It divides pastors.
A recent survey conducted by Lifeway Research examined the views of Protestant pastors regarding the prosperity gospel, a belief system that suggests health, wealth, and success are attainable through obedience to God and by invoking the Holy Spirit to fulfill one’s desires. According to the poll, only 8% of pastors agreed with the notion that individuals must perform actions for God in order to receive material blessings, while 90% disagreed, and 2% were unsure. Additionally, 18% of pastors reported that their churches teach that giving more money to the church or charities leads to blessings from God, with 79% disagreeing with this idea and 3% uncertain.
The survey also found a divided stance among pastors on whether God intends for people to achieve financial prosperity. Thirty-seven percent agreed that God wants people to prosper financially, while 59% disagreed, and 5% were unsure. Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research, pointed out that most pastors (90%) view blessings from God as a matter of grace rather than a reward for specific actions, which contrasts with a performance-driven culture.
Lifeway’s findings were compared to a 2022 survey of Protestant churchgoers, which revealed that 45% of church attendees believed they must do something for God in exchange for material blessings. Additionally, 76% of churchgoers thought that God wants them to prosper financially, while 45% believed they needed to take specific actions to receive God’s blessings.
Critics of the prosperity gospel, such as Oscar Amaechina, president of the Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network in Abuja, Nigeria, argue that this theology promotes idolatry by focusing on wealth rather than spiritual devotion. Amaechina criticized the prosperity gospel for diverting attention from the message of the cross and for undermining the Christian doctrine of suffering, which he views as essential to entering the Kingdom of God.
On the other hand, some pastors, like Bill Winston of Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Illinois, acknowledge that prosperity can be a legitimate part of the Christian faith but caution against its exploitation. Winston emphasized that, while the prosperity gospel has sometimes been misused, the blessing of Abraham is a key component of the Gospel, and those who belong to Christ are heirs to the same blessings Abraham received.