Prosperity Theology Affirmation and Denials

1.     On the definition of Christianity
We affirm that the Biblical gospel may be summarized as the message that Christ died to save us from the wrath of God.

We deny that the Biblical gospel may be summarized as the message that Christ died to save us from poverty.

2.     On the affections
We affirm that the Biblical gospel includes affections for Christ which means a warm heart toward His prophetic ministry whereby He teaches His people to hate their own sin, a devoted faith toward His priestly ministry whereby He atones for the sins of His people, and a submissive joy toward His kingly ministry whereby He rules them with His Word.

We deny that the Biblical gospel creates affections for money, health, or any other earthly comfort. We further deny that loving pleasure is fitting with the first great command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

3.     On the Christian status of regions influenced by prosperity theology
We affirm that Christian missionary obedience is desperately needed in those areas of the developing world in Africa as well as in South America, India, and China that are heavily influenced by prosperity theology. We affirm the church’s responsibility to evangelize those holding to prosperity theology as they would any other false religion.

We deny that the prosperity gospel is sufficient Christian witness to raise any people group to the status of “reached” in the context of world missions.

4.     On the five “Sola” doctrines
We affirm that the Biblical gospel assumes and requires the five doctrines commonly known since the Reformation as the Five Solas: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and to God alone be glory.

We deny that any message that rejects, contradicts, or stands independent of the Five Solas is the Biblical gospel.

5.     On charismaticism
We affirm that the Biblical gospel may be held by brothers and sisters in Christ who also practice speaking in tongues, miracles, and prophecy so long as they love humility, repentance, Christ, and the Bible more than any earthly comfort.

We deny that the Biblical gospel may be held by the charismatic who uses miracles, tongues, and prophecy as a foundation on which to promote the doctrine of deification (the teaching that men are little gods) and its counterpart positive confession (the teaching that men can create reality with their words).

6.     On wealth creation
We affirm that the Biblical gospel creates wealth as the truth is believed and practiced for generations and so long as it is undisturbed by the sins of others including encroaching governments. We further affirm that God’s usual means for creating wealth is according to the ordinary means of providence and not according to miracles.

We deny that the Biblical gospel creates wealth miraculously or immediately or in such a way as to draw men’s hearts away from the glory of Heaven, the atonement of Christ, and the horror of their own sin.

7.     On preaching
We affirm that the glory of preaching is clearly explaining the Word of God such that men understand what God is saying and are prepared to leave their sin, draw near to Christ, or change their worldly thinking to conform to the mind of God.

We deny that preaching honors God when it is filled with unprepared shouting, religious slogans, or “God talk” styled so as to impress the hearers with the status of the speaker.

8.     On money
We affirm that the Bible speaks about money, that our use of money shows the love and direction of our hearts, and that money is necessary to live in the modern world.

We deny that sermons should repeatedly return to money as a standard motif for reflection on the Lord’s Day.

9.     On television and media
We affirm that the gospel may be communicated through television and media in a way that honors God, Christ, and Scripture. We further affirm, however, that the dominant presence in religious broadcasting is occupied by those who will hear our Lord’s words, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

We deny that all popular preachers and ministries are men of God or even true Christians simply due to the facts that they are popular and call themselves Christian.

10.  On handling false teachers
We affirm that pastors, preachers, and authors should be held accountable for their faithfulness to the gospel such that if they deny, change, or consistently ignore the gospel they must be named publicly and avoided.

We deny that Christian love will silence the mouths of God’s people regarding the terrible wolves who are trying to devour and make merchandise of the church which he purchased with His blood.

11.  On Christian unity
We affirm that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are spiritually unified and should be practically unified in purpose and fellowship as much as circumstances permit on the earth.

We deny that believers in the prosperity gospel are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, nor, therefore, are they unified spiritually with any true believers.