As Seen on TV Faith
The prosperity gospel is a cheap ‘as seen on TV’ faith that takes advantage of people by promising to do so much at such a small cost. It is the abusive extreme of consumerism which feeds on the sense of entitlement and creed that our culture has bred into people who seek their hearts desires at no cost to themselves or even at the cost of others. Prosperity gospel promises health to those who desire it, and wealth to those who are unwilling to work for it. It even works on pride by proclaiming it is a faith that only the elite of the faithful can hold on to. It promises so much, for so very little.
But the truth is that it offers nothing of worth. It increases a sense of entitlement and greed. It produces judgment against those who do not receive healing miracles. It encourages selfish-theology, that understands all things as revolving around the desires of the person of faith. The sick are blamed for not having enough faith, because if they did then they wouldn’t be sick. People with psychological insecurity seek ever more to gain more money while never feeling they have enough. People of this faith may even have a wealth of assets while still proclaiming to others how very poor they are, even taking money from people who have less than they do. Children under such faith may grow up with a grossly unhealthy self-perception as well as a contrastingly arrogant and judgmental elitism towards others not of their faith. This faith is a heresy that destroys marriages, encourages narcissism, seduces the emotionally unstable, and takes advantage of the poor.