Author Debunks 'Prosperity Gospel' Myths

Excellent Article! I couldn't have put it better myself! I pray that God continues to expose the lies of the prosperity gospel. There is only ONE gospel and thats the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! I pray that people start seeking JESUS instead of material wealth. Also Deager, I feel so sorry for because you are so blind and deaf, and you have become just another "kool aid" drinker. I'll be praying that God opens your eyes and ears to the truth. Because you are totally in the dark honey. Open your eyes!

There is a so much confusion out there and I think this book is a wonderful idea. Why didn't the author provide it as a free resource on the web? More people could have had access to it. I think the only way to really counter the 'prosperity' doctrine is for christians to go back to the bible and study it, internalize it and act it out. All these 'study aids' are helpful but they are taking us away from the understanding the word of God for ourselves.

I noticed that no one was concerned about John Revell making money off his book or his outlines regarding prosperity myths. It amazes me that we allow everyone who is evil to be prosperous and to make money but when a man or woman who teaches the gospel has money we get angry. I believe satan wants us to be poor. As long as we are poor we will never get the gospel out to everyone who needs to hear. Yes there are charlatans. There will always be a person who wants to make money off others at their expense. But it is time for the body of Christ to wake up and know the blessings of God and to start believing God for the blessings.
No! Satan does not want us rich. If we were rich, just think of all we could do for the kingdom of God. I know of very few people who, once they became rich turned their backs on God.
Wake up! It is time to believe that yes we can be Christians and Yes, we can have money and be blessed and further the kingdom of God.
We are blessed to be a blessing.

...if our lives do not glorify Him..do you think we will still be blest?...

Absolutely, if you mean financially. Many have been raised up to be rich, powerful, and mighty whose life definately do not glorify Him. Do you not think that Satan can bring one money and fame to derail one's spiritual walk? It's been done before -- and will continue until the end of time.

The prosperity gospel is about what you can get...the Real Gospel is about what you can give. Christ's life glorified the Father in ways we never will -- and He had "no place to lay his head".

Blessings from the Lord is always a result of our obedience to Him. In the forms of spiritual, emotional and sometimes materially.Having that close relationship with Him will surely result to something we ourselves do not highly expect..Like Abraham..because of his obedience He was blest,Joseph inspite of trials he rose from jail to governorship..prosperity if that is in our minds only when we come to God..surely you will not be rewarded because it is not God that you seek but the material thing. Jesus came to give us life in abundance..a life that pleases Him and a life that truly glorifies Him..if our lives do not glorify Him..do you think we will still be blest? But because we love Him that is why we obey Him and just like any parent who sees that their child is obedient and behaving well..don't you think you give them something that will make them all the more happy? If a parent can do that why can't God? The perspective here is what is your motive in coming to God?Him or blessing?

I am always wary of government investigations into personal lives, but I believe these men are defrauding large groups of people and have been overlooked, hiding behind the Cross. It's time these men were arrested and imprisoned for taking advantage of so many desparate people.

When a tornado comes through and fake contractors demand upfront money for services that will never be performed, we call them vultures and demand justice.

These people are doing the same thing but in Jesus' name. Their punishment will be far worse than anything our judicial system can deliver.

However, I pray that those who fervently making disciples, often at their own expense, are not swept under the bus along with these charlatans.

Thank you for writing this article.

Where are the preachers who are emphasizing Philippians 2:1-5 and Ephesians 4:11-16? If there was Christian discipleship and Bible study groups for learning the New Testament, then the preachers promoting Christian prosperity and signs and wonders instead of the just indicated, would not be followed. "Ignorance may be bliss" but it doesn't lead to Christian salvation and sanctification. Jesus Christ is coming back for a purified bride and the New Testament indicates most of the purification needs to take place before that Day. Jesus said that if we love Him, we would obey His teachings and commandments. We should be focusing on knowing Jesus Christ via Bible study and doing the Great Commission more and more. True Christianity is anti-selfishness, and the preachers mentioned in this article are for increasing selfishness.

One simple question: How far away from the moneylenders in the temple are the "prosperity preachers"?. By this I mean profiteering from the people of God in his house of worship.
The apostle Paul worked at his trade at times to fund his ministry, which I do not see any of the "prosperity preachers"doing. "Selah" - pause and consider.

I am very thankful for this article. It is so sad to see people being taken in by this. My husband phoned in once and gave his name. For healing and debts.( I didnt want him to, but he believed what the man was saying) Anyway, from this phone call for months on end, day after day after day received many envelopes in the mail. One with hand cut out on material, one another piece of material,one a dollar, oh so many gimmicks. All claiming that if he follow the instructions to a "t" and send in his offering of $50/$100 etc etc,he will get rich or healed or whatever, but that he must do this exactly and keep cut out hand on him at all times etc etc. Some are desperate and they get taken in.Its sad to think you want so bad to be healed and others take advantage of that for your money. I agree fully with this article.
The more we desire Him, the less we want wordly things, yet the more we give to God the more He seems to Bless us.(in many ways, not necesarily money)

I believe God does want to bless us financially so we can be a blessing to others. In my business it has grown so I can give more and bless my employees (who are christian) and their families. Without this business that I have given to God I would not be able to help so many people. Although I agree that God calls different people to do different things and yes some but not all televangelists may be off on the how and why. If anything is not done in love it is as a unpleasant noise and so you must always check your heart.

Sorry if my comment will seem harsh or even un-Christian, but I can't stand these religious con men and women. TBN, run by the flambouyant Crouches, has become a haven and refuge for these pulpit pimps and a platform for them to spew their ungodly "sermons," begging——and promising prosperity for sending money, making God seem like he can be manipulated with filthy lucre, that He can be bribed, and blessings can be bought! The Jakes, the Whites, the Hinns, the Weeks and Bynums, Copelands, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar and others make me sick! They are the only ones prospering and it's because of sheeple who are fooled by what's spewn out by these people, who are the only ones prospering. Private jets, helicopters, vast mansions and compounds, limousines and other expensive cars, earnings in the millions and billions of dollars, designer clothing, etc. The government is going to get tired of all those tax free billions and eventually start taxing the real church along with the pulpit pimps.

What I have found and know, is that the more you seek God, the less you want of the "stuff" and the more you just want Him & His unique, Divine Peace, Joy & Hope.
I do believe that most of the televangelists started out truely seeking Him and being human, got carried away by the power & money that comes to them. Also, I do think it is a hard work & hard life, so they do need some of the things, but of course gold toilets etc are over the top & of course the more you have the more time & more responsibility the stuff takes! Boo there!

amiestew