Well-known television evangelist Joyce Meyer has delivered teachings and sermons around the world and has written over 100 books. Now the 75-year-old self-proclaimed evangelist says her beliefs in faith and prosperity were sometimes “out of balance.” She now understands that trials in life are not a direct result of someone having insufficient faith.
Is this a step in the right direction, or is it too little too late?
Meyer and the Prosperity Gospel
Over the course of her 33-year ministry, Meyer has often been associated with and criticized for her blatant teaching of the “prosperity gospel.” She has led thousands of listeners—if not millions—to make decisions with their faith and their pocketbook under the assumption that doing so would result in specific and positive gifts from God.
What it has resulted in has been her own financial success.
In 2003, one report stated that Meyer’s ministry owned a $107,000 Mercedes sedan, a $2 million home, and a $10 million jet—all of which Meyer publicly attributed as “blessings from God.”
The Prosperity Gospel Defined
The prosperity gospel is teaching that links faith with financial blessing. Often, it also links tithing with financial prosperity. The prosperity gospel is notably associated with evangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart and Jim and Tammy Bakker who made their millions on television in the 1980s.
But the prosperity gospel isn’t limited to slick televangelists of yesteryear.
A survey last year by Lifeway Research revealed that the prosperity gospel is actually taught—either intentionally or inadvertently—to 4 out of 10 evangelical church members. A statement by Lifeway Research said, “For some Americans, dropping a check into the offering plate at church is a bit like having a Discover Card. Both offer a cash-back bonus.” These churchgoers are led to believe that in order to receive a blessing from God, they must give more money to the church.
One writer, Kate Bowler, summed up the prosperity gospel in a Vox article by saying, “There’s a branch of Christianity that promises a direct path to the good life. It is called by many names, but most often it is nicknamed the ‘prosperity gospel’ for its bold central claim that God will give you your heart’s desires: money in the bank, a healthy body, a thriving family, and boundless happiness.”
This was the type of gospel Joyce Meyer appeared to preach for three decades prior to her recent admission.
Meyer’s Admission
In a video clip posted to her Instagram account last week, Meyer seemed to dial back her decades-old assertion that faith was the only obstacle to getting good things from God. In her words, “I’m glad for what I learned about prosperity, but it got out of balance. I’m glad for what I’ve learned about faith, but it got out of balance. Every time somebody had a problem in their life, [I thought] it was because they didn’t have enough faith. If you got sick it’s because you don’t have enough faith. If your child died, it’s because you don’t have enough faith.”
Meyer goes on to say, “Well, that’s not right! There is nowhere in the Bible where we’re promised we will never have any trouble. I don’t care how much faith you have, you’re never going to avoid having trouble in your life. Jesus said, ‘In the world, you will have tribulation but cheer up. I have overcome the world.'”
Conclusion
So Meyer has admitted publicly that her teaching of faith and prosperity has been problematic. Is it a step in the right direction, or is it too little too late?
Certainly any time a teacher tries to correct a mistake, it would appear to be a good start. But only time will tell how authentic the statement was or what she intends to do about years of false teaching. It isn’t enough for someone to make a single statement about a long-term error and then return to “teaching as normal.”
Megapastor Rick Warren who authored the bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life, said of the prosperity gospel, “This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy? There is a word for that: baloney. It’s creating a false idol. You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn’t everyone in the church a millionaire?”
Hopefully this is the start to Joyce Meyer looking closer at God’s design for ministry and for money.
