The Prosperity Gospel - Is It The Gospel?

Osteen seems like a nice, pious individual. It is just hard for me to trust a man, who makes a fortune off of other Christians looking for salvation and true guidance.

Forget Osteen's crappy book and pick up the good book known as The Holy Bible. If people donated all of the money spent turning Osteen into a billionaire on charity and the church, then a great amount of good can be done in the world.

If Osteen was as greatly religious as he claims, he would know that Jesus was against greed and for helping the poor and disabled. Maybe he can give away his ill gotten gains and actually help others.

You make an excellent well supported case against such a prosperity gospel. While the Bible supports the proposition that those who preach the Gospel should make their living from it, it condemns those who use it for the purpose of enriching themselves.

Thank you for sharing.

David

www.harvestgathering.org

info on osteen, prince and others - great site

Amazing hub. I have heard Osteen preach. He does talk about monetary wealth as a wonderful blessing. Not just the wealth knowing God loves you, and Jesus Christ who forgives your sins. Not that those are ignored, but why does he tell you monetary wealth is such a blessing?

Truely wonderful hub.

Joel is a lightweight compared to some of the hard hitters (who correlate your faith seed with a gift to their "ministry") out there, but I get the drift.

The disciples had money coming into them from every quarter. Meanwhile, Peter and John were confronted by a lame beggar on their way to the temple. Peter said, "Money we have none, but what we do have, we give freely."

He extended his hand and said, "Get up and walk!"

Can we give someone a hand?

Monetary wealth sounds wonderful in the worldly sense but is deceptive and we must be careful. Are we putting our confidence in monetary gain or our confidence in God? This is the question we must ask ourselves regarding wealth. Because if we are putting our confidence in monetary gain, it will fail us. It's a true paradox. It is true God wants to bless us, but is the blessing in the money or in His care for us? "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19). Therefore He will provide for us...but not to the degree of excess. And excess is a relative thing from individual to individual. Jesus instructs us "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth....." (Matthew 6:19) for our true treasues and wealth are in heaven not on this earth. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul" (Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36)

(Joel Osteen states that he cannot be a blessing to others if he is poor and broke and depressed about himself.)

It takes no biblical research to know this guy is a charlatan - just analyze his own words.

There is no correlation among the ideas of being poor, being broke, and being depressed about oneself, yet Olsteen lumps them together as if without one the other occurs without fail. This is the falsehood upon which he makes his argument. It is entirely possible to be poor, broke, and content, or poor, broke, and happy.

The only thing impossible is to be poor, broke, and wealthy.

So, Olsteen is asserting that unless he is wealthy he is automatically "depressed about himself". That he needs wealth to be content is his problem. There is no justification for his assertion in religion.

Not that I agree with Olsteen 100%, but he has a point about being poor, broke, and depressed.

I'm poor and practically broke. I give tithe, but basically only have enough to pay the bills, and buy what we need. I can't give an offering.

When someone needs something, there is no way I can help unless it is just prayer or an uplifting word. Unfortunately, many need more than just prayer and words. Being broke, I can't help with their physical needs.

I could not help someone if they needed some extra to pay their utility bills. I could not help someone if their house burned down. I could not help anyone if they needed dental or a doctor. Of course there is the ER for medical, but there is no such thing for dental. I can't even get my own dental work done. I live with the pain.

Being poor doesn't necessarily mean being depressed or unhappy. Most arguments in a marriage and family are about money when you are poor. I know it is true for my family, and many others.

I know the definition of poor, and what people can tolerate are different for each person. What one person can tolerate, could send another person over the edge, and in a deep depression.

How can someone depressed pray for someone else, or be uplifting to someone? If they are, then they are practically saints pushing their emotions aside to benefit someone else emotions. Without someone else to be there for them, that can only last so long.

If you want to look at the poorest among us, how many of us could last on the streets with them with a positive attitude? How do you help someone who needs food, when you are hungry yourself with no real way to get food?

In being poorer than you can tolerate, how can a person being poor, broke, and depressed help others?

On the flip side, when God gives you money it really depends on how you use the money. If your heart is for God, you will tend to use the money for God and helping others instead of yourself. I think that is really where the prosperity message leads.

You first need a heart for God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. If you are seeking God, you will be wanting to do for God.

I believe it was J.C. Penny even after he built a successful business that he lived off of 10%, and gave 90% to help others.

Another part is when Jesus said the power of life and death is in the tongue. If you speak negative, then you are giving that negative life. If you speak positive, then you are giving the positive life.

