The prosperity gospel is back, or at least the excuses for it...

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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. - 2Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

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It's baaccckkk. Truth be told it never really goes away. It is always lurking there in the background of nearly every heresy offered by the apostate church today. It drives the false signs and lying wonders. It is one of the reasons why dominionists worship this country. The love of it remains the root of all kinds of evil. It is of course money. It is greed. It is the selfish dreams of avarice that in the church is often referred to as the prosperity gospel. It is biblically indefensible but every now and again someone decides they want to play dress up and pretend they have figured out the secrets about how you can love both God and money, despite what the bible says. The above linked article is from the latest to attempt to biblicize the pursuit of wealth written by Pastor Jim Baker. No, not that one. This Jim Baker holds court in Ohio and just some cursory research of his church's website gives you reason to pause and realize how bad his theology must be. He promises five things if you attend his church. Does this list include a deeper understanding of the word of God? Does it include a more reverent reliance upon the Holy Ghost? No. Among the five are the promises that you will become best friends with Jesus, naturally supernatural, and debt-free and outrageously generous. This makes even more sense when you see that among his favorite authors are the wild-eyed Bethel heretics, Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton. That is where he gets his silly notions of biblical greed and being naturally supernatural. That is pure Bethel teaching. The bottom line is that Jesus is not going to be your best bud. He is not your wing man. He is your Lord and Savior or He is nothing to you. Nonetheless, let us reason through this latest attempt to put lipstick on the pig that is the prosperity gospel.

"What are the two most hotly debated charismatic doctrines in the past 30 years? I'd say those regarding God's provision for healing and finances. He used these controversial doctrines to teach me a key truth: The gospel of the kingdom includes prosperity. Prosperity is not the whole gospelbut the gospel is incomplete without it. If the enemy can keep you sick and poor, he will severely limit your destiny. I can hear people now: "I can't stand that 'health and wealth gospel.'" But I've got some good news for you: Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead for the "sickness and poverty gospel." The same Jesus who, for six hours on the cross: bore our sickness (Isa. 53:5), became cursed (Gal. 3:13), became sin (2 Cor. 5:21), also became poorso that you might be rich: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor so that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9)." - Jim Baker

As is often the case with folks trying to defend this they deal in absurd either-or scenarios. According to Baker you either believe in the health and wealth gospel or you believe in the sickness and poverty gospel. As if there is nothing in between these two extreme positions. As if you can't believe in God's ability to heal without robbing Him of His sovereignty. The other early "tell" here is the tying of one's destiny to money. That God can only use us if He gives us the cash first. Yet the Apostles had no money, and they turned the world upside down with the gospel.

'"Well Jim, this means that we would be rich in spiritual blessings, not money," you may say.

I disagree. Second Corinthians 8-9 focus on finances and giving. The Greek word translated "rich" in these verses speaks about material wealth in other places in the New Testament (see 2 Cor. 9:11). Paul's use of the term "the grace of our Lord Jesus" means Christ paid for your provision at the cross. Does anyone else consider this good news? I understand that there has been bad teaching on finances and prosperity in the past. But there has also been bad teaching on heaven, and I still plan on going there. Fear of error is not a reason to ignore the truth.

Examine what 2 Corinthians 9:8 says about finances: "And God is able to make a little bit of grace squirt out to you if you are good enough." No, that's not what it says. Instead, it says: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (my emphasis). If that verse isn't true, John 3:16 isn't either.' - Jim Baker

How pathetically sad. The promises of this verse are so far above the paltry baubles of this earth. Gill's Commentary refers to these riches as "spirituals" instead of mere "temporals." That the sacrifice of Christ has made us kings and priests unto God through His obedience, sufferings and death in His lowly estate. To read this verse in context and come away with such a pitiful reading of this being focused on "finances and giving" reveals the true nature of one's salvation I am afraid. The provision paid for on the cross deals with our sin nature that had consigned us to an eternity apart from our creator until He sent His only begotten Son. Talk about missing the boat! Jim Baker missed by a mile, crashed into the waves of his own greed and started swimming gleefully to the bottom.

