By Prof Oyewole Sarumi
In an era where prosperity preaching dominates many pulpits, a dangerous distortion of the Gospel has taken root—one that equates faith with financial gain and divine favour with material wealth. Yet, Scripture presents a radically different message:
Jesus Christ did not die on the cross to make us rich but to save us from sin. So, where did these Prosperity preachers get the affront to teach what neither Jesus nor the apostles taught? The Apostle Paul, one of the greatest missionaries in Christian history, did not boast about his wealth or comfort but about his suffering for the sake of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:24-30).
Jesus Himself warned against pursuing earthly riches at the expense of eternal life: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
The true Gospel is not about financial prosperity but about redemption, sacrifice, and eternal life. This article is to further amplify what Fr. Chinaka “Open Rebuttal……..𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧” shared recently in the Church Times
Here, I will explore: The True Purpose of Christ’s Death
The Danger of the Prosperity Gospel Biblical Examples of Suffering for the Faith The Call to Deny Ourselves and Follow Christ Eternal Riches vs. Temporary Wealth
The True Purpose of Christ’s Death
The central message of Christianity is not wealth accumulation but salvation from sin. The Bible declares: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
Jesus came to reconcile humanity to God, not to guarantee financial success. His mission was spiritual, not material: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10).
If Jesus’ primary goal were to make His followers wealthy, why did He warn the rich young ruler to sell all he had (Matthew 19:21)? Why did He say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20)? Why did He rebuke the crowds who followed Him only for food (John 6:26)?
The cross was not a pathway to prosperity but a sacrifice for sin. “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). His resurrection guarantees eternal life, not earthly riches. So, any pastor that preaches what is contrary to the scripture is not speaking for Christ.
The Danger of the Prosperity Gospel
The “prosperity gospel”—the belief that faith guarantees health and wealth—is a dangerous distortion of Scripture. It reduces God to a cosmic vending machine, where faith is measured by material gain. Yet, the Bible warns: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Jesus never promised His followers an easy life. Instead, He warned of persecution (John 15:20), hardship (Acts 14:22), and self-denial (Luke 9:23). The early church did not preach financial success but rejoiced in suffering for Christ (Acts 5:41). Even these Judaic prosperity preachers that are very quick to pick Elijah for power demonstration, wont picked him for their prosperity messages, rather, they will opt for Father Abraham, Bro Solo, and the likes. Cherry picking is the hallmark these New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) preachers whose aim is to deceive many who have itching ears to hear what will not profit their soul here or in eternity.
Modern research also exposes the flaws of prosperity theology:
- A Pew Research study found that prosperity teachings often exploit the poor, promising financial breakthroughs in exchange for donations.
- Dr. Kate Bowler, a historian at Duke University, documents how prosperity preaching fosters false hope, leaving many disillusioned when “miraculous wealth” fails to materialize.
True Christianity is not about what we can get from God but about surrendering to His will—even if it means suffering.
Biblical Examples of Suffering for the Faith
The Bible is filled with faithful servants who suffered rather than prospered:
- Paul endured beatings, imprisonment, and poverty (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).
- Peter and the apostles rejoiced after being flogged for preaching Christ (Acts 5:41).
- Job lost everything yet declared, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Even Jesus, though He owned all things, lived in humility: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).
If the Gospel were about wealth, why did its greatest preachers live in hardship?
The Call to Deny Ourselves and Follow Christ
Jesus’ call to discipleship is clear: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).
This is not a promise of luxury but a call to sacrifice. The early Christians did not chase wealth; they shared everything (Acts 2:44-45), faced persecution (Hebrews 10:34), and prioritized eternal rewards over temporary comfort.
The modern church must return to this radical discipleship—where faith is measured not by bank accounts but by obedience to Christ.
Eternal Riches vs. Temporary Wealth
Earthly wealth fades (Proverbs 23:5), but eternal life is imperishable. Paul wrote: “We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” (1 Timothy 6:7).
True riches are found in Christ: forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life. As Jesus said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Conclusion
Jesus did not die to make us rich but to save us from sin. The prosperity gospel is a dangerous deviation from biblical truth, replacing the cross with materialism. True Christianity is about surrender, sacrifice, and eternal hope—not earthly gain.
Let us return to the authentic Gospel: one that calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ—no matter the cost. For in the end, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
The greatest wealth is not in our wallets but in our salvation.
