Another piece claiming prosperity is sound doctrine, to bless others of course, nod nod wink wink...

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

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It has taken me a couple of months to get around to this devotional regarding the above linked article defending the tenets of the prosperity gospel. It was written by Jim Baker, no not that one, who claims this as one of his areas of theological concentration along with bad teaching about healing. His arguments are not new. The bless me club always argues that they only desire money to help other people! I swear, wink wink. I remember when someone was defending Creflo Dollar because he gave away thousands of dollars in school backpacks in the Bronx one year. So, the guy who fleeced the flock for 30 million gave back five grand and we think that math adds up? It does not. Neither does a faux theology of wanting to help other people if only God would make me rich. Let us reason once more together.

"What if anytime there was a need that came across your path, and your heart was moved to meet that need, you had a stream of income to meet it? According to 2 Corinthians 9:8 (chapters 8 and 9 are two whole chapters talking about finances and giving), "God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you would abound in every good work." That is a lot of alls. I just want you to know that anytime something is called "grace" it means it's paid for on the cross. If 2 Corinthians 9:8 isn't true, then John 3:16 is not true." - Jim Baker

Only the depraved heart can change verses designed to make people be more giving of their money into verses designed to want more money. Notice his caveat is if your heart is moved to meet the need! So basically, the idea is we ask God to make us wealthy and then we decide how much of that wealth will be spent on what we deem worthy? With the heart being the most deceitfully wicked thing ever created? Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Someone once asked me why God did not let them win the lottery and my answer was because He knows what would happen. So 2Corinthians 9:8 is certainly true, but it does not lend itself to greedy prayers of avarice laced dreams, oh to help people of course.

"Prosperity is not selfish because it's not all about you. Prosperity is primarily defined by how much you give away, not how much you keep for yourself. Prosperity is about blessing not possessing. Could we just flip this thing on its head? Actually, it's selfish for you not to desire prosperity. When God only provides for your needs, the world will lack a revelation of an abundant Father. People are never going to know what Dad's like." - Jim Baker

If you feel compelled to defend why something you are advocating for is not selfish, chances are it's selfish. You can create all the catchy catch phrases you want Jim. No one defines prosperity this way and you know it. Note the absolute wickedness here. The world does not need a revelation of God as abundant in riches but rather in grace and mercy. They need a revelation of the Savior, not a savings bank. How does a God who provides for our needs not show the world and abundant, loving, provisional Father? People are never going to know what Dad is like unless I am rich? First of all stop humanizing the almighty God. Second, our lives should reflect God, not our 401K. This view is so carnal and worldly.

"No one needs to feel bad folks, but we need to break off this religious ceiling, these religious blinders that keep us from seeing the goodness of God. In Psalm 67:1-2, David gives us a verse that straightens this whole thing out. This is actually a prayer: "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." Guys that sounds like revival to me." - Jim Baker

The wickedness continues. So, if you do not choose to focus on God making you rich, then you must have religious blinders on. How insultingly absurd. How does this theology play in third world countries Jim? Oh, that's right, it can't. The Psalm verses have absolutely nothing to do with money. Even the part about God blessing us so that the ways of God are known in the earth. The key verse is from the Beatitudes and Jesus is explaining that we must let our light shine before the world so they may see our good works and give glory to God. It's a shame that when you are so carnal you can only see this in monetary terms. It is not our wallet that is a shining city on a hill. The saving power is the good news of the gospel!

"People lack a revelation of the goodness of God. What if this really became our prayer? What if, like David, we prayed, "God put Your hand of blessing on me so people will see what You're really like?" It's basically saying, "God they won't know what You're really like unless they see Your blessing and Your favor upon me. - Jim Baker

David is not saying that. Jim Baker is. How offensive is it to say that people won't know what God is like unless I am wealthy? Why is blessing and favor only represented here by material goodies? God has blessed me beyond belief for Calvary. Anything after that is gravy. People should know that God has first blessed us by saving us from this sin sick world. They should know we are blessed by our peace. They should know we are blessed because we are not like the world instead of pursuing the material baubles it has to offer. In fact, if all the world sees to know you are "blessed" is money, then they will not want your Jesus for His salvation, power over death and sin, peace and calm in the storm or love grace and mercy. They will only want Him for the money. No one gets saved that way.

