Nov
05
2009
The Prosperity “Gospel” in Africa
An eight-minute Christianity Today video on America’s most ugly export:
The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.
About Justin Taylor
Follower of Christ. Editorial Director at Crossway.
Elder at Grace Community Bible Church.
Husband of one, father of three. More…
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17 Comments
Well, I think we need a balanced teaching on prosperity and the gospel. Prosperity will – in the long run – be a likely side product, but it’s not what we should focus on as believers. We should focus on faithful stewardship, so it’s about faithfulness, not about being blessed.
No doubt, if any African country would practice “stewardship” very consistently (people managing their time, resources, gifts in an honest and responsible way under God), the long term result for that country will be a blessing.
Europe and the USA was blessed by the gospel put into action, both in creating a more stable framework (laws based partially on the Bible, economic systems (at least partially) reflecting the biblical view of Man, work ethics by individuals (people working as a service to God), people working hard instead of indulging in alcoholic or drug excesses, people believing in eternal judgement therefore refusing bribery and corruption, people trying hard to stay faithful to their wives therefore lowering divorce and preventing poverty by single parenting etc.
So – no doubt, christianity has a positive influence on a countries welfare.
And no doubt, if an individual starts to work hard, and tries to be productive under God in a company, it’s likely in the long run he or she will make more money than a lazy person.
But – the problem with the prosperity gospel is the emphasis on the wrong thing. We should emphasize obedience, not the fruit of it (blessings). We should look to God, not to money (or other blessings). If the focus is shifted away from God, results will always be disastrous.
And of course, to follow Christ can also “make you poor” (at least temporarily), e.g. if you are persecuted or killed for Christ, if you are fired because you refused to disobey God (e.g. if your boss asks you to lie), etc. There is no guarantee of welfare for a christian. But there is a tendency that obedience will be blessed. For an individual, and for a country. Especially in the long run. But the focus must always be on following Christ, no matter what the results.
Seriously? I believe you have a very distorted picture of Africa and the US. We made our wealth on the backs of slaves and are a country of greed. Africa faces many issues but labling it a continent of alcoholics is hardly fitting. That would at best be the pot calling the kettle black.
I remember attending a Benny Hinn meeting that was in my church and was struck by the invalids and handicapped lined in the back, who were brought seeking a “healing, only to leave poorer and unhealed.
[...] JT @ Gospel Coalition Posted by Marc in Culture, Faith, You Tube (Thursday November 5, 2009 at 11:52 [...]
I went to Zambia last summer. I taught a week-long course on Christian Ethics to about 35 men. One of my students was a Pentecostal pastor. He said the worst thing that has happened among Zambian Pentecostals is the importing of US television in the form of TBN. He has been troubled with the prosperity “gospel” and, if memory serves me correctly, other Pentecostals are as well. He is studying Reformed theology with a group of other men. As he learns he teaches his congregation. He has taught his congregation through the 1689 Baptist Confesssion of Faith. All this to say that God has some men there who are Bible-centered, growing in the knowledge of the truth, and teaching their congregations.
As an African, it’s saddening to see this…
What’s so wrong with a pyramid or ponzi scheme using occultic supernaturalism to fleece people through appeals to their flesh? And using the Name of the King of Kings, to boot. What’s unChristian about that? [/sarcasm]
It was both laughable and tragic to see the false preacher rebuking the devourer without a clue as to the fact that he was an agent of that same devourer.
[...] to “the Source,” I am Jonny King has come across a video that accompanied a lead article by Ghanaian Scholar [...]
[...] Taylor posted an eight minute video that investigates the meaning of the prosperity gospel to West Africans. I like the cinematographic [...]
I believe prosperity gospel is Western (American)export to Africa. It is time now they realize that, stop blaming African preachers, instead go again with the true gospel which I think African christianity is looking for and undo this mess.
I live in Uganda and it is 11:15pm on a friday night. I live on the top of a hill and all through the valley below me are prayer services going on … as they do every friday night. Not a one of them is about the prosperity of the gospel in this land. They are only about financial “breakthroughs” (most of them have generators and speakers – so I know what they are praying while I’m lying in bed praying for their generators to run out of gas!). There is not a dime’s worth of difference between the prosperity gospel preached here and what people are promised from the local witch doctor. It just so happens that there is a “revival” of witchcraft here and many children are being kidnapped these days only later to be found dismembered. Most of this, it is reported, is being done in order to get rich. The only difference between this bizarre upsurge of child sacrifice and the prosperity gospel, as it is preached here, is whose child is sacrificed for our “prosperity”. The local version of the prosperity gospel is nothing more than “christian” ATR (African Traditional Religion). I know it well. I work with the pastors who used to preach it.
Wow – now that’s called perspective. Great comment. May their gas bottles explode! :)
Whatever happened to the true gospel of Jesus Christ and grace alone salvation. Shouldn’t we teach these pastors the true Word of God and then they can spread that among their people instead of garbage which does nothing to save their souls! Prosperity is no good in the end…….you can’t take anything with you!
I have been ministering in Kenya for the last 4 years, and sadly the most pervasive teaching in Kenyan churches is related to this deadly and insidious “prosperity theology!” Almost on every street corner in the capitol city of Nairobi and other major towns, there are prosperity deceivers selling miracles, bartering healings, and peddling the Word! My in-the-field assessment is that this false, prosperity teaching is the most dangerous disease affecting the body of Christ in Africa. Let us confront it with the Truth and contend against it with all the strength God graciously supplies!
Homeboy needs to spend a little more time over there… I have been a missionary in a southern African country for years that has a huge problem with the HWP false gospel. It is a sad situation for the people who are genuinely seeking God and a better life, but those who are found by God are satisfied with Him alone. After He finds them, they really don’t mind it that much when you tell them that they might not become wealthy like Abraham or Solomon…
Also see: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200912/rosin-prosperity-gospel
Remember what Jesus said about people who offend little ones?
Matthew 18:6 ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
These false teachers are Exhibit A if you ask me. And not for just offending children!