When I was depressed, I spoke negative, thought negative, and practically breathed negative. Everything was phrased in a negative way. I would always think the worst cast scenario in everything to be prepared for what could go wrong. Guess what happened. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

When I started to think more positively thanks to some preachers such as Jessie DuPlantis, things started to go right for a change. Today I really just realized I always asked what is the worst thing that could happen, but never asked what is the best thing that could happen.

If you want to help someone who needs prayer and an uplifting word, you really need that positive attitude. It is much easier to have faith and believe God will do what he says in his word if you are positive.

As far as being happy-poor, rich-miserable, rich-happy, poor-miserable it really deals with the power of life and death is in the tongue, and other similar principles in the Bible.

As far as prosperity goes, there are other principles such as if you don't work, you don't eat. God gives us the ability to create wealth. Jesus became poor, so we may become rich. The latter two can be physical, spiritual, and/or mental.

For physical wealth, it really boils down to what would you do if you had wealth. When you get more money, would you have given more to God, help your neighbor, go on extra vacations, or spend it on your wants?

I know God is more worried about the state of your heart. He will deal with that first and for most. When that is taken care of, then he will start adding to you.

The wealth message really needs to be balanced out.

Sorry I practically wrote a hub instead of a comment.

Yeah, North Wind. People were bringing those guys money all day long. The rich were selling everything to help the poor. They were sharing everything, alike.

It is all in the book of Acts.

I don't think the practice was long lived.

Bible Studies,

There is no correlation between being poor and being depressed. One does not have to offer money to be of value to others. Mowing an elderly person's lawn, carrying in groceries, babysitting for free, all of these actions carry value.

Instead of moping about finances, perhaps taking positive actions will bring the positive consequences you desire.

good article

Joel osteen and all the others preaching the prosperity "gospel" are a cult and are not of God. They manipulate scripture to meet their individual needs and all of them are focused on money.. Money has nothing to do with preaching the true Gospel. It is to be taught out of love of people not love of money. God says he will supply our needs not our wants. But then again so many today that are preaching are not even truly born again, they go to school, get a degree and then get a job. As pastors. there is no scripture that shows a "pastor" leading a congregation. The proper order is found in Timothy, Elders plural. No wonder so many are in error these days.

What we see today are organized corporate entities doing business as a church.

What we hear from the Prosperity people is direct contradiction of the Words of Jesus. For your Father knows that you need these things...seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God"..the difference is NEED and GREED.

AKA Winston

All those actions do carry value. What happens when more than action is needed? Can the poor really feed the poor, help another keep their house, or keep a needed utility on?

As far as poor and depression having a correlation, have you ever seen a happy homeless person who lives on the streets?

Compared to the homeless, I really have no reason to complain. It just hurts when I see someone in need, and I know I can't help. It really hurts knowing others can, and they won't.

celafoe

I thought the prosperity message was that God uses people to meet other peoples needs. When God blesses you, you are to bless others to help meet their needs.If God only supplies our needs, then how are we suppose to be able to follow Luke 6:38? Give and it shall be given unto you.

I always associated that with all aspects of giving from monetary to giving time, talents, and an encouraging word.

Jesus talks a lot about money in the Gospels from the parable of the talents to the widows mite. I believe the parable of the talents have both a literal and spiritual meaning.

Unless I got the prosperity message these preachers are teaching all wrong, and the preachers are actually saying Lord give me, give me, give me so I can bless myself, and then maybe I'll think of others.

If that is what they are teaching, then they are not teaching what is in the Bible. For the longest time I was led to believe that was all the prosperity message was, and there was no message in the Bible. My God if I ever become wealthy I won't be able to get into heaven according to Jesus saying it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of the needle (back gate to the city only big enough for one person to enter. The camel would have to be unpacked, drop on its knees, and crawl to get through.) than it is for the rich to get into heaven.

Then I started to put some verses together. There is a message there. I do believe God wants to bless us spiritually, mentally, and physically.

The verses I remember off the top of my head are: God has a plan to prosper us and not to harm us. Give and it shall be given unto you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

1peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. I believe this verse applies to the spiritual, mental, and physical.

Maybe it is more of a blessing message than a prosperity message. What good is being blessed with money if you are not also blessed spiritually? Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.

North Wind,

Thanks for the Samantha Garvey story. It is good that she rose above everything. Reading about all the worries and fears she was going through at the time. I'm glad she was able to keep her focus.

