The Prosperity Gospel Lived Out

After the story broke about Elevation Church Pastor Steven Furtick’s multi-million dollar home I decided to look online at the homes of other mega-church pastors and what I found was disturbing and absolutely not what Christianity is about. Pastors such as Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, James MacDonald, Kenneth Copeland, TD Jakes, and many others are living the lifestyle of the rich and famous. While these men are not necessarily known for preaching the prosperity gospel, they are certainly living it, and the way we live always makes a greater impact on the world than what we say. In fact, what we do and how we live provides the credibility for what we say. Consider these pastors and their luxurious lifestyles; luxury cars, airplanes, mansions, Rolex watches, etc…? Is this the sacrificial living called for in the gospel? In fact, let’s examine a couple verses these men will no longer be able to preach in their churches because they no longer possess the credibility. First is the Parable of the Rich Fool. Think of these pastors as you read these words from Jesus when He spoke of how the rich fool made the decision to build bigger and greater barns (Luke 12:18). Sound familiar…as these pastors prospered by the giving of their congregations and the sales of their books, they built bigger homes and are now living in mansions. Jesus summed up this parable (Luke 12: 21) with a definition of greed. The rich man stored up treasure for himself, which would cause him to become poor towards God. Have these pastors laid up treasure for themselves? I think the evidence is clear, yes they have. Second is the issue of contentment. Undoubtedly these pastors lived in smaller homes before building their mansions. The author of Hebrews wrote that “we should let our conduct be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5). Were these pastors content with their previous homes? Obviously not, they are living in mansions. It’s simply impossible to relate to a congregation and preach when the preacher is not living a biblical life of denial by dying daily to themselves no matter what they say. How can a pastor live in a mansion and a life of luxury and ask his congregation to give sacrificially? He can’t without being labeled a hypocrite.

Even though I don’t listen too many of these pastors, I occasionally listen to James MacDonald, I will no longer.