Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Pass RESOLUTION SIX: On the Prosperity Gospel and its Promotion

WHEREAS, the prosperity gospel is the belief that divine healing and financial wealth are automatic rights in this life for those who believe in Jesus, faith being the presumed means for forcing God to fulfill our desires; and

WHEREAS, the prosperity gospel distorts biblical generosity into selfish expectations of material gain as a return for “sowing seed money;” preying on the most vulnerable and poor, preachers of the prosperity gospel often use their position as a means for personal gain and luxurious living (2 Corinthians 9:10-15; 1 Timothy 6:3-10); and

WHEREAS, the prosperity gospel is the corruption of biblical doctrines of suffering and the sovereignty of God, leaving those experiencing suffering in a hopeless state of doubt regarding God’s favor toward them in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:1-5; 8:15-29); and

WHEREAS, the prosperity gospel is the minimization of Old Testament promises to mere material possessions, subsequently redefining the purpose of Jesus’ atonement as salvation from material poverty; and

WHEREAS, the prosperity gospel has been widely spread and received through various media under the name of Jesus, in Texas and around the world; and

WHEREAS, the Lord Jesus and the writers of the New Testament warned the church to “beware of false prophets, who come to us in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15) and warns pastors “to pay careful attention to the flock in which we have been made overseers” because “men will arise speaking twisted things” (Acts 20:28-30); and

WHEREAS, we have the biblical example of publicly distinguishing true preachers of the gospel from false teachers (2 Timothy 2:16-18; 3:1-8; Titus 1:5-16), and

WHEREAS, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states, “In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice…” (Article XV); now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that we, the messengers to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, meeting in Odessa, Texas, October 28-29, 2019, deny that the promises and the teaching of the prosperity gospel are in accordance with sound doctrine and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and be it further

RESOLVED, that pastors, as commanded by Scripture, should not entertain the teaching or promotion of the prosperity gospel or its teachers in their churches and communities, that they should publicly and courageously oppose teachers of the prosperity gospel as occasion requires (Galatians 1:6-9; Titus 1:9; 2:1; Jude 3); and be it further

RESOLVED, that we should ask the Lord to search our hearts and ensure that we have no fellowship that involves the “violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word” (BF&M 2000, Article XIV); and be it further

RESOLVED, that we should renew our efforts of discipleship, that is, the equipping of the saints, by speaking the truth in love so that the body of Christ will not be deceived (Ephesians 4:11-15); and be it further

RESOLVED, that we should pray, asking God to help us endure all suffering and worldly loss, not throwing away our confidence, which has great reward (Hebrews 10:32-39; 13:9-14); and be it finally

RESOLVED, that we declare and enjoy God himself as our reward, teaching that he is our supreme treasure in heaven and that our inheritance is guaranteed to us by the seal of the Holy Spirit until we acquire possession of it, regardless of our earthly condition (Ephesians 1:11-14; 4:15; Revelation 21:1-4; Philippians 4:10-13).