Those who were in the Christian circles in the ’80’s remember Jim and Tammy Bakker as prosperity gospel gurus (PTL Ministry) who fell due, in part, to overcommitments on “lifetime vacations” in Heritage USA, a Christian theme park. They were caught selling the same condos multiple times to multiple people. That pandora’s box was opened initially in 1980 when Bakker was caught in an affair (i.e. alleged rape) and accounting fraud with Jessica Hahn. No matter how hard Jimmy begged and how much mascara ran down Tammy’s face in tears, the house of cards fell (details here). He was convicted on 24 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, sentenced to 45 years in prison, yet actually served less than five years before receiving parole in 1994.

After leaving prison Jimmy founded Morningside Church and the Jim Bakker Show. He’s back on the air, now focused on selling survival gear and preaching end-times prophesy. And, that is where we pick up his story; quoting from The Christian Post, today’s headline reads …

“‘We’re at the end’: Televangelist Jim Bakker pleads for viewers to send $1 million to save his ministry.”

Bakker is asking for money to save himself. Threatening to close down his latest media empire, the prosperity gospel preacher and now end-times prophet appears desperate … again. In Jimmy’s own words …

“That’s why it’s important that you obey God. I need about a thousand people who will give right now. Some may not be able to give $1,000, but you can give $100. That’s right, the seed. I want you to mail it in right now.”

For prosperity gospel preachers, it’s always about the “seed faith.” This is the language of the Word of Faith movement. The underlying theology is that if you have enough faith to send your money as “seed” to the preacher, or typically the televangelist, God will then bless you in the areas of health, wealth, and success. This is prosperity gospel, or “Health and Wealth” theology in a nutshell.

Oral Roberts is often credited with popularizing the Prosperity Gospel, followed by false teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Jimmy Swaggart, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and, of course, Jim and Tammy Bakker. It became popular as a cultural force because it appeals to our desire for material success and desperation for incurable health issues. You pay money and get more back than you give and/or your malady is cured just like the miracles found in the Bible. Put more spiritually, you, by faith, do something for God (by paying money) and God will be obligated to reward you … quid pro quo. Sounds like so many other false teachings out there, doesn’t it?

Richard Roberts, Oral’s son, says on his website, “Give God something to work with. No matter how little you think you have, sow it in joy and faith, knowing in your heart that you are sowing seed so you may reap miracles. Then start expecting all kinds of miracles!”

Prosperity Gospel in Scripture

The prooftext used by these false teachers is …

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Of course this verse is not talking about material gain as noted in the previous verse. It has to do with forgiveness (Luke 6:37). Further, an inerrant Bible needs to reconcile itself to itself and material wealth was never part of Jesus’ ministry.

Matthew 17:20 – He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

This verse is about our faith but has nothing to say about paying a preacher to gain a material benefit.

Mark 10:29-30 – Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

The ploy is, pay me (the televangelist) now and you will receive a “hundredfold” later. Of course prosperity proponents neglect to exegete (interpret) this verse by looking at the context. It refers to leaving the earthly and material for the eternal “for my [Jesus] sake and for the gospel [salvation].” The benefits of salvation, both on Earth and in Heaven, far exceed the value of houses, siblings, and land. It is not a material gain but a spiritual one. Further, there is the reality of “persecution” for our faith All this is the exact opposite of seeking material gain by sending seed money to someone on TV.

The Bottom Line

Jesus and the apostles were not wealthy men. Christ repeatedly focused on the poor and even spoke of the rich as having additional challenges on entering Heaven (Matthew 19:24). There is no question that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7) and faith is the foundation of our salvation and hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). However, the Prosperity Gospel is not of God. It plays on the sin nature of man, not the Spirit of God.

Like so many other false teachings, it uses a kernel of truth from God’s Word to present a works-based plea from the Jimmy Bakkers of the world. Remember, the Lord never promised Biblical Christians an easy life on Earth (John 16:33). He promised a life of service (Colossians 3:23) as we walk with Him through trials (Psalm 23:4), and a glorious eternity in Heaven (1 Corinthians 2:9).