"I believe one of the most underrated tools for ministering to this lost world is living a blessed life. Not just material, but in our families and in our souls. And it also includes this material part. Listen guys, in Romans 11, God provoked the Jews to jealousy through the blessing of the Gentiles. Let me just say that broke Christians are not going to provoke the world into jealousy. Blessings are not just financial, but financial wealth is part of it." - Jim Baker

This is typical cover for prosperity pimps. They clearly talk about prosperity in financial terms but then throw some lip service to say, well not just money. Right Jim. Romans 11 is about the gentiles being grafted in because of the disobedience of Israel. It literally has NOTHING to do with money, finances, or prosperity. So, God came for His people, they rejected Him so He offered His salvation to the world. THAT provoked His people to be jealous. Not money. What a butchering of some pretty important theological verses. Now, Jim Baker has made it clear that money makes him jealous but this notion that poor Christians cannot provoke the world into jealousy is an abomination. Realize that provoking to jealousy here means that the world will see us and want to come to Jesus. So, if we do not have money, we cannot represent Christ? This issue is not that money is financial, of course it is, and it could be a blessing. The problem is that Jim Baker is teaching that you cannot be blessed without it. That means most of the Christian world is incapable of provoking an interest in God. That is again insulting and absurd. This is just brutal.

"You might be saying, "I don't know Jim, this just sounds to me like a bless-me-club." Well, Jesus didn't die for a curse-me-club. Truthfully, what is the problem with a bless-me-club anyway? As Christians, when we're blessed do we not become a bigger blessing?" - Jim Baker

Baker is very adept at these cute little sayings designed to throw people off how horrific his teaching is. The underlying problem this entire time has been that Jim Baker has directly correlated the concept of material wealth to blessings. The reality is most people who get more money spend more money. Sure, they may buy some backpacks for needy kids but that does not compare to what they buy themselves. That is why God warned us about the love of money being the root of all kinds of evil. What Baker is proposing is a bless me club and he does so proudly. Never forget that if your theology cannot work in other countries than it is false by definition.

'"Well Jim, I just want enough to provide for me and my family." Wow, now that is selfish. That's the spirit of poverty and the spirit of stupid getting married and having a child together.

Let me translate that for you: my needs are met. Who gives a rip about the rest of the world?

This kind of thinking, conscious or not, is what cripples us as believers to represent what Dad is really like.' - Jim Baker

There is no "spirit of poverty." That is a made-up NAR teaching to blame poor people for being poor. The other vile practice here is the creation of strawman arguments that no one is making. I have never heard anyone say I just want enough for me and my family. That is patently stupid to even suggest that this would be a Christian position for anyone. Let's however speculate that a Christian family has been provided for to meet their needs without a lot of extra to be able to "bless" others. How are they crippled to being unable to represent what God is really like? Why is it that only money allows us to show what God is really like? How does the underground believer in China manage to do so then? How about the indigent Christian in the Middle East? If you think you can only bless people or represent God with money? That is what really could cripple you.

"Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of England said this, "No one would have remembered the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well."Here's a revelation"you cannot be a big giver if you don't have a big abundance." - Jim Baker

Thankfully, we do not get our theology from carnal world leaders. The point of the Good Samaritan was not designed to teach finances. First of all, it is a parable. That means it did not actually happen. It is not a historical narrative. The point of the Parable of the Good Samaritan was to expose religious hypocrisy. The Samaritan was chosen as the hero because they were reviled by the audience, the Jewish people. So, it challenged their closely held biases and hatred while also exposing those religious folks who would use their religion to avoid helping people. The story includes having him pay to help the injured man to emphasize the actual points of the parable! The arrogance however of asserting that if Jesus had decided to tell this parable without the money portion that "no one would remember" is borderline blasphemous. Here is an actual revelation - if you think you cannot be a big giver without wads of cash, you are not actually about the giving. Chances are, you're all about the cash.

"Prosperity is about having more than enough not just for yourself but for other people.

"Well, Jim, money can't buy happiness." I would argue that poverty can't buy anything. People who say money can't buy happiness just simply haven't given enough of it away. I hope this challenges you. We need to be shaken out of our poor theology. There is a world that is watching and needing to see the goodness of God. Can you think of a time when your giving purchased someone else's happiness? Let's keep this ball rolling. Let our giving be contagious so that we may reflect the heart of our generous Dad." - Jim Baker

Shaken out of our poor theology? That is hysterical. Jim Baker is not representing God or His word. He is representing the false theology of money, money, money. While money cannot buy happiness that is not a biblical proverb either. Baker closes on an old, tired argument from the prosperity pimps. They set up a polar opposite dichotomy and argue that you have to pick one or the other. It's either mega-cash or poverty. As if God cannot be our provider without us becoming filthy rich. If you want to reflect the heart of the Father, then be generous with your time. Be generous with your mercy. Be generous with your grace. Sure, we should be generous with everything, including finances but that does not have to be our focus. Give as we have been given to. If God blesses us with a million dollars or enough to get by, we remain blessed. Stop making poor people feel bad or infer blame upon them. Do not follow or listen to prosperity pimps like Jim Baker. This entire article was a ruse to pursue greed. Do not fall for it. Mark and avoid.

Reverend Anthony Wade - September 29, 2023

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.