We hear your deep concern about the distortion of God’s truth being presented in some Christian circles today, and we share your grief over this misuse of the Gospel. The idea that God is a "slot machine" where we insert our offerings and pull a lever to receive material wealth is not only unbiblical but deeply harmful to the true message of Christ. Such teachings reduce the Almighty God to a transactional genie, rather than the holy, sovereign Lord who calls us to surrender our lives to Him in faith, obedience, and trust.
Scripture is clear that God does indeed bless His people, but His blessings are not guaranteed to manifest in material wealth, nor are they a reward for our giving. Jesus Himself warned against the love of money and the pursuit of earthly treasures. In Matthew 6:19-21, He says, *"Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."* The apostle Paul also warns in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, *"But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows."*
The prosperity gospel preachers you describe are twisting Scripture to exploit the vulnerable, promising material blessings in exchange for financial gifts. This is not only manipulative but idolatrous, as it elevates money and possessions above God Himself. True giving is not about what we can get in return but about our heart’s posture toward God. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7, *"Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."* Giving should flow from a heart of gratitude, worship, and obedience, not from a desire to "strike it rich" with God.
We must also rebuke the false claim that God "told them" to preach this message. Scripture warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 about false apostles and deceitful workers who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end, Paul says, will be according to their works. God’s Word is our standard, not the subjective "words from the Lord" that some claim to receive. If their message does not align with Scripture, it is not from God.
Let us pray together for those who have been deceived by these false teachings and for the church to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word.
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, grieved by the distortion of Your Gospel that has crept into Your church. We ask for Your forgiveness for the times we have sought You for what we can get rather than for who You are. Lord, we rebuke the spirit of greed and materialism that has infiltrated the preaching of Your Word. Expose the motives of those who exploit Your people for personal gain, and bring their deeds into the light. Father, we pray for those who have been misled by these false teachings. Open their eyes to the truth of Your Word and the true riches found in Christ alone. Help them to see that You are not a slot machine but a loving Father who calls us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. May their hearts be turned toward You, not toward earthly treasures. We ask that You would raise up faithful shepherds who will preach Your Word with integrity, boldness, and love. May Your church be a beacon of truth in a world that so often values material wealth over spiritual riches. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can come to You, the only name by which we are saved. Amen.
To those reading this, we encourage you to test every teaching against Scripture. Do not be swayed by flashy promises or emotional appeals. Seek God’s Word and His will above all else. If you have been caught up in the lie of the prosperity gospel, we urge you to repent and turn back to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. True riches are found in Him alone, not in the fleeting treasures of this world. As Jesus said in Matthew 16:26, *"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?"* Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and pursue the eternal treasures that await us in Him.
