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Christianity Today, July, 2007 |

Gospel Riches

Africa's rapid embrace of prosperity Pentecostalism provokes concern--and hope.

Isaac Phiri and Joe Maxwell | posted 7/06/2007 09:12AM

Pastor Michael Okonkwo rises from his gold-coated throne before 4,000 onlookers in Lagos, Nigeria. "Hallelujah!" bellows the self-proclaimed "father of fathers, pastor of pastors," wearing a glittery ...

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Sharyn

Posted: July 11, 2007 3:24 PM

I know of people who have been absolutely devastated by someone dying because they believed 100% the person would be healed. What do we say to them? If their theology says to believe in healing and claim it in every situation so it will be done, then obviously their theology is wrong.Yet I think this is a reaction to our past lack of faith and expectation of God's miraculous. Those in poverty will often claim conversion through prosperity doctrine, so instead, for genuine and lasting conversion, they must understand there are people in the Bible like Paul--thorn in the flesh, tortured, jailed, etc etc and yet still knowing 'life in all it's abundance'. Miraculous healing, prophecy, tongues, visions, laughter, uncontrolled body actions (or parylizing) is all Bibilical, but can be also imitated by Satan, or even by our own bodies and minds. God can and does work in more miraculous ways today than it appears you have experienced, Bob. Joyce and Joel false prophets? Don't think!

Clinton

Posted: July 11, 2007 1:23 PM

I read this article and I was disgusted with what these pastors were doing in Nigeria and other African nations. It seems that this garbage gospel is exportable to those who are suffering every day. II Thessalonians 2 talks about apostasy in the last days. Just look in Scripture at those who were very wealthy. They received the wrath of God. I have seen the garbage that arises from many teachings from the Pentecostal denomination. This is also quite popular with African-Americans in America, with all of the wealth and prosperity. There is no preaching of repentance and faith with this stuff. These pastors are perverting the gospel to be pleasing to those people. The people in these congregations need to read Scripture and find out what the Bible says about those who receive wealth, especially dishonestly. We can only pray for the people in these churches and for the pastors to repent. Thank God for revealing to me past the vanity of the Prosperity Gospel.

Bob	Posted: July 11, 2007 8:39 AM

Disgusting article, but we should attack the root of the problem which is Pentecostalism itself- a movement based completely on carnality- getting riled up by loud, emotionally manipulative music, jumping around in the aisles, getting yourself so detached from your higher mind that you start babbling in "tongues", getting "slain in the spirit", crying, rolling around on the floor, seeing visions and prophecies, and all the rest of the things Pentecostals do so they can "feel" a different way. Pentecostalism isn't about Christianity- it's about making up doctrines and practices so that you can alter your mental state, like a drug user. The Prosperity Gospel is perfect for such people. Pentecostalism is the WWF of Christianity.

Anonymous

Posted: July 09, 2007 3:36 PM

the developed west has an unwritten prosperity gospel, one in which the rich church goers look down their noses at the poor. Poor people are seen as cursed while going to church and getting clean means getting a ticket to middle class/upper middle class priviledges. Poor people are to be given hand-outs and fed at the back door. They are seen as unworthy of full status and access to leadership. The unwritten properity gospel in which God is seen as a ticket to worldly success is deeply rooted in western society. But Jesus says "blessed are the the poor because to them the kingdom belongs, even if you keep them from the inner circle of your church."

BJ	Posted: July 08, 2007 7:46 PM

I agree with Bennett that this issue possesses layers of complexity. I disagree that the article refrained from passing judgment. The authors use a clever but unfair technique in associating positive thinking with cultists like Quimby and Eddy and leading readers to draw the conclusion that positive thinkers must, therefore, be cultic. As to Ms. Dolan's criticism of TBN's offerings in Africa, it doesn't take a lot of thought to understand that the shows aired there are a reflection of both the culture of the continent and a different clientele: If africa is into the "Big Man" culture, Joyce Meyer isn't going to have a lot of viewers; if African ministries want to buy time it will be sold to them, just as time is sold to those who can pay for it in the US.

