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There is a current form of teaching among Christian ministers that is broadly called the Gospel of Wealth. Many ministers are mouthing John the Beloved's words and suggesting that he was preaching the Gospel of Wealth as well. Some ministers have given their entire ministries to that one teaching. These ministers are the Tony Robinsons of religious wealth seminars. One minister, I think his name is Leroy Thomas, a minister from Louisiana, has fashioned his entire preaching around the wealth ministry; Kenneth Copeland, Cleflo Dollar, etc., have also given much attention to Christians becoming wealthy. And people are flocking to them and giving money in droves. Instead of old-fashioned revivals, or better yet, religious assemblies, they are holding Wealth Seminars. It is easy to see why many people would flock to these Gospel of Wealth preachers; many Americans flock to the lottery and to Las Vegas gambling tables as well. It is the chance of becoming rich that lures many Americans because being rich is to live the American dream. At least that is the pop culture aired on radio and TV stations and promoted in our magazines and newspapers throughout this nation. As far back as Herbert Hoover's campaign slogans, "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage," to today, where it has become the dream of Americans to have a Bill Gates rich lifestyle, Americans are expecting God or the devil will make them millionaires by hook or crook--and there is more crook than there is hook. The remarkable thing about having Bill Gates riches is that he, in real life, as far as I know, has worked hard for his money, and did not used some hocus pocus to get it; now having it, he is doing something meaningful with his wealth: he helps others world wide in significant ways--fighting AIDS, diseases, hunger, illiteracy, etc. But the new dreamers of wealth are only concerned with getting it any easy way they can and helping only themselves, their four and no more. These dreamers simply want wealth--money--to buy things, as if things are the makings of a person or the makings of a life. And because most are really untutored in the things of God and the higher refinements of life, to them, things are life. So once they have acquired a few dollars, they make a b-line to Mercedes Benz stores, and they buy, buy, buy; crudely, grotesquely, and, as E. Franklin Frazier wrote many years ago, they buy for conspicuous consumption: they buy so others can see they have money to buy, and in this society's vulgar class culture, to be able to buy is to be of import. And in keeping with the current pop American ethos, they are tastelessly loud in their manner, egocentric in their behavior, and unsightly in their deportment. These are the noisy near-do-wells who have no refinement of wealth and very little refinement of anything else. They are oblivious to the fact that they could experience a reversal of their meager fortunes within a month, for they are built upon sinking sand and are making no provisions for anything but their moment. And they are also unaware of the dangers of living solely in and for the moment. I. The Alchemy of the Gospel of Wealth Many have taken John's letter to Gaius that said, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth, detached prosper from the whole of John's statement, especially from that part about prospering as the soul prospers, and have redefined the word prosper to mean money, financial gain, to have this world's goods--and lots of them. That is their corruption, as they blindly mix their alchemy of wealth to beguile the weakened people of God. And as they have corrupted this scripture of John to Gaius to fashion their own wealthy family, they only promise it to others, they have corrupted other scriptures and God's people for their personal and financial gain. II. Ponzi/Pyramid Scheme Look at the definition and origin of the Ponzi Scheme as given by the US Securities and Exchange Commission:
III. The Rev. Ike Effect Rev. Ike went so far as to reverse the Word as his motto, saying, "The LACK of money is the root of all evil." Paul said, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith…. [1 Tim. 6:10] Yet the people kept going and giving to him in the name of God and always excused his transgressions of the Word, not knowing that they too were transgressing along with him. Seemingly, the people refused to see or accept the fact that he was a scam artist and only used the name of Jesus as a technique of his scam. Because he was raised early on as a boy preacher in a fundamentalist Holiness Church, he knew the ways and easy acceptance he would find among Holiness people and others to his reasonably good-looks, and his smooth voice when paraded in a feigned holiness. Many Christians found it hard to believe that while being clothed with the name of Christ and seemingly still in the church, he would or could preach a gospel that went against so many truths of God. But he did just that, and they paid him to do so; many are paying smaller ministers still. Ike was like so many ministers who are running scams today--he is still around receiving anyone's tithes and donations that are given--he started his own church organization, gave himself titles and degrees of no real value, other than to those who are his target victims and do not know the difference between real, worked-for degrees from accredited universities and degrees from diploma mills; he had money going directly to him, without accountability and often evading income taxes; he literally defied the Word of God and learned to easily turned an apt phrase that would catch the attention of the unlearned; he always preached tithes and offerings; he left the higher truths of God for the earthly concern of money. This is characteristic of Gospel of Wealth preachers. IV. Satan has Transformed Himself If it is so difficult to see that Satan in men has transformed and positioned himself inside the church, [2 Cor. 11:14; Rev. 2:13] notice of what the great Apostle Paul warned the church would