Several popular televangelists teach that Jesus shed His blood and died not only for the salvation of our souls, but also for the health of our bodies, and for our financial prosperity. They teach that physical illness and financial poverty are absolutely useless, and never God's will. This theology is widely-known as the "Health and Wealth" Gospel or the "Name it and Claim it" Gospel. Is it biblical?
One Scripture the health and wealth preachers consistently misinterpret is Isaiah 53:5, which states, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (NIV italics added). Those prophetic words foretell the crucifixion of Christ, but the health and wealth preachers insist that Isaiah implied physical healing (as well as spiritual). Since Isaiah merely wrote of the healing of transgressions and iniquities, there is no reason to conclude here that physical healing is also what he had in mind. (The same holds true for 1 Peter 2:24.) Furthermore, the Hebrew term rapha, which is translated "healed" in this passage, does not always imply physical healing. The Israelites were commanded, "Return, faithless people; I will cure you [rapha] of backsliding" (Jer. 3:22a). The same holds true for Psalms 41:4 and Hosea 14:4.
In response to that point, the health and wealth preachers refer to Isaiah 53:4, which states, "Surely he took our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted" (Italics added). However, those prophetic words specifically have nothing to do with Christ's atoning death. They were fulfilled in Matthew 8:14-17, when Jesus healed Peter's mother in law. Obviously, this was before he shed his blood and died!
Why are so many Christians suffering physically and struggling financially? "That is simply because their faith is too weak," so say the health and wealth preachers. If they are right, then the apostle Paul was one of the most carnal-minded Christians of all time! Three times he asked God to remove a "thorn" in his flesh, but God did not make it depart (2 Cor. 12:7-10). The clear reason for Paul's "thorn" (pain) was to keep him from becoming conceited. His faith was also made stronger as a result. That shames the doctrine that physical illness is absolutely useless, and never God's will! Years later, Paul advised Timothy to drink a little wine to soothe his stomach illness (1 Tim. 5:23). Paul did not counsel him to "have more faith" or to "claim divine healing," which is exactly how the health and wealth preachers counsel the sick. In fact some of them even discourage Christians to take medicine!
The health and wealth preachers also misinterpret 2 Corinthians 8:9, which reads, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." They insist that Paul was referring to material riches (as well as spiritual). Much to their demise, Jesus was never known for great material possessions (Matt. 8:20), and Paul wrote, "To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless" (1 Cor. 4:11)!! Furthermore, such an interpretation of 2 Corinthians 8:9 cannot possibly be reconciled to the Bible's clear and consistent condemnation of coveting material riches (Exod. 20:17; Deut. 5:21; Pss. 23:1; Eccl. 5:10; Matt. 6:19-24; Luke 12:15 21; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:6-10 & 17-19; 2 Tim. 3:1-2). All of those Scriptures should make it clear that 2 Corinthians 8:9 has nothing to do with material riches.
Clearly the Health and Wealth Gospel is a dangerous, unbiblical message. It does great harm to the faith of Christians suffering physically or financially whenever it does not deliver what it promises. Pastors and evangelists who preach it must be rebuked and corrected, but with love (Eph. 4:15). More importantly, the people they have deceived and hurt need our compassion and biblical counsel.
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