The Gospel of Prosperity

     We think of the Gospel of Prosperity as a new phenomenon. It isn't.  The idea of Christian prosperity has been around much longer than we realize.  If we go back in time a about 100 years, to 1900, the Reverend Russell Conwell spoke about it in Acres of Diamonds.  Here is what he had to say:

     "I say that you ought to get rich, and it is your duty to get rich.  How many of my pious brethren say to me, 'Do you, a Christian minister, spend your time going up and down the country advising young people to get rich, to get money?'  'Yes, of course I do.'  They say, 'Isn't that awful!  Why don't you preach the gospel instead of preaching about man's making money?'  'Because to make money honestly is to preach the gospel.'  That is the reason.  The men who get rich may be the most honest men you find in the community.
     'Oh,' but says some young man here tonight, 'I have been told all my life that if a person has money he is very dishonest and dishonorable and mean and contemptible.'  My friend, that is the reason why you have none, because yo have the wrong idea of people.  The foundation of your faith is altogether false.  Let me say here clearly, and say it briefly, though subject to discussion which I have not time for here, ninety-eight out of one hundred of the rich men of America are honest.  That is why they are rich.  That is why they are trusted with money.  That is why they carry on great enterprises and find plenty of people to work with them.  It is because they are honest men.
    

My friend, you take and drive me-if you furnish the auto-out into the suburbs of Philadelphia, and introduce me to the people who own their homes around this great city, those beautiful homes with gardens and flowers, those magnificent homes so lovely in their art, and I will introduce you to the very best people in character as well as in enterprise in our city, and you know I will.  A man is not really a true man until he owns his own home, and they that own their homes are made more honorable and honest and pure, and true and economical and careful, by owning the home.
     For a man to have money, even in large sums, is not an inconsistent thing.  We preach against covetousness, and you know we do, in the pulpit, and oftentimes preach against it so long and use the terms about 'filthy lucre' so extremely that Christians get the idea that when we stand in the pulpit we believe it is wicked for any man to have money-until the collection basket goes around, and then we almost swear at the people because they don't give more money.  Oh, the inconsistency of such doctrines as that!
     Money is power, and you ought to be reasonably ambitious to have it.  You ought because you can do more good with it than you could without it.  Money printed your Bible, money builds your churches, money sends your missionaries, and money pays your preachers, and you would not have many of them, either, if you did not pay them.  I am always willing that my church should raise my salary, because the church that pays the largest salary always raises it the easiest.  You never knew an exception to it in your life.  The man who gets the largest salary can do the most good with the power that is furnished to him.  Of course he can if his spirit be right to use it for what it is given him.
     I say, then, you ought to have money.  If you can honestly attain unto riches in Philadelphia, it is your Christina and godly duty to do so.  It is an awful mistake of these pious people to think you must be awfully poor in order to be pious."

     What do you think about Conwell's sentiments?   The Gospel of Prosperity is very  popular today.  If you've watched just about any preacher (but not all) on television, you've probably heard the Gospel of Prosperity preached.  People like it because, as it is preached today, wealth comes as a result of your own goodness, prayer, and work.  Wealth is a sign of God's blessing, and it becomes a matter of faith.  Ministers today also preach that this blessing of money is biblical.  

What do you think about Conwell's preaching and the Gospel of Prosperity?  I really would like to know.  If you would, please think about it for a minute and write your comments below.  It will give us all a chance to see what others think about this old, yet new, take on Christian money and wealth.  I'm going to do a little research and another post about this topic, so if you are interested, help me out with your take on this subject. Thanks!