The “prosperity gospel,” as critics call it, is growing highly prominent megachurches and has blacks divided on the controversial message.
While the nation's largest African American religious organization – the 7.5 million-member National Baptist Convention – has clearly denounced the prosperity gospel especially with many black communities suffering in poverty, tens of thousands of black Christians flock to services every week to hear the message of wealth and abundance.
"God gives us power to get wealth. Does that sound like he wants you to be on welfare? That's in the Bible!" the Rev. Frederick K.C. Price, pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, told Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. Current membership at Crenshaw is reported to be over 18,000.
"I am one of the very few ministers that are very open, very, very open, because I don't have anything to hide," Price said. "And I do it – I tell my people here all the time, 'I'm only doing it so that you can see that there's somebody the same color that you are, breathing the same contaminated air, paying the same outrageous prices for everything else, and I'm prospering because of the Book.'"
Price recently filed a lawsuit against ABC over a March airing on the network's 20/20 program that he says inaccurately portrayed him as living a lavish lifestyle, including a mansion, a yacht and seven luxury automobiles. The lawsuit claims the TV show, which upset Price's congregation, severely damaged his reputation.
Another preacher of prosperity, Bishop Eddie Long, celebrated the 20th anniversary of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., just last week.
In addition to claiming 25,000 members, the Atlanta-area megachurch has TV ministries, a fitness center, a school, and a program for the homeless and addicted.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Long lives “in affluence and preaches a gospel that mixes the prosperity of American capitalism with a conservative theology that says God blesses people financially as well as spiritually.”
A nonprofit started by Long and his church provided him more than $3 million in salary and benefits between 1997 and 2000, as revealed by nonprofit records obtained by the Journal-Constitution.
Since then, Long's salary and benefits have not been divulged.
Recognizing the rise in prosperity messages in more black pulpits, Dr. Robert M. Franklin, author of recently released Crisis in the Village, has called the prosperity gospel movement the single greatest threat to the historical legacy and core values of the contemporary black church tradition.
Several megapastors preaching abundance are under fire for what one author and national talk show host says is "deceiving true believers" for fame and fortune.
In the upcoming self-published book Snakes in the Pulpit, talk show host Reuben Armstrong blasts T.D. Jakes, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar and Joel Osteen, calling them "false prophets."
"Really look at our churches today," said Armstrong in a video statement. "Ask yourself, 'Are churches really concerned about saving your soul or are they concerned about your money, your pocketbooks?'"
Armstrong was recently banned from StreamingFaith.com, a faith-based portal used by many churches to broadcast their programs online, because the author "slandered a few of our beloved partners," Armstrong quoted Streaming Faith managers, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
Jakes is one of the nation's most well-known preachers and heads The Potter's House, a predominantly African American megachurch in the Dallas area.
"I don't think there is any such thing, truly, as prosperity gospel," he told Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. "It's just a tag that we put on an extreme point of view."
"I'm not against marching," Jakes continued, "but in the '60s the challenge of the black church was to march. And there are times now perhaps that we may need to march. But there's more facing us than social justice. There's personal responsibility, motivating and equipping people to live the best lives that they can really does help them to live the scriptures and to bring them to life."
Offering one explanation for the rise in the prosperity message in black churches, Michael Eric Dyson, professor at Georgetown University, said it's a way to "justify black upward mobility and middle class existence without feeling guilty."
"The civil rights movement said, 'You are responsible for your brother and sister. You ought to bring them along.' The prosperity gospel says, 'Your brother or sister is responsible for him or herself, and what they should be doing is praying right, so that God can bless them, too,'" Dyson said, according to Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.
Franklin says the achievements of the African American community are losing ground, especially among church leaders who have shifted more focus onto individual achievement.
As the most accomplished generation of black Americans, we could and should do more to renew our villages (African American communities), Franklin said.
That includes helping the poor. According to Franklin, one-fourth of the black community lives in poverty.
While Franklin acknowledges the significant charitable giving and efforts of megachurches and other churches, he said there's still something missing.
It's "the role of the church as a prophetic force in society, amplifying the voice of the poor and the voiceless," he pointed out, "and it's that justice note that's missing in much of the prosperity gospel appeal," he said in the PBS news program.
Christian Post reporter Eric Young in Washington contributed to this report.
