The Prosperity Gospel is Not a Christian Outlier

Preacher Joel Osteen reportedly is worth about $100 million. He is the lead preacher of a church but does not take a salary because he makes so much money from his books and big events on the road. At each performance, I have heard, he holds up a Bible but does not refer to it otherwise. One of his powerful shouts to the audience is "Jesus wants you to succeed."

Both parts of both the Christian and secular communities scoff at Osteen with his riches and Christian-lite message. Yet, the marriage of Christianity and prosperity is as valid as that of Christianity and poverty. Yes, Jesus was supposed to have said the likelihood of a rich person getting into heaven is the same as that of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. But, if "tradition" has a legitimate place in the faith then personal wealth has a seat alongside poverty. The group considered quite pious, the Puritans, approved of making money. Joel Osteen was approved by the Puritans. 

There was some churning and turmoil in the 1600's about the moral issue of making money. We have to remember the Bible was in play and what most clergy may have been telling people is the Jesus identified with the poor. People of wealth, who also published their views, may well have thought, "We identify with the poor too." During that time there was also writing and preaching that making some money was evidence God smiled on you. That notion is still sold today in the case of Donald Trump.

As the 1600's led into the 1700's there were more conflicting ideas surrounding money and the faith. There was more interest in the idea that humans regulate themselves which was in conflict with the much of Christianity. Of course, it is also today taught that babies are born sinners and only religion can rescue us from this sin.

In 1776, Adam Smith, considered the first economist, published The Wealth of Nations. In it he argued that each person, trying to better him/herself, resulted in markets that raised the standard of living of society. This, of course, endorsed self-serving and was a finger in the eye of preachers and priests of the time. Clergy were angry. The business community endorsed this and used the book to lobby against regulation. Today, Smith, not a religious person, has won over the Christian faith.