Much of 'Christianity' Is Just Greed in a Fancy Suit
Much of 'Christianity' Is Just Greed in a Fancy Suit
"When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance." – Joel Osteen
It sounds good, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want abundance? Who doesn’t want to be “blessed” and live a happy, prosperous life? The problem isn’t just the wording—it’s the complete misrepresentation of the gospel.
This kind of teaching, often referred to as the prosperity gospel or self-help Christianity, has infiltrated modern churches at an alarming rate. Many of today’s biggest and most influential churches have twisted the true message of Christ into a product designed to sell books, fill seats, and make their leaders wealthy.
Rather than preaching the gospel of repentance, self-denial, and salvation through Jesus Christ alone, they offer a shallow, self-serving version of Christianity—one that promises health, wealth, and happiness but conveniently ignores suffering, sacrifice, and holiness. And in doing so, they lead countless people away from the real Jesus.
The true gospel message is simple yet profound: Jesus Christ came to save sinners. From the very beginning, humanity has been separated from God because of sin (Romans 3:23). You and I both are people who violate the moral and legal laws of a holy, perfect God. God declared that all sinners must be justly dealt with, and the only just atonement for sin is death. No amount of good works, religious rituals, or self-improvement can bridge that gap. But God, in His love and mercy, sent His Son, Jesus, to live the perfect life we could never live and to die the death we deserved (Romans 5:8). On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of our sin and God’s righteous judgment, making a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin, death, and hell (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This isn’t just a historical event—it’s the foundation of our faith. His resurrection means that those who trust in Him can have eternal life, not because of their own merit but because of His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9). The gospel isn’t about self-help, prosperity, or temporary happiness—it’s about salvation from sin, transformation by grace, and the promise of eternity with God.
To receive this gift of salvation, we must repent and believe (Mark 1:15). Repentance means turning away from sin and surrendering to Christ as Lord, not just as a helper or life coach. Faith is trusting in His righteousness, not our own, for salvation. True Christianity isn’t about adding Jesus to our existing lives—it’s about dying to ourselves and living for Him (Galatians 2:20). When we trust in Him, He changes us from the inside out, giving us a new heart, a new purpose, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The gospel is good news because it offers what nothing else can: reconciliation with God, true peace, and a hope that extends beyond this life. It’s not a promise of health, wealth, or ease, but of something infinitely greater—eternal life in Christ, secured by His grace and guaranteed by His resurrection. This is the message that must be preached, believed, and lived out—not a watered-down, worldly version, but the powerful, life-changing truth of Jesus Christ.
I. The Rise of a Comfortable Christianity
The gospel was never meant to be comfortable. Jesus never promised His followers an easy, wealthy, trouble-free life. In fact, He said the opposite:
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." – Luke 9:23
But many modern churches have abandoned this difficult yet life-giving message. Instead, they focus on self-help, motivational speaking, and emotional high points rather than calling people to real faith and obedience. They even go as far as to declare that they will not speak on sin or God’s wrath because they want to stay in their lane.
Joel Osteen teaches that “your best life” is found by speaking positive words over your situation, rather than surrendering your life to Christ. They’re never told that their sin seprartes them from a holy God, that is it deserving of God’s wrath and punishment, or that they need to repent of that sin.
Steven Furtick of Elevation Church frequently preaches about personal empowerment but rarely emphasizes the need for repentance. He focuses much attention to the blessings God wants you to experience in this life, often times divorced from the pain, hurt, and sacrifice Jesus promised in this life.
Andy Stanley has suggested that Christianity needs to “unhitch” itself from the Old Testament, downplaying the foundation of our faith. The entire progress of redemption story tells the history of God’s redeeming work despite humanity’s wickedness. We need more than feel-good weak encouragement.
Why Understanding the Progress of Redemption Matters For Christians
These teachings reduce Jesus to a life coach rather than Lord and Savior. They make Christianity about you—your dreams, your comfort, your happiness—rather than about Christ and His glory.
II. The Prosperity Gospel: A Pyramid Scheme in Jesus' Name
Few false teachings have done as much damage as the prosperity gospel. This doctrine claims that if you have enough faith (or if you give enough money to the church), God will reward you with health, wealth, and success.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." – Luke 6:38 (often misused by prosperity preachers)
While generosity is biblical, the idea that God is a cosmic vending machine—where you deposit faith or money and get financial rewards—is not.
Pastors Who Preach This False Gospel:
Kenneth Copeland preaches that faith can make you rich while living in a multi-million-dollar mansion with a private jet.
Creflo Dollar once asked his congregation to fund a $65 million private jet for him, claiming God told him he needed it.
Benny Hinn has built an empire off of supposed healing crusades while amassing millions.
These preachers intentionally prey on the vulnerable—those who are struggling financially, battling illness, or carrying deep emotional wounds. They promise that if people would just "sow a seed" by giving more money to the church or directly to their ministry, God will reward them with financial breakthroughs, physical healing, and overflowing prosperity. They twist Scripture to make it sound like God operates on a transaction-based system, where the more you give, the more you get in return. In reality, this is nothing more than a spiritualized scam, designed to exploit the poor and the desperate while enriching those at the top.
