Do you know what is prosperity theology? You may not know the term, but you may already know the theology. Prosperity theology is sometimes also called the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, or the gospel of success. It is an unbiblical theology that says if a person becomes a Christian, it is God’s will for him to receive financial blessing, physical well-being, among other “prosperous” things.
For the past two weeks, I was in Taiwan visiting my parents and Jenny’s parents. While I was there, I visited two churches over three Sundays, and I spoke to many Christians. In short, what I found was that the “prosperity theology” is alive and well in Taiwan. I already had my own suspicions there might be a prosperity theology problem in Taiwan, but what I found was that it has a bigger presence than I thought previously. This is not to say that we don’t have a problem with prosperity theology in America (Billy says America is the birthplace of prosperity theology). If you didn’t know yet, Taiwan is one of the most idol-worshipping nations in the world. In this island of 24 million people, over 70% identify themselves as followers of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, or a combination thereof. Many have an altar somewhere right inside their homes. Others worship their ancestors daily. Many hop from temple to temple, praying to this god and that for different things from good health to financial wealth to a good marriage to sons and daughters scoring well on entrance exams to gain admittance to the most prestigious universities. When former Taiwanese Buddhists and ancestor worshippers make a decision for Christ, many bring over with them the same mentality. In other words, they treat the one and true God no differently than they treated the many gods they used to worship. They used to go to this god and that god from temple to temple to ask for things. Now, they go to God to ask for the same things.
Prosperity theology is heresy. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask”, but it is badly taken out of context by many Christians. It is possible God gives his children what they ask. But not always. The Bible never promised such a thing, and we must not be fooled by this flawed thinking.
Prosperity theology is not true. Speaking from my flesh, I wish prosperity theology was true. What I mean is it would be nice for God to bless every Christian person with health and wealth. Who doesn’t want to have “stuff” in this life, and then some? But it simply is not true. If prosperity theology were true, then evangelism to the lost has to be the easiest thing to do in the world. Everyone on the planet would sprint to become a Christian. Show me one person who does not want to have plenty of things.
More significantly, prosperity theology is deadly to evangelism. Suppose a friend becomes a disciple of Christ because you had told him that it is God’s will he would bless him with only good things. Suppose you had told him he would always have a job, he would always thrive in his marriage to his wife, he would always enjoy good relationships with his children and friends, and he would always be healthy and live a long life. Now, suppose one, or more things did not stay that way, and he feels he has been cheated, or worse, he believes our God is a God who doesn’t or cannot keep his promises. Now, what do you do?
1 Timothy 6.3–10 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Our God is a God who blesses. This hasn’t changed. I never want you to think that our God doesn’t like to bless. But God wants to bless us with something even better than health and wealth. Prosperity is such a small thing compared to what he has in mind. When Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”, he did not mean prosperity. The abundant life is not the life of abundance. What he meant was the life of faith. A life of faith is the abundant life.
Romans 8:17–18 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” As heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, we will enjoy everything God has, forever. No prosperity here on earth, Taiwan or America or anywhere else, can compare with that.