Defending the Prosperity Gospel
Posted on September 30th, 2008 by catalyst into the Uncategorized, Prosperity Doctrine categoryA professor at Boston University defends the prosperity gospel:
People generally know what is good for them, better than the well-meaning outsider. So do buyers in the marketplace, especially if they are poor. Thus the "consumers" of the prosperity gospel generally know what they are "buying." Specifically, they know that the betterment being promised them is not an illusion, and they know and don't care that their preacher has a swimming pool and drives a Mercedes. If they put money in the collection plate, they generally believe that they are getting good value in return. Thus it is not only patronizing to see them as dupes and victims; it is empirically misleading.
Basically, he's applying a free-market approach to the Prosperity Gospel. However, he underestimates the powerful hold pastors have over their congregation. In a non-religious world, the free-market theory works fine. However, in the confines of the church, where guilt and fear reign, it's not so much a free-market as it is extortion.
RSS feed for posts
September 30th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I’m going to have to take the more extreme approach: any exchange of commodities is always going to be exploitative, regardless of the context of church or free-market capitalism. But then again, that’s just my Marxism kicking in.
This BU prof correctly discloses how ideology works, or, perhaps more appropriately, and more frighteningly, how it works at the level of the unconscious. Consumers usually always believe that they are buying the right thing, and it is always in a context where an ideology is at work. The prosperity gospel simply allows an ideological continuity, that is, it allows a consumer to move from context to context without surrendering the capitalist ideology.
From the perspective of capitalists, the prosperity gospel is a good thing. The simple explanation is that capitalism is really a Christian heresy (cf. “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” by Max Weber), birthed out of Northern European Calvinism, the Puritan work ethic, and Enlightenment autonomous humanism. So the church has failed to excommunicate this heretic of capitalism and instead it has made the heresy its orthodoxy. The church and the market have become one… and thus… “What Man has brought together let god not separate!”
September 30th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I totally disagree with most people here about Tithing and prosperity.
I believe 1st that Jesus removed all the Curses of the law from the Christian. This includes Curses about Tithing or not Tithing. So any preacher who is preaching on Maccabees and the curse of not tithing is missing the boat.
Jesus removed all the curses! His blood covers us! End of Story! Or as Christ said “It is finished”.
That being said many blessings are attached to giving and tithing is giving. I tithe and support my church, and I believe I am blessed both spiritually (as I am not a slave to my money) and blessed supernaturally in my finances. Why? Because the bible says so. The bible attaches blessings to the Tithe and Jesus removed the Curse of the law, not the blessings of the law.
That is my final opinion.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
So to sum up, Mr. Berger blames the participants of tithing for any outcome they receive, absolving those who preach it, in spite of the fact that he previously stated that there are those who abuse it.
He tries to make a distinction between preachers of the PG: those who are cynical and those who are sincere. If the PG is a lie, does it matter if you really believe it or not? If you do believe it, then you are the blind leading the blind.
I also think he confuses the issues here. There is a difference between having “Protestant work ethic” and believing that “God will bless me financially because I give/tithe”. I don’t think the working hard, saving money, and becoming prosperous is counter to the Gospel. In fact, Jesus gave the parable of the talents to show that He does indeed care that people take advantage of the things God has given them, and that includes money. But that’s much different than the sales pitch that God blesses those who give with financial prosperity.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I wonder why this gentleman is defending the Prosperity Gospel. I believe the Bible teaches that while we are to be good stewards of our earthly possessions, the real purpose for becoming a Christian is to develop the sort of holy character that is found in those who inhabit Heaven. After all, no one lives forever. And once a person dies, he leaves all his stuff behind. This fact is neglected by preachers of the prosperity gospel (Your best life now!).
But the prosperity gospel as an extension of neoliberal capitalism is also in trouble. First, if “God wants us to prosper,” how is prosperity measured? Is it simple contentment with having enough to eat and a place to lay your head, as Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-10? Or is it allowing your appetite to become swollen to ginormous size by steroidal advertising? Secondly, has this professor seriously considered the damage done to the world by neoliberal free-market capitalism and the American lifestyle of ever-increasing consumption? Has he considered the fact that we are right in the middle of an age of resource constraints, and that our affluent society is facing a crash? Has he read “The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein?
