The Dangers of the Prosperity Gospel: A Biblical Critique
In a world obsessed with success and material wealth, the prosperity gospel offers a tantalizing promise: faith in God can make you rich, healthy, and happy. Preachers like Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and TD Jakes have built massive followings by promoting this message. But is this really what the Bible teaches? Or is it a dangerous distortion of the gospel? In this post, we’ll examine the prosperity gospel through the lens of scripture and explore why it might be leading believers astray. What Is the Prosperity Gospel ? The prosperity gospel, often called the “health and wealth” gospel, teaches that God wants all believers to enjoy prosperity, good health, and success. It claims that through faith, positive confession, and generous giving—especially to ministries—believers can unlock these blessings. This teaching emerged from the Word of Faith movement and gained traction through televangelism in the 1980s. Today, it’s championed by high-profile figures like Joel Osteen, whose Lak...