Why prosperity gospel is coming back among young Protestants, Lifeway Research finds

Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

An old message is sowing new seeds among U.S. Protestants.

A survey from Lifeway Research, a division of the Brentwood-based Christian resources publisher affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, found prosperity gospel teachings are growing in popularity.

The prosperity gospel refers to a belief in the idea God wants followers to financially prosper and has been popularized by conservative evangelical Christian preachers such as Jim Bakker, Benny Hinn and Joel Osteen. The SBC denounced the prosperity gospel in a resolution approved at the 2022 SBC annual meeting.

In this Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 file photo, Pastor Joel Osteen gives an interview at his Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. On Friday, May 17, 2019, The Associated Press has found that stories circulating on the internet that Joel Osteen Ministries refused to accept a prayer request sent via Facebook unless the person pays a $24.99 monthly donation, are untrue. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

“In the last five years, far more churchgoers are reflecting prosperity gospel teachings, including the heretical belief that material blessings are earned from God,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, in a news release.

Here’s more on the survey’s findings:

How it’s changing

Seventy-six percent of respondents say God wants them to financially prosper, an uptick from 69% of respondents to a 2017 Lifeway Research survey.

Fifty-two percent said they believe God will bless them in return for tithing to the church and charities. In the 2017 survey, that was only 38%.

“It is possible the financial hits people have taken from inflation and the pandemic have triggered feelings of guilt for not serving God more,” McConnell said in the news release.

Where is the change taking place

Young people between the ages of 18-34 are the largest group to support prosperity gospel teachings. Those with a bachelor’s or graduate degree are less likely to embrace those teachings versus respondents with some college education or a high school diploma or less.

“This research does not rule out the possibility that biblical teachings were poorly heard by more young adults, but they definitely have experienced a lack of clear biblical teaching on the reason for generosity,” McConnell said.

In a reversal of 2017 results, the most recent survey found an appeal to prosperity gospel teachings among more non-evangelical respondents than evangelical ones.

Respondents belong to Methodist and Restorationist movement denominations were most likely to agree God will bless them if they give more money.

Both the age and denominational statistics were the opposite five years ago, in which more evangelicals and respondents in the 35-49 age group were more likely to embrace prosperity gospel teachings.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter and Threads @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Prosperity gospel appeals to more young Protestants: Lifeway study