Piper and the Prosperity Gospel

I came across this response to the prosperity gospel by John Piper. There's no escaping the anger in his voice as he talks about the lies that have come from America (the West) that are being planted into the hearts and minds of people in developing states.

As far as I'm concerned, the prosperity gospel doesn't even fall on the mission spectrum. It is way beyond anything that the bible teaches about the blessings that will come when you become a follower of Christ. I get Piper's anger and vehemence, because the prosperity gospel increases people's pain and poverty, and turns them away from the gospel instead of the converse.

Last time I was in Uganda, I overheard a sharply dressed man preaching to a group of women who were unable to have children and telling them that 'if they increased their faith, they would be blessed with a baby', 'if they prayed more, they would be blessed with a baby' etc. And at the end of the meeting, when he drove off in his shiny car, I am sure that his well lined pockets gave him the assurance that the health and wealth gospel really does work.

The sad thing about it, is that even though we know that it doesn't, it looks like it works. When you see these huge churches and well dressed leaders with nice cars and you have absolutely nothing, you can understand why people fall for it so easily. However, the money behind these things isn't the result of abundant blessings from God, but comes from overseas, namely America. People who have barely anything to begin with, are being exploited because they are vulnerable, they are desperate to be released from their poverty and so, of course, they will believe someone who tells them that they used to be poor, but now they rich - and the evidence is tangible.

What can we do to combat this destructive teaching as we sit in the comfort of our homes? The first thing, is to pray that God would silence the mouths of the these false teachers and open the minds of the hearers to be able to discern what God really says about blessings and hardships. We also need to get behind those who are involved in training ministers who will have to preach against these sorts of false teachings. My college (Oak Hill), supports a theological college near Kampala called Uganda Martyrs Seminary which trains men and women in this way. Having been there twice, you see how tempting it must be for these ministers to get be lured away from sound doctrine, because they too are poorly paid.

So let's pray for these people and try to support places that teach sound doctrine and not a gospel that is baseless and false.