Defending the prosperity gospel

By Jason Byassee

Good Sense Ministries out of Willow Creek, Crown Financial Ministries, and radio host Dave Ramsey all insist they are not preaching the prosperity gospel: they are using biblical principles to help people struggling with consumer debt. They’ve had terrific success, yet media coverage of them has raised few critical questions. I try both to praise and criticize them here. Letters to the editor and web conversation about the article have leapt to the defense of these ministries, and then overshot to defend the prosperity gospel itself: see the conversation at Titus Online.

Surely it’s a good thing to help parishioners to get out of crushing credit card debt. But surely it’s too simple to say, “Save 10 percent, tithe 10 percent, and everything will be fine.” If those in trouble could do those things, they would. Further, Jesus didn’t need to rise from the dead to make it work. Right?

Comments

[Julie Clawson]

I have friends who have gone through these programs and it has led to some clashes of opinions regarding the lifestlyes Christ has called us to live. For them not getting into debt (but still living well) means that one buys things as cheaply as possible. So ethical issues like sweat shops, fair trade, pollution, and organic food are not worth worrying about if to do so means they can't be as cheap as possible. It is more important that they live well and debt-free than it is to care for the oppressed worker. There is something seriously wrong with that in my opinion.

[Bob Cornwall]

Jason,

You raise interesting questions here. I think most American Christians are conflicted about issues of wealth and poverty. We hear Jesus say give it all away and about the difficulty the rich man has of making it into the kingdom. And yet most of us like to live in comfort (at least I do).

Julie makes a good point - - and cuts to the bone because I like to buy as cheap as possible!!!

But as for those credit counseling groups, I think many of them are a bit too simplistic and misuse Scripture to make their points.

[rick brand]

Is there not a major world of difference between helping people to escape the idolatry of consumerism and materialism and thus become better stewards of their blessings and the promise that God wants to make you filthy rich? And somewhere along the line there has to be some serious discussion about what is living well.

[Jason Byassee]

Just to be clear: these ministries insist they're not into the prosperity gospel. I'm interested that folks who defend them at Titus Online (and somewhat less so, but still so, in a threat on CT's blog) defend it thinking that's what I'm attacking. Sam Wells often speaks of God giving abundant gifts to us--but that's not at all the same thing as saying individuals get a lot of, or even "enough" money. 'God gives his people everything they need to worship, to eat with God, and to be God's friends' is the phrasing I think is his phrasing.

[Dan Ruth]

I have thought a lot about preachers of the prosperity gospel and how easy the logic is to go there. God obviously cares for me. Shouldn't God want the best for me?

It's the ME here that is the problem. I believe strongly that the scriptures witness to God's desire for abundance for all of us. And for ALL OF US to live in abundance means that I, personally, might not have everything my heart desires. The prosperity gospel focuses on me at the expense of others, while the theology of the cross focuses on shared abundance for all.