Prosperity Gospel By Another Name: The Rise of the Hyper-Grace Movement
The prosperity gospel has in fact come under a "new" name! At first, it was very difficult to detect the false teaching of the prosperity gospel because of what it promised by it relying upon the promises of God. The promises of God's Word are based upon many of the scriptural quotations that many Faith leaders utilize so as to appear that God wants His people to experience the abundance of prosperity (Matt. 6:33; Jn. 10:10; 3 John 2). Many times the prosperity gospel and those who are proponents of this "brazen" gospel seek to interpret the biblical narrative of the Bible to fit within the cultural contours of Faith theology. Whenever there is a distortion of biblical truth it can adversely impact the lives of those who are under the Faith leader influence and teaching (2 Tim. 3:13). Also, whenever the prosperity gospel and its proponents seek to interpret the promises of God based upon the scripture is that it turn the Bible on its own head by which to put words in God's own mouth. The Bible has to fall under the spotlight of the prosperity gospel theological presupposition; not the prosperity worldview to fall under the scrutiny of God's Word. It is inevitable that proponents of the prosperity gospel continue to promote the fictitious "narrative" of the Faith theology presuppositional worldview and ideology to truncate the true biblical narrative of the Bible (2 Tim. 6:3-5). The prosperity gospel has in fact come under an alias name by which it does not portray what it claims to be by which it has to be exposed for what it truly is: that is a "different" gospel that is contrary to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:8-9).
Throughout this article, I will begin to expose the false teaching of the prosperity gospel for what it truly is, call it by its name, and "how" that the errant teaching of the prosperity gospel has in fact "repackaged" that of its message so that it want to easily detected by those who are "inexperienced" and naïve of believers. I will not be able to cover the false teaching of the prosperity in one article but through a "series" of articles. It is very important to break down these articles through a series of the message so that the average layperson or parishioner can understand the basics and depth of the prosperity gospel (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11). I will also address the false teaching of the prosperity gospel by asking a "series" of questions. We just asked the right questions; not "mere" questions in order to unearth the "depth and height" of the prosperity gospel for what it truly is. There is both a spiritual, historical, psychological, sociological, and philosophical underlining message of the prosperity theology. It is not some "mere" random of quoting a passage of the Bible but the interpretive approach aspect of the system of the prosperity gospel and those of its proponents. The mystique of the prosperity gospel is that of quasi-spirituality, gnostic, and oriental philosophy (1 Tim. 6:20). In so many words Faith leaders who promote the prosperity gospel believe that many of their messages are via Revelation Knowledge something that it "beyond" sense Rule knowledge. Their supposedly "unique" knowledge ("gnosis") is inaccessible to many traditional churches and leadership by which they possess the "letter" of the law; not the word and the spirit. The "knowledge" that many Faith leaders possess is based upon what is "fleshly" knowledge; not what is the basis of the true knowledge of God (Col. 2:18, 19; Col. 1:9-10).
In order to expose the prosperity gospel for what it truly is the character and nature of prosperity gospel in and of itself (Matt. 7:15ff). The character of the prosperity gospel claim to represent the "gospel" of Jesus Christ by saying, "Prosperity is very much a part of the gospel." In so many words Jesus died in order that you can experience both "wealth and health" or to experience the "abundant life." When a person comes to Jesus Christ they can experience many of the "benefits" by which the cross of Christ provides worldly riches and materialism. Whenever people hear the message of prosperity gospel they are motivated to come to Christ but it is done out of sheer ulterior motives. Many people look for convenience and comfort so as to avoid any responsibility and what is required of them. The attitude of many professing Christians by saying, "What's in it for me?" If and when the Church doesn't meet their felt needs then they keep it moving by which to seek after churches that can provide incentives by which to meet their needs. The reason behind the growth of many prosperity gospel churches is to feed into the carnal appetite of those who desire worldly things and riches. Even Jesus says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eyes of a needle than for the rich man to enter into heaven." Also, Jesus says, "For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" The message of the prosperity gospel is, "to get all you can; go for the gusto." It is a Self-centered theology that is driven pleasure-seeking. The built-in narcissism of the prosperity gospel is for its "victims" to see themselves living in a big house, driving an expensive automobile, and to have plenty of money." Many of its victims are short-sighted when it comes to what is temporal; not what is eternal." The death of Christ on the cross has nothing to do with a person experiencing "wealth and health." The purpose by which Christ died for the sins of the elect is to provide salvation concerning those whom God has predestined, call, and chosen by God's election of grace (Jn. 6:37, 44). Prosperity is not provided to the cross of Christ, divine healing is not provided to the cross of Christ. It is Christ's death on the cross that provides salvation for those whom God has chosen by His election of grace (John 10:4). Whenever the prosperity gospel and its proponents add artificial ingredients (e.g. "prosperity") to the cross of Christ it is a false gospel (Gal. 1:8-9). They will envision God's divine judgment (2 Pet. 2:1).
