Why is the Prosperity Gospel a Scam?

A Two-part Post about the Prosperity Gospel: Part 2

In Part 1, we examined how the Prosperity Gospel effectively extracts maximum donations from believers through emotional manipulation, the promise of quick financial solutions, and appeals to supernatural intervention for those who have faith in God. However, these tactics rest upon a foundation of selective biblical interpretation.

The Case of the Widow’s Mite

Consider how Prosperity Gospel preachers interpret the story of The Widow's Mite:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44 [NIV]

This parable is another that is commonly used as a model of sacrificial giving, encouraging followers to donate everything they have as an act of faith. However, this parable does not have to be interpreted that way. It is more telling of human behaviour when we are poor versus when we are rich.

Think about two people: someone who has only £1, and someone who has £1,000,000. The person with just £1 is more likely to risk it all. Why? Because losing that £1 won't change their situation much – they're already struggling. The millionaire is less likely to gamble their money because losing it would significantly impact their comfortable lifestyle. When you have little, you're more willing to take risks because you feel you have very little to lose.

The Downwards Cycle of Depletion

The danger of the prosperity gospel is that it can transform well-to-do individuals into desperate believers. At first, they may listen to the call of God and sow their seed. Then, as they feel it is their moral obligation to obey the Pastor and the Lord God, they may continue to give, venturing into their savings in order to be a good Christian and please God. Then, as they may venture into giving in order to receive, since they depleted much of their net worth, becoming the desperate believer.

· Believers give initially with hope

· As savings deplete, desperation increases

· Greater desperation leads to increased giving

· Bills go unpaid; debt accumulates

· Eviction threats and financial crises multiply

· In response to mounting problems, believers give even more

Prosperity gospel advocates often point to Mark 10:27-31 as biblical evidence for supernatural financial blessings.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The idea is that God can do anything and transform the little that you have into something that is 100 times larger. Hence, Ade who has little to lose goes to place his bet at the altar. He has seen others give their testimony so he is all the more convinced that he may receive a breakthrough. But unlike gambling at the casino, where if you win, you can go to the cashier and exchange your chips for cash, the church house is more like the alchemist who promises to transform your £100 into £100,000 via prayer and then never gives you the return. They leave your returns to a third-party appearance one day, somewhere, and somehow.

This negates the rules of consideration of contract law. The Church cheats the code of contract as they do not have to deliver on their promise. They delegate repayment to divine intervention. This spiritual framework allows churches to:

• Make grandiose promises without legal obligation

• Avoid accountability for failed returns

• Attribute success or failure to the believer's faith

This system creates a perfect storm where desperate believers continue giving while churches maintain plausible deniability through the shield of religious belief.