"you follow God because He can make you rich, not because He is God. So is God your God or are you just using Him?"

I see where you are coming from now. Basically Osteen is talking to the Easus' of this world, and maybe creating them.

I recently re-read about how Jacob stole Easu's birthright from his brother. Then later on Jacob stole Easu's blessings.

Easu didn't care about his birthright, which was a spiritual gift from God. It seemed the only reason he cared about his blessings is because it would have given him material blessings. He hated Jacob for it.

Easu used God, and Jacob followed God especially after the dream of the stairway to heaven.

We do need to follow God because He is God, and then look at the other things later.

This is one of the most profound mistakes found in Christianity. It is the separation of Earthly and Heavenly agendas that allows us any interpretation of God at all in its entirety. The abuse of Gods plan to attain Earthly things is the great corruption of all man kind. We refuse to grow and mature in spiritual growth when we focus first on Earthly agendas and status in our lives. This focus on Earth first has been a constant mistake in all known history. It explains the lesson that Jesus presented in the condemnation on the Church and its leaders in his time. This was only worst during the middle ages and even today we can not seem to separate these two Worlds and place our lives in its proper order. We judge others on their Earthly status, determine our lives for Earthly reasons and use our faith for Earthly and not Heavenly purpose. No person can determine ones path and journey towards salvation or define Gods purpose for them and what purpose God has sent them to achieve. I actually stand amazed in a church that prays for Earthly results to Earthly problems and defies what God is attempting to teach the individual. I stand amazed when man blames God for his problems when people are the problem and in accordance to free will God has nothing to do with the results you have attained. A church that answers problems with money solves Earthly problems but attains nothing in spirit but rewards its self with Earthly rewards. If I have Earthly problems, I have no problems and by going to God first I learn what God is teaching me. This is the lesson of the individual relationship with God and no man or church can teach it. They can only provide you with the support and desire to learn the same thing.

north wind very good hub May your new year be abundant in the joy and peace of the Lord.

I hope this hub makes you rich. Amen.

A modern example that financial wealth is not a guaranteed by-product for the believer is Mother Theresa, who became the poorest of the poor so she could minister to the poor. She was greatly blessed by God. God says that being faithful to Him will make us rich in spirit...and I think the peace that passes all understanding is a greater need than all the money in the world could buy.

I have never understood how any reasonable person could become a follower of any preacher especially like so many who have become so popular in recent years. Especially parents; we don't want the government to raise our kids, why would we blindly allow any preacher/church to raise them spiritually? All "believers" should know the Word of God; test what their preachers are teaching and spend more time in the "small group" God has already blessed them with called their family.

Why is it that well meaning Christians continue to persecute Pastors and Leaders within the Body of Christ. Even David the future King of Israel was afraid to touch Gods Anointed . I myself do believe that God does want to bless us in all areas and yes at times also suffer for Him that all men may be won to Christ . I have heard Olsteen preach many times and have found Him very encouraging and uplifting . he who is without sin cast the first stone . Consider not the plank in your brothers eye when there is a speck in your own . Come on Church get a life , you guys can all blog better content than this . Our concern needs to be seeking and saving the lost not gossiping and pulling down Gods leaders . Yes some like all of us are frail and clothed in mere humanity , but even David in all his sinfulness still reigned as King . I have learnt over years of walking with Jesus Christ to err on the side of mercy rather than judgement .

Massive blessings and Gos best for you all

Your brother in Christ

Tom(NZ)

Anyone who aspires to lead others should be scrutinized, tested and if necessary corrected by each and every person they lead as well as by others. How else can we expect to follow the teachings of Christ rather than those simply claiming to teach Christ?

Correction is not persecution nor is exposure of false teaching . Persecution is coming but not yet here for the majority but is rampant in muslim and catholic countries. If there is persecution it is against those that have the backbone to expose and correct the teachings that are not scriptural. And what is the pastor deal it is not even a scriptural title it is a ministry function. And NO new testament church was led by a pastor they were led, as it explains in Timothy by elders. The five fold ministry is not titles but ministry functions of men of God led by the Holy Spirit. These men contrary to current church teachings did not worry about income but preached and taught out of love and they let God supply their needs. This is our example. And precious few do the same today. There is but one TITLE in the scriptures, Brother (or Sister) and those in leadership are no different. They just have more responsibility before God. We are warned about this clergy/laity lie in Revelation.

