It’s that time of year. If it’s not yet where you are, it soon will be. Churches are trying to plan for next year and are soliciting pledges from members about their 2026 giving. And some pastors—not mine, fortunately—will trot out Matthew 19:29 to try to persuade their congregants to Read more…
I have criticized the so-called prosperity gospel in the past as being unbiblical. It is in fact a very Pharisaic idea. The Pharisees believed that prosperity was evidence of God’s favor. After all, many of the most famous people in the Old Testament were successful and wealthy: Abraham,[1] Isaac,[2] Jacob,[3] Read more…
Shortly before his arrest, Jesus warned his disciples to “Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) When he talked about the weakness of flesh, I do not believe he was talking about his own Read more…
Prosperity preachers get wealthy by convincing their followers that God will make them wealthy, too, if they just give to these preachers’ ministries. And in support they often quote Mark 10:29-30: Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother Read more…