Over a century ago, speaking to the then-largest congregation in all Christendom, Charles Spurgeon said,
I believe that it is anti-Christian and
unholy for any Christian to live with the object of accumulating wealth.
You will say, “Are we not to strive all we can to get all the money we
can?” You may do so. I cannot doubt but what, in so doing, you may do
service to the cause of God. But what I said was that to live with the object of accumulating wealth is anti-Christian.
Over the years, however, the message being preached in some of the
largest churches in the world has changed—indeed, a new gospel is being
taught to many congregations today. This gospel has been ascribed many
names, such as the “name it and claim it” gospel, the “blab it and grab
it” gospel, the “health and wealth” gospel, the “prosperity gospel,” and
“positive confession theology.”
No matter what name is used, the essence of this new gospel is the
same. Simply put, this egocentric “prosperity gospel” teaches that God
wants believers to be physically healthy, materially wealthy, and
personally happy. Listen to the words of Robert Tilton, one of the
prosperity gospel’s best-known spokesmen: “I believe that it is the will
of God for all to prosper because I see it in the Word, not because it
has worked mightily for someone else. I do not put my eyes on men, but
on God who gives me the power to get wealth.”[2] Teachers of the
prosperity gospel encourage their followers to pray for and even demand
material flourishing from God. Continue at David W. Jones
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