The prosperity gospel is simply another tool of a rich minority to brainwash the vast numbers of poor people into supporting the policies of the rich. It’s like the lottery - “Support these ideals, and one day you too may become rich!” Yet most people never hit the jackpot.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:09 am
“Support these ideals, and one day you too may become rich!” Yet most people never hit the jackpot.
Who said anything about hitting a jackpot. If you have a stable home, loving family, and can pay your bills I would would say your have “hit the jackpot”. Most people in the world do not have that.
I would say that in the US most 85 - 90% of us are prosperous. Even if you have a nice apartment with a pool and are on WIC and Food Stamps. Everything you need is provided.
I think where your confused is your definition of prosperity. Living Godly principles we can be prosperous. Its about priorities. Not spending your money on drugs cigarettes and alcohol or spending all your money in the Oregon lottery machines when you should be putting gas in your car so you can make it to work.
Being prosperous is not being a millionaire and its not a lottery. It is doing what is right with what God has given you and feeding back to your local church where you can. Eventually you will move up as you gain experience and favor according to God’s will.
Your whole review is tainted with this definition of prosperity.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I agree with what you say NBCC. However, the definition of prosperity that is preached from the pulpit is quite different than the one you profess in your comment.
And that’s where our complaint comes from. Maybe your church is different, but the definition of “prosperity” at City Bible Church is one that relies primarily on financial wealth.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:23 am
If you already have everything you need, why do you need to “move up”? Also, if you really want to give to God, give to the poor wherever you may find them. Too much money goes into supporting church programs that do no earthly or Heavenly good.
Many people throughout the world and in the US are poor, not because they blow their money on cigarrettes, booze, drugs or lottery tickets, but because they are victims of neoliberal free market principles. Ask those whose jobs have been “outsourced.”
On an unrelated topic, the Congress and the President are busy trying to revive the Wall Street bailout. Now is the time for concerned citizens to say, “No way! What part of ‘No’ did you not understand?” Don’t be taken in by shock doctrine tactics.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Nice! Good to see someone else as fired up as I am over this bailout. It’s the extreme right-wing and extreme left-wing that are leading this fight, and I couldn’t be happier.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
but because they are victims of neoliberal free market principles. Ask those whose jobs have been “outsourced.”
I am in IT. I have had a few jobs where my position was “outsourced”. I am not bitter about it as I re-located to Seattle where my skills where needed more then Portland.
Besides, I think about us as Christians we do not need to be lead astray by famine. Did God not take care of Israel and his sons in Egypt during the famine? Did God not take care of the Israelites during the 40 years in the desert? Did God not say we do not need to worry about these things?
I have faith in God not government to solve my personal problems. I refuse to live in fear and make decisions based on that fear. On another thread on this blog they are talking about people loosing their homes. I was able to take advantage of the downturn and buy our 3k sq foot home this year and when interest rates dropped I have already refinanced to 5.5%. I can not speak for anyone but myself. God has provided for me and I give him all the credit.
Why you might ask? Is it because I tithe? Is it because I am a Christian? All I know is 3 years ago God told my family what our destiny would be. I was just laid off of a good paying job and working for 12.00 an hour while my wife worked for 12.00 an hour also. God told us to adopt and gave us a heart for orphans.
We started working and now 3 years later we have the income the house and a new 12 passenger van to hold the kids. We will be taking a few kids out of foster care and giving them a nice loving Christian home.
So in my case I believe in prosperity but it is in God’s destiny. He told us what our destiny was and we followed him there. He has taken us from a 2 working family each making $12 an hour to last year we where over $100k on our taxes. We had our 4th biological child in April and my wife quit work and our income is now around $75k a year. With the extra money for the last 2 years we have been able to pay down our debt and get into the house that can hold the extra children. So now even though we are not making as much as last year we are well provided for and can meet God’s destiny he set forth in us 3 years ago when it seemed like an impossibility.
Should I now live in fear because Secretary Paulson has lost $50 million in his portfolio yesterday? NO, because government nor my employer is my provider it is God. My family has taken this personal ministry from God and it will Be God I look to for my finances.
So as with much of the bible this is my testimony. Take it or leave it. You can just say that I “won” some lottery or something … But I did not I am just following God where he takes me.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Oh yea, the bailout sucks
This is like giving the servant who lost his talent the 5 talents from the guy who made money. It stinks and is biblical.
