This post is a bit of a rant; I apologize at the beginning.

I was sort of under the impression that the health and wealth gospel was waning in the U.S. Where have I been? It seems like here in Springfield the majority of religious broadcasting consists of one prosperity preacher after the other. I like to watch religious broadcasting every once and a while just to see what's on. My oldest son likes to watch with me; sometimes it's quite the hoot. I fear at times, however, that in watching things like this with my son that I am an accomplice in exposing him to what I think may be one of the darkest sides of Christianity. With all the crud on television you’d think that Christian television would be a safe place. Unfortunately, when I see the kind of skepticism that the message and the manner in which it is preached raises in my own son toward the faith of his upbringing, I am tempted to block the channels. For many of the preachers the message is entirely about getting money. For others it's about getting your healing. Riches and finding the fountain of youth, what an original message! For both, you must give money and the only funnel for that money is into the ministry of the preacher you are watching at that particular moment.

From a theological point of view it appears that these preachers have no concept of a fallen world. They have no theology of the ongoing problem of fallen humanity, and especially of God's judgment upon fallen creation. They certainly believe a fall happened, but they hold that in Christ all of its effects have been removed for those who have faith. Sickness and the oppressive acts of fallen people upon fellow humanity are no match for my superior faith. The message works in upwardly mobile societies where there are opportunities to better your situation. In war torn regions of the world where oppression, poverty and sickness abound, it’s not so popular. In reality, these preachers have made their wealth on the backs of their contributors, but they are no healthier than the next guy. On things they can change, like manipulating their listeners, they do quite well; on issues they have little control over, like the health the issues we all face, they fare no better than anyone else. I say this as a classical Pentecostal. I do believe God heals. Yet, even classical Pentecostals know that we still live in a fallen world; people will get sick and die, and God has not destined everyone to wealth via their superior faith.

It irks me at times that the words prosperity and success have been taken hostage. You have to avoid using the words in a teaching or preaching context lest you be misunderstood as buying into the health and wealth message. The fact is that I want my children to be prosperous; I want all of my students to be prosperous. Am I to hope for their failure? There is nothing wrong with wanting or being successful, or hoping and praying that others achieve it. I think God wants us to be successful! The only problem is that these preachers define success solely as money and health. If this is not true it's not because I haven't been attentive enough to the message, it's because this is the only definition they give in public. I hurt for those in desperate financial and health situations who are drawn into their trap. People who are on the verge of loosing a loved one will do anything to see them restored. When a person is about to loose their possessions due to financial hardship, it's easy to convince them that their situation is due to some faith deficiency. Truly, this is Christianity's dark side; it’s level of abuse rises to a height rarely seen.

Could it be possible that God measures success, health, and prosperity by different standards? If my children grow up to be God-serving productive individuals who care for people and the world they live in, I'll consider myself successful. If I die penniless and yet have made a difference in the small area of the world that God has called me to be faithful in, I'll consider myself a success.