"From Provision to Prosperity. Here's my definition of prosperity: You have more than enough resources to fulfill every divine assignment God has for you and enough left to help others fulfill theirs. Prosperity doesn't mean every Christian is going to be a zillionaire. It does mean we should have finances proportionate to our assignments from the Lord and more than enough to be a blessing to others. That means the finances of the farmer in Uganda will look different than those of the person called to reach the Hollywood elite. If you are Joseph in prison, abundance isn't the palace on a hill or the finest chariot. The abundance of emotional health and well-being along with favor got him appointed as the head of all the other prisoners. The same would be true for persecuted believers today. God gives us an abundance to bring kingdom influence to our realm of responsibility. If you think of yourself as a hose through which God's blessings can flow, it makes sense that the inside of a hose would get wet. If God can get money through you, He can get money to youand there will be plenty left over for you. When you place the priority of your finances on God and other people rather than yourself, God will take better care of you on "accident" than you ever could take care of yourself on purpose." - Jim Baker

Baker has been taught so poorly. All of his theological assumptions are simply wrong. The under-argument for every prosperity preacher is this nebulous "divine assignment" theology that apparently requires some cash in order to achieve. When you read the bible however you do not find this teaching of divine assignment tied to a monetary provision. Paul insisted on plying his trade as a tentmaker while spreading the gospel to the world. Note here also that Baker allows the carnal wealth divisions of man to dictate biblical assignment and provision. So if you are a poor farmer in Uganda its not that your poor. It's just that you need to look at wealth differently. I mean c'mon, it's not like you are part of the Hollywood elite! The rest here is simply the old tithing lies repackaged. God can't bless you if you don't first give all of your money away! There will be plenty left over for you! Ugh.

"And remember, His name is El Shaddai, not El Cheapo. God doesn't mind meeting your needs in style; He just doesn't want you chasing after things and giving your heart over to them." - Jim Baker

I separated out this snippet because it was so stark a reminder that people like Jim Baker should be dismissed at face value. God is not El Cheapo? Seriously? God does not mind meeting your needs in style? Tell that to the martyred brothers and sisters in the Middle East or the underground persecuted church in China. If they have a photocopy of a bible chapter they can share they consider themselves rich beyond measure. The notion that unless God is lavishing upon you in style He must be El Cheapo, is staggeringly offensive. Baker than tells secondhand stories of deliverance in the field for missionaries. How their needs were always met. No one doubts these stories as believers but they speak to God's provision, not carnal prosperity. Individual Christians may indeed be gloriously prosperous but the truth is most could not handle it and continue to serve God. Just read your bible! God warns of it over and over again! It is why the rich young man was told to sell all he had before following Jesus. We cannot serve two masters.

"In 2008, my wife and I began leading a church in Powell, Ohio. We went on an all-out ballistic assault, going after divine healing. As a result, we saw some amazing breakthroughs in the area of physical healing: deaf ears healed, blind eyes opened, metal dissolved out of bodies, cancers healed, people getting out of wheelchairs, scars from girls cutting themselves disappearing during worship, HIV and Hepatitis C healed as well as many other healingsincluding several people being raised from the dead. These miracles didn't happen in Africa. They happened in Ohio." - Jim Baker

I hate to be Johnny Raincloud here, but I am not buying this mess. Now hear me out. God can heal. God still heals today. God can choose to do all of the things Baker lists here. Would this great outpouring happen in a church led by a man who so clearly does not follow God? Probably not. If all of these things actually happened than I am sure that Pastor Baker has some proof to offer the dying world. No? Baker is claiming dead people raised, just like his favorite church loves to do, in Bethel Church. They have an entire "dead raising team" that claims 15 resurrections to their credit without one shred of proof. Yet when two-year old Olive Heiligenthal died the entire Bethel church rallied around her for her resurrection, which never came to pass.