Also, the nature of the prosperity gospel is that it gives people a false sense of hope by which to anticipate living a prosperous robust lifestyle. It is all about faith-formulas, saying the right words, think right thoughts, and making such a positive confession of faith "backed" by the Bible. The "faith-formulas" of the prosperity gospel is based upon Mark 11:23-24 where Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." There are three keywords that Faith televangelist Kenneth E. Hagin, Sr. says concerning such faith-formulas: "Say it, Believe it, Receive it." The elder Kenneth Hagin, Sr. proffered such faith-formulas within the prosperity-faith movement by which there are others who were influenced by him took it to the depths of doctrinal depravity by which it spread throughout many Word of Faith churches and ministries (2 Tim. 2:17-18). The formulas of faith say, "Say it" by removing any obstacle out of your life that would hinder the people from receiving the "benefit" that God has for them in His heavenly storehouse. To rehearse such "formulas of faith" is repetitious but in reality, it damages people able to think critically by which they are far from what reality is. Just because a person "says it" does not mean that it is going to happen nor to change a person's given situation. As you keep on "saying it" something supernatural or mystically suppose to fall into a person's lap. When people repetitiously say what they say it harms them spiritually as well as mentally. In so many words there is such spiritually and psychologically damaged by which people who are followers of the false doctrine of prosperity or the prosperity-faith movement are detached from what is the real world. We live in real-world that has its problem. Nothing that a person says by following such "formulas of faith" or to make such positive confession is not going to guarantee that they are not going to have failures or mishaps in this life (Rom. 8:26-27).
The second part of the "formulas of faith" is for the professing believer to "say it," but believe what you say you by which it will come to pass." It is impossible to believe in Something that not the true object of faith. It is not belief in the God of the Bible but belief in the impersonal "god" of faith. The carcinogenic "faith" of the prosperity-faith movement is a belief in one's own words through the "force" of faith to create one's own world. Belief is in God; not one's own words by which it "redirect" the Faith Christian true belief in the true Object of faith (Mk. 11:22). The degree by which people's faith place their faith in becomes the object of his or her own Object. If in fact, God is the object of a person's faith it is based upon what is objective. Faith in faith is what is subjective by which it is false faith. Many Faith leaders would attempt to coincide "belief and faith" without making a distinction between the object of what is true faith as opposed to the "false" faith of Faith theology. Such "faith" is passive and egocentric. It is not the true object of the Faith believer's faith. It is a belief in a person's words; not the theistic God of the Bible. The "faith" of the prosperity gospel is an impersonal "god" force by which to create reality-based upon "mere" words. The theistic God of the Bible did not need faith nor utilize faith-filled words to create the universe nor to visualize in God's mind eye a "Redeemer." When God spoke the universe came into being (Gen. 1). It was not belief in God's own words through the vehicle of the force of His faith to create the universe. If in fact, God had to have "faith" in His own words then what becomes the object of God's faith? Also, if in fact, God had to have faith by "believing" in His own words then God ceases to be God by which He is Man. For the prosperity gospel to "worship" the impersonal "god" force of faith by replacing the God of creation is to worship the creature more than the Creator. It is idolatrous worship.
Also, the Third part of the "formulas of faith" promoted by the false teaching of the prosperity gospel that as the Faith Christian "say it," "believe it" is to "receive it." Just by "mere" fact that a person says something does not mean it is going to happen. Also, just by a person "believing" in what they believe does not mean it is based upon the right belief or the rationality of faith. If what a person believes is not "directed" towards the God of the Bible is, in fact, a "false" faith. It is not faith in one's own faith or the deification of the "god" force of faith. Faith in one's own words as the object of the believer's faith and "Faith" as a force is the Faith movement's true object of belief. The God of the Bible is nowhere in the equation of the Faith Christian "faith" world. If anything it is antithetical to the biblical doctrine of Faith (Heb. 11:6). The "faith" of the Faith movement's "faith" world is passive, egocentric to manipulate the God of the Bible to fulfill their own selfish desires. It is a cosmic bell-hop at the beck and call of the "Faith" Christian. The "Faith" believer is King; God is Servant. How is it possible for a person to possibly receive anything when in fact it is based upon such a false premise of faith? False presupposition, blind faith, and carcinogenic diet are very fatal to the believer's true Object of faith: that is in the God of the Bible. It is "unfortunate" that many believers who expect to receive from God based upon such "formulas of faith" by applying the principles of Faith "back" by the Bible never materialize. They treat the God of the Bible as a Suspect; while the Perpetrators of such "faith-formulas" are exonerated of spiritual "treason."
During the next series of articles, I will begin to "name" that of the nickname of the prosperity gospel and those who are proponents of the prosperity-faith movement (2 Tim. 2:17-18). It is also important to know the distinctive doctrines and rituals of the prosperity gospel. There has to be a contrast between the Bible and the prosperity-faith movement understanding of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11).
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the Lead pastor of Contending for the Faith Reformed Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Darryl is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? He is also the Host, "Darryl Unplugged Podcast" which is aired regularly @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. Darryl is a sought after conference speaker and lecturer. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian and their puppy "Little Baby" outside metro Atlanta.
