The Faithful Road to Wealth: From the Prosperity Gospel to Manifest Destiny’s Legacy of Land, Wealth, and Power
Tracing the Sacred Justifications for Inequality
Unpacking the intersections of faith, power, and economic systems is profoundly important work, but it is also exhausting. The weight of confronting the harm caused by supremacy culture—how it shapes our world, our communities, and even our relationships with ourselves—can feel unrelenting. It’s why, alongside dismantling systems, we must also actively build practices that restore us. This is not only about surviving the work but also about embodying liberation.
At my children’s school, they practice something beautiful called Joy Factor. Every Friday, they celebrate “Pops of Joy,” small, intentional moments that spark happiness. It’s a reminder that amidst the heaviness of learning and growth, joy is not just an indulgence—it’s a necessity.
Today, I want to share my own Pop of Joy with you: it’s a half-day for my kids, and they are stoked because we’re planning to watch the new Venom together. And me? I’ll be carving out time to get my nails done. It’s these small but intentional joys that remind us of what we’re working toward—a life where joy is abundant, not scarce.
So, as we dive into the history of how Christian theology shaped global economies and laid the groundwork for class stratification and wealth hoarding, I invite you to pause and seek out your own Pop of Joy. What’s one small thing that brings you peace or happiness today? Share it with me—I’d love to know.
Wealth as Divine Favor: The Spiritual Justification for Inequality
Embedded within the global economy is a belief system that sanctifies wealth and demonizes poverty—a framework deeply rooted in Christian theology. From the tithing systems of medieval Europe to the Prosperity Gospel of modern America, material wealth has long been framed as a sign of divine favor. This ideology not only shaped individual attitudes but also global systems, fostering the rise of capitalism, class stratification, and systemic inequality.
This article continues our series, “I Want to Wish You an Eschatological Christmas,” tracing the arc of Christianity from its humble beginnings in a manger in Bethlehem to its entanglement with empire and power structures. We’ve journeyed through the Doctrine of Discovery and Manifest Destiny, examining how these frameworks justified colonization and exploitation. Now, we turn to the Faithful Road to Wealth—the theological and economic systems that underpin global capitalism.
If becoming a paid subscriber is a barrier, email scholarships@desireebstephens.com because liberation is for all, and it must be accessible. And remember, amidst the learning and unlearning, take a moment for joy—it’s part of the work too.
The Theological Roots of Wealth Hoarding
Christianity's alignment with wealth and class stratification has deep historical roots. From the moment the Church became entwined with the Roman Empire, its theological narratives began to serve not only spiritual but also economic purposes. Wealth became a symbol of divine blessing, while poverty was framed as a moral failing—a worldview that justified vast disparities in power and resources.
Tithing and Feudal Economics
In medieval Europe, the Church’s power was not only spiritual but deeply economic. The system of tithing—requiring parishioners to give 10% of their income or produce to the Church—served as both a spiritual duty and a material extraction. Wealth was concentrated within the clergy, reinforcing hierarchical structures that mirrored feudal societies:
Land Ownership: The Church became one of the largest landowners in Europe, wielding immense influence over economic and political systems.
Moral Control: Poverty was framed as a lack of virtue, while the accumulation of wealth was seen as evidence of God’s favor.
This foundation laid the groundwork for the intertwining of faith and financial systems—a relationship that would evolve and expand in the centuries to come.
The Prosperity Gospel: Wealth as Divine Favor
Fast forward to modern America, and this theology takes on a new form in the Prosperity Gospel. Preached from megachurch pulpits and broadcast on televangelist networks, the Prosperity Gospel proclaims that material success is not just permissible but a sign of God’s blessing. This theology has several key tenets:
Faith and Favor
Wealth is seen as a reward for faith and hard work, while poverty is often attributed to a lack of faith or effort. Scriptures frequently cited to reinforce this belief include:
Deuteronomy 8:18: "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."
This verse is often used to suggest that financial success is a covenantal blessing for those who remain faithful to God.
Proverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it."
This passage frames wealth as a direct blessing from God, not necessarily tied to exploitation or labor.
Matthew 25:29: "For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."
Though originally about spiritual stewardship, this verse has been co-opted to justify disparities in wealth, implying that faithfulness leads to material abundance.
