Abstract
The incursion of prosperity theology into the doctrinal space of some Charismatic and Neo-Pentecostal churches has generated fierce debate. The prosperity discourse promotes a spiritualised economy of materialism, commercialised around the idea of prosperity as a sacred right for spiritual progress. The prosperity gospel praxis in the context of Neo-Pentecostal churches in Thohoyandou is cause for theological concern, having in some cases led to unbiblical practices and beliefs. The prosperity gospel and the commercial praxis within Neo-Pentecostal churches has a significant impact on followers. Critics argue that it is a form of exploitation, and that it preys on the vulnerable and takes advantage of people’s desire for material success; critics contend furthermore that it is a distortion of the true message of Christianity, which is founded on the work of the Holy Spirit. As part of a prosperity-oriented interpretation, a selection of proof texts are isolated and equated with divine certainties without full consideration of the original intent of the scriptures concerned. This is problematic because, in practice, representing the message of the gospel as an apparatus for monetary gain will cause the meaning of the Gospel message to be lost, and will result in adverse repercussions for adherents. From a Practical Theology vantage point, this article reflects on practical application in pastoral situations based on solid theological foundations and subsequently assesses the problematic praxis of prosperity theology. The intention is to offer remedial pastoral guidance through theological arguments as a means of reorientation towards a new praxis that affords paradigms and models to help practitioners and adherents navigate the complexities of the prosperity gospel.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
11 May 2024
A correction has been published.
References
Adamo, D.T. 2021. The African background of the prosperity gospel. Theologia Viatorum 45 (1): 1–10.
Afolayan, A., O. Yacob-Haliso, and T. Falola. 2018. Pentecostalism and politics in Africa. New York: Springer.
Anderson, A. 2015. Pentecostals: Their rise and role in the Evangelical community. In Evangelicals around the world: A global handbook for the 21st century, ed. B. Stiller, 90–97. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Andrew, D.N. 2021. From the margins to the centre—Commercialisation of religion—Threat or an opportunity in Pentecostalism? Missionalia 49 (1): 6–20. https://doi.org/10.7832/49-413.
Asamoah-Gyadu, J.K. 2019. God is big in Africa: Pentecostal mega churches and a changing religious landscape. Material Religion 15 (3): 390–392.
Attanasi, K. 2012. Introduction: The plurality of prosperity theologies and Pentecostalisms. In Pentecostalism and prosperity: The socio-economics of the global charismatic movement, ed. K. Attanasi and A. Yong, 1–14. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Barron, J.R. 2022. Is the prosperity gospel, gospel? An examination of the prosperity and productivity gospels in African Christianity. Conspectus 33 (1): 88–103.
Benyah, F. 2018. The commodification of the gospel and the socio-economics of neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity in Ghana. Legon Journal of the Humanities 29 (2): 116–145.
Chong, T. 2015. The state of Pentecostalism in Southeast Asia: Ethnicity, class, and leadership. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute 53 (1): 1–9.
Erickson, J. 2019. “Stepsons and stepdaughters”: Chosen communities, religion, faith, and LGBT liberation. Claremont: The Claremont Graduate University.
Frahm-Arp, M. 2018. Pentecostalism, politics, and prosperity in South Africa. Religions 9 (10): 298.
Ganiel, G. 2010. Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity in South Africa and Zimbabwe: A review. Religion Compass 4 (1): 130–143.
Kaunda, C. 2020. “The emptied authority”: African Neo-Pentecostalism, modernisation of sacred authority, and gendered and sexualised constructions of violence. Acta Theologica 40 (2): 216–237.
Kgatle, M.S. 2017. The unusual practices within some Neo-Pentecostal churches in South Africa: Reflections and recommendations. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 73 (3): 1–8.
Khanyile, S.B. 2016. The virtualization of the church: New media representations of Neo-Pentecostal performance(s) in South Africa. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand.
Klaits, F., and S. McLean. 2015. Valuing Black lives: Pentecostalism, charismatic gifts, and human economies in a US inner city. American Ethnologist 42 (4): 610–623.
Klaver, M. 2015. Pentecostal pastorpreneurs and the global circulation of authoritative aesthetic styles. Culture and Religion: An Interdisciplinary Journal 16 (2): 146–159.