Also, the nature of the prosperity gospel is that it gives people a false sense of hope by which to anticipate living a prosperous robust lifestyle. It is all about faith-formulas, saying the right words, think right thoughts, and making such a positive confession of faith "backed" by the Bible. The "faith-formulas" of the prosperity gospel is based upon Mark 11:23-24 where Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." There are three keywords that Faith televangelist Kenneth E. Hagin, Sr. says concerning such faith-formulas: "Say it, Believe it, Receive it." The elder Kenneth Hagin, Sr. proffered such faith-formulas within the prosperity-faith movement by which there are others who were influenced by him took it to the depths of doctrinal depravity by which it spread throughout many Word of Faith churches and ministries (2 Tim. 2:17-18). The formulas of faith say, "Say it" by removing any obstacle out of your life that would hinder the people from receiving the "benefit" that God has for them in His heavenly storehouse. To rehearse such "formulas of faith" is repetitious but in reality, it damages people able to think critically by which they are far from what reality is. Just because a person "says it" does not mean that it is going to happen nor to change a person's given situation. As you keep on "saying it" something supernatural or mystically suppose to fall into a person's lap. When people repetitiously say what they say it harms them spiritually as well as mentally. In so many words there is such spiritually and psychologically damaged by which people who are followers of the false doctrine of prosperity or the prosperity-faith movement are detached from what is the real world. We live in real-world that has its problem. Nothing that a person says by following such "formulas of faith" or to make such positive confession is not going to guarantee that they are not going to have failures or mishaps in this life (Rom. 8:26-27).
The second part of the "formulas of faith" is for the professing believer to "say it," but believe what you say you by which it will come to pass." It is impossible to believe in Something that not the true object of faith. It is not belief in the God of the Bible but belief in the impersonal "god" of faith. The carcinogenic "faith" of the prosperity-faith movement is a belief in one's own words through the "force" of faith to create one's own world. Belief is in God; not one's own words by which it "redirect" the Faith Christian true belief in the true Object of faith (Mk. 11:22). The degree by which people's faith place their faith in becomes the object of his or her own Object. If in fact, God is the object of a person's faith it is based upon what is objective. Faith in faith is what is subjective by which it is false faith. Many Faith leaders would attempt to coincide "belief and faith" without making a distinction between the object of what is true faith as opposed to the "false" faith of Faith theology. Such "faith" is passive and egocentric. It is not the true object of the Faith believer's faith. It is a belief in a person's words; not the theistic God of the Bible. The "faith" of the prosperity gospel is an impersonal "god" force by which to create reality-based upon "mere" words. The theistic God of the Bible did not need faith nor utilize faith-filled words to create the universe nor to visualize in God's mind eye a "Redeemer." When God spoke the universe came into being (Gen. 1). It was not belief in God's own words through the vehicle of the force of His faith to create the universe. If in fact, God had to have "faith" in His own words then what becomes the object of God's faith? Also, if in fact, God had to have faith by "believing" in His own words then God ceases to be God by which He is Man. For the prosperity gospel to "worship" the impersonal "god" force of faith by replacing the God of creation is to worship the creature more than the Creator. It is idolatrous worship.
Also, the Third part of the "formulas of faith" promoted by the false teaching of the prosperity gospel that as the Faith Christian "say it," "believe it" is to "receive it." Just by "mere" fact that a person says something does not mean it is going to happen. Also, just by a person "believing" in what they believe does not mean it is based upon the right belief or the rationality of faith. If what a person believes is not "directed" towards the God of the Bible is, in fact, a "false" faith. It is not faith in one's own faith or the deification of the "god" force of faith. Faith in one's own words as the object of the believer's faith and "Faith" as a force is the Faith movement's true object of belief. The God of the Bible is nowhere in the equation of the Faith Christian "faith" world. If anything it is antithetical to the biblical doctrine of Faith (Heb. 11:6). The "faith" of the Faith movement's "faith" world is passive, egocentric to manipulate the God of the Bible to fulfill their own selfish desires. It is a cosmic bell-hop at the beck and call of the "Faith" Christian. The "Faith" believer is King; God is Servant. How is it possible for a person to possibly receive anything when in fact it is based upon such a false premise of faith? False presupposition, blind faith, and carcinogenic diet are very fatal to the believer's true Object of faith: that is in the God of the Bible. It is "unfortunate" that many believers who expect to receive from God based upon such "formulas of faith" by applying the principles of Faith "back" by the Bible never materialize. They treat the God of the Bible as a Suspect; while the Perpetrators of such "faith-formulas" are exonerated of spiritual "treason."
During the next series of articles, I will begin to "name" that of the nickname of the prosperity gospel and those who are proponents of the prosperity-faith movement (2 Tim. 2:17-18). It is also important to know the distinctive doctrines and rituals of the prosperity gospel. There has to be a contrast between the Bible and the prosperity-faith movement understanding of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11).
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the Lead pastor of Contending for the Faith Reformed Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Darryl is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? He is also the Host, "Darryl Unplugged Podcast" which is aired regularly @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. Darryl is a sought after conference speaker and lecturer. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian and their puppy "Little Baby" outside metro Atlanta.
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