happen once he departed: grievous wolves would come into the flock and not spare it, and also men who are already inside the church would turn from following Christ, and they too will destroy the flock. [Acts 20:29-31] That is why he advised those elders then and Christians now, "To take heed to yourselves…." [Acts 20:28] But many are not taking heed to themselves; they are not doing the self-examination God has advised them to do: "Let a man examine himself and see if he be in the faith." [1Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor.13:5] Resultantly, many are not in the faith, but they still remain in positions of leadership in the church and corrupt and fleece the people of God. V. The Alchemy Used I have always been amazed at how many Christians allow various types of hocus pocus from ministers simply because they say they are ministers, and we cannot question their credentials from God. Or can we? We can! We should! We better! Or we will die as Abner died. David said Abner died as a fool dies, so died Abner! His hands and feet, David said, were not tied; he should have seen Joab's deceit and been on guard against it. Joab was King David's general, but Abner should have been watchful; Abner had killed Joab's younger brother in a fair fight, but the code among the Jews was blood for blood--as all saints should be watchful. Jesus said WATCH and pray. [Mark 14:28] And since he was not watchful, knowing the conditions that exist between them, David said he died as a fool dies--trustful when he should have been on guard. [2 Sam 3:33] Our mental and spiritual hands and feet should not be tied by any man, so let only the rightly divided Word bind us, not a man. Too often wicked ministers use the Word to actually take the adulthood away from Christians, as they feign some watching for their souls, when, in fact, their own souls need regeneration. But God has moved upon me and others like me who have no money-lust, no egocentric or esteem needs to spiritually neuter other Christians, but just a love for the truth of God and that the people of God will know the truth of God's Word that they will be free. [John 8:32] VI. Prove All Things At the start of the church era, on the very Day of Pentecost, Peter said to that new church and all within his hearing, SAVED YOURSELVES! [Acts 2:39-40] God is saying saved yourselves today, especially today, because there are men in the church who have turned their ears away from the truth and turned them unto fables and teach others to do the same. [2 Tim. 4:4] For one to think that he/she can pay a man a tenth of all his earnings and say that he is giving to God is hocus pocus and a fable! Such behavior has nothing to do with God, and it is an inappropriate and wrong method for New Testament Gentile Christians, as I have discussed extensively elsewhere. [Also see our soon coming book: Thieves and Robbers: the Truth about Tithes] Not only are they being fleeced, but they are being taken from the grace of God. Paying tithes and giving a man your money as if you were giving it to God is irresponsible, mindless behavior, and poor stewardship of the resources and grace God has given you. We are to be wise stewards of the resources God gives us, and to give a man those resources to use on himself and not the work of God is sinful. We need to know where, precisely, our money is going when it is given. We have allowed the foolishness of preachers who have squandered God's resources on needlessly expensive cars and extravagant homes, vaunting gaudy and ostentatious behavior too long. God is demanding accountability and truth! We need to come back to the principles of Holiness, instead of the foolishness on preachers, who, in their un-sophistication measure themselves by each other. That is flesh; that is childish; that is sin! That is unwise! [Mat. 25:26; 1Pet. 4:10-11] The present system of tithes and the Gospel of Wealth are little more than Ponzi Schemes. God's Word says how to give to the church, and tithe is NOT God's way for the New Testament Church. Neither is this Gospel of Wealth preaching God's way for the New Testament Church. Holy men of God say as the Apostle Paul said, "I have coveted no man's silver or gold, or apparel…these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to those who were with me…that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than received." [Acts 20:33-35] Those words have seemingly gotten lost among the Gospel of Wealth teachers and tithes ministers in their traffic to acquire wealth and the things of this world. Does anyone care about the return of Christ? Is anyone trying to get ready to meet the Lord? Certainly, that is of far more value than the things of this world. Certainly, that is the hope of every saint in light. VII. I Would You Prosper Prosper means to flourish, to thrive, to live abundantly, to do well, to succeed in your way, etc.--Jesus said I came that you may have life and that more abundantly: that you may flourish, prosper in life. That is not money. Prosper could mean to do well in business and make money, if one is in business. But these Gospel of Wealth preachers are the only ones in business, and their business is to take as much money from you as they can. They spend inordinate amounts of time studying every angle of scripture to see how they can squeeze your money from you unto them in the name of God. Then they get in their pulpits and beg as if they had a cup on the street and their lives were at stake. Money can help you into heaven? The angel of God said to Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, not thine alms are seen or appreciated. That is a difference of significant proportions that seems to have been overlooked by that particular bishop in his desire to make money the coin of the realm for all things and by all beings, even God. Cornelius's prayer got the attention of God. It was that prayer that God heard, and when hearing his prayer, God also remembered his helping of the poor. If money had any influence on God, it would mean that God could be bribed. The widow woman had no