Prosperity gospel: Uncovering its origins and explaining how it distorts Christ’s teachings

[Michie]

Catholic author Dr. Thomas Storck joins me on today's episode of The John-Henry Westen Show.

(LifeSiteNews) — Perhaps a good deal of us have heard the term “prosperity gospel.” It’s very popular, particularly in the United States, with many prosperity gospel preachers acting as pastors for megachurches. Yet what is it and where does it come from?

My guest today is Dr. Thomas Storck, a convert to the Catholic faith and author of the new book The Prosperity Gospel: How Greed and Bad Philosophy Distorted Christ’s Teachings, joins me on this episode of The John-Henry Westen Show to discuss the prosperity gospel’s origins and what the Church really teaches on economic matters.

According to Storck, the prosperity gospel arose from the belief that religion was a private matter and should not have a part in cultural affairs, a result of the rise of Unitarianism and the waning influence of New England Calvinism in the 19th century. Storck further explains that what we now call the prosperity gospel managed to take root because of the lack of a culturally religious milieu like the one that exists in Europe.

Comparing the cultures of America and Europe, Storck tells me “it was a matter of starting over again, and we could start over again in any way we wanted.”

“And that was one of the keys to where the seedbed of the prosperity gospel originated: this idea that we can start over again, we can do whatever we want,” he continues. “And that coupled with the privatization of religion and the privatization of purpose in general, are the two biggest factors, I think, in providing a background for the prosperity gospel.”

Continued below.

Prosperity gospel: Uncovering its origins and explaining how it distorts Christ's teachings - LifeSite

Catholic author Dr. Thomas Storck joins me on today's episode of The John-Henry Westen Show.

www.lifesitenews.com

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

Neither poverty nor moderation or prosperity are the Way, Rome today would be like Constantinople if the Italians practiced moderation or poverty.

The Catholic catechism says prosperity is good, it creates jobs, products and services and buys products and services.

 

[Michie]

Neither poverty nor moderation or prosperity are the Way, Rome today would be like Constantinople if the Italians practiced moderation or poverty.

The Catholic catechism says prosperity is good, it creates jobs, products and services and buys products and services.

What’s that have to do with the op? The topic is the origins of the prosperity gospel.

 

[Michie]

The Prosperity Gospel is DANGEROUS

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Why the Prosperity Gospel Is Bankrupt

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Why the “Prosperity Gospel” is Bankrupt

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John 16:23 and Other “Prosperity Gospel” Passages

How do I explain the meaning in context of John 16:23 and others like it to those who believe the "Prosperity Gospel"? Here's how Catholics can respond.

www.catholic.com

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Catholic author Dr. Thomas Storck joins me on today's episode of The John-Henry Westen Show.

(LifeSiteNews) — Perhaps a good deal of us have heard the term “prosperity gospel.” It’s very popular, particularly in the United States, with many prosperity gospel preachers acting as pastors for megachurches. Yet what is it and where does it come from?

My guest today is Dr. Thomas Storck, a convert to the Catholic faith and author of the new book The Prosperity Gospel: How Greed and Bad Philosophy Distorted Christ’s Teachings, joins me on this episode of The John-Henry Westen Show to discuss the prosperity gospel’s origins and what the Church really teaches on economic matters.

According to Storck, the prosperity gospel arose from the belief that religion was a private matter and should not have a part in cultural affairs, a result of the rise of Unitarianism and the waning influence of New England Calvinism in the 19th century. Storck further explains that what we now call the prosperity gospel managed to take root because of the lack of a culturally religious milieu like the one that exists in Europe.

Comparing the cultures of America and Europe, Storck tells me “it was a matter of starting over again, and we could start over again in any way we wanted.”

“And that was one of the keys to where the seedbed of the prosperity gospel originated: this idea that we can start over again, we can do whatever we want,” he continues. “And that coupled with the privatization of religion and the privatization of purpose in general, are the two biggest factors, I think, in providing a background for the prosperity gospel.”

Continued below.

