The Lausanne Movement has helpfully defined the prosperity gospel in these words: “We define prosperity gospel as the teaching that believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the ‘sowing of seeds’ through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings.” At first glance, prosperity gospel teachings may sound biblical and even uplifting. They often use verses about blessing, faith, and generosity. But when you look closely, they operate on formulas that sound spiritual yet distort the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The danger is that these formulas shift the focus away from God’s grace and Christ’s cross toward human effort, wealth, and comfort.

Here are three of the most common formulas and how we can discern the truth of Scripture in response:

Formula 1: Faith = Riches / Success. “If you have enough faith, God will bless you with money, health, promotion, or miracles.”

Distortion: Faith is reduced to a tool for obtaining material blessings instead of trusting God in all circumstances.

Biblical Contrast: Hebrews 11 praises heroes of faith who endured suffering, poverty, and even death—yet remained faithful to God.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: John Chrysostom once said, “I do not admire a wealthy Christian. A rich man is not one who is much possessed but one who gives much.”

Formula 2: Seed (Offering) = Harvest (Wealth). “Sow a seed (give money to the preacher or ministry), and God will multiply it back to you financially.”

Distortion: Giving becomes an investment scheme, with preachers often benefiting most.

Biblical Contrast: Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9 that giving should flow from a cheerful heart, not as a way to manipulate God’s blessing.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: Tertullian said, “The things of God are not bought with money but with obedience.”

Formula 3: Positive Confession = Reality. “Speak it, declare it, and you will have it.” (“Name it and claim it.”)

Distortion: Words are treated like magic spells, as though we can control reality by our declarations.

Biblical Contrast: Jesus Himself prayed in Gethsemane, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42), showing us the model of surrender to God’s will in prayer.

The true gospel does not promise earthly riches but the riches of knowing Christ. It does not guarantee freedom from sickness but promises God’s presence in suffering. It does not teach us to manipulate God but to trust Him as a loving Father. Paul writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). True blessing is not measured in bank accounts or possessions but in faithfulness, generosity, and eternal hope in Christ.

Let us be watchful. Let us test every teaching against the Word of God. And let us hold firmly to the gospel that proclaims Christ crucified, risen, and coming again—the true treasure that never fades.