"In 2011, the Lord told me to go after breakthrough in finances the way we went after physical healing. I read about 100 books on finances, listened to hours and hours of teaching, studied and meditated on Scriptures and preached an 18-part sermon series on finances. I didn't talk about giving until week 13 because if you don't have the heart conditions right, people try to use their giving as if they were rubbing a genie's bottle." - Jim Baker

Yeah, no. God told you no such thing. The notion that God would want you to take an 18 week break from preaching the gospel to preach on finances is asinine. You waited until week 13 to fleece your flock? What do you want, a cookie? The reason why people look at giving as what can I get in return is because people like you taught them so. Teaching finances in church always results in a quid pro quo. Sure, you try to over-spiritualize by calling the payoff "blessings" but we all know what you mean. So, you create a church filled with blessing chasers who know all of the trite sayings like you can't out give God!

What happened as a result? Heaven invaded our finances. About 25% of our people got completely out of debt within 12 months. Our church was given a five-bedroom house, which we used to house survivors of sex trafficking, and a 40,000-square-foot building on 32 acres. We also gave away an amount totaling more than seven figures over several years. We've helped buy a building for rehabilitating trafficking survivors and a 42-bed building to serve as a new "family" model for boys in foster care. This isn't about "sow a Toyota to reap a Ferrari" or other prosperity gimmicks. This isn't about using your faith to get nicer things. It's about prosperity with a purpose. It's about what I like to call "apostolic abundance." What is our apostolic commission? "On earth as it is in heaven." It's about using our finances to shape the culture over cities and transform nations. - Jim Baker

More anecdotal stories without proof. Baker says it is not about sowing a Toyota to reap a Ferrari but it actually is. In exchange for preaching 18 times about finances you reaped a five-bedroom house! You bought another building for rehabbing sex traffickers. Another noble cause for your money but why are you telling us this? Doesn't Matthew 6 command you to not publicize your good deeds? This entire article is a gimmick to get the sheep to give their money. Prosperity with a purpose, please. Mind you that this notion of transforming nations is the heart of NAR theology. On earth as it is in heaven is the slogan of Bethel Church. It is not our job or calling to shape culture in a fallen society. It is to present to the fallen culture the one thing that can save them - the gospel!

"We see this in the Parable of the Minas, where the master told the servant who invested his 10 minas and earned 10 more, "Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities" (Luke 19:17, NIV). When the servant proved himself faithful with finances, God gave him the anointing to influence and shape the culture over cities. "When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices" (Prov. 11:10a). God releases the atmosphere of heaven into a city when His people thrive. More money equals more impact. The Jews have always understood that this is the purpose of wealth: "[You shall] remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to create wealth" (Deut. 8:18a). For what purpose? "That He may confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers" (v. 18b)." - Jim Baker

When your greedy heart is solely focused on money you can see anything you want to see in the bible. Prosperity pimps love saying that Jesus taught more about money than any other subject, which is absurd. The parable Jesus told often used imagery to get the point across without distraction. This parable is not about money not even close. Jesus uses money because He knew people could more easily relate to that. This story takes place on Jesus' final trip to Jerusalem when the people were still clamoring for Him to restore the kingdom of Israel out from under Roman oppression. This was another reminder that Jesus was not there for that but something much more powerful. Jesus came to deliver them from their sins and the oppression of Satan. The minas in this parable relates to what God has commissioned us with - the gospel! Its value so far exceeds ten minas, which was the equivalent to three months wages. The value of the gospel however, is eternal. What shall we do with what God has entrusted with us? That question is about Christ and His gospel, not some paltry amount of money.

"There were some clear errors in the popular "health and wealth" or "prosperity gospel" teachings of the '80s and '90s. We are still feeling the effects of these errors through two ideas:

1) Poverty is a spiritual value, and going without is a good thing. It keeps you humble. It is spiritual to live in poverty and lack.

