Week #1: Pelegianism and Prosperity Gospel
Blog Series Intention Recap
This four-part series deals with common heretical beliefs held by those in society—and many in the church. Through examining some of these beliefs through a biblical lens and seeing the struggles Christians have had throughout the centuries, we can see the truth of God’s Word and how to gain a better appreciation of the importance of correct doctrine.
This post is part of the series “Heresies.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #1:
A Call to Defend the Gospel of Grace
The Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism are two heresies separated by centuries, yet their shared emphasis on human effort and material gain undermines the core message of grace central to the Christian faith. Understanding the historical and theological parallels between these two movements offers valuable insight into how they distort the gospel and how the church can respond to their dangerous teachings.
Why it Matters:
The Prosperity Gospel teaches that faith guarantees wealth, health, and success, placing an overemphasis on material blessings.
Pelagianism denied original sin and taught that humans could achieve salvation through their own efforts without the need for grace.
Both heresies overestimate human ability, downplay God’s grace, and distort the Christian understanding of suffering, humility, and divine provision.
Tracing their theological roots reveals their shared focus on self-reliance and their failure to grasp the depth of human sinfulness and the necessity of God’s grace.
Go Deeper:
One of my favorite movies, King Arthur (2004 staring Clive Owen), contains a short discussion of Pelagianism. Arthur’s beliefs, shaped by Pelagianism, emphasize the value of free will and the idea that all people, regardless of their social standing or heritage, have the capacity for goodness and deserve freedom. He argues against the rigid hierarchy of Roman and Christian rule, asserting that people should be free to determine their own fate rather than being bound by birth or imposed structures. While the discussion really speaks to the philosophical implications of Pelagianism and not the theological implications, the discussion serves to introduce Pelagianism to a modern audience.
Let’s review: Heresy in the Christian faith refers to any teaching or belief that distorts or contradicts the essential doctrines of Scripture. These deviations often arise when human reasoning or desires override the truth revealed by God. Two heresies, that have led many astray in the same way even though separated by time and context, are the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism.
The Prosperity Gospel is a modern movement that promises material wealth, physical health, and success to those who have enough faith. It teaches that God rewards believers in this life with prosperity, framing financial success and personal well-being as signs of God’s favor.
Pelagianism, a 5th-century heresy, taught that humans were born morally neutral and could achieve salvation through their own efforts, without the need for divine grace. Pelagius, its founder, denied the doctrine of original sin and argued that people could choose good or evil based on their free will.
Despite their different historical contexts, both heresies elevate human effort and minimize the role of divine grace. This post will examine the core teachings of the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism, highlight their theological similarities, and discuss how they distort the gospel of grace.
The Prosperity Gospel: Health, Wealth, and Success
The Prosperity Gospel, also known as the "Word of Faith" movement, emerged in the 20th century, particularly in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. It gained popularity through televangelists who promised viewers that faith in God would lead to financial abundance, physical healing, and overall success in life. At its core, the Prosperity Gospel teaches that material wealth is a sign of divine blessing and that Christians can "claim" these blessings through positive confession and strong belief.
Key beliefs of the Prosperity Gospel include:
Faith as a Formula for Success
The Prosperity Gospel teaches that faith is not just trust in God but a means to manipulate spiritual laws that guarantee prosperity. According to this view, if believers have enough faith and speak positively about their future, they will experience success and wealth.Material Blessings as a Sign of Favor
Proponents of the Prosperity Gospel argue that God desires all believers to be financially prosperous. They misinterpret biblical passages like Malachi 3:10 (“bring the full tithe into the storehouse… and see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you”) to claim that financial giving guarantees financial return.Suffering as Evidence of Lack of Faith
In contrast to biblical teachings on suffering, the Prosperity Gospel asserts that hardship or sickness is a result of insufficient faith. Suffering is viewed as something to be overcome by stronger belief, rather than a part of the Christian life that shapes character (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4).
At its heart, the Prosperity Gospel distorts the biblical doctrine of blessings by prioritizing material wealth over spiritual growth and eternal rewards. It reduces God to a cosmic vending machine, offering rewards to those who follow the right formulas.
Pelagianism: Salvation Through Human Effort
Pelagianism originated with the British monk Pelagius in the early 5th century. Pelagius taught that humans were born without a sinful nature and that they had the inherent ability to choose good or evil without the need for divine grace. According to Pelagianism, original sin did not corrupt human nature, and Christ’s role was merely to set a moral example for humans to follow.
