New poll reveals Protestant pastors’ views on the prosperity gospel

January 27, 2025

A new poll by Lifeway Research is shedding light on the percentage of pastors who believe in the prosperity gospel which teaches that health, wealth and prosperity come to those who are obedient.

The Christian Post reports that the new poll released by Lifeway Research shows that only 8% of Protestant pastors agreed that “individuals must do something for God in order to receive material blessings from Him,” while 90% disagreed and 2% were unsure.

Lifeway also reports that 18% of pastors surveyed said that their churches “teach that if you give more money to the church and charities, God will bless the giver in return.”

That compares to 79% of respondents who disagreed and 3% who said they were not sure whether Christians can see material gain in this life if they are devoutly religious and give to the church.

Some pastors, like Oscar Amaechina who is president of the Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network of Abuja, Nigeria, consider the prosperity gospel to be a form of idolatry.

Amaechina says, “Jesus gave us two choices: to love God and hate money, or hate God and love money. The enemy cleverly introduced the worship of money into our churches through the concept of the prosperity gospel.”

Pastor Bill Winston of the Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Illinois says the prosperity gospel isn’t always antithetical to the Gospel.

Winston says, “But the prosperity is a part of the Gospel. We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. God said that the blessing of Abraham is on the seed, that we have the blessing of Abraham. If we belong to Christ, then you’re Abraham’s seed and heirs, according to the blessing. That means that the portion that Abraham had is the same portion his seed will have.”

According to the Christian Post, data for the report was derived from a survey of 1,003 Protestant pastors conducted Aug. 8-Sept. 3, 2024, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3% at the 95% confidence level.

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