Comments
This is Prophet Eric Seel of the Apostle's center international School of ministry. The Lord has shown me that there will be a judgment against these false teachers. Now the Government is starting to investigate these priests of Baal. We should remember what the Apostle Paul told us concerning the last days that many would heap up to themselves teachers who would appeal to their itching ears. A heap is no small measure. Today we have hundreds of thousands of false teachers and ministers who proclaim to teach the covenant of Christ. Instead these are teachers who teach according to their own aspirations. There are no ministers who understand the true pattern of the Covenant of Christ or about the regeneration of the soul and the renewing of the mind. Be prepared much more judgment will come against false teachers. Paula White, Dollar, Price, Copeland and many others will be exposed for what they are. White washed tombs filled with dead men's bones.
Prophet Seel
Deut 15:11
There will always be poor people on the land, therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Matthew 2:11
"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me."
People wake up these pastor don't care about the community thier churches are in they don't in live in the community were their churches are located. Poll the congregation and you will see that only the people in the pastor click prosper. They are not teaching the people how to prosper they are cheating the people. The hop in the fancy cars after church on Sunday and go home to their mansions on the other side of town. I was in a church on it's way to mega status come to find out the Pastor stood in the pulpit and lied every Sunday. He was cheating and beating on his wife who finally divorced him and is coming out with her own book. It's pure DECEPTION! THe wife told me out of her own mouth that we were "DECEIVED" the pastor her husband wasn't drawing the people to God but himself for control. The person that stated "men were given wealth by God for being obedient and it is not guaranteed to everyone" well that isn't what Fred Price said above he said it's for everyone! Oh and MRHARPER you are comparing the world to the church. How much does the man or woman of God need? I had to have a major surgery and couldn't work my husband and I got behind on our mortgage we went to the church that we fatihful gave to and was DENIED help. The pastor even said he was going to get a big red stamp that says DENIED when people come there asking for help! The assistant pastor actually sent us to a Bankruptcy Attorney. We "sowed seeds" or so they called it, into the Pastor & his wife life on a weekly basis along with our tithes & offerings, yet when we needed help we couldn't get it from the church. And get this we went to credit counseling and they told us we were giving to much money to the church. We thought they were crazy because we were taught something totally different. But they were right. We are no longer at that ministry and a lot of people left after the pastor divorced his wife of 21 years but taught you were stuck in marriage. People were getting divorced and losing their homes and don't get me wrong I am not saying it was the Pastor's fault but it was the false teaching. Please people listen to these men they are teaching people wrong. They are teaching you to "work the Word of God." You don't work the word of God you do the word of God. God is not a "jeanie in a bottle" He is a loving God. Just think were most of us we be today if our teachers taught us the wrong thing in school! Read the bible, study & meditate on it day and night so that you will not be tricked by these "SNAKES IN THE PULPIT!"
WHAT PROFITED A MAN TO GAIN AND LOSE HIS SOUL. IF WE HAVE AN ABOUNDANCE FEED THE HUNGRY AND STOP STORING UP FOR YOUSELVES. JESUS TOLD THE RICH MAN TO SEEL ALL THAT HE HAS AND FOLLOW ME.
While you guys are debating whether or not a pastor should live a lavish lifestyle, please consider asking God to give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of his Word. The Bible states that if we know how to give good gifts to our children how much more will our heavenly father give unto his children. According to II Corinthians 8:9 "though Christ was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that through his poverty we might become rich. To reject prosperity is to reject one of the reasons Christ gave up his life. Don't be deceived by what others are saying, you've been redeemed from the curse of the law; which was spiritual death, sickness and disease, and POVERTY AND LACK!!!! So the blessing of Abraham my come on the Gentile. As you know the blessing of Abraham made him VERY rich. Prosperity is available to every believer, God has no limits, his riches are boundless, fathomless, endless, inexhaustible, and incalculable. This is part of your inheritance, read the word for what it says not from what tradition has taught you....God Bless
There are so many scriptures you could quote on this one, but the most powerful: "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" Luke 18:24. Along with, Luke 16:11, Mark 4:19, 10:23, James 5:1,2, Heb 11:26, 1 Tim 6:17.
