Mark Driscoll addresses the prosperity gospel and Joel Osteen rel="nofollow"> rel=”nofollow”>here. He’s gracious (probably more gracious than I’d be) yet firm in his criticism. Thanks Mark for hitting the nail on the head - “A relationship with God is not all lollipops, skipping and singing hymns.” Amen.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum

Ben Witherington penned an outstanding critique of prosperity theology last year. It is so good that I’ve reproduced it in entirety below. Thanks Ben for saying what too many in the church are silent on.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum

What’s Wrong with Prospering? The Gospel according to Joel Osteen

And here is another article from Time, this one on the prosperity gospel. This is a pretty fair look from a secular magazine at the poison of American prosperity theology. Their conclusion is approrpiate: “If God does want us to be rich in this life, no doubt it’s this richness in spirit that he is most eager for us to acquire.” Even the heathen can recognize the prosperity gospel for what it really is.

Michael Patton has an outstanding blog on Joel Osteen’s god. Must reading. A theology that ignores - or worse yet, rejects suffering and downplays the need to repent from sin - is a poor, weak, pale imitation of the one, true gospel with the power to save. Jesus Himself certainly didn’t set a good example of the attractive, motivational gospel that Joel so strongly espouses (i.e., John 6:66: “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”).

Check out this movie that’s playing On Demand. If you’re curious, here’s the Wikipedia entry for this. So what’s “The Secret” that “has traveled through centuries to reach you”? This is simply a secular version of the Prosperity Gospel - you can have (no, you deserve) anything you desire. The ultimate infomercial for the narcissistic.

John Piper unloads a broadside on America’s Ugly Exported “Gospel”. This is probably the most powerful articulation I’ve ever heard from John Piper. Thank you John for speaking out against what far too many in the church silently let slither up out of the sewer.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum

I was going to blog a theological critique of Prosperity Theology but a picture is worth a thousand words.

You probably won’t find a more thorough and concise analysis of prosperity theology and its adherents than this one by theologian Ben Witherington III …