a guiding principle to their decision-making process. They rely upon the "inner" voice of the spirit as their source of authority; not the absolute truth of God's Word (Heb. 1:1-2a).
According to Deuteronomy 29:29 where it also says, "The [secret] things belongs to the LORD thy God but those [things] which are [reveal] belongs to us and to our children children's." The goal of Gnostics within the professing church today is to "unfold" that of God's divine mysteries as if they can read "into" the mind of God. The knowledge by which God possess is way "beyond" Man comprehension of Who God is. The dangers of mysticism is for the mystic to "dabble" into the spirit world by which they leave themselves upon for such "demonic" possession. Most "Christian" mystics who claim to have such spiritual "insight" into the spirit realm are very much self-deceived by which they are delusional and hallucinogenic in what is called, "apocalyptic" vision. The moral vision of many "Christian" mystics is to envision themselves above the earthly plane by which they believe they are "spirit" beings (Col. 2:18, 19). They claim to not be of this world; nor in this world simply because as "spirit" beings they are no longer "imprisoned" by the flesh or to be contaminated by the corruption that is in the world. Asceticism and libertinism is at the core beliefs and values of many "Christian" mystics within that of evangelicalism (Col. 2:20-24).
The prosperity gospel understanding of the Bible is to go "beyond" the written Word of God to seek some "fresh" word or "newer" revelation by which to unlock that of God's divine mysteries. It is impossible to crack open what God's Word says so as to "unravel" the mysteries of God. It is way out of the sphere of Man whose attempt is to make such mathematical accuracies of divine prophecies. The "secret" things belongs to God simply because He is "unsearchable" in all His ways and the extent of His divine knowledge. Whenever the church attempt to "substitute" the written Word of God for such "fresh" word or "newer" revelation that are outside the boundaries of scripture is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18-19; [2 Pet. 2:1]). Pragmatism, subjectivism, postmodernism, and relativism is at the heart of apostasy. The remedy for spiritual apostasy is to be severely judged by God (Rom. 1:18-32).
The prosperity theology misunderstanding of the Bible is to misunderstand that of the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination. When it comes to the doctrine of revelation as it relates to the whole of scripture is the written Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). In so many words that the Bible is "inspired" by God by which the Holy Spirit is the Author of scripture. The character of the Bible is that God's Word is perfect (Psa. 119:4, 6). The perfection of God's divine character reflect of the holy scripture (2 Tim. 3:15). Also God's Word is true by which the Holy Spirit is Divine truth (Jn. 14:26).
The Holy Spirit does not contradict that of the truth of God's Word because the Spirit of God is divine truth.
How is it that many prosperity "theologians" greatly misunderstood that of the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination as it relates to God's written revelation of the Bible according to 2 Timothy 3:16 where it says, "All scripture is God-breathed...." When it comes to the doctrine of revelation is that God has already given to the church everything that they need to know pertaining to life and godliness. The revelation of the Bible is God's way of making it known to the Church as to what they ought to believe and how they are to live holy lives. The problem with many Faith leaders is that they deny the absolute truth of God's Word in favor of what is revelatory: that which is "revealed" outside the boundaries of God's Word for such supernatural revelation of the spirit within a person's [human] spirit. This is the prosperity gospel understanding of the doctrine of revelation (2 Pet. 1:20).
When it comes to the inspiration of the Bible many emerging church leaders also deny that of God's Word being inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). The extent of the inspiration of the Bible is from Genesis to Revelation. As the apostle Peter declares according to 2 Peter 1:19 that the church must pay attention of every word of scripture. Also when it comes to the inspiration of scripture that God is the Author of the Bible (v. 16). There are self-proclaimed false prophets, prophetess, and seers claim that there writings are on par with the Bible as if what they wrote are apart of the canon of scripture. Such Books like the Aquarian Gospel, the Gospel of Barabbas, and many of the pseudo-text that seek to supplement that of the inspiration of the Bible are in fact spurious books that are definitely not apart of the closed canon of scripture. Scripture is complete without any additional revelation nor revelation of the spirit (Heb. 1:1-2a). It is safe to say that many of the writings of many prosperity "theologians" claim to be under the Spirit's guidance in what they are writing to the church. Never in the history of the church today is there such an attack upon the Bible so as to deny the nature and character of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). Not only does many Faith leaders claim that there writings are "inspired" by God but also based upon the numerous "revelations" they claim to receive "directly" from God within their [human] spirit (Deut. 13:1-2ff; 29:29; 2 Pet. 1:20; Jude 8-10).
It is very important that the Church as a whole examine the writings of pseudo-teachers who claim that there writings are "inspired" by God (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11). There is an array of false spiritual leaders who parade about their writings as to be inspired by God but that their claims to divine inspiration is self-defeating. When the Bible speaks about God's Word as inspired by God is that the church must establish the fact that God Who inspired that of the scripture is the Author of the Bible. We have to ask the question by saying, "Who is the Author of the Bible?" Once establish as to its true Source that we have to determine what is the character of God as it relates to that of the integrity of scripture. There are many pseudo-cults and heresies claim that there particular writings or sacred Bible are "inspired" by God as to be on par with that of God's written revelation of His Word. The Bible is not some mere literature book that "mere" men have wrote by it is a product of the God divinely written Word (2 Tim. 3:16). The inspiration of the Bible extent to every word, alphabet, sentence, commas, semicolons, even "untrue" statements made by Satan and some of the biblical characters of scripture is that God inspired the scripture. The nature of scripture is to make people wise unto salvation (2 Tim. 3:16; [Rom. 10:9-10]).
Also when it comes to the doctrine of illumination of scripture is that the Holy Spirit Who is our divine Teacher gives the church the understanding of what God's Word says. In order for people to be able to understand God's Word is to be saved (Jn. 3:5-6, 7). In so many word a person must be "born again" or to be "born from above" as to the regenerating power and work of the Holy Spirit as it relates to a person's salvation (Tit. 3:5). It is impossible for the "unsaved" to understand God's Word; it is also difficult for believers to understand God's Word when they are not properly nourished in God's Word. As the apostle Peter declares according to 2 Peter 3:18, "But to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." In order for believers to grow in grace is to understand that grace is something that people do not work for nor is it an "addition" to the believer's salvation experience. It is all of grace; not of works. (Eph. 2:8-9; [ Acts 15:1-2ff] Gal. 1:8-9; 3:1, 2-4). Also in order that God's people grow in the knowledge of God is to have such clear knowledge and understanding of God's Word. What causes people to not grow spiritually in the Lord is their "faulty" knowledge and understanding of God's Word.
In conclusion when it comes to the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination of the Bible is that the nature and character of scripture. The truthfulness and reliability of God's Word reflect that of the character of God Who the believer can trust and rely upon what God says in His Word.
When it comes to the prosperity gospel understanding of the Bible is clear indication it have no understanding of the nature and character of scripture. Revelation is not inspiration nor is inspiration revelation. The doctrine of illumination is to not gain such "spiritual" insight into what God's Word says or within a person's spirit but that the Holy Spirit gives believers understanding of what is already written within God's Word. Many prosperity "theologians" are "mere" teachers but not biblical scholars when it comes to studying God's Word.
In order that the Church can know what the issues are and what is involved concerning the issue of the prosperity understanding of the Bible is to begin studying the nature and character of God's Word in contrast to many prosperity "theologians" understanding as it relates to the doctrine of revelation, inspiration, and illumination of scripture.
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is president & Chairman, "Darryl Miller International Ministries" in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. He is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" Darryl is the Podcast Host of, "ASK DARRYL" which airs regularly @ 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 metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
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