Paul Grafton-Holt

Christian Prosperity Paul Grafton-Holt

The prosperity gospel espoused by many television and media ministries asserts that it is possible, through their methods of tithing, sowing and giving to place God into their debt, as it were, and as a consequence corral His blessings upon them. A typical figure often quoted is a hundred-fold return. In other words if one sows, say $100, then one could reap $10,000 in return. The basis for this argument is that one cannot out-give God and that passages like Malachi 3:8-10 come very much into play here as the windows of heaven are opened up in order to pour out blessings upon the diligent tither. Indeed, even Jesus spoke of a hundred-fold return to His followers to be yielded in this life and eternal life to follow (Mark 10:30). Many Christians though are dissatisfied with the prosperity gospel and see it merely as a way for churches and their ministers to profit from their hard-pressed congregations. They may have tried tithing and failed to gain financially from the exercise, or, perhaps have adduced that such a notion is piffle and refused to succumb to the pressure. Whilst the prosperity gospel is biblically flawed, in that one cannot possibly place God in their debt through their proposed means; it is nonetheless possible, in the right circumstances, to obtain God's favour, including financial recompense, if one truly understands the principles of such within the Word of God. Interestingly, these principles do touch upon those already established in the prosperity gospel message, yet differ fundamentally from them in the ways and means of going about the task and in their ability to actually deliver prosperity to those who diligently seek it. This book will examine the prosperity gospel to identify its fundamental weaknesses and then examine the ways and means of actually seeking prosperity within the framework of Scripture. The good news for Christians, in this regard, is that they can indeed become wealthy; and with God's blessings upon it too.