Prosperity gospel: Uncovering its origins and explaining how it distorts Christ's teachings - LifeSite

Catholic author Dr. Thomas Storck joins me on today's episode of The John-Henry Westen Show.

www.lifesitenews.com

One origin of the prosperity gospel was the decline in applying the sermon on the mount as a foundational teaching. This decline resulted in applying sometimes the opposite of what Jesus was teaching in this sermon that the Savior called "the foundation to build a house on"

Because of this widespread attitude that "you're on your own" and the widespread poverty that followed, this corrupt seed (the gospel of mammon) took root.

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

I think John G Lake and his financial errors and the poor Bible College student and the missionary who was too poor to go abroad and the missionary who could not afford funeral insurance, this led to the prosperity Gospel. It is fine, unless a Pastor takes as much money from the flock as possible and lives in luxury. Benny Hinn does, but people were suspicious of him and forced him to audit, costing him 3 million USD, only to find most of the money went into his works and not to himself. Was it 92 cents in each dollar?

Kenneth Copeland has private jets and a country house. He says he uses the jets to go on missions, and was found to have gone hunting, using one. The press criticized him.

Prosperity Gospel teaching seems anti-Catholic but is approved in the catechism. There is also poverty Gospel teaching in which false Catholic teachers give the evil eye to anyone they think is not living in moderation or in poverty, especially in the ministry. I think protestants who did not know the official teaching, counter acted them.

I remember being told capitalism was evil, money was not good, Jesus' missionaries took one shirt and no spares... Mother Theresa was an ideal.

There are wiser ways of going to local and overseas missions. So prosperity teaching was better. Also C Peter Wagner taught some prosperity ideas. And there is this myth about an end times transfer of wealth from the unjust to the just, like from Exodus. In the Bible, prosperity was once a sign of Godliness.

 

[Michie]

I think John G Lake and his financial errors and the poor Bible College student and the missionary who was too poor to go abroad and the missionary who could not afford funeral insurance, this led to the prosperity Gospel. It is fine, unless a Pastor takes as much money from the flock as possible and lives in luxury. Benny Hinn does, but people were suspicious of him and forced him to audit, costing him 3 million USD, only to find most of the money went into his works and not to himself. Was it 92 cents in each dollar?

Kenneth Copeland has private jets and a country house. He says he uses the jets to go on missions, and was found to have gone hunting, using one. The press criticized him.

Prosperity Gospel teaching seems anti-Catholic but is approved in the catechism. There is also poverty Gospel teaching in which false Catholic teachers give the evil eye to anyone they think is not living in moderation or in poverty, especially in the ministry. I think protestants who did not know the official teaching, counter acted them.

I remember being told capitalism was evil, money was not good, Jesus' missionaries took one shirt and no spares... Mother Theresa was an ideal.

There are wiser ways of going to local and overseas missions. So prosperity teaching was better. Also C Peter Wagner taught some prosperity ideas. And there is this myth about an end times transfer of wealth from the unjust to the just, like from Exodus. In the Bible, prosperity was once a sign of Godliness.

The prosperity gospel is not approved of in the catechism.

 

[Michie]

Perhaps the prosperity Gospel needs to be defined or explained. I spoke with a canon lawyer Fr Flader, and he said prosperity it is good, the way it creates jobs, products and services and buys from others. Nothing wrong with that. Abraham was prosperous, the transition takes place by Micah's day that prosperity was a sign of corruption. Today I believe it is a sign of shrewd thinking and industriousness.

There is a difference in prosperity being good for a community and the prosperity gospel. They are not the same. Please do not come into the Catholic forum making claims about the teachings of the Church that are not true. The Church condemns the prosperity gospel.

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

There is a difference in prosperity being good for a community and the prosperity gospel. They are not the same. Please do not come into the Catholic forum making claims about the teachings of the Church that are not true. The Church condemns the prosperity gospel.

Please link to a description of the Prosperity Gospel.

 

[Michie]

Please link to a description of the Prosperity Gospel.

I think I posted enough links in this thread to aptly describe it. Please know you are not allowed to debate Catholic teaching in this forum.