Seed Offerings
Congregants are encouraged to give generously to the church as an investment in their own financial prosperity—a modern twist on tithing. Commonly used scriptures include:
Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
This verse is often central to Prosperity Gospel teachings, framing financial contributions as a prerequisite for divine blessings.
Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
This passage reinforces the idea that giving generously guarantees a return, aligning with the concept of "seed offerings."
Personal Salvation Through Capitalism
Success in business and accumulation of wealth are framed as pathways to glorify God, blending Christian theology with capitalist ideals. Frequently cited scriptures include:
Proverbs 13:22: "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous."
This verse supports the idea of wealth accumulation as a moral responsibility tied to legacy and righteousness.
Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
This passage is often interpreted to suggest that spiritual devotion will naturally result in material prosperity.
3 John 1:2: "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
This verse is sometimes used to equate physical and financial well-being with spiritual health, reinforcing the Prosperity Gospel’s narrative.
The Capitalist Gospel: Sanctifying Inequality
This ideology not only deepens wealth inequality but also perpetuates systemic harm by shifting responsibility for poverty from structural systems to individual morality. The Prosperity Gospel teaches that poverty is the result of personal failings—whether a lack of faith, effort, or financial stewardship—while ignoring the economic hierarchies and systemic barriers created by capitalism itself.
At its core, capitalism is a pyramid scheme. The accumulation of wealth by a few necessitates the exploitation and poverty of many. In this system:
The Lower Class Is Essential: Capitalism relies on a lower class to perform undervalued, underpaid labor that sustains the profits of the upper class. Without a working poor, the entire system would collapse.
Wealth Requires Scarcity: For wealth to hold value, there must be those without it. The system thrives on scarcity, hoarding resources at the top while ensuring that the bottom remains in need.
Upward Mobility Is a Myth: While the Prosperity Gospel preaches that anyone can achieve wealth through faith and hard work, this ignores the structural barriers—such as systemic racism, lack of access to education, and wage stagnation—that make upward mobility nearly impossible for most.
By framing wealth as a sign of divine favor and poverty as a personal failure, this theology absolves capitalism of its inherent inequities. It shifts the blame for poverty onto individuals rather than addressing the systemic exploitation that creates and sustains it.
Capitalism as a Theological Tool
The Prosperity Gospel doesn’t just coexist with capitalism—it sanctifies it. By equating wealth with spiritual success, it transforms greed into virtue and exploitation into divine providence. Consider how this aligns with core capitalist principles:
Productivity Equals Worth: Under capitalism, a person’s value is tied to their ability to produce. Similarly, the Prosperity Gospel ties a person’s spiritual worth to their material success.
Profit Over People: Capitalism prioritizes profit above human welfare. The Prosperity Gospel reflects this by teaching that personal wealth is more important than collective well-being.
Exploitation Is Invisible: Just as capitalism obscures the exploitation of labor that makes wealth accumulation possible, the Prosperity Gospel erases the systemic factors—such as low wages, discrimination, and lack of opportunity—that contribute to poverty.
Faith as a Mask for Exploitation
The Prosperity Gospel becomes a tool for maintaining the status quo by providing spiritual justification for inequality. It discourages questioning the systems of power and instead focuses individuals on personal improvement and obedience. As a result:
The Wealthy Are Exempt from Accountability: Those at the top of the economic hierarchy are seen as chosen by God, absolving them of responsibility for the exploitation that created their wealth.
The Poor Are Burdened with Shame: Those struggling in poverty are left to believe they are spiritually deficient or undeserving, further entrenching their marginalization.
This theology not only sustains capitalism but also deepens its harm by reframing systemic injustice as divine will. To dismantle this narrative, we must confront the ways faith has been weaponized to uphold economic inequality and reclaim spiritual teachings that prioritize justice, equity, and collective care.
Reflection Questions:
How does the Prosperity Gospel mirror the structural inequalities inherent in capitalism?
In what ways does the belief that poverty is a personal failing obscure systemic exploitation?
What alternative frameworks could we adopt to align faith with liberation rather than oppression?
The Intersections of Oppression: Capitalism and Beyond
Capitalism doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it intersects with and reinforces other systems of oppression, creating a web of inequity that spans race, gender, and the environment. The Prosperity Gospel’s narrative of individualism erases these complexities, framing systemic issues as personal failings. Consider how: