Recent days have brought multiple allegations of sexual abuse against Atlanta megachurch Bishop Eddie Long. It would be premature to judge the truth of these allegations, but it is not too soon to weigh in on his opulent lifestyle. His fancy cars, expensive clothing and vast estate, all funded on a multimillion-dollar salary, are part of his act””pushing the so-called prosperity gospel on mostly African-Americans. Whatever Mr. Long has done in his personal life, his brand of theology has contributed to a troubling trend among black churches in America.
The prosperity gospel””the idea that God guarantees truly faithful believers physical health and financial wealth””is not new. But cable and satellite television broadcasting have turned prosperity preachers into celebrities that have followings similar to musicians and movies stars. A movement and a theology that once seemed like an aberration among black churches now appears to be mainstream….
Teaching that desire for more material possessions is a sign of one’s religious piety is simply offering a justification for crass consumerism. Prosperity theology elevates greed to a virtue instead of leaving it as one of the seven deadly sins.
Heresy
heresy
Frankly, the “Prosperity Gospel” makes me much angrier than what’s going on in TEC. It’s primarily taking advantage of the poor and desperate. And talk about being a negative witness to unbelievers. And the sad thing is that Christians virtually never speak out against it, because of the unwritten rule that it’s politically incorrect for anyone to say anything negative about another church or denomination.
Every time I see one of these charlatans talking about “sowing my seed in faith” so I can reap a ten-times financial reward “because that’s what the Bible promises (our operators are standing by now to accept your love gift of $1,000 or more),” I wish I could jump through my television and strangle them.
So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. John 2:15