2) Spirituality is measured by the size of your house, how much money you make or what you own. This is just as perverted as the first idea. Someone's material possessions are not a sign of God's blessingexcept when they are." - Jim Baker

The ensuing two pages of this article deals with concepts surrounding these two teachings. The first one however is not a popular teaching at all. It is a strawman argument designed to allow Baker avoid the truths that are contained therein. No one is saying poverty is a spiritual value but there is no mistaking that the poorest areas of the world often have the greatest faith. Why? Corrie Ten Boom once quipped that you cannot learn Christ is all you need until He is all you have. Under this first argument however, Baker tries to get away with some whoppers:

"God calls each of us to be stewards of the money He provides. To be a steward, you must have something to steward. In the kingdom, everything we steward multiples and increases.

If money is bad for us, why doesn't Satan just pour money on Christians? The more money, the quicker we would backslide.

If money is so bad, why did Satan take it away from Job? Why at the end of the book did God reward Job with a double portion?" - Jim Baker

God provides us with so much more than money. We are to be stewards of the gifts He has apportioned to us and the gospel message He has entrusted in us. The church focus on monetary stewardship is lazy faith. It promotes the notion that as long as you give your church 10% you can look the other way on far mor weightier matters; just as the Pharisees used to do. As for Satan pouring money on us, who is to say that he doesn't? That promotion at work that required Sunday work and took you away from church and eventually your faith came from where? Truth be told it sounds like Jim Baker falls into the same Charismaniacal trap that so many others do in assuming that God and the devil are just spending their whole days worrying about you. The Book of Job is not a prescriptive text. The sad truth is the devil hardly needs to pour money over us to get us to "backslide." As for trying to use Job's account the answer to why God restored him with twice as much is because He is God. He is sovereign. This of course has nothing to do with money being good, evil or indifferent. Under Baker's second argument, he also tried to get away with a few silly points:

'There are times when Scripture directly ties a person's material blessings to their relationship with God. Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, SolomonGod was the direct cause of their blessing.

How much money is too much money? Whatever amount replaces trust in God. Some people get $100 in their pocket and forget there is a God in heaven. For others, $100 million wouldn't even move their heart because they are so anchored in His invisible realm. Loving God doesn't mean you have to be broke, and having money doesn't necessarily mean you are godly (just ask the Mafia).

Money is to the natural realm what the anointing is to the spiritual realmit is a way to make things happen. In the kingdom, money is a tool. Nobody brags about their shovel collection, because we recognize a shovel is just a tool to accomplish a task. We need to see money the same way. It is a tool by which we turn those dollars into soldiers to accomplish kingdom purposes.

One of the first and biggest problems people have with teaching on prosperity comes from the belief that prosperity is selfish. But biblical prosperity is not selfish because it's not all about you. Real prosperity is defined by how much we give away, not how much we keep for ourselves. Prosperity is about blessing, not possessing.

Can we flip this thing on its head? It is actually selfish for you not to desire prosperity. When God only provides for your needs, the world lacks the revelation of an abundant Father.

David gave us a prayer to straighten out our thinking: "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations" (Ps. 67:1-2, ESV). This sounds like revival to me.

People lack a knowledge of the goodness of God. Our attitude needs to be, "God, put Your hand of blessing on my life so they will know what You are like!"' - Jim Baker

Yes Jim, Abraham, David, and the like were directly blessed with wealth from God. Here is your sad news and deep theology for today. You are not Abraham, David or Solomon. Their stories are not your story. I seriously doubt there is anyone that could win 100 million dollars and remain unchanged by it. Money is akin to the anointing? Wow. How cheap is your anointing? Real prosperity is what we give away? C'mon. Then why hold onto anything? Just look at how deranged this theology is. According to Jim Baker the world needs a revelation of an abundant Father. Not a merciful Father! Not a Father who will forgive their sins! Not a Father who will sacrifice His only Son for them to once more be redeemed to Him! The abundance of Almighty God so surpasses mere money. Psalm 67 makes no mention of money and the last comment reveals Jim Baker's true nature. If the Jim Baker is not financially blessed than no one will know what God is like by looking at his life. Once again, how sad. When Paul speaks about spiritual contentment it is when he has plenty or is completely lacking. I think people would be far more impressed seeing God in you when you have nothing then when you are rich to overflowing. Now Baker goes into a litany of little quips he thinks helps his point. They do not.

