Over the last several years, in Christian circles, we’ve seen a movement to turn the term “prosperity” into a swear word.

“Prosperity Gospel” has become a label designed to shut down debate and instantly signal to “right-thinking” people that a minister, church, or ministry is “evil and worthy of contempt.”

We’ve seen something very similar happen in the last few years in the secular culture with terms like “sexist,” “racist,” “white supremecist,” and “anti-Semite.” Those words used to mean something very specific and very detestable. Which is precisely why those words have been deployed by certain groups recently as clubs with which to beat ideological opponents into silence or submission.

As I’ve said multiple times on social media over the last ten years . . . it’s a tragedy that these words are being used and abused and stretched into meaninglessness. Why? Because we need these words and terms. There are real people out there with real beliefs that these words describe. Which is why the people who use these words indiscrimiately to cow and delegitimize others do us all a great disservice by diluting their meaning. Because . . .

If a word can man anything then it really means nothing.

Something similar has been taking place recently in Christian circles where the term “prosperity gospel” is concerned. Stay with me here. It’s unfortunate that the term prosperity (which is a very biblical word) has become something that Bible teachers are reluctant to use, out of fear of being attacked.

I’ve felt it. I’ve starting subsituting words like flourishing, thriving, provision, and blessing simply to avoid being misunderstood or triggering a knee-jerk reaction in people.

Sure. Just as there are real-deal racists in the world (but a lot fewer of them than there used to be), there are preachers and teachers in the world who sometimes describe following Jesus pretty much the way some multilevel marketing opportunities are pitched. Sort of the same way Napoleon Dynamite advised Pedro to appeal to voters at their high school: “Vote for me and your wildest dreams will come true.”

Admittedly, back in the ’80s there were some media preacher characters who, unfortunately, gave the faith and the Bible’s promises of provision and protection a black eye. We all know their names. The term “televangelist” was coined and quickly became a perjorative. (Although the term strictly means someone who attempts to evangelize through television. The nerve!)

Then the Internet came along. Suddenly everyone became a political pundit–opining on the news of the day. Anyone could be a news source. And anyone with some pet doctrines and denominational axes to grind could become a self-appointed heresy hunter and anoint themselves as God’s theological beat cop–patrolling the Internet and the airwaves for violators to call out and condemn.

Along the way, one side of the long-standing Charismatic vs. Non-Charismatic (and Anti-Charismatic) divide in the Evangelical world started using their platforms to score points against the other side using “prosperity” preaching as the club. In the process, the term began to be stretched wider and wider to tar more and more of the other side.

Based on my extensive reading, here are some things that now, to some, constitute teaching a “prosperity gospel”:

• Believing and teaching that God still heals today just as He did in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the book of Acts.
• Believing and teaching that God still does miracles today.
• Believing and teaching that if you do things God’s way you’ll generally enjoy a better life than if you do things the opposite of God’s way.
• Believing that God will be faithful to provide for your every need and desires to increase you as you demonstrate faithful stewardship over what has been entrusted to you.
• Believing and teaching that God is good and loves to bless His children.
• Believing and teaching Jesus’ declaration that His disciples will do the works He did, and even greater works.
• And, of course, taking 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 and Luke 6:38 seriously. 

As I stated above, it seems to me the terms “prosperity” and “prosperity gospel” are being used and abused and stretched by some to simply tar believers whose interpretations of the Scriptures they don’t like. That’s unfortunate.

And it’s why increasingly–when I see it weaponized in that way–I tend to discount and be skeptical about whatever follows.

As for me and my house, we know God is good and kind. We know that He loves to bless. And that He sent His only begotten Son to progressively undo all of the horrific things the curse unleashed upon humanity and the earth. And that the advance of His Kingdom invariably results in human flourishing.

And we will continue to believe it and proclaim it, no matter who it bothers.

What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways! He won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat. His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,” meditating day and night on the true revelation of light. He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.

Psalms 1:1-3 (TPT)