Kriaučiūnaitė-Lazauskienė, G. 2018. Religion as a way of branding in the age of consumerism. Contemporary Research on Organization Management and Administration 6 (1): 90–100.
Kwateng-Yeboah, J. 2017. A re-appraisal of the prosperity gospel in African Neo-Pentecostalism: The potency of “multiple modernities” paradigm. Ontario: Queen’s University in Kingston.
Lausanne Movement. 2022. Prosperity theology and the gospel: Good news or bad news for the poor? Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
Lauterbach, K. 2019. Fakery and wealth in African charismatic Christianity: Moving beyond the prosperity gospel as script. In In faith in African lived Christianity—Bridging anthropological and theological perspectives, ed. K. Lauterbach and M. Vähäkangas, 111–132. Boston: Brill.
Lewison, E. 2011. Pentecostal power and the holy spirit of capitalism: Re-imagining modernity in the charismatic cosmology. Symposia 3 (1): 31–54.
Lindhardt, M. 2015. Men of God: Neo-Pentecostalism and masculinities in urban Tanzania. Religion 45 (2): 252–272.
Ma, W., and J. Ma. 2020. Missiology: Evangelization, holistic ministry, and social justice. In The Routledge handbook of Pentecostal theology, ed. W. Vondey, 279–289. London: Routledge.
Masenya, M., and M. Masenya. 2018. Church breakaways as a prototype of commercialisation and commodification of religion in the Pentecostal church movement in South Africa: Considering curricula offerings for pastors. Stellenbosch Theological Journal 4 (2): 633–654.
McClendon, G., and R. Riedl. 2019. From pews to politics: Religious sermons and political participation in Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nel, M. 2019. The African background of Pentecostal theology: A critical perspective. In die Skriflig 53 (4): 1–8.
Orogun, D., and J. Pillay. 2021. Between African and American Neo-Pentecostalism: An examination of the link, influence, merits, and demerits. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 47 (3): 1–18.
Premawardhana, D. 2012. Transformational tithing: Sacrifice and reciprocity in a neo-Pentecostal church. Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 15 (4): 85–109.
Resane, K. 2020. “Simon the Sorcerer offered them money” (Acts 8:19): Some Pentecostals have gone commercial instead of evangelical. In The use and abuse of the Spirit in Pentecostalism: A South African perspective, 93–144. London: Routledge.
Sala, D.O. 2021. Pentecostal culture, or Pentecost of culture?: Transformation, paradigms, power, unity. Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology 6 (1): 103–122.
Saunders, S. 2013. The diversification of charities: From religion-oriented to for-profit-oriented fundraising. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing 18 (2): 141–148.
Soboyejo, J. 2016. Prosperity gospel and its religious impact on sustainable economic development of African nations. Open Access Library Journal 3 (1): 1–13.
Stiles-Ocran, D. 2013. A contextual approach to the praxis of the kingdom of God. Oslo: University of Oslo.
Tudor, K. 2019. Religion, faith, spirituality, and the beyond in transactional analysis. Transactional Analysis Journal 49 (2): 71–87.
Umaru, K. 2017. Salvation as healing?: An analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’s soteriologies in the context of African prosperity gospels. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University.
Van der Merwe, D. 2016. From Christianising Africa to Africanising Christianity: Some hermeneutical principles. Stellenbosch Theological Journal 2 (2): 559–587.
Vincent, M.J. 2017. The formation of a prosperity theology that takes full account of an ideal considered hermeneutical strategy in the light of the strengths and weaknesses of the hermeneutics of Word-faith and non-Word-faith prosperity teaching. London: Middlesex University.
Wepener, C. 2014. Liturgicar “reform” in Sub-Saharan Africa: Some observations on worship, language and culture. Studia Liturgica 44 (1–2): 82–95.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Muthivhi, M.E., Mudimeli, L.M., Dames, G.E. (2023). Commercial Praxis of Neo-Pentecostal Churches and the Prosperity Gospel. In: Kgatle, M.S., Thinane, J.S., Kaunda, C.J. (eds) Commercialisation of Religion in South Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41837-2_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41837-2_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-41836-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-41837-2
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)