Health and Wealth Movement

Concerns About the Prosperity Gospel from a Reformed Christian Perspective.

The Prosperity Gospel, sometimes called the "health and wealth gospel," has gained significant influence in Christian circles, particularly through televangelists and megachurch movements. Its core message is that God desires for His followers to experience material wealth, physical health, and success in all areas of life. Adherents are taught that faith, positive confession, and generous giving (often to the ministry promoting the message) will unlock these blessings.

While this message can be attractive, especially in an age of economic uncertainty and personal challenges, it raises significant concerns from a Reformed Christian perspective. Reformed theology, which emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, and the reality of suffering in the Christian life, stands in sharp contrast to the Prosperity Gospel’s promises of guaranteed health and wealth. Below are the primary concerns that Reformed Christians have with the Prosperity Gospel.

1. Misrepresentation of the Gospel

The most significant concern from a Reformed perspective is that the Prosperity Gospel distorts the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The biblical gospel centers on Christ's life, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the reconciliation of sinners to a holy God. It calls for repentance, faith in Christ, and a transformed life characterized by godliness and service, not material gain.

The Prosperity Gospel, however, shifts the focus from Christ’s redemptive work to personal prosperity and success. It often reduces the gospel to a means of receiving earthly blessings rather than addressing the core issue of humanity’s separation from God due to sin. Reformed theology emphasizes that the ultimate blessing of the gospel is eternal life with God, not temporary wealth or health in this fallen world. The Prosperity Gospel’s focus on material gain risks trivializing the immeasurable value of salvation and the cross.

2. Theological Errors on God’s Sovereignty and Suffering

The Prosperity Gospel teaches that if a person has enough faith and speaks positive declarations, they can control their circumstances, guaranteeing health and prosperity. This view undermines the Reformed understanding of God’s sovereignty—the belief that God is in control of all things, including both blessings and trials.

In contrast, Reformed theology teaches that God, in His wisdom, ordains both prosperity and suffering for His glory and our sanctification. Scriptures like Job’s story or Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7–10) show that faithful believers are not exempt from suffering. Instead, suffering is often used by God to draw believers closer to Him, develop their character, and deepen their dependence on His grace.

The Prosperity Gospel implies that poverty, illness, or failure are signs of a lack of faith, which creates a harmful theology. It leaves those who suffer feeling spiritually deficient or neglected by God, when in reality, Scripture teaches that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life (1 Peter 4:12–13). The Reformed tradition emphasizes trusting God’s sovereign will, even in hardship, recognizing that His ultimate plan is not about making us comfortable but about conforming us to the image of Christ.

3. **Undermining the Doctrine of Grace

One of the hallmarks of Reformed theology is the doctrine of sola gratia—that salvation and all of God’s blessings are by grace alone. Humans can do nothing to earn God's favor, and all that we receive from Him, including eternal life, is an unmerited gift. The Prosperity Gospel, however, subtly shifts this theology by teaching that faith and giving are transactional; if we have enough faith and sow enough financial "seed," we can expect God to respond with blessings.

This type of teaching is problematic because it implies that God's blessings are contingent on our actions, creating a "faith formula" for prosperity. Reformed Christians argue that this view diminishes the nature of God’s grace by turning His gifts into something that can be bought or earned. It also distorts the biblical understanding of faith, which is not a means of manipulating God for material gain but a trust in His promises, regardless of our circumstances (Hebrews 11).

4. Focus on Earthly Treasures over Eternal Glory

The Prosperity Gospel encourages believers to focus on earthly treasures—wealth, success, and personal advancement—as a sign of God’s favor. However, Jesus consistently taught His followers to lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19–20) and to seek first the Kingdom of God, rather than worldly wealth (Matthew 6:33). The Reformed tradition, grounded in the teachings of Scripture, emphasizes the futility of earthly wealth and the surpassing value of knowing Christ and gaining eternal life (Philippians 3:8).

Reformed theology points believers to the eternal hope found in Christ, reminding them that this world is not their home. Material blessings, while not inherently wrong, are not the ultimate goal of the Christian life. The Prosperity Gospel risks encouraging a mindset where faith is judged by the abundance of material possessions, which stands in stark contrast to biblical warnings about the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22; 1 Timothy 6:9–10).

5. False Assurance and Spiritual Harm

The Prosperity Gospel often provides false assurance by promising that those who have enough faith will always experience health, wealth, and success. This creates unrealistic expectations and can lead to deep spiritual disillusionment when life does not go as expected. When a believer faces sickness, financial hardship, or tragedy, they may feel abandoned by God or question the strength of their faith, believing they have failed.

Reformed theology, on the other hand, teaches that the Christian life is marked by both joy and suffering and that God’s presence is not measured by material circumstances. True assurance comes from resting in the finished work of Christ, not in the promise of temporal prosperity. Spiritual maturity, according to the Reformed view, involves learning to trust God’s goodness and sovereignty, even when His blessings are not material or immediate.

6. Materialism Masquerading as Faith

Finally, the Prosperity Gospel can foster a spirit of materialism rather than godliness. In promoting a message where faith is tied to financial success, it subtly aligns with the consumer-driven values of modern culture. This focus on accumulating wealth and achieving personal success risks distracting believers from their primary calling to love God and serve others.

Reformed Christianity, by contrast, emphasizes simplicity, stewardship, and generosity. It teaches that believers are called to use their resources for the glory of God and the good of others, not to accumulate wealth for personal gain. The Prosperity Gospel’s materialistic underpinnings can conflict with the biblical call to contentment and sacrificial living, which Reformed Christians see as essential marks of true discipleship (1 Timothy 6:6–8; Philippians 4:11–13).

Conclusion

From a Reformed Christian perspective, the Prosperity Gospel presents significant theological concerns that undermine key aspects of the gospel message. By shifting the focus away from Christ and His redemptive work to personal prosperity, it distorts the core truths of Scripture and misleads many into thinking that faith is primarily about achieving success in this life.

In contrast, Reformed theology calls believers to a life centered on Christ, marked by grace, humility, and trust in God's sovereign will. It affirms that true blessing is found not in material wealth or physical health, but in the eternal life that Christ offers through His death and resurrection. For Reformed Christians, the greatest riches lie not in worldly treasures, but in the glory of knowing God and being conformed to the image of Christ.

As the allure of the Prosperity Gospel continues to attract many, it is essential for the church to uphold the truth of the gospel and offer a clear, biblically grounded alternative that points to the sufficiency of Christ and the hope of eternal life.