Key beliefs of Pelagianism include:
Denial of Original Sin
Pelagius rejected the doctrine of original sin, which holds that all humanity inherited a sinful nature from Adam (Romans 5:12-19). He argued that each person is born in the same moral state as Adam before the fall and thus capable of living a sinless life through free will.Self-Salvation
Pelagius taught that humans could achieve salvation through their own efforts, without the need for God’s grace. He viewed grace as God’s guidance, but not as essential for overcoming sin or attaining salvation. This directly opposed the biblical teaching that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not something humans can earn (Ephesians 2:8-9).Christ as a Moral Example
Instead of seeing Christ’s death and resurrection as atoning for humanity’s sin, Pelagianism viewed Jesus as primarily a moral teacher. Christ’s role, according to Pelagius, was to show people how to live a good life, rather than to save them from the consequences of sin.
Pelagianism was condemned as heresy at the Council of Carthage in AD 418 and later at the Council of Ephesus in AD 431. The church upheld the biblical teaching that humans are born with a sinful nature and that salvation is only possible through the grace of God.
Theological Parallels Between the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism
While the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism arose in different contexts, they share several key theological errors that distort the Christian faith.
1. Overemphasis on Human Effort
Both the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism place a significant emphasis on human effort as the key to success, whether that be material prosperity or spiritual salvation.
In the Prosperity Gospel, believers are taught that their level of faith determines their wealth and health. They must work hard to build their faith, speak positively, and give financially in order to receive God's blessings.
In Pelagianism, salvation is achieved through human effort, with individuals relying on their own willpower to follow God’s commands. Grace is seen as optional guidance, rather than essential for overcoming sin.
Both heresies place the burden of achievement on the individual, rather than recognizing that everything—including salvation and blessings—comes from God’s grace. Scripture teaches that it is God who enables both spiritual growth and material provision (Philippians 2:13, Matthew 6:33).
2. Minimization of Grace
Both movements downplay the importance of grace in the Christian life.
In the Prosperity Gospel, God's grace is often portrayed as something believers activate through their faith. Prosperity preachers rarely emphasize the unmerited nature of grace or the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for our eternal well-being. Instead, the focus is on achieving blessings through human faith and actions.
In Pelagianism, grace is seen as unnecessary for salvation. Pelagius believed that humans could obey God’s commands through sheer willpower, with Christ serving only as an example, not as a Savior.
The Bible, however, presents grace as the foundation of the Christian life. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states that salvation is by grace through faith, “not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Grace is the unearned, undeserved favor of God, given to humanity through Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins.
3. Distortion of the Doctrine of Sin
Both the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism demonstrate a misunderstanding of the doctrine of sin.
The Prosperity Gospel fails to account for the reality of suffering and the fallen nature of the world. By teaching that faith automatically leads to success, it suggests that those who suffer or face hardship are at fault for their lack of faith. This contradicts the biblical understanding of sin’s pervasive impact on the world (Romans 8:22), as well as the role of suffering in the Christian life (James 1:2-4).
Pelagianism denies original sin altogether, claiming that humans are born morally neutral and capable of choosing good without divine intervention. This heresy undermines the biblical teaching that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and that only God’s grace can save us from the consequences of sin.
Both heresies underestimate the gravity of sin and its effects on the human condition, leading to a false sense of self-reliance and a diminished view of Christ’s atonement.
4. Misinterpretation of Scripture
Both movements rely on selective readings of Scripture to support their claims.
The Prosperity Gospel misuses passages like Malachi 3:10 or John 10:10 to justify its emphasis on material wealth, while ignoring the broader biblical teachings on suffering, contentment, and the dangers of riches (1 Timothy 6:9-10, Matthew 6:19-21).
Pelagianism similarly twists Scripture to support its view of human ability, ignoring passages that clearly teach the necessity of grace for salvation and the sinful nature of humanity (Romans 5:12-21, Titus 3:5).
In both cases, the heresies arise from a failure to interpret Scripture in its full context, leading to a theology that emphasizes human effort over divine grace.
How does this help me understand, “Heresies?”
The Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism, though separated by centuries, share a common flaw: they both overestimate human ability and underestimate the need for God’s grace. The Prosperity Gospel teaches that faith is a tool to unlock material blessings, while Pelagianism teaches that salvation can be earned through good works. Both distort the biblical message that salvation and blessing come by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
As the church continues to encounter these and other heresies, Christians must remain rooted in the truth of Scripture. The gospel is not about self-reliance or personal success, but about God’s unmerited grace toward sinners. In Christ, we find the true riches of eternal life—not the fleeting treasures of this world, but the unshakable hope of salvation by grace through faith.
In every generation, the church is called to defend the gospel against distortions. By recognizing the dangers of heresies like the Prosperity Gospel and Pelagianism, we can stand firm in the truth, proclaiming the message of grace that transforms lives and glorifies God.
