Christian Living

Another Gospel, Another Jesus

by Brother Carlton 
08/23/26
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There is perhaps no more dangerous counterfeit of Christianity in our generation than a gospel that promises men the very things their fallen hearts already desire: money, health, success, comfort, influence, and an easier life.

For decades, millions have heard variations of what has become known as the prosperity gospel or the health-and-wealth gospel. Names commonly associated with this movement have included Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Jesse Duplantis, Paula White, and others. They do not all teach precisely the same things, and we should be careful not to make accusations beyond the evidence. But wherever Christianity is presented as a means of obtaining earthly prosperity, we must compare that message with the Word of God.

The question is not: Is the preacher popular?

The question is not: Has he written a bestseller?

The question is not: Does he have a huge television audience, an enormous church, a beautiful home, or millions of followers?

The question is: Is this the gospel once delivered unto the saints?

Paul wrote:

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
*** Romans 1:22

Human wisdom has always tried to replace God's truth with something more attractive to fallen man. And few messages are more attractive than one which tells sinners that God wants to fulfill their earthly dreams.

But compare that message with Jesus Christ.

Jesus did not say, “Follow Me and become wealthy.”

He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Jesus warned us against laying up treasures upon earth. Paul knew hunger, persecution, imprisonment, beatings, rejection, and eventually death for the sake of Christ. The apostles did not preach Christianity as the secret to acquiring mansions and material abundance.

The great riches of Christianity are infinitely better.

Scripture says of Christ:

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
—1 Corinthians 1:30

There are the riches of the Christian.

Wisdom.

Righteousness.

Sanctification.

Redemption.

Forgiveness of sins. Peace with God. Adoption into God's family. The indwelling Holy Spirit. Growth in holiness. Fellowship with Christ. Resurrection from the dead. Everlasting life.

What mansion, automobile, private aircraft, investment account, or earthly fortune can compare with these?

This is why the prosperity message is so spiritually destructive. It can subtly move our eyes from the Giver to His gifts, from heaven to earth, from holiness to happiness, from Christ to self.

And Scripture gives especially severe warnings concerning religious teachers motivated by money. Peter warned that false teachers would arise and said:

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.”
—2 Peter 2:3

What a frightening description: “make merchandise of you.”

The sheep become customers.

Faith becomes a product.

Giving becomes an investment scheme.

God becomes the means by which I obtain what I really want.

But biblical Christianity turns that entire system upside down. Christ Himself is the treasure.

The Christian can lose his possessions and still possess Christ. He can lose his health and still possess Christ. He can lose his reputation, his career, his house, and eventually his earthly life—and still possess an inheritance “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.”

This does not mean that poverty is holy or that wealth is sinful. Abraham was wealthy. Job was wealthy. Scripture commands the rich not necessarily to abandon everything they possess, but not to trust in uncertain riches.

That distinction matters.

Money is not the problem. The love of money is.

And using the name of Jesus to cultivate that love rather than crucify it is a terrible corruption of Christianity.

So test every preacher.

Test every bestselling Christian book.

Test every television ministry.

Test this article.

Test everything by Scripture.

A smiling face, an enormous audience, apparent miracles, emotional testimonies, and worldly success prove nothing about whether a message comes from God.

The Bereans were called noble because they searched the Scriptures to determine whether the things they heard were true.

We desperately need that spirit again.

The true gospel does not promise that Jesus will give you everything you ever wanted.

The gospel announces something infinitely greater:

Jesus Christ gives Himself to sinners who have nothing with which to purchase Him.

Christ died for sinners. He bore the judgment they deserved. He rose bodily from the grave. He commands men everywhere to repent and believe the gospel.

And the person who possesses Christ is richer on his poorest day than the unbelieving billionaire is on his richest.

Jesus therefore asks the question that exposes every prosperity gospel and, indeed, every idol of the human heart:

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
—Mark 8:36

The whole world.

Not merely a million dollars.

Not merely a mansion.

Not merely perfect health.

Suppose you possessed everything this world could give you.

If you lost your soul, Jesus says you gained nothing.

So beware of teachers who constantly direct your eyes toward earthly prosperity. Beware of any message that makes Jesus a pathway to riches rather than presenting Jesus Himself as the greatest treasure.

The church does not need a gospel promising richer Christians.

We need the old gospel that raises dead sinners to life, reconciles enemies to God, produces holiness, prepares saints for suffering, and brings them safely home to glory.

Christ is our wisdom.
Christ is our righteousness.
Christ is our sanctification.
Christ is our redemption.

That is prosperity worth preaching.

Brother Carlton is an author, podcast host, and speaker with a passion for proclaiming biblical truth and encouraging Christians to pursue the lasting riches found in Jesus Christ. He is the author of Digging for Spiritual Treasure: Meditations From My Hollywood Apartment and host of The Brother Carlton Show, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Through his writing, podcasting, and speaking ministry, Brother Carlton addresses faith, culture, Christian living, and biblical discernment with a clear call to seek the eternal treasures of God’s Word rather than the fleeting promises of the world. He is also available for speaking engagements, bringing Scripture-centered messages designed to challenge, encourage, and strengthen audiences in their walk with Christ.