The Prosperity Gospel teaches that wealth, health, and happiness are signs of God’s favor. It claims that strong faith, bold declarations, and generous giving will unlock these blessings. Televangelists in the U.S., Africa, and Asia often live in luxury with private jets, mansions, and large studios, while asking their followers to give even when it hurts.
Between 2007 and 2011, a U.S. Senate Finance Committee investigation into six televangelist ministries, including Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn. The investigation found that they had received hundreds of millions of dollars in untaxed donations. Many of these donations came from elderly or financially struggling believers who were told that giving would bring them a blessing from God.
“Profiting from someone’s search for meaning isn’t wrong in itself. But doing it through false promises or emotional manipulation isn’t just unkind. It’s dishonest.”
“Give, and You Shall Receive”
Prosperity preachers argue that giving generously is a spiritual discipline and their lavish lifestyles are proof the doctrine works. Followers are encouraged to imitate these giving levels to receive similar divine favor.
The motto is simple: “Sow your seed, and you will reap your miracle.” But this turns faith into a transaction. Belief becomes a kind of currency.
The Uneven Exchange: Wealth for the Few, Debt for the Many
While generosity can be spiritually uplifting, the prosperity model often commodifies faith:
- Many donors report no improvement in circumstances, while leaders thrive financially.
- Disappointments are explained as a lack of faith or unconfessed sin.
- This engenders guilt, financial distress, and a widening wealth gap.
These findings are detailed in Kate Bowler’s history of the movement, Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel, and documented in Senate probe reports.
Real‑World Examples of Exploitation
✨ Creflo Dollar
In 2015, Dollar publicly campaigned for a $65 million Gulfstream jet while owning luxury homes, two Rolls-Royces, and declining financial transparency. He argued it was “necessary for ministry” and within God’s promise.
In 2022, Dollar admitted that his earlier teachings on tithing were wrong. This change came after increasing public criticism.
✨ Kenneth Copeland
Copeland owns a mansion worth millions, labeled as a tax-exempt parsonage, along with private jets. In 2007, Senator Grassley named him in an investigation into possible misuse of tax-exempt donations.
According to NPR, Copeland refused to hand over financial records to the Senate, saying that only the IRS had the authority to make such a request.
From Pulpit to Profit: A Worldwide Pattern
The Prosperity Gospel is not just an issue in America. It’s a global problem. In Singapore, for example, leaders of City Harvest Church, including Pastor Kong Hee, were convicted in 2015 for misusing about S$50 million. The money was used to fund his wife Sun Ho’s pop music career, which they claimed was part of ministry outreach.
Roots in the Word-of-Faith Tradition
This movement has its roots in the broader Word of Faith tradition, started by early figures like Kenneth Hagin and Oral Roberts. They taught that believers could speak blessings into existence through words filled with faith. This idea still shapes what many prosperity preachers teach today.
The Human Cost: Strain and Alienation
Critics, including theologians and social scientists, warn that these teachings often cause followers to face financial strain and spiritual isolation. Research shows that roughly 30 percent of America’s biggest churches follow Word of Faith teachings, many of which have congregations of more than 5,000 members.
A Rational Perspective on Profit and Faith
- Ethical Clarity: Spiritual messages should not be sold as premium blessings.
- Epistemic Responsibility: Teachings must be transparent and open to examination, not based on emotional manipulation.
- Compassion without Exploitation: A church’s job is to uplift, not prey on hardship for profit.
Pungwenism affirms that **truth is free**, and spiritual integrity is non-negotiable.
What You Can Do
- Scrutinize: Are donations tied to promised rewards?
- Request clarity: Does the ministry publish audited reports?
- Support: Choose service-driven ministries over spectacle.
- Speak out: Foster candid discussions about faith, power, and money.
References
- Bowler, K. (2013). Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel. Oxford University Press.
- U.S. Senate Committee on Finance (2007–2011). Investigation into televangelist ministries.
- NPR. ’Prosperity Gospel’ Churches’ Spending Reports Due. 2008.
- CBS News. Televangelist Asks Followers to Buy $65 M Jet. 2015.
- BET. Creflo Dollar Admits Misleading Tithing Teachings. 2022.
- Wikipedia. Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland.
- Texas Observer. These Christians Think God Needs You Rich. 2023.