Your Church Attendance Might Be Ushering You To Hell
Instead of pointing people to Christ as their ultimate treasure, these preachers convince them that faith is a means to material gain. They peddle a false gospel that treats God like a divine slot machine—put money in, get blessings out. When the blessings don’t come, the blame is placed back on the people: they didn’t give enough, they didn’t have enough faith, or they failed to "declare" their prosperity properly. It’s a cruel cycle that leaves many feeling disillusioned, ashamed, and worse off than before, all while the preachers continue to live in luxury, flying in private jets and wearing designer clothes, funded by the very people they claim to be helping.
At its core, this is not Christianity—it is greed in a fancy suit, wrapped in just enough spiritual language to sound legitimate. It preys on the very people Jesus came to rescue, not to exploit. Instead of offering hope in Christ, it offers false hope in wealth. Instead of preaching the cross, it preaches cash flow. And instead of pointing people toward eternal riches in Christ, it distracts them with empty promises of worldly wealth that will never satisfy.
But Scripture tells a different story:
The apostle Paul, one of the greatest missionaries of all time, often lacked material wealth.
Jesus Himself said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58)
Early Christians were persecuted, imprisoned, and killed—not rewarded with riches.
So if Jesus and His disciples weren’t wealthy and comfortable, why should we believe that’s God’s ultimate goal for us?
III. Megachurches and the Business of Religion
There’s a reason many modern megachurches feel more like entertainment venues than houses of worship. Flashy lights, motivational speeches, and concert-like worship experiences have turned Christianity into a performance rather than a pursuit of holiness.
While not all large churches are bad, many of them have drifted into a corporate mindset, where success is measured in book sales, social media followers, and ticketed events rather than in spiritual growth and discipleship.
Churches That Exemplify This Trend:
Hillsong Church – Once one of the most influential megachurches in the world, now plagued by scandals, financial mismanagement, and celebrity favoritism.
Transformation Church (Mike Todd) – Famous for outlandish sermon stunts (such as spitting into his hand and rubbing it on a man's face), all while living in extreme wealth.
TD Jakes – Blends faith with personal branding, selling success strategies alongside his sermons.
These churches spend millions on production, branding, and self-promotion while neglecting the very heart of the gospel.
IV. The Real Cost of a Fake Gospel
The damage of these false teachings isn’t just financial—it’s spiritual.
People are deceived. They believe they are following Christ, but they are actually following a counterfeit gospel that centers on themselves rather than on Jesus.
False expectations are set. When believers inevitably face hardship (sickness, financial trouble, suffering), they question God because they were promised a life free of struggle.
It tarnishes the witness of true Christianity. When these pastors and churches are exposed for greed, it fuels skepticism and atheism.
Jesus Himself warned about false teachers:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." – Matthew 7:15
V. What True Christianity Looks Like
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If the prosperity gospel is a lie, what does real Christianity look like?
It’s about self-denial, not self-fulfillment. (Luke 9:23)
It’s about serving, not being served. (Mark 10:45)
It’s about holiness, not personal happiness. (1 Peter 1:16)
It’s about enduring trials, not escaping them. (James 1:2-4)
Faithful preachers and churches are committed to proclaiming the whole gospel, even when it challenges cultural norms or makes people uncomfortable. They do not shrink back from preaching about sin, repentance, and the cost of following Christ (Acts 20:27). They understand that the gospel is not about personal comfort or material gain but about spiritual transformation and eternal salvation. True biblical preaching does not cater to itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4); it calls people to turn from sin, surrender their lives to Christ, and embrace the truth—even when that truth is hard to hear.
Rather than offering false promises of wealth and ease, faithful preachers emphasize the true riches found in Christ—forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and the hope of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7-14). They do not manipulate people into giving for selfish gain; instead, they teach biblical stewardship, generosity for the sake of God’s kingdom, and trusting in God’s provision rather than chasing worldly wealth (Matthew 6:19-21). They point people to the greatest treasure of all: Jesus Himself, not just what He can give.
A faithful church does not measure success by crowd size, offering amounts, or social status, but by transformed lives. It seeks to make true disciples, not just enthusiastic attendees who come for motivational speeches and prosperity promises. It is willing to stand firm on Scripture, even when it is countercultural. Whether preaching about grace or judgment, salvation or sin, heaven or hell, a faithful church proclaims the full counsel of God’s Word, trusting that His truth—not gimmicks, entertainment, or self-help rhetoric—is what truly changes lives (Hebrews 4:12).
A Call Back to Authentic Christianity
We don’t need another self-help sermon. We don’t need another prosperity scheme. We need the real Jesus.
Christianity isn’t about getting rich, achieving your dreams, or living a life of ease. It’s about following Christ—no matter the cost.
Paul put it best:
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." – Galatians 2:20
So the real question is: Are you following Jesus, or just a fancy, polished version of Christianity that looks good but lacks power?
The choice is yours.