I just finished watching a fantastic documentary, American Gospel – Christ Alone, contrasting the Gospel with its predominant portrayal in American culture, today. The filmmaker, Brandon Kimber, did a masterful and thorough job on this 2 hour and 19-minute film.
The buzz around American Gospel is how it defines and addresses the problems of the prosperity Gospel. While it does accomplish that vital task (something I’d hoped for, but didn’t find in “Blessed”), it does much more than that. It first presents the authentic Gospel (first 40 minutes), contrasts it with faith vs. works fallacies, what the Bible really says about suffering and evil, and highlights some of those associated with the NAR controversy though none of these things are its primary focus.
Some ‘Blessed” Questions Answered
In my review of “Blessed”, I posed questions about prosperity and the Gospel the author did not address:
What is the relationship, if any, between the Gospel and human prosperity? How could salvation of the lost have nothing, whatsoever, to do with human flourishing?Every believer with a heartbeat might have an opinion on such questions. But, what is the truth contained in the Biblical text?
What might a believer seeking the whole counsel of God, conclude? Have some, or all, of these prosperity gospel preachers been fleecing the sheep or does the fulfillment of one or more of the missions of Jesus Christ involve prosperity and believers?
“American Gospel” solidly answers the last question with scriptural references that will leave the viewer inspired yet with no doubts about the spiritual crimes of a half-dozen or so of these gospel hucksters.
Soon to Become a Handy Video Reference
Given its quality and thoroughness, I’ll likely be referring to American Gospel as a resource for illustrating, if not altogether resolving, many of questions and issues that come up on forums and in conversations. Therefore, I’ll need to re-watch this documentary and capture timestamps and summaries of the many problems this film handles and illustrates so well. That will take some time since the work, while quite entertaining, is rather comprehensive in its coverage.
If you’re looking for a one-stop resource to clearly delineate many of the ways the predominant modern portrayal of the Gospel in the American culture differs from the Biblical Text, this film is the best single resource I’ve seen on the subject.
Modern Money Changers
There’s plenty in the film that may have you relating to Christ’s anger at the money changers in the Temple. But it’s the trail of needlessly ruined or impoverished lives and the thwarting of those genuinely seeking God that’s probably the greater cost.
The hoarded and fraudulently gained earthly wealth of these hucksters is the best demonstration and proof of their genuinely held values: that the Gospel is just a mesmerizing tale that keeps the attention of believers long enough to separate them from their wallets and purses.
For the benefit of Benny Hinn’s $20k nightly stays in Dubai, the un-healed believer with cerebral palsy spends a lifetime questioning why his faith is not strong enough to convince God to heal him. Too bad he doesn’t know that Benny’s handlers screen out the hard cases before they get too close to the stage.
Pentecostal Lunacy
Kenneth Copeland plagiarizes his loony mentor (Kenneth Hagin) and takes “Ye shall be as gods” to the next level claiming he has Jesus’ DNA. With such exalted genetic street-cred established, it’s perfectly natural to demand another $60 million for a second jet for his private airport. After all, the contributing believers would be entitled to their own earthly empires if they only had the “wisdom” to ask.
Here’s an episode in Copeland’s apprenticeship with Hagin, his psychopathic mentor:
Passing the Baton
Here’s Copeland “passing the baton” to Todd White. Can we look forward to subsequent references to this episode described as Todd’s “anointing?”
In “American Gospel,” Todd White demonstrates what is apparently his schtick: a super slow manipulation of the ankle to make it look like he’s called the power of the Holy Spirit down to even up the lengths of a seeker’s legs and putting an end to chronic back pain.
The Beginning of the End, Hopefully
Is walking to the head of every line and claiming to be first proof of “God’s plan for your life” or just common lousy behavior? Is a graceful walk through the long process of sanctification only necessary because I don’t understand what my Bible really says, like Copeland or White?
For all “American Gospel” does to clarify the true Gospel and expose the false, it also does a wonderful job in championing God’s word and its role in fostering and deepening a relationship with our Creator. Let’s pray that “American Gospel” is the beginning of the end of the horrible spiritual destruction that follows in the wake of the false prosperity gospel.
