A Proposal on Effect of Prosperity Preaching on the Growth of the Apostolic Church Gwarinpa Assembly Abuja
CHAPTER ONE
Objective/ purpose of the study
The objective of the study is to examine effect of prosperity preaching on the growth of the Apostolic church in Gwarimpa assembly Abuja. The study will assess the following specific objectives;
- To assess the effect of prosperity preaching on members of Apostolic Church in Gwarimpa, Abuja
- To examine the concept of Prosperity preaching with reference to Apostolic church in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
- To ascertain the effect of prosperity preaching on the growth of Apostolic church in Gwarimpa Assembly in Abuja
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
The phenomenon of prosperity gospel has assumed a central place in the activities of Pentecostal Churches especially in the present time. Different scholars have examined the phenomenon from diverse perspectives and have come with different contributions on the subject matter. This chapter is attempts make a review of different works that are related to the issue under study. This is to enable the study bring out the diverse contributions made by other scholars and to identify the missing gap which the present study is geared towards filling it.
CHAPTER THREE
Material Prosperity
There is much emphasis on material success through spiritual empowerment. Getting rich is seen as God’s will and an outward manifestation of his blessings, while poverty is outside of his divine providence. Accordingly, Christians should endeavour to be healed completely from poverty since it is a kind of disease that is attributed to the work of the devil, and hence inimical to productivity (339). Thus prosperity, particularly in terms of financial assets such as personal and business success, are visible testimony of God’s favour on a faithful believer. It is insisted that all what one needs is to have faith in God through Jesus Christ and blessings will inevitably follow. This implies that wealth can be predetermined or granted in return for the effective prayer or religious merit of the believer. The Prosperity Gospel preachers cite several scriptural texts to proof-text their doctrine. Deuteronomy 8:18ff, for example, is often quoted to buttress the argument that God gives one the power to get wealth. Similarly, Malachi 3:10ff is often used to stress that God gives enormous blessings to those who tithe. The prosperity preachers also read a material literalism in Jesus’ proclamation in John 10:10: “I come that you might have life and have it in abundance.” For the prosperity preachers, God gives abundant life characterised by wealth. Even Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:37: “The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few…,” are understood by some of them as a call to harvest souls, money, material things (i.e. cars, houses), as well as influence and power. Another 21 frequently quoted biblical text is Genesis 13:2. Here Abraham is depicted as being blessed by God with riches: cattle, sheep, and gold. In this reference the preachers point out in particular that Abraham was willing to pay tithes to Melchizedek. His faithful tithing guaranteed his material blessings from God. In Galatians 3:14 the Apostle Paul says that “the blessing of Abraham” has come to the Gentiles. The prosperity preachers then conclude that God’s promised generosity as demonstrated with Abraham extends to every believing Christian on earth today. The rhetoric is that just as the covenant between God and Abraham “was a legal contract, so is the promise part of a spiritual contract. Each believer has the ability to access it, claim it, and possess it.”
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
This study was set to examine the impact of prosperity teaching among selected Apostolic Churches in Gwarimpa, Abuja. Historical method was used to establish the origins and development of Apostolic churches in Gwarimpa, Abuja, Nigeria. Historical analysis dealt with the past events of founding denominational church, constitutions, doctrines, theology, prosperity gospel and corporate social responsibilities. Historical method linked the past to the present and the present was enriched by past events, ideas, facts, doctrines and practices of Pentecostal Churches. Field survey was carried out through the use of interview to obtain opinions of Pentecostal leaders, pastors and laity on their understanding of the prosperity gospel in relation to socio-economic improvement in the standard of living. This was used to identify the ways in which the theology of the prosperity teachings has been translated into practical economic actions. Seven Apostolic Churches were selected in Gwarimpa, Abuja. A total of 30 samples were selected from each of the seven selected congregations and these add up to a total of 210 samples. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting this sample of 210 respondents.
Unstructured interviews were conducted within the seven congregations located in Gwarimpa. Church leaders, pastors, elders and members of Pentecostal churches will be interviewed at different times and places as respondents agree to attend to the researcher. While some interviews were held with individuals, other interview will be held with groups. In this context, the planned structured interviews will complement the performance of the questionnaire method.
CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
The study has made the following contributions to knowledge:
- The study reveals that, prosperity gospel has its root from the Bible; however, its application should be done in a manner that reflect the Biblical context. Often times, some preachers interpret and apply Biblical passages in a manner that is suits them.
- Prosperity teaching has helped in instilling the spirit of hard work, creativity, entrepreneurship and investment in believers and this has a positive impact on the economies of individual families and the society at large.
- Prosperity of believers is the desire of God for His children however, there are instances where a believer may not experience material prosperity but that does not means suffering, poverty are hardship are a sign that one is not a believer.
- The tendency to expect material prosperity without hard work and investment is not what the Bible teaches. Believers must be willing to work and create wealth but not just sit and expect material blessings.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The study makes the following recommendations:
- There is need for Apostolic Churches to make salvation of the soul the hallmark of the gospel.
- Prosperity gospel must be scriptural and reflect the reality of the cross. That is, preachers of prosperity gospel must balance it with the fact that sometimes even a believer can suffer. Suffering is not an indication that one is living in sin as it is often taught.
- Apostolic church preachers should be trained in the principles of biblical interpretation in order to make their messages biblical
CONCLUSION
The written Word convicts people, but the preached Word converts people. The preaching of the Gospel brings people to faith in Jesus Christ, and accomplishes great things for God. It is then imperative that Ministers of God should know the Gospel fully, lest they fail in their calling to be proclaimers of the “Good News”. Some of the preaching taking place in the name of evangelism misses the desired mark, at least to an extent. The cross of Jesus Christ is the marrow of the gospel. Prosperity gospel or theology must reflect the theology of the cross and emphasize salvation of the soul not just from material poverty or sickness. The theological, biblical, and historical realities must be clearly understood and fully, not partially, declared in the presentation of the Gospel. It is clear that these basic truths centre in and on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it must be stressed that messages must contain the essential kerygma that is the Gospel, if we are to expect God’s full blessing upon our proclamation. Many sermons today based on prosperity gospel seem bereft of any real content of the full kerygma. The preaching appeals to the imagination, the emotions, or the “Needs” of the moment and these are not what the New Testament means by preaching. “We preach Christ” (1 Cor. 1:23) must be the theme in all attempts to win people to Christ. This is the “meat” of the message.
References
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