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The Role of Prosperity Gospel in The Great Apostasy
Jan
November 25, 2023
The Bible warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 of a great falling away, a time when many will be led astray from true faith. While various factors contribute to this, one of the most insidious is the Prosperity Gospel—a distorted teaching that focuses primarily on material blessings while neglecting the full counsel of God’s Word.
A Personal Encounter with the Prosperity Gospel
When my wife first brought me to a church in the province, I was captivated by the passion of the music ministry. The praise and worship sessions were deeply moving, often bringing me to tears. However, beyond the music, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Years passed, and I struggled to pinpoint exactly what it was.
Several issues began to stand out:
Forced Speaking in Tongues: They insisted that everyone must speak in tongues, despite 1 Corinthians 12:30 making it clear that not all believers receive this gift.
Loud but Shallow Preaching: Pastors compensated for a lack of biblical depth with volume and theatrics.
Transactional Giving: They promoted the idea that blessing pastors would lead to greater blessings in return—a clear deviation from biblical stewardship.
‘Bible Verse Lottery’: Congregants were encouraged to randomly select a verse and claim it, discarding those that didn’t suit their desires.
Obsession with Wealth and Influence: They emphasized financial giving by citing verses like 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 and Malachi 3:10-12 while encouraging tithes, offerings, and “love gifts” for pastors. More concerning was the culture of showy giving, where everyone knew who gave what. This practice created an environment where the wealthy could flaunt their prosperity, reinforcing the misguided belief that a better Christian life would lead to greater material wealth. Meanwhile, those with less were subtly pressured to give more than they could afford, further embedding the idea that financial success was directly tied to spiritual standing.
Celebrity Culture: Unlike other churches that value privacy for public figures attending worship, this church leveraged known personalities as part of its marketing strategy.
At the end of each sermon, they had a practice where the pastor would interact with the congregation:
Pastor: “May the Lord bless you”
Church: “I receive!”
Pastor: “May the Lord make His face shine upon you”
Church: “I receive!”
(and so on, and so forth)
I believe this was taken from Numbers 6:24-26. At first, it seemed innocent, and I truly felt that the pastors meant well. But something about it didn’t sit right with me. Years later, I realized that it was yet another subtle reinforcement of the idea that Christianity is primarily about getting rather than giving. The repetition of “I receive” highlights a focus on personal gain rather than servanthood.
Despite their heavy emphasis on branding and influence, their growth seemed stagnant relative to their efforts.
After coming to a church that preached the true gospel, I finally realized the main issue with the church in Pampanga: their gospel was all about being blessed by God, not about being a blessing to God. While God certainly blesses His people, the purpose of those blessings is not personal gain but to serve and glorify Him. This fundamental misunderstanding leads many into a self-centered faith rather than true discipleship.
The Dangers of an Incomplete Gospel
One of the most alarming realizations came when I discovered the term Prosperity Gospel—a theology that suggests Christianity is primarily about receiving blessings. While it is true that God is good and generous, reducing Him to a provider of wealth and comfort distorts His true nature.
Taking selective parts of Scripture without considering context leads to an incomplete and inaccurate understanding of God. In effect, worshipers are engaging in idolatry, not of carved images, but of a God they have fashioned according to their desires.
To illustrate: Imagine watching only short clips of the Avengers movies and claiming to be an expert on the entire Marvel universe. Similarly, cherry-picking verses that promise blessings while ignoring teachings on suffering, sacrifice, and discipleship presents an incomplete picture of Christianity.
The Consequence of a Self-Centered Faith
Jesus Himself warned against superficial faith in Matthew 7:21-23:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
A relationship with Christ is what saves, not religious rituals or self-serving faith. When people approach God only to receive blessings and ignore His call to servanthood, they fail to understand what it truly means to call Him Lord.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands us to:
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Nowhere in His command does Jesus emphasize personal wealth or worldly success. Instead, He calls us to obedience, discipleship, and service.
The Immature Mindset of the Prosperity Gospel
Prosperity Gospel churches often create spiritual infants—believers who remain stuck in a cycle of emotional highs and material expectations. Many never progress to maturity in their faith because they are never taught to digest solid biblical truth.
Initially, I rationalized my experience by thinking, “This church serves as a starting point for young Christians.” But then I realized something troubling: many members remain in this stage for years, still consuming spiritual milk instead of seeking deeper understanding.
Hebrews 5:13-14 warns against this:
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
A church that feeds only feel-good messages creates followers unprepared for real-world trials. What happens when their expectations of continual blessings aren’t met? Many become disillusioned and walk away from faith altogether—fulfilling the prophecy of the Great Apostasy.
The Enemy’s Masterpiece
The Prosperity Gospel, at its core, aligns with human nature’s tendency to seek comfort and avoid hardship. If people are conditioned to accept only what appeals to them, they become spiritually fragile. When difficulties arise, they either reject God entirely or reshape their theology to fit their convenience.
Alexander Hamilton once said, “A person who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” The Bible affirms this principle in Ephesians 6:12:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The enemy’s strategy is not always overt deception but subtle misdirection. By encouraging self-centered faith, he sets people up for failure when their expectations crumble.
Our Responsibility as Followers of Christ
While it is easy to condemn false teachings, our response must be one of love and truth. Those caught in these doctrines are not our enemies; they are victims of deception. We are called to:
Pray for Discernment – That we and others would recognize false teachings and remain grounded in Scripture.
Study the Bible Diligently – To know the full character of God, not just the parts that comfort us.
Correct with Love – To speak the truth in a way that encourages rather than alienates.
Guard Our Own Faith – To ensure we are not falling into the same traps of selective theology.
A Warning
The Bible warns of a time when people will only listen to what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Prosperity Gospel, though appealing, sets believers up for disappointment and can ultimately lead to apostasy. As followers of Christ, we must ensure that our faith is built not on personal desires but on the true and complete Gospel of Jesus Christ.