25 Comments
Mars Eve said
Its not the Prosperity Gospel…
It’s good stuff; just the kind of balance to the Prosperity Gospel the church needs.
I’m hoping it will be a "goto" link to point people to who complain about Johnson in this area
(but need to listen to the whole thing first.)
Its not the Prosperity Gospel…
Mars Eve said
In this case, the "side of Christianity" you’ll see is the dominant face of modern-day Protestantism. That’s the reason
the documentary is important to understand, IMO.
Also, some have been watching the 1 hour version whereas I’m commenting
on the 2 hour and 30 minute version. In the full-length version the director does a 40-minute
presentation of the Gospel before making any non-Gospel points, at all.
janitor9 said
In this matter I speak only for myself.
–j9
I wouldn’t watch it, unless you want to see another side of Christianity.
janitor9 said
Basically it begins like any other "hit-piece" on CNN (which I also don’t watch, at least not on purpose).
We forgive…
–j9
Now that you point that out, putting the Word before a supposed transgression might be even MORE effective!
I like your metaphor of courtroom/council proceedings.
janitor9 said
In this matter I speak only for myself.
–j9
I agree, I dislike that as well, but everyone with an opinion is gonna have a bias. I didn’t agree with the position of the videographer either not fully, but their main focus is important.
With that said, with all things, we have to spit out the bones, but not throw baby out with bath water.
janitor9 said
Until this happens, I won’t be able to watch this video, because so far it’s only sound-bytes, which I don’t think the Judge of the Divine Council allows in His Court. But I could be mistaken.
In this matter I speak only for myself.
–j9
Terence said
I started to watch this, but had to stop, until I can get Special Help from the Lord to continue, because this producer, like so many present-day video-graphers, uses "sound-byte" clips of those he opposes to begin making his point, rather than beginning with God’s Word.
Basically it begins like any other "hit-piece" on CNN (which I also don’t watch, at least not on purpose).
We forgive…
–j9
Angel mccann said
I haven’t watched the video yet. But, I was very aware of the (American) Prosperity gospel when it first came through in the 1970’s and into the 1980’s. As I was thinking about this the other day, the Lord Holy Spirit reminded me of "another gospel", which immediately preceded this one, and which was the primary cause of the rise of the Prosperity gospel.
That movement was the Poverty Doctrine. I was raised with this Doctrine as part of my Church upbringing.
The main positions of the Poverty Doctrine were these:
1. Money was evil.
2. If you had any money, you either had to give it to the Church, or somehow pretend you didn’t have it, because it was evil.
3. It was sin to have extra food in the cupboard. That showed you had extra money.
4. You had to drive a Used Car (the older the better), because driving a New Car was not a good testimony. It showed that you were successful.
5. Seeing movies or going to plays and theatrical performances was evil.
5a. (EXCEPTION – watching TV at home was OK, especially sports).
6. It was a sin for women to wear nice clothes, jewelry, makeup, and any other fashionable items. It showed you had too much money to spend.
6a. (EXCEPTION: men had to wear a suit and tie to church, as long as they weren’t new.)
7. It was a sin to eat at restaurants in general, and it was a gross sin to eat at an expensive restaurant. That was a waste of money.
8. It was a sin to consume any kind of alcohol, or use tobacco.
8a. (NO EXCEPTIONS – not even for communion. Only unfermented grape juice could be used).
9. The more threadbare your daughter’s dresses were, and the more holes your son’s jeans had in them, the Holier your household was.
10. It was a sin, and a very poor testimony, to have gone to college, or even be self taught, or to be interested in any kind of science or other intellectual pursuit. But it was OK to go hunting or fishing.
The list goes on.
I know about this because until I was 13/14, this is how I grew up.
But then the Jesus People Movement emerged, and along with their honest, straightforward reading of Scripture, pretty much blew the Poverty Doctrine to hell and gone, from whence it came. They read the Bible for what it actually says: "the LOVE of money is a root of all evil".
