If it isn’t enough that Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation, the multi-campus megachurch in Charlotte, NC is a habitual twister of the Scriptures for the purpose of self-promotion and egotistical gain, it’s now abundantly clear that he’s gone full-on Prosperity Gospel.
The Prosperity Gospel is a false gospel that teaches that God promises to all believers who have “enough faith” a long life of good health and extraordinary wealth. Never mind that the proponents of this false gospel are regularly afflicted with various calamities, including death. Recently, Eddie Long, one of the most notorious proponents of the distorted gospel of health and wealth died after a long battle with cancer. Then you have others, like Jan Crouch, who died unexpectedly. Perhaps their faith failed them? Perhaps they did not ask therefore they did not receive?
The truth is, these people are the quintessential examples of Proverbs 22:16,
Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Now, Steven Furtick has teamed up with a well-known charlatan and purveyor of “another gospel” for selfish gain, Bill Winston, along with his compatriot of the fantastic land of biblical narcissism, Craig Groeschel, to explain to his audience how you, as a believer in Christ, have the power to rub the side of a bottle and summon your genie-Jesus to grant you your wishes.
The Joseph Business School, a subsidiary of Bill Winston Ministries, is putting on a conference called Missions & Marketplace, The Power to Get Wealth–you know, because the New Testament gospel is all about God’s promise to have you swimming in a pool of gold coins in exchange for laying your life down at the foot of the cross. Noted featured speakers here are “Dr.” Deidra Anderson, an “empowered woman” of wealth, Gerald Duran, a rich guy, Craig Groeschel, a narcissist from Life Church, and of course, Steven Furtick.
Furtick states, “the reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” Of course, a man-centered worldview would lead one to this conclusion, but the Scriptures state that the reason we struggle with insecurity is because we are fallen, and we rely not on the grace of God, but ourselves (Isaiah 26:3).
Yet, Furtick and Co. are going to explain to all who find God’s grace insufficient how to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved from poverty, sickness, weakness, and calamity–all the things that God’s power is made perfect in.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power [δύναμις] is made perfect in weakness [ἀσθενείᾳ].” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Not that it wasn’t already abundantly clear to the discerning Christian that Furtick is a false teacher, a huckster, and a wolf in sheep’s clothing to be duly marked and avoided (Romans 16:17), it is to be noted, however, that this is perhaps a new line being crossed for the eisegetical narcissist and perhaps should you not only avoid him but take as many as you can with you and run.
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. –Jude 1:4
[Contributed by Pulpit & Pen]
