Scandal of the get rich quick formulae

A scandal has been going on within the Christian faith. One preacher was quoted as having said, "If I give $1,000 dollars I deserve to get back $100,000 because I am just, that's not greed!" This effectively obligates God to honour his side of the bargain because it is God who promised to pay back one hundred fold all that we give to him.

According to the Gospel written by Saint Luke in chapter 6 when you give to God’s work, that which you give will be measured back to you a hundred times after being pressed down and shaken together because God measures back to you using the same measure you use in giving him. This is a sure and trusted formula of becoming rich according to prominent teachers who have tried the formula as evidenced by empirical evidence at their disposal.

It is very interesting to note that leaders of the Pentecostal Movement in the early 20th century did not embrace prosperity theology. A distinguishable form of the doctrine began to take shape within the movement during the 1940s and 1950s, through the teachings of deliverance and healing evangelists. Linking prosperity teaching with revivalism and faith healing, these evangelists taught "the laws of faith ('ask and ye shall receive') and the laws of divine reciprocity ('give and it will be given back unto you')"

One prominent early character in prosperity theology was E. W. Kenyon, educated in the 1890s at Emerson College of Oratory, where he was exposed to the New Thought movement. He also was greatly influenced by teachings and beliefs of Christian Science. Kenyon later became connected with well-known Pentecostal leaders and wrote about supernatural revelation and positive assertions. His writing influenced leaders of the emerging prosperity movement during the post-war American healing revival. Kenyon and later leaders in the prosperity movement have denied that he was influenced by the New Thought movement or Christian Science. Anthropologist Simon Coleman argues that there are "obvious parallels" between Kenyon's teachings and the New Thought movement

Could there be no danger or chance that laws of the prosperity theology could have not originated from scripture but from cultic sources? Is there no chance that scriptures are being twisted and forced to conform to cultic teachings. Could this be the reason why scripture such as Luke 16:25; 18:25; Matthew 19:23-24 and Mark 10:23-27 are rarely taught or are never taught at all in Prosperity theology. This truly is a captivating subject.

Oral Roberts began teaching prosperity theology in 1947. He explained the laws of faith as a "blessing pact" in which God would return donations "seven fold", promising that donors would receive back from unanticipated sources the money they donated to him. He promised to refund any donation that did not lead to a harvest. In the 1970s, He categorised his blessing pact teaching as the "seed faith" doctrine: offerings were a form of "seed" which would grow in value and be reaped by the donor. Roberts began enlisting "partners", wealthy donors who received special conference invitations and ministry access in exchange for their support.

In the 1960s, prosperity became a primary focus in healing revivals. T. L. Osborn began emphasizing prosperity in the 1960s and became known for his often flamboyant displays of personal wealth. During that decade, Roberts and William Branham criticized other prosperity ministries, arguing that their fund-raising tactics unfairly pressured congregants. These tactics were prompted in part by the expense of developing nationwide radio networks and campaign schedules. At the same time, leaders of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God organization often criticized the focus on prosperity taken by independent healing evangelists.

It is clear that Roberts, Branham and leaders of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God were getting alarmed by excesses and abuses of the Prosperity Gospel. The teaching was fast becoming a get rich formula which promised rapid wealth to donors. Indeed the formula was performing wonders never before seen in he history of the church. Interestingly, the formula was rapidly enriching the preacher of the theology at the expense of the donor. This was the reason why the man who had coined the word “seed faith” was getting perturbed by the abuse of his coined word. A new crop of wealth seeker preachers had taken the church by storm. Churches with a reputation for manipulating and alienating the poor had suddenly come aboard.

Today new forms of offerings have been introduced in to the church. New forms such as deliverance and redemption offerings are now very common as if deliverance and redemption depend on offerings instead of the blood of Jesus Christ. Even answers to prayer now have to be unlocked by offerings'

Following the arrival of these treasure hunters numerous scandals were reported within the church.

Accompanying the money scandal were also sex scandals as the two always coexist. News of Tim Bakker’s fall from grace soon made headlines. Singapore’s City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee was sentenced to 8 years in November 2015. Numerous scandals of Prosperity Gospel theologians continue to make headlines the world over.

Such disturbing news reports confirm the necessity of books like Saints Made Merchandise which analyses tithes, aid and offerings. This book which is currently available at
http://www.amazon.com/Saints-Made-Merchandise-Analysis-Offerings/dp/0797469141 is a must read book which seeks to warn against unbiblical abuses. Not only does the book seek to warn against fraud but it also looks at exactly what the Bible teaches. It tries to trace the origin of tithes and offerings as presented by the Bible. I strongly encourage you to get yourself a copy and enjoy good reading.