But that sudden turn away from Poverty (which also coincided with the Reagan Administration) left a Power Vacuum, which then became filled with the Prosperity Gospel. Those who had been taught to be poor all their lives, now had an opportunity to earn wealth. But the Prosperity Doctrine became warped, and turned just as evil as the Poverty Doctrine.
Here are some things that Scripture says about wealth:
Ecclesiastes 5:19
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth,
and given him power to eat of it,
to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
Proverbs 30:8b-9
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
(This verse I believe is what establishes the validity of the Middle Class.)
There is another verse which I cannot remember at this time.
It speaks of the Rich Man providing aid and assistance to the King, and that we should not criticize either.
(I think this verse is also attributed to King Solomon.)
As for me, I have been given the liberty to buy Lottery tickets, which I do on a regular basis.
(I also have investments in the Stock Market, which I actively trade, and for which I actually get direct assistance from the Holy Spirit so that I suffer no losses. If I had been caught doing this "back then", I would have received a very harsh criticism, if not outright ex-communication).
Finally, here is another part of my own testimony concerning money – A Few Dollars Less.
Blessings…
–j9
Terence said
myself from writing what I wrote, today.
For the record, I believe the prosperity offered by God to mankind is so overwhelmingly abundant I doubt
many could handle the merest fraction of it flowing through their lives. I’m not anti-prosperity, but
most certainly against the Biblical interpretations and fraudulent behaviors of many of the supposed Gospel teachers highlighted
in the film.
Watching it is a just over 2-hour journey I highly recommend.
I just got done watching the full movie. Very interesting stuff. I hope a lot more people end up seeing it, especially those in the WOF movement.
I had not heard before those things by these teachers. And I’m very careful to label anything false with out it being the context of scripture, but I have to say, if this is what they teach, by biblical context, it’s false.
Mars Eve said
Same here, except I had to look into it years ago because some people I was close to were in the process of becoming Calvinists, due to abues from the Arminian side.
My hope is that there can be room for forgiveness toward both camps.
Angel mccann said
Well said, Angel. Now that you put it that way, I sense the same tension.
Mars Eve said
Yes, the director doesn’t go so far as to solve the entire problem so it does leave the viewer
asking questions (which may be all one documentary can do without going to five hours.)
All things were created by God and I’d much prefer to see true believers making spirit-guided decisions
on how to allocate resources on earth. Having said that, I find it revolting to see people advertising
the Gospel as a path to monetary gain when at the heart of the entire message is Christ crucified
for our sins and immortal souls (not fleeting worldly wealth.)
Mars Eve said
I will eventually write a review…
If you are interested in watching it… msg me.
It is disturbing and very glad about your excitement to write about it. When I go through it again will definitely publish the results.
Angel mccann said
MARS I’m curious though what u thought was disturbing?
I have never cared about the Calvinist vs Arminian debate because my beliefs didnt fit either one. BUT recently, I have been reading Brad Jersak’s A More Christlike God, & was shocked at the extreme views of Calvinism of John Piper(never listened to him).
-then I watched this movie, & saw the depressing outcome of Calvinism.
If I was an unbeliever, & watched this movie, I would think that Christians were either whacky & greedy, or sin and suffering focused.
Mars Eve said
I will eventually write a review…
If you are interested in watching it… msg me.
I’m gonna watch tonight, I watch the hour long one on YouTube. Seems interesting.
MARS I’m curious though what u thought was disturbing?
I will eventually write a review…
If you are interested in watching it… msg me.
Terence said
"Therefore, I’ll need to re-watch this documentary and capture timestamps and summaries of the many problems this film handles and illustrates so well. That will take some time since the work, while quite entertaining, is rather comprehensive in its coverage."
I’d be interested in seeing your summaries on this when you have the time to put it together. I watched the 1 hour version but not the full one yet.
myself from writing what I wrote, today.
For the record, I believe the prosperity offered by God to mankind is so overwhelmingly abundant I doubt
many could handle the merest fraction of it flowing through their lives. I’m not anti-prosperity, but
most certainly against the Biblical interpretations and fraudulent behaviors of many of the supposed Gospel teachers highlighted
in the film.
Watching it is a just over 2-hour journey I highly recommend.