Prosperity religion is narcissism in the name of Jesus, a gospel inversion disguised by flib-jibbery,  strong personalities, and a corny con-artistry. It is not Christianity. It is biblical chicanery at the crassest level, a fairy-tale forged from selected parts of the Bible, but not the whole. If you expect Christianity to be as prosperity religion presents it, welcome to the tooth fairy! It is deceptive at its roots, and I am going to show you why.

Start with the scripture above. Do Jesus’ words sound like prosperity religion? Continue with this one:

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:34ff)

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Roger Wood graduated AB Wofford College, MDiv. Duke University Divinity School, and DMin. Vanderbilt University Divinity School, doing extensive postgraduate studies at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary and Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary.