IS PROSPERITY GOSPEL BIBLICAL IN ORIGIN OR MAN MADE?

THE ORIGIN OF THE SO CALLED PROSPERITY GOSPEL:Is this doctrine biblical or man-made? This strange type of Christianity that is based on money and materialism started in the 1940s through a small religious sect that was known then as the "Faith and Healing Movement" in the southern United States or the Bible-Belt region of America. It was pioneered by the late Oral Roberts and Kenneth Hagin Sr respectively. The core teaching of the prosperity gospel is simply that "God wants all Christians to be very rich in this life, stay healthy and the key is giving your tithes and offerings".

THE SPREAD OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL IN AMERICA:The two pioneers of this prosperity gospel Oral Roberts and Kenneth Hagin Sr then recruited a large army of young followers into this "Faith Movement" such as, Kenneth Copeland, Frederick K.C. Price, Jesse Duplantis, Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, T.D. Jakes, Eddie Long and Creflo Dollar. These new recruits helped greatly in the spreading of this message to the entire United States in particular and the whole world in general.

HOW DID PROSPERITY GOSPEL ENTER INTO AFRICA? Christianity was introduced to Africa by the European Missionary Churches in the 18th century. That Christianity lacked the prosperity gospel element. In the 1960s, many African nations got their independence from the European colonial powers. The American prosperity teachers then flooded these new nations with this new form of Christianity (prosperity gospel).
 These American money teachers came to the new nations of Africa and organized crusades and seminars where they introduced African Churches and their leaders to this new form of Christianity known as the "Prosperity Gospel". They also flooded Africa with their books, magazines, pamphlets and radio programs all promoting prosperity gospel.

HOW DID PROSPERITY GOSPEL ENTER INTO NIGERIA? Prosperity gospel entered into Nigeria through two main channels. (i) From the many visiting American prosperity teachers and through their books, magazines, pamphlets and radio programs. (ii) The Late Nigerian Bishop Benson Idahosa spread this prosperity gospel through his army of young recruits, crusades and his first ever Christian TV program in Nigeria.  In 1971, Benson Idahosa attended the prosperity based Bible school, Christ for the Nations Institute Dallas, Texas. Upon his return to Nigeria, he established the PFN, the first Christian TV ministry and recruited an army of young followers (Ayo Oritsejafor, David Oyedepo, Felix Omobude, Fred Addo and Chris Oyakhilome) to spread this doctrine all over Nigeria.

‎THE SPREAD OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL IN NIGERIA:The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria became the breeding ground that helped to accelerate this strange doctrine about Christianity based on money, greed, lust, deception and materialism all over Nigeria to date. This gospel targets the poor, the weak, the hopeless, the helpless and the most desperate members of the Nigerian society.

THE MIXED RESULTS OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL IN NIGERIA:Prosperity gospel has produced two distinct mixed results in Nigeria since its introduction in the 1960s to the Nigerian Christian community. (i) The primary beneficiaries from this prosperity gospel are the prosperity teachers who are super-rich. (ii) Tens of millions of their followers and givers that live in abject poverty and lacking the basic needs of life.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV Translation).
He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that g...ives to the rich, shall surely come to want - Proverbs 22:16.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ - 2 Corinthians 11:13.

  

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself . But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out . And having food and raiment let us be therewith content . But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after , they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows - 2 Timothy 6:5-10.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV Translation).