Q. What is the Catholic Church’s teaching or response about Prosperity Doctrine? A lot of televangelists are raising tens of millions to buy corporate jets in order to spread the Word more effectively. This goes against the Church’s teachings on humility and how Jesus sent out his apostles without money, food or spare cloak. Evangelicals site the sowing of seeds into people’s lives and those investments or seeds come back to them many times in the form of money. Certainly, God may be working through them, but it doesn’t ring sincere with me and my spirit.
— Tony Jolicoeur
A. Here’s a reply from Father Reginald Martin:
When the early 20th-century political economist Max Weber discussed traditional Calvinism, he found, “To attain . . . self-confidence, intense worldly activity is recommended as the most suitable means. It and it alone disperses religious doubts and gives the certainty of grace.”
The religious phenomenon known as the “Prosperity Gospel” might seem a modern reflection of this classic idea, but Calvin would hardly be impressed. He preached a doctrine of predestination — that is, God chooses some individuals for salvation and rejects others. Because no one knows whether she or he has been chosen, all must assume they are among the elect, and each must work. Any rewards are a sign of God’s favor.
“Prosperity Theology,” by contrast, appears to discern a somewhat mechanical contract between God and his creatures. If we give so much to God, he will return as much — in material goods and physical health — as if by formula. While the movement encourages the poor to think beyond poverty, its sad, negative side is the glorification of wealth and the amassing of material goods, to the point of forgetting the simplicity of Jesus’ life and his commending those who embrace voluntary poverty for the sake of God’s kingdom.