Vatican Warns of Prosperity Gospel Spreading Like a Noxious Weed

The Vatican is warning about the perils of the prosperity gospel, the belief that true followers of God are rich, healthy and happy.

churchleaders.com

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

I think I posted enough links in this thread to aptly describe it. Please know you are not allowed to debate Catholic teaching in this forum.

Vatican Warns of Prosperity Gospel Spreading Like a Noxious Weed

The Vatican is warning about the perils of the prosperity gospel, the belief that true followers of God are rich, healthy and happy.

churchleaders.com

OK I see, I also see pictures of preachers and some I recognize. I am doubtful the description accurately applies to them.

 

[Michie]

OK I see, I also see pictures of preachers and some I recognize. I am doubtful the description accurately applies to them.

Not a surprise there.

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

Not a surprise there.

My late parish priest used to love Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer and Kenneth Copeland, with his parish assistant they even owned a country house. They ran a healing ministry with praise and worship followed by gifts of the Spirit. My priest had a testimony of Jesus' powerful blood.

It reminds me that Pope Benedict was not able to gain a general consensus of his book on love. There are a lot of groups in the Catholic church, societies with some authority.

So if prosperity means pursuing happiness and health, and wealth, people have needs that can be met, and the parish expands beyond others.

I regret leaving the parish.

There we had healing testimonies. And I received Jesus' blood. There was the start of the promise of my healing.

Towards the end of my time there, they were losing confidence in Benny Hinn's ministry.

The old Hebrew Shalom was to wish peace, body, soul, spirit and in your work. And in the Catholic faith, birthed in so much persecution, it seemed to seek peace and holiness with all people, meant peace of mind and conscience? You may have sought Jesus for healing, but then as a Christian not worshiping the Emperor, meant a painful life and end.

I now wish I stayed on with them looking for God's blessings instead of seeking to be a missionary. I met a strong enemy at the bigger evangelical Pentecostal church and I am still wounded.

 

[WarriorAngel]

You either serve the Lord or mammon.
And the fact mammon becomes an addiction that is often bereft of prayer and speaking exaltation of the Lord...
as those many vs the few [camels getting through the eye of the needle] will focus mainly on the money flow vs the laws of the Lord.

As an example; ponder the many wrong things done in the name of greed.

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

In the Bible Abraham prospered the ancient way, lots of cattle, servants, land, might, spent honouring God. In Micah it becomes a sign of corruption to be rich, today it is a sign of being shrewd. Clever people have money. I suppose that not all wisdom is benevolent and some having too much compared to needs and wants are tempted by sensuality, feasting and such. Harder for them to show care for the poor, but still they might.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

MOD HAT ON

This thread has had a cleanup. Please remember to abide by the Statement of Purpose for the Catholic subforum, and not to debate any issue of doctrine unless you are a member of the subforum.

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[FaithT]

When people talk about the prosperity Gospel Joel osteen’s name keeps coming up. What specifically does he say that is an example of that? Ive read a couple of his books and don’t remember him talking about that.

 

[mourningdove~]

When people talk about the prosperity Gospel Joel osteen’s name keeps coming up. What specifically does he say that is an example of that? Ive read a couple of his books and don’t remember him talking about that.

From Catholic apologist Trent Horn:

Prosperity theology teaches that God always rewards faithful believers with riches and happiness. Joel Osteen, the foremost preacher of this “health and wealth gospel,” told Time magazine, “I preach that anybody can improve their lives. I think God wants us to be prosperous. I think he wants us to be happy.” He also writes in his book Your Best Life Now, “Be a giver, rather than a taker. . . . If you are generous to people in their time of need, God will make sure that other people are generous to you in your time of need.”

He has found a lot of takers for this idea. According to a 2006 survey, one-third of Christians believe that “if you give your money to God, God will bless you with more money.”

But this attitude turns prayer and good works into tools that try to manipulate God into bestowing blessings upon us.

Why the Prosperity Gospel Is Bankrupt

Prosperity theology teaches that God always rewards ...

www.catholic.com