–– Paul Schlehlein
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I would like to commend the Africa Statement on Prosperity Gospel and Word of Faith Theology (ASPG), a formal document launched in 2025 for the purpose of drawing clear lines between those who hold to prosperity and word of faith theology and those who do not.
The brainchild for this statement apparently comes from Kenyan evangelical churches, as twenty-nine of the original thirty-eight signers serve as ministers in Kenya, with a handful of others residing in Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Cameroon, and Uganda.
The authors correctly observe that the greatest danger facing the church in today’s sub-Saharan Africa is not Islam, Hinduism, or atheism but the prosperity gospel—a false doctrine which dovetails nicely with many of the core tenets of African traditional religion.
The prosperity gospel teaches that Jesus came to earth to make believers physically healthy and wealthy, a blasphemous doctrine which Scripture clearly rejects. Jesus said following Him would often make life worse—not easier—sometimes costing a man his life (Mt. 16:24). Paul said in Acts 14:22: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” God never removed Paul’s thorn in the flesh, despite the apostle’s repeated prayers (2Cor. 12:7-10).
The Importance of Statements
Throughout church history, ecclesiastical statements have played a crucial role in the purity and health of God’s people. Though sola Scriptura stands as a core tenet of the Christian faith, God has blessed godly men who have gathered to elucidate exactly what the Bible says about a particular doctrine. “No creed but the Bible” fails because enemies of the gospel have used the Scriptures to attack the truth. Read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs to find out how often blood was spilt because of a Bible verse.
“Creeds” (from a Latin word meaning “I believe”) contain a brief statement on a Christian belief, such as the deity or humanity of Christ. Historic examples include the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.
“Confessions of faith” are larger statements of belief that groups of Christians have constructed to serve as guides for their churches. Popular confessions of faith include the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles, the Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Baptist Confession of 1689.
“Statements” are typically longer than creeds but shorter than confessions and address contemporary matters in the church. Some examples of popular evangelical statements include the Nashville Statement (which addresses sexuality and gender roles), Evangelicals and Catholics Together (which addresses ecumenicism), and the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel (which addresses racial issues).
A Summary
The ASPG consists of fourteen articles, all of which include an affirmation and a denial. Article One acknowledges that while gifts and advantages come from God, He doesn’t guarantee material blessings to his children.
Article Two asserts that the purpose of Christ’s atonement was the forgiveness of sins, not a promise for health and wealth. Article Three addresses hermeneutics, insisting that students interpret the Bible using the rules of context and grammar, not methods of “subjective impressions” and “hidden revelations”. Article Four turns to the nature of the Old Covenant, acknowledging that Old Testament Israel was often promised material blessings but that Christians today do not stand in the same relation to God as the Jews once did.
Article Five turns to generational curses, acknowledging that bad living can carry terrible consequences while denying that Christians are necessarily chained to the sins of their unbelieving forefathers. Article Six tackles points of contact, denying that certain places or items enjoy a special connection to heaven. Article Seven recognises that suffering is a normal part of life that Christians should address through patient endurance, not by believing false notions that trials are never God’s will for our lives. This article employed excellent biblical precision in using the word “necessarily” when it stated: “We deny that suffering necessarily comes upon us as a result of our weaknesses of faith.”
Article Eight turns to financial giving at church, recognising that while Christians should be generous, they mustn’t believe that tithes can somehow tap into special blessings from God. Article Nine turns to positive confession, stating that while Christians should wisely speak the truth, they do not possess some supposed power to speak things into existence. Article Ten affirms that humans are made in God’s image but denies that Christians are “little gods”.
Article Eleven affirms that faith is necessary for salvation but denies that it contains creative power. Article Twelve denies positive declarations and Article Thirteen warns against the big-man syndrome in today’s churches, which demands “unmitigated loyalty and reverence” to the pastor. Finally, Article Fourteen addresses idolatry, denying that “appealing to man’s sinful and disordered desires” can motivate him to do right.
Conclusion
Two pillars make strong ecclesiastical statements: brevity and biblical precision. Often, what makes a position paper weak is not what it says but what it leaves out. But saying too much will turn a statement into a confession. Clear goals and parameters are crucial.
I think this statement struck the right balance, though I wonder if the authors could have been even clearer about the inability of modern pastors to heal, the impotence of magical formulas like “in the name of Jesus”, and the requirement for churches to mark and avoid false teachers (Rm. 16:17).
I heartily commend the African Statement on Prosperity and Word of Faith Theology. With skill and biblical wisdom, it addresses every core tenet of prosperity doctrine, and for this, the drafters of the document should be commended.