Francis Chan recently filmed a video for the Gospel Coalition in which he explains why the prosperity gospel goes against the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.
Chan says, “What’s awful about the prosperity gospel is it’s saying, ‘Your life is going to be completely different. I promise you. It’ll be completely different from what Christ went through. You’re going to be healthy, you’re going to be wealthy, people are going to love you.’ It really sets people up for failure in a lot of ways. “Peter says, ‘Don’t be surprised when the fiery trial comes upon you as if something strange were happening to you.’ What the prosperity gospel teaches is, ‘Hey, be surprised if there’s any type of trial in your life, because … He’s our heavenly father. He wants us to experience the best. You should be treated like kings.’ When Paul’s saying the exact opposite. … He actually contrasts himself against those that were preaching a prosperity gospel. It just goes against what Jesus preached and what Paul preached and what Peter preached.”
Watch the full video here.