Mun	Posted: July 08, 2007 7:30 AM

1 Tim 6:3-6 "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that GODLINESS IS A MEANS TO GAIN. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,

Brent from Spain

Posted: July 08, 2007 2:20 AM


A good article, yet it seems to lack one very important person in African prosperity and television preaching. Benson Idahosa was truly the first Nigerian to really preach the prosperity message and to use television in Nigeria. He died several years ago but anyone who is anyone in this area of christian preaching in Africa has been influenced by his ministry.

Sam	Posted: July 07, 2007 12:31 AM

Daven...that is biblical imagery! The health-wealth gospel is a pseudo gospel and does not take into account the whole biblical narrative. What is most sad is that it's the poorest of the poor who are usually led astray by these deceivers. The Gospels tell us many will be led astray and it is happening in America through false teachers like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer. But good thing the old prophet of Judah, Amos, told the people...those of you who take excess profit from the poor and marginalized will incur the wrath of God Almighty. So I hope they enjoy their mansions.

Verndigger

Posted: July 06, 2007 8:22 PM

"he earliest proponents of positive thinking were spiritual innovators like Phineas P. Quimby and Mary Baker Eddy, founders of the New Thought movement and Christian Science, respectively." With respect, Christian Science does not promote positive thinking in the slightest. Christian Science teaches healing of *any* lack through the understanding of Mind, God. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the seminal text of Christian Science, by Mary Baker Eddy, says "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." note it says NEED, not want. Thus, CS also does not promote the notion of material wealth. Verndigger

Daven

Posted: July 06, 2007 7:40 PM

Funny, no one mentioned the wealth that Jesus Christ carried in his travels! When he preformed the mircle of the 2 fish and five loaves of bread, his disciples asked if they should go to town and buy food for the multitude. When Judus was sticking his fingers in the purse and stealing mone, Jesus was aware of it but it didn't hurt his ministry nor addressed the matter. When Jesus died, the guards cast lots over his garment. It had no seams and was a very expensive garment. Of all the rich clothes of today, they still have seams. For a heavenly Father who's streets are made of gold, his gravel is made of semi-precious stones, his gates are made of pearl and he rest his feet on a stone of saphire...just something to think about!

Sam	Posted: July 06, 2007 6:41 PM

I am not surprised. Have seen many in India too. I agree with Jay - great verses. What is important? The world should know that Jesus is the only way and Bible is God's word. Certainly there will be many doctrinal problems because even pastors and evangelists are ordinary human. They will also be judged by God. The same problem was illustrated by Paul, when people split into Paul's group and Sila's group. There are many villages in this world that have no idea about God. We should keep praying for those people and also for these pastors. Because if Satan deploys 1 devil for each christian to stumble, he'll deploy 100 devils to make one pastor stumble. Keep in mind, that God is in control in these last years as we see many natural disasters foretold in Bible. To summarize, i am not telling that this is good or ok. Read Romans 14.

Bennett

Posted: July 06, 2007 5:49 PM

A wonderful, thoughtful analysis of what is going on in Africa, with all the layers of complexity and consideration, good and evil, without making judgement. Thank you Isaac and Joe. It's rare to see an article of such readability and clarity that doesn't try to sell the reader but portrays reality as it is--challenging, difficult to pigeon-hole, a place where God can turn bad things into good and man can turn good things into bad. Blessings.

Jay	Posted: July 06, 2007 5:11 PM

Father of fathers? Jesus said in Matthew 23:9 “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” In the New Testament Jesus teaches that our needs will be met, He didn’t preach earthly prosperity. Actually He told the apostles not to take money for the good works they performed. Matthew 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, The end times are prophesied by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Donnell

Posted: July 06, 2007 2:16 PM


Another chapter in the saga of "image" as opposed to "substance". It gives me to think on Lazarus and the rich man.

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