“…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
It is tempting to write a Blog with an intriguing headline, and then save the main point until near the end with a rising crescendo of development. However, this time, the main thought should be stated immediately. Simply put, the main problem with the Prosperity Gospel is that it is built upon a lie. The lie is that God wants His children to be healthy and prosperous.
The Bible does not teach this, nor does the lives of billions of Christians illustrate the false doctrine. Abraham waited a long time for a family. Joseph was sold into slavery, and removed from a life of privilege and prosperity. The Exodus Generation roamed in the desert for forty long years. God told Moses that He was the one who made the blind eye and the deaf ear (Ex. 4:11). Job had all of his wealth taken away, and was afflicted with boils. Jesus had no place of His own to lay His head, and then He died at Calvary. The apostles suffered violence and hardship, and prepared God’s people for tribulation (Acts 14:22).
Unfortunately, people want to be lied to. The pattern was established long ago in the Garden of Eden when Satan lied to Eve. Eve embraced the lie of Satan, gave the fruit of her delusional belief to Adam, who also partook of the lie, and plunged humanity into a state of sin.
If the prosperity gospel was fundamentally true, then some of their leaders would not be scrambling to explain the sudden death of Jan Crouch, co-founder of Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN). Consider some of the delusional comments of these Christian charlatans, as reported in The Babylon Bee.
““Even the best of us, like Jan Crouch, have moments of doubt, when we allow a downward spiral of negative thoughts to take hold and steal our health.”— Joel Osteen
“She must’ve spoken negative words out loud. That’s the only explanation I’ve got.”—Joel Osteen
Jan Crouch spoke her own poor health and death into existence. Other prominent Prosperity Gospel preachers concur.
““People who are strong in faith unlock their own potential and destiny. Jan must have tired of the treasures of this life—luxury has its limits, which she certainly tested—and she spoke her own demise into being. I can’t think of a single other reason that can explain why she would die of a stroke during ‘healing month’ on TBN, when the network is reminding its fans that ‘God wants them well and whole.” – Benny Hinn
After personifying a stroke, one Prosperity Preacher gave it more faith than Jan had.
“We must speak victory over our obstacles, and in this case, the stroke must have somehow released its life force by declaring victory over Jan Crouch’s health—activating God to do its will through faith, unfortunately.” –T. D. Jakes
For Kenneth Copeland, the death of Jan Couch is a mystery, and a word of warning that he too is mortal, since he “ain’t getting’ any younger” himself. He will have to increase his heath declarations to four times per day.
The death of Jan Crouch on May 31, 2016, for those within the Property Gospel movement, is not a time for reflection, reassessment, and return to the historic Christian faith, as it should be. No, no. It is a time for spiritual exploitation of God’s people. Never letting a spiritual crisis go wasted, TBN is “solemnly and aggressively seeking donations in her honor”, according to The Babylon Bee. Prophecy is fulfilled. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
If the Prosperity Gospel were true, then countless humble and faithful Christians around the world would not be out of work but living in economic prosperity with good health. It is time for the people of God to repent, and return to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time to stop supporting men and women giving false hope in order to advance their own ministries. The promise of Christ is that Christians will have tribulation in the world, but will be victorious by taking up their crosses daily and following Him. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke (9:23). Self-centered seeking to be healthy, and prosperous, is not a Christian message. Seeking to be holy, loving, self-sacrificing, and serving others is the Christian message. Only then will a person be like Jesus who came, “not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for man” (Matt. 20:28).
