Greetings!
I'm sorry to say that prosperity has gone a little crazy – and I'm correcting my own theology …. And I will tell you now something that is going to shock you: I think it's an offense to the Lord, it's an offense to say give a thousand dollars. I think it's an offense to the Holy Spirit to place a price on the gospel. I'm done with it. I will never again ask you to give a thousand [dollars] or whatever amount because I think the Holy Ghost is just fed up with it."
– Benny Hinn
Yes, you read that right. I personally watched his “
I’m Done With It
” sermon. His father-in-law’s magazine (Charisma) will be coming out with the full story soon. This recent confession will shake the foundation of preachers of the Prosperity Gospel all over the world. God is cleaning His house.
The Prosperity Gospelites are responsible for much of the Christianized Social Gospel.
Prosperity theology (also known as the Health and Wealth Gospel, the Gospel of Success, or Seed Faith theology) is a controversial, twisted, demonic religious belief. This movement has literally formed its own religion. Hundreds of thousands of churches, teachers, and preachers have become “masters of manipulation.” Each of these religious groups holds fast to the ideation that financial blessings and physical well-being are at the core of Christian belief. They manipulate the masses into believing that the favor of God comes through faith, positive speech, and of course their favorite demonic doctrine, their followers' donations will increase one's material wealth and position in Heaven. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity. Our ministry calls this movement, “God’s Multilevel Marketers.”
In general, their doctrines
emphasize
the importance of personal empowerment, loving yourself, get rich quick, refusing negative thoughts/actions, all proposing that it is God's will for His people to be ‘blessed” (get rich). Their most dangerous demonic doctrine is that of Christ’s atonement (reconciliation with God) is interpreted to include the alleviation of sickness and poverty, which are viewed as curses, and should be broken through donations of money, visualization, and positive confession. I wonder how that’s working in third-world countries?
Even though I am bound to get “unsubscribes” from this posting, the facts are, 88% of our network members attempt to use us to gain financial support. After we probe their motive, many respond with “
God will bless you if you give to us sacrificially.”
What about if we challenge them to give to us sacrificially? A modality that has never happened! This is how we find the Prosperity Gospel believers. We then attempt to disciple them in the True Gospel – offering free training in the indwelling Life of Jesus.
Note:
Out of those within the 88%, 10% want the Truth, while the lion's share remains in their immovable doctrines.
Historically, here is how it all began
.
Back in 1937, Napoleon Hill wrote a book, “
Think and Grow Rich
” – a publication that was the first of its kind. He later wrote another book, “
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude
.” This book launched a worldwide movement among businessmen and women. Both books motivated readers to find and execute ways to win, or find a desirable outcome, regardless of the circumstances. This concept was not only revolutionary, but it was also an overt assault upon the church – touting negativity, defeatism, and denial of self. These publications ignited self-life empowerment. Needless to say, the era of PMA was born.
Hill’s movement birthed the multilevel marketing era. Companies like Amway began making use of PMA as a sales plan. With great success. One of the strategies used by these companies was having their salespeople tap into their pastors – offering each a piece of the pie. Many of these pastors got “rich” from the products sold in “their downline.” All the pastor had to do was hand-over their contacts. Hundreds of thousands fell for this illusion. It was during this era that multilevel marketing became a method of raising funds AND increasing the size of their churches. Thus, activating the mega-church era – the era of charging for the Gospel.
“Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?”
(2 Corinthians 11:7)
It was during the beginnings of the mega-church era that “Christians” prospered unmeasurably from preaching, teaching, and book writing under the banner of copyrighting the Holy Spirit. This, as Benny Hinn recently confessed,
is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
. I tend to agree with him.
As a result of the Healing Revivals
of the 1950-60s, the charismatic movement was born. They quickly adopted the PMA ideologies into their newly established prosperity theology. Their ideologies became prominent in the United States, although theologians have linked the origins of their positive thinking theology to the New Thought movement - a mind-healing movement based on religious and metaphysical (self-nature of ultimate reality) presuppositions. In the late 50s and early 60s, many PMA leaders were significantly influenced by the NT movement.
Once televangelism got underway, the prosperity teachers realized this method could be used as a way to advance their doctrines – for cash. Needless to say, the Word of Faith movement took off like a wildfire. Some of the pioneers of this wildfire include E. W. Kenyon, Oral Roberts, A. A. Allen, Robert Tilton, T. L. Osborn, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, Reverend Ike, and Kenneth Hagin.
Most conservative theologians today maintain that the Prosperity Gospel is irresponsible, promotes idolatry, and is contrary to Scripture. Secular as well as some Christian observers have also criticized prosperity theology as exploitative of the poor to pay the bills of the wealthy appetites of these prosperity preachers.
The most dangerous after-effect
of this movement is, it’s self-label, the Prosperity Gospel. This is a classic example of abuse of the Gospel of Grace. Although, the irony is that they believe that their view of Grace is THE view.
The church has historically had a problem separating the world from the Holy. As with most made-up gospels, the “church” tends to blend culture with the church, ultimately forming more religions. This single habit has caused the authentic Church to fade into the recesses of the catacombs once again.
Satan will use any and all movements
to keep people from the authentic Gospel. The key to detecting fake gospels – the authentic Gospel of Grace is NOT a movement, its Life. God, through Jesus Christ, was never interested in forming a movement. He simply offers the solution to grave movements.
As for Benny Hinn’s confession, as my colleague (Alex McFarland) says, “
Only time will tell if Hinn has actually weaned himself off the heresy. Still, it's a bold move
.” Is this not the case for all “Christ-followers” and indwelt Christians alike? What is my test template?
"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has
endured to the end
who will be saved.”
(Matthew 10:22)
Welcome to authentic Christianity Pastor Hinn. It would behoove you to double-check your indwelling position as well.