Further James tell us that they who profess to be teachers (in any fashion or title) are to be judged by a different (more stern) yardstick. so as Truman said "if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen"

Then we find that scripture tells us (contrary to what is usually taught in the churches) not that we are not to judge but that we are not to judge in a way that we are not willing to be judged.

We are taught by Paul to "judge all things to see if they be of God"

Also the Bereans taught and did the same and are commended for it.

Peter and Paul and others warn us to be prepared for the wolves that come in bringing false doctrines. And Jesus Himself warned us that many would come in His name.

If no one refutes these false teaching MANY are led astray and as you point out our goal is to bring people to the REAL Christ not these false ministers, so they must be exposed.

And yes you are correct David would not touch God's anointed. But these false teachers who collect money and homes and planes etc and teach a non scriptural doctrine are not God's anointed. You will be hard pressed to find any of God's anointed in the mega church system you find them in the places the mega ministries will not go.

Well, there is prosperity and there is prosperity. I think any person who obeys God, avoids promiscuity and its STDs, gets married and stays married thus avoiding the number one cause of poverty, follows God's laws about the handling of money, is a Godly employee or business owner, and avoids pride, lying, stealing, etc. will be more prosperous than if that SAME person does not.

I think there is room for Osteen's message under the Christian tent, just as I think there is room for intellectual apologetics for the high-born, fire and brimstone preachers for those who like or need a more emotive religion, room for solemn sermons and hymns and room for boistrous singing and shouting to the Lord. Since people vary so much I don't see God as having a one-size-fits-all army of preachers, teachers, and evangelists, or even writers.

I think Joel Osteen is capable of reaching some lost souls for God that maybe could not be reached with another message.

Tig777( 8 comments above): North Wind is not persecuting pastors and leaders; she is warning them. Blessing people and winning them to Christ is what this hub does. Yes Olsteen is "very encouraging and uplifting", but that does not mean he is on target. Motivational speakers can be Christian or secular. You said,"he who is without sin cast the first stone," but John 8:7 has been taken out of context and perverted by the politically correct puppets of Satan. Rather than casting stones, what North Wind has done in this hub is an act of love because Leviticus 19:17 says we hate our brother when we do not rebuke him. You have the "speck" and "plank" turned around in Matt.7:3 but Matt.7:5 says, "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." When North Wind accepted Christ, her eyes were cleared, and she is now

Sorry, had computer troubles. I'll finish what I was saying . . . hopefully. . . . and she is now, with God's Word, qualified and commanded to clear the eyes of others. This is love, to do what we can to keep people out of eternal hell. You said, "Come on church get a life." North Wind not only has a life, but she is offering life, and the only Way to get that job done is to accurately present God's Word, which is also commanded. North Wind is not "pulling down God's leaders" she is lifting them up with God's Word. "Open rebuke is better than secret love"( Proverbs 27:5), and it is mercy. Being cowardly and silent is neither mercy nor love.

2John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

I do not agree with Joel Osteen's doctrine myself..Oprah Winfrey(a New Ager), endorses Osteen.Oprah has said "There couldn't possibly be one way to heaven."..Maybe that is why she likes Joel so much because what I have seen of him on Fox news (you can look these up on youtube)..he seems to be a religious pluralist too.(all paths lead to god and or heaven)

The bible says there is only one way to God and or heaven..and that is through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

He has some of the biggest names in the world stoppin' by to give him their blessing. *scratches her head*

I thought the world was suppose to hate us because of Christ in us.The world seems to be embracing Joel and he seems to be embracing it right back.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

I appreciate you writing this hub North Wind.I voted it up and gave you a useful,interesting,awesome!

Nicely done!

Not to be contentious but I do see poverty as not being God's will! It does say:

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Ps37:25

And that the "Abundant Life" pertains to finances along with all other areas of life. That doesn't mean that blessed Christians are all meant to live a life of material comfort but is does mean that they should have an abundance in order to give to others depending on what thier ministry is.

Very interesting Hub, and I think I learned quite a few things.It is so easy to get wrapped up i n the theory that God wants everybody rich It seems to me that the most rich people on TV are the ones who are always telling you that God wants you to be rich and then they give you a story that would make you cry. They tell you somebodies hard luck story and tell you to send so much for God's work . When you find out how they live and their income you wonder how much of the money goes to God. Go on ASK on the computer with some of the well known names and see what they say. From now on I want to k now where my money goes ,In the USA there are so many people that are really in need, and you don't have to go very far to see them. You don't have to go to TV to find them.They are everywhere now.