Listen to what these men are preaching! They aren't preaching Jesus Christ crucified, buried, resurrected, the judgment to come, the pains of the Christian life and how we're to go out and share our faith, or holiness for God - they're not preaching even basic doctrine of the faith! Their only preaching prosperity - they don't serve the very God of the scriptures they preach from when they do it but their own bellies! God cares very little about our works, but our faith most importantly.
All of the preachers quoted therein are out of a wind of doctrine called the Word of Faith movement. We should be seeking sound doctrine! The sign of an apostle was his suffering - this differentiated Paul from false apostles. These men aren't proving their ministries - there's no suffering on their part, they're living in luxury, robbing the glory of the Gospel. This is Paul's riches:
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33
Please, check these men out - they're definately not preaching what they're supposed to preach. There's no call to discern false doctrine with them, and they're certainly not going to give any time in their pulpits to the things of God - it's all about me, me, me!
There is NO sin in having money by itself. It's the FOCUS on prosperity that these speakers drive that is the issue. Men in the Bible were given wealth by God because they were OBEDIENT...it is not guaranteed to everyone. God has a specific plan for each of us and it doesn't necessary include financial wealth. Our position as Christians should be to love the Lord enough to OBEY His word, consecrate ourselves completely to Him and accept ANY blessings He chooses to give us. But frankly, shouldn't the unearned, undeserved gift of eternal salvation be enough?????
Agreed BOC560. Perhaps we are in fact, that Laodicean Church Age... Just another sign of the End Times. We should all be examining ourselves right now to determine if we will make it through that 'narrow gate.' - http://tribulation.fm - Spread the Word.
I thank you for your reply. God Bless
It's just hard for me to understand that it's ok for someone to have millions of dollars with nice cars big homes, million dollar companys and its ok because of the kind of job they have. But if a ministor works in the church spreading the GOOD NEWS and has wealth at the same time and teaches people how they have gotten wealth Gods way using the bible as a map, people say this person has left God and is letting money rule their life. If I were to give anyone who reads this log two million dollars, would you take it? What if you buy a nice big house and a new car with the money or even put it in the stock market and double it? If you do, then now you are a wealthy person in the eyes of the world and you have turnned your life away from God. If you dont take it, then your staying humble but you just passed up a blessing from the Lord. The bible says that "God will open up the windows of heaven an pour out blessings that you wont have room enough to receave and to try Him in this" Malachi 3:10 That means overflow in my life here on earth. (tith and offering). Its just hard for me to understand that's all.
ECCLESIASTES 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth "ALL THINGS".
1 TIMOTHY 6:10 For the "LOVE" of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Preaching that Christians SHOULD be rich in my opinion smacks with personal pride. It's like majoring in the minors...issues that mean nothing in the light of eternity. We are to save souls not heap up big bank accounts. God blesses us so that we may BE a blessing to others. Let's not focus on "claiming Cadilacs from God" but plead for lost souls in prayer...what a concept huh?! The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to earth so we may pad our wallets, but that we can "know the one true living God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent", and "go out into the world making disciples"...so how about it?!
MRH - You gave excellent examples of rich men who were very devout, Abraham and David. But what about Solomon. His fabulous wealth drew him away from God. What about good king Hezekiah. God blessed him with great wealth, and even got him out of a jam with nasty king Sennacherib. But when he showed off his wealth to the ambassadors from Babylon, God pointed out that his wealth is a fleeting thing (check this story out in 2 Kings 20: 12-19). What about Mary and Joseph. They were dirt poor, but they had the best to offer, making Mary wax poetic and acknowledge, "He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he sent away empty." (Luke 1:53). What about the rich young man of Matt 19: 16-22, who, by his own admission was a fairly pius fellow until Jesus asked him to give it all away to the poor and follow him. He went away sad.
I guess I'm trying to say that, if God has blessed you materially, thank Him for this priviledge He doesn't grant to everyone. Take on the responsibility of being a moneyed believer. But see that happiness is not colored green.
There is a bit of grand wisdom in Proverb 30: 7-9; neither poverty or riches, since both offer temptations to reject or forget God.
DAVID WAS KING AND HE WAS THE APPLE OF GODS EYE. "KING" THAT MEANS HAS ALL THE WEALTH.
I'm a christian and I have money and I'm head over the mens group at my church. So because i have money and live things that cost a lot then that means the Lord is not the head of my life?
SO WHAT IS THE SALARY CAP FOR A CHRISTIAN?