How to evangelize prosperity gospel supporters«

One clear winter morning, I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop, reading the scriptures and journaling, when a man walked by and noticed me reading the Bible and decided to talk to me.

He explained that he was a member of a large church in our area (one that preached the «prosperity gospel») and that he saw the Bible primarily as a book about how God wants to bless us.

I replied that the Bible is actually a book that reveals to us who God is, who we are, and what God has done to reconcile us to Himself. I began to share the Gospel, emphasizing that suffering is a promised part of the Christian journey, an integral part of following Jesus.

The man replied that if we have faith, God will bless us and protect us from suffering. I cited several verses where God promises that believers will experience ordinary hardships as well as specific persecutions. At that point, he threw up his hands, saying, «I just don’t accept this for my life.».

My wife and I had recently experienced the loss of a child, and I felt the need to share this with him. I explained that when we face such trials, we cannot simply say, «I do not accept this in my life,» and they will go away. I also shared the Good News that Jesus has overcome the world and promises to never leave us in our trials—promises that have been a comfort to us in times of suffering.

The frankness and depth of my ordeal, I thought, caught him off guard, so he quickly expressed his condolences and ended the conversation. But the experience left me wondering: How can we better prepare ourselves to evangelize those who believe in the «prosperity gospel»?

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT?

Sharing the Gospel with people who have embraced the unbiblical teaching that Jesus died so that we could be healthy, wealthy, and successful is not easy for many reasons. But I think there are two main reasons.

1. The prosperity message appeals to the old sinful nature.

First, the prosperity message appeals to the old sinful nature. The «prosperity gospel» plays on the natural desires for health and wealth and promises what our sinful hearts crave. There is no call to repent of our sins, no call to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, no call to die to self (Mark 10:34-35).

Thus, when we share the Gospel with someone who has embraced the «prosperity gospel,» we are calling them to abandon their belief in a message that panders to fleshly desires and embrace the true Gospel that does not.

2. They use the same words, but with a different meaning

Second, prosperity gospelers use the same words we do, but they mean something different. For example, when I say faith, I mean the gift from God that gives me the ability to believe that His Word is true and that His Son is Christ the Messiah (1 Cor. 2:14; John 6:44, 65). In contrast, for many prosperity gospelers, faith is a tool with which they put God in a debtor’s position. For them, faith is the currency they use to get what they want from God.

Another example is that when I talk about the Gospel, I mean the Good News of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 2:10-14). And when many prosperity gospel advocates use the word «Gospel,» they mean the «good news» that God wants us to be healthy, wealthy, and successful.

FIVE TIPS FOR EVANGELIZING PROSPERITY GOSPEL ADVOCATES«

The apostle Paul makes it clear that all Christians, especially pastors, should be engaged in evangelism and be ready «in season and out of season» (2 Tim. 4:1-5). So how can we evangelize those who believe in the «prosperity gospel»?

1. Humbly acknowledge that without God's grace, we too could believe a false gospel.

Let us humbly acknowledge that without God’s grace, we too could fall prey to a false gospel. If the «prosperity gospel» really appeals to our old sinful nature, and we are born dead in sin (Eph. 2:1), then only God’s grace gives us the ability to recognize this deception. This should motivate us to humbly and attentively engage with those who believe the «prosperity gospel.».

2. Affirm what is true in the «prosperity gospel»

To be clear: the «prosperity gospel» is a counterfeit of the true Gospel. However, the counterfeit must resemble the original to be convincing. So affirm what is true about the «prosperity gospel.».

«The »prosperity gospel” is based on a theistic worldview. It correctly asserts that there are blessings from following Jesus—even in this life (Mark 10:29-30). It is also based on the confidence that God hears and answers prayers (James 5:16) and affirms the truth that God rewards faith (Matt. 9:29).

«The »prosperity gospel” is not entirely devoid of truth, and to pretend otherwise is not only inaccurate but also unhelpful when evangelizing such people.

3. Confront the lies and flaws of the «prosperity gospel»

Confront the Lies and Defects of the «Prosperity Gospel.» One of the most dangerous errors of this teaching is that it claims that what you receive from God depends on the «quantity» of your faith. However, the Bible clearly teaches that it is the object of our faith, not the amount of it, that matters. Even if we have great faith in idols, they will not save us; however, if our faith, however small, is directed to Jesus, He will save us (John 14:1-14).

The fatal flaw of the «prosperity gospel» is that it does not provide support in times of inevitable suffering (John 16:33). If we believe that our faith in God will free us from all suffering, then when we encounter it, we may come to the wrong conclusions: either God has lied to us, or He does not exist, or we simply do not have «enough» faith. And none of these conclusions are true.

4. Offer the hope that the true biblical Gospel gives

Offer the hope that comes from the true biblical Gospel. The Gospel tells us that we do not deserve God’s goodness, but instead deserve eternal punishment for our sins. Yet God, rich in mercy, justifies us through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Whether we receive many obvious blessings in this life or not, the Good News is that through faith in Christ our sins are forgiven and we have become part of God’s family. This knowledge keeps us from idolizing good things or from becoming discouraged when we don’t get what we want in this life.

5. Live a generous life that demonstrates that the greatest joy is in God, not in the material blessings He gives.

Ultimately, live a life of generosity that demonstrates that your greatest joy is in God, not in the material blessings He gives. If we persuasively criticize the «prosperity gospel» through Scripture but ourselves seek to accumulate money and possessions, then our lives are undermining everything we have said.

When we live generously, giving from what God has enriched us with, we create opportunities for the true biblical Gospel to be spread. Paul writes:

«For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich» (2 Cor. 8:9).

Generosity demonstrates to others that Christ is our greatest treasure, that we value Him and His sacrifice for us above anything else God can give us.