"I don't know, Jim. This sounds like a 'bless me' club." Well, Jesus didn't die for a "curse me" club! What is the problem with a "bless me" club? The more Christians get, the more they give away." - Jim Baker

This man is a pastor? What is wrong with a bless me club? For starters the more Christians have does not always translate into the more they give away. More importantly the bless me theology has failed miserably in the church today. Why? Because it focuses on this world instead of the kingdom of God. It focuses on the blessings instead of the source.

'"Jim, I just want enough to provide for my family." That is like the spirit of ignorance marrying the spirit of poverty and the two having a childand is also extremely selfish. Saying this is akin to saying, "I have all of my needs met. Who gives a rip about anyone else?" These words and actions keep believers from presenting to the world a true picture of our heavenly Father.' - Jim Baker

Talk about ignorant. So, the person that is not greedy and just wants to provide for their family is now transformed into the selfish person? He is actually trying to teach that we cannot possibly show God to the world without money. That is simply a disgusting belief for a Christian to hold.

"Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of England once said, "No one would have remembered the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well." You cannot be a big giver without having an abundance from which to give." - Jim Baker

This is why you should not base your theology on Margaret Thatcher. The Parable of the Good Samaritan does not reveal that this man was rich at all. He certainly weas generous. He paid a great deal for this man he did not know. Baker's assumptions here are not supported by scripture. Smell testing this notion make it fail anyway. If the man did not have the money to put him up while he healed does that change the fundamental message of the parable? Absolutely not! This story is one of the richest theologically and it is just so miserable that the only thing Jim Baker can see is that the Samaritan must have had a lot of money.

"It should be obvious that you cannot "Go into all the world" to disciple nations if you can't afford to go to the store. You can't fill someone else's cup if your pitcher is empty." - Jim Baker

Once again, the myopic "money is all that matters" mentality has caused Jim Baker to not be able to see all of God's provision. With technology today, one can reach the ends of the earth with a computer. The gospel is hardly limited the way that Baker would seek to limit it.

'"Jim, money can't buy happiness." Neither can poverty. Poverty can't buy anything. People who say money can't buy happiness simply haven't given enough of it away. I have watched it buy happiness over and over again.' - Jim Baker

Beloved, this is all you need to see really. The bible is crystal clear when it comes to money and evil yet here is a pastor claiming he always sees money buy happiness over and over again. He told a story about meeting someone who just lost someone close to them and Baker claims to have written a check on the spot and paid for the funeral. If true a wonderful story of how we can use money to reach people but it does not change one word in the bible. Also, do not fall for this comparison of extremes Baker loves to pull in these arguments. Just because someone correctly says that money cannot buy happiness that does not mean the comparison has to be poverty. That is a ruse by someone who knows he is losing the argument. Whenever I used to speak on this people would ask me if I thought God wanted us to be poor and I reflexively used to say - no! As I have matured my answer now is, "if that is the question that is in your heart the answer is yes." Beloved do not fall for these smokescreens. Jim Baker is not selling anything new here. He is selling the prosperity gospel and is pretty honest about that at least. At the end of the day however we have seen this over and over again. All he has at the end is a string of one liners tied together with some horrific bible interpretation. We might be able to let it slide for Margaret Thatcher. After all she was not a pastor. Jim Baker is and that thought should be frightening.

Reverend Anthony Wade - March 2, 2021

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.