The Prosperity Gospel in My Own Heart

While I had been exposed to the prosperity gospel earlier in life, it was not until I began seminary that I thought seriously about it. I began to serve in local churches during my time as a student, and I was amazed to find so many people under my care consuming property gospel material via different forms of media. Moreover, many people seemed to view their relationship with God as a quid pro quo transaction. He was treated as a celestial sugar daddy who existed to make them healthy, wealthy, and happy on account of service rendered.

Early in my academic career, I published in a rather obscure theological journal an article entitled “The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel.”1 In it I attempted to synthesize my initial objections to prosperity theology, as well as hopefully to give basic direction to those caught up in the prosperity gospel movement. To my surprise, I received immediate feedback about my short publication—both positive and negative. In fact I continue to receive more feedback about that piece than anything else I have written.

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Author: David W. Jones

Keywords: Prosperity Gospel, Prosperity, prosperity preacher, prosperity preachers, name it claim it, wealth, riches

Bible reference(s): Genesis 12:2, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 17:20, Genesis 22:17-18, Deuteronomy 28:8, Mark 10:30, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Galatians 3:14, James 4:2-3, Hebrews 6:14

Source: “The Prosperity Gospel in My Own Heart,” 9Marks, January 14, 2014.

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