People Join Prosperity Gospel Crowds Because They Also Lack Both Financial Literacy (and More Importantly) Biblical Literacy

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The prosperity gospel is indeed one gospel which isn't another. I remembered how a Filipino quack ministry called "Kapa Ministry" which means "Kabus Padatu-on" or "Let the poor be rich." got sacked for several cases of financial scams. Now, I thought why do people join them? I remembered why I dropped listening to Joel Osteen as a newborn Christian is something I'd like to think was Holy Spirit conviction. I watched Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) sick of Roman Catholic doctrine, there were some biblical doctrines - that was until I found out that the network was in cahoots with the Vatican! Then I remembered why I even stopped watching the shows of Apollo C. Quiboloy and Wilde Almeda - they were emphasizing the prosperity gospel. These people do gather a lot of followers.

I don't want to deny there's financial literacy involved. Yes, people do get scammed by too good to be true promises because of a lack of financial literacy. A good example would be investments that promise to return your money twice or more in such a short amount of time. If you do simple financial math then you will find out that it's too good to be true. A good financial adviser would tell you, "If it's too good to be true then you know you ought to reject it." Some people join out of greed while others join out of the desire to help their families. A lack of financial literacy is really one reason why people join in financial scams or why some people fall into the socialist movement. Socialism tries to make too good to be true promises to lure people for their leaders to manipulate. The Ponzi schemers lure people into giving them money to fill their pockets. The same can apply to prosperity gospel pastors. Greedy people don't really care about financial literacy. Some greedy people join the prosperity gospel crowd hoping to get rich fast without struggling. Greedy preachers make these crowds in hopes to fool the gullible to enrich them while promising fast returns.

How does the lack of Biblical literacy kick in aside from financial literacy? Well, it's possible that these pastors who run prosperity gospel dens may say that you can't trust the Ponzi schemers because they are only men. These preachers are Ponzi schemers themselves who drag God's holy name down into the dirt to fill their pockets. They misquote Malachi 3:10 to make a quick buck never mind that Jesus said to lay most of your treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). Jesus wasn't discouraging saving your money for a rainy day but He was talking about greed. The idea that if you give 10% of your income for the Lord's ministry to make you a billionaire is unscriptural. If the blessings can't be contained then it must be for eternity! People who don't study their Bibles will fall into such a financial scam. If they really do bother to study Jesus' words in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - He would speak of possibly losing everything on Earth but gaining much in Heaven later! There's nothing about becoming a billionaire for following Jesus! I dare those prosperity gospel preachers to show that God has a wonderful plan in my life for a better life. They would just be misquoting verses over and over again!

It's important for Christians to learn financial literacy after the have their Biblical literacy. Learning financial literacy is needed because if you have no money then how can you give financial support for the ministry. Learning financial literacy not only helps spot scams but also give the Christians their duty to report these scammers. They can also help expose false preachers and warn them of the financial scams involved in such ministries. Christians are called to be stewards of money. It's not money that's evil but rather the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). Remember God ordained the monetary system as a medium of exchange. The ministry of God is supplied by money but it must never be financed by dirty money. It's Satan who perverts the monetary system which God ordained. It's no surprise that Satan who would eventually make money useless when the Great Tribulation arrives (Revelation 13:17). It's because Satan himself would do anything to pervert what God ordained and the prosperity gospel is a perversion of God's call for responsible stewardship of wealth. 

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