What do you understand by the phrase "Prosperity Gospel"?

I think it means "I'll selectively pick out scripture that says God wants me to be rich and ignore the teachings of Jesus who was quite clear that money and possessions were of no real value and indeed held one back from the Kingdom of God."

the "Prosperity gospel" is when a church or person is all about financial success and being physically healthy...

the problem is that they distort the gospel message of salvation into a much lower message of "prosperity" in the physical and financial sense.

These preachers usually take Old Testament verses out of context and try and apply them to all people when they were only written to and directly applicable to the Jews. They drive nice cars and hide when they get sick (because that would mean they were wrong or had a lack of faith)

They will try and get you to "give" in order to "get". A "seed of faith" donation of more money than you have in order to get more money back. They glorify themselves and praise God for it.

Read the New Testament in context and you will be well guarded against these men.

nothing wrong with being rich, but, the Bible warns that those who desire to be rich fall into many diverse temptations and that the rich in this age should be willing to give and ready to share.

It is a theology that diminishes the cross of Christ and magnifies the pride of man... I hope your church is not preaching a "Prosperity Gospel", if it is I would leave and find a Bible teaching church

When someone slings the ole "prosperity gospel" at you...they are telling you that you have missed the mark. That you are part of a "name it and claim it, blab it and grab it" church that appears to be out for the money and recognition.

Myself, however, I believe that one must live a holy life and follow the commandments of God before God will allow him to prosper. Therefore if one is continually prosperous, it is because they are blessed. To me, if a different denomination is not against Jesus, you should be for them. If is a judgmental phrase..."a prosperity gospel" meaning you want the reward without doing the work.

At least this is what I percieve it to mean. God bless.

I often criticize the "prosperity gospel". Also known as "health and wealth" christianity. Something that some churches have started to preach (cough, Joel Osteen, cough).

The twisted theology goes something like this...

God loves us and wants us to be healthy and wealthy.

If you aren't healthy and wealthy it must be because you're not praying hard enough, have unconfessed sin in your life, aren't serving enough, etc.

Its simply not true. All over the NT we're promised hard times, trials, persecution. Paul begged for a thorn in the flesh to be removed and it wasn't and he clearly was following the Lord. Its a dangerous theology because when hard times do come, its too shaky a foundation for you to stand on. I've seen it almost destroy a friend of mine.

Creflo Dollar a prosperity gospel preacher says: "God wants you to be rich" This is nonsense since Jesus associated himself with the poor, was poor himself and said ," it is easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Why would Jesus want you to be rich if it makes it harder to get to heaven? You say your church is full of young, attractive, and successful people. Seems to me that your certainly could use a little humility. The prosperity gospel says come to Christ because of what he can give you in worldly goods. The true gospel says what can you give to Christ The true gospel says come to Christ because he is worthy to be worshiped and you are lost without his saving grace. You may be young, attractive, and successful , but without a true saving faith in Christ and total surrender of you life to him you have nothing.

Prosperity theology is the latest scheme of the evangelical crowd to elicit funds from their followers. They use scriptural references to "planting seeds," and "casting bread upon the waters," to show that God wants his truest followers to prosper financially, and that this can only be accomplished by planting a "seed", usually a large sum of money sent to the televangelist.Clearly it flies in the face of most of the teachings of Jesus, but then again, that's pretty typical of right wing evangelicals.

At it's best, it's a form of motivation - God wants you to achieve and prosper, and will help you do so if you have faith.

At it's worst, it's like using God as a pump primer or cash machine - the more you tithe, the more you get back.