money, but she got the attention of the unjust judge and God's recognition of how we are to get His attention. [Lk. 18:6] To interpret this scripture in such a way as money can help one get into the Kingdom is unthinkable by reasonable and godly men; it is crude, unsophisticated, and WRONG! In the 3 John scripture, topic of this discussion, John the Beloved said to Gaius that he wished him to thrive and do well. Who Gaius was is uncertain; some hold he may have been the same Gaius in Acts 19, 20:4, who was rounded up with Paul, and was a companion of Paul. It is uncertain. What we may know is that John is in his latter years when writing this letter; he calls himself the elder, signifying his age. Also, we know that John said that he wished above all things that he would prosper and be in health even as [in according with] his soul prospers. Notice that John attaches prosperity and flourishing with the health of his relationship to God. I ask, why is there such a disconnect between prosperity as the Gospel of Wealth preachers define prosper to the thriving of one's relationship with God? John connected them, but the modern day preachers of wealth are disconnecting them. I would that you would prosper…even as your soul prospers indicates that prosper need not be about money at all; a soul can prosper, as John says here. Furthermore, John's statement is conditional. One prospers in proportion to how his soul prospers. If he is not doing well with God, he should not prosper in other ways, John implies. This connectivity of God's Word does not allow a minister to pluck this 3 John2 diamond of prosperity out of this ring of God and pawn it alone, as these Gospel of Wealth thieves are attempting to do. But even if there were money in that scripture, there can be no hocus pocus money there. God wants his people to work for what they get--Paul said let every man work...! If God is going to bless you with wealth, you certainly will have to work for it. The lottery is the lottery; Las Vegas gambling is gambling. God is in the business of blessing the workers, and not in the business of blessing slackers who chance an opportunity of fate (gamble and get lucky--go to Las Vegas!) through some magical incantation from a minister. Many years ago, I went to a radio minister's meeting. He stated at that meeting--there were three people there--that he wanted God to perform a $7,000 miracle. I had a $.50 piece and that was all. The preacher said he wanted each person to put the money in his hand as he prayed for them. Went he got to me, a boy of 18-years old, and my cold $.50 hit his hand, he opened his eyes and I uttered, "That is all I got." he prayed a $.50 prayer and push me down to the floor. Of course, a $.50 prayer cannot get much and so I got nothing but scorn from him and no answer from God. And I do not think he got his $7,000 miracle from God, although he seemed to have been asking not God, but the three people there. I thought his behavior to be strange even though I did not know God or his Word at that time, and this false preacher of the Word did nothing to help me know God; he was interested in money. Gaius was told to prosper and be in health, even as his soul prospered. God is not in the business of minting millionaire Christians, whether they be millionaire ministers or members, other than through their hard work. The millionaire ministers who are panhandling for your money today were poor when coming into the ministry; they have made themselves rich by taking Christians' money. Paul set the standard for all the Gene Scotts, Robert Tilton, Benny Hins, Cleflo Dollars and Leroy Thomases, Kenneth Copelands, etc. And it is this: "I have coveted no man silver or gold, or apparel…these hands have ministered to my necessities and to them that were with me." Paul was a tent-maker by trade; he had a job besides being an apostle, indeed, he was an arch-apostle who worked the ministry as hard as any apostle. [Acts 18:3; 20:33] Finis Dake, in his Dake's Bible notes the following about Paul's job:
Many of the Gospel of Wealth preachers simply need jobs, something to occupy their wicked minds. Work endears one to a higher call and purpose in life; work in a broader realm of philosophy is important to the tranquility of mankind because work somehow clears the mind and promotes human transcendence to the image of God. God worked and then He rested. [Gen. 2:2] Many people need jobs to help clear their minds and help them to see the things of God as they are. VIII. Other Scriptures Used What does it look like to have ministers who have become millionaires off the gospel or the things of God and not as a result of their hard work? It looks like they are making merchandise of the people of God; it looks like they are fleecing God's people; it looks like they are, as one young man aptly coined it, pimping God's people. But if they are pimping God's people, that makes them pimps, and if we pay them our hard earned, we allow them to make whores of us, instead of our being the people of God. Of course, there is the resort to Malachi 3 again--the leaning post of every tithe and every Gospel of Wealth preacher. What bad company they keep, as they misunderstand God's Word! In Malachi 3, God is opening up the windows of heaven to Israel and rebuking the devourer, but these preachers place the church in Israel's stead. And that cannot be done as I have addressed that notion elsewhere. These Gospel of Wealth preachers do as the late night get-rich on real estate infomercials hawkers do: they get rich, not off real estate, but off those wanting to get rich off real estate. They give you the promise, while they get the wealth. They allow some to get a crumb or two, but that is to keep the Pyramid Scheme going. This is the nature of these schemes, and God's people are their victims but do not know they are the victims. And most of these victims think that it is their lack of faith that causes them to have not attained as the ministers of money say they should have. And that is a tragedy! []
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