I heard someone on the radio the other day say they should just give the 700bl to the banks that are still in good standing.
That sounds like something Jesus would do (WWJD) LOL
September 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Sorry: It stinks and is biblical. = It stinks and is un-biblical.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Really good discussion here - my eyesballs almost popped out when I saw the title ‘Defending the Prosperity Gospel’!
Just one thing to add for now:
Th Soc said:
Former NBCC Member said:
Perhaps the reason for the prosperity IS because you are giving to these children who would have been otherwise poor in spirit without you. So instead of God blessing the tithe he’s actually blessing your obedience to what he’s asked you to do and blessing your willingness to put the hand to the plow and work hard. Plus, he loves you and the family. . .
September 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
“Perhaps the reason for the prosperity IS because you are giving to these children who would have been otherwise poor in spirit without you. So instead of God blessing the tithe he’s actually blessing your obedience to what he’s asked you to do and blessing your willingness to put the hand to the plow and work hard. Plus, he loves you and the family. . .”
Oh Crap (can I say that here) … I am at work and now tears are rolling down my face ….. Thanks and God Bless you.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I think you’re missing the prosperity doctrince. Do you really think prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen, Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, and Creflo Dollar are preaching this message? If they were City Business wouldn’t exist.
September 30th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Agreed. Good point.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
The problem with the prosperity doctrine is that the only ones that are prospering are the pastors and the people that are on their staff.
If what NBCC is saying is true then all of the people associated with prosperity churches would be just as prosperous as their pastors are. If after tithing we all ended up with the same kind of lifestyle as our pastors we would at least have to admit what they were preaching was working on some level. It’s just that there are too many of us that were tithing for years and saw nothing in our lives change at all. Some times getting worse all the while watching and listening to our pastor tell of the new home they are building or the vacation they are planning.(the third one this year) etc. etc.
Someone really needs to do a survey of these prosperity churches and find out the percentage of the congregation that are prospering at the same rate that the pastor is. That’s why people are not buying this anymore. Some of us have done the math.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:16 am
I have seen this also. We tithed and gave over the “ten percent” and our house was almost foreclosed on back in the day. Now, in large part this was due to our mismanagement of our finances. Still, we should have been focusing on getting our household finances in order first, then being freed up to give. (Funny thing is, I can hear ALL the prosperity oriented guilt-inducing comments coming in my head as I type this….ie: “but you’re putting SELF over God”, “but you’re hoarding from a spirit of fear and God doesn’t give you a spirit of fear but of power, love…”, “God loves a cheerful giver, so you should give even though it hurts”, “give and it shall be given to you, pressed down….”)
October 1st, 2008 at 12:18 am
Oops…gotta add that the pastor’s lifestyle went WAAAAY up as soon as he started promoting the prosperity gospel and pushing the tithe and giving “above and beyond”.
October 1st, 2008 at 9:08 am
Anonomous said:
Yes indeed– the hallmark of a tried and true Full Gospel Prosperity Driven Church!!
October 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Most people care deeply about the contents of their wallet and to what or to whom the contents are distributed. Therefore, despite the mesmerizing rhetoric of one sensational prosperity preacher, each listener choses either to give or not to give. Unfortunately, the one who gives out of compulsion or for the sake of getting something in return is not freed from greed.
What I mean is that even the person giving out of compulsion still believes in the economic exchange of goods/dollars for services, as if that exchange will advance their spiritual AND economic status (position or well-being). This line of thought is “earthly” minded. Berger is right. Although the flock is “manipulated,” they know exactly by what economic system they are playing. The one who puts money in the prosperity preacher’s collection plate under the pretense of “spiritual blessing” is really after “earthly blessing.”
Jesus has a few things to say about money. One particular example comes from Luke 19. If you read this passage carefully you’ll see a difference between prosperity gospel giving (economic exchange) and “dying to self” or “denial of self” — giving for the sake of knowing the Messiah. Jesus knows that Zacchaeus is giving up a love of money for the sake of knowing Him. Zacchaeus doesn’t want riches, he wants purpose and meaning in his life. He isn’t giving all that money to the poor to get a new chariot, but to replace earthly economics with the Kingdom of God.
Luke 19 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1-Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2-A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3-He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5-When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6-So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7-All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ’sinner.’ ” 8-But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9-Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10-For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”