C H U R C H E S SO.BAPTISTSDENOUNCE PROSPERITYGOSPELAS ‘FALSETEACHING’ in resolution at annual meeting BYBRANDONSHOWALTER outhernBaptists pastorofStorylineChurchinArvada, said,describingNewAgeteachingsas adoptedaresolution Colorado,saidtheconventionhas the"fuel"onwhichtheprosperity S rejectingtheprosperity neverbeforespokenformallyonthe gospelacts. gospel,callingitfalse issue. Inresponse,Englishsaidthatwhile teachinganddistortionof "We'veneverspokenclearlyasa NewAgeideasareimportantto Scripture,particularlyregardingJesus bodyclearlyabouttheprosperity addressasaconvention,theyfeltitwas Christ'satoningworkonthecross. gospelintheformofaresolution," importanttospeakdistinctlytoonly AssembledinAnaheim,California, Englishsaid. theprosperitygospelinthisresolution. forthedenomination'sannual ALouisianapastormotionedfrom TheamendmenttoaddtheNewAge meeting,messengerspassed thefloortoamendthelanguageinthe languagewasvoteddown. Resolution2,whichdefinesthe definitionof"prosperitygospel,"to Theresolutioncondemningthe prosperitygospelasthebeliefthat remove"andsicknessandpoverty"and prosperitygospelwasadoptedwiththe "Jesus'sacrificialandatoningdeath add"ofsuffering,sickness,and overwhelmingsupportofthe grantsbelievershealth,wealthandthe poverty,"givenhowtheremovalof messengers. removalofsicknessandpoverty." sufferingistetheredtotheprosperity Theresolutionresolvesthat"God Theresolutiondeclaresthatthis gospel.Theamendedlanguagewas andGodaloneisourhighestgoodand theologyrepresentsadistortionof acceptedandseenasahelpful oursupremetreasure,nothealth, "biblicalgenerosity,"exploits clarification.Theamendmentwas wealth,ortheremovalofsickness"and vulnerablepeopleandblamespeople approvedwithunanimousconsent. that"ourconfidenceisinoureternal whoaresickforlackoffaithwhile Anamendmentwasalsooffered inheritancepurchasedthroughthe corruptingabiblicalunderstandingof fromthefloortoadd"andNewAge workofChristandisguaranteedbythe suffering. beliefsandpractices"toeachsection indwellingworkoftheHolySpirit." Theresolutionassertsthat denouncingtheprosperitygospel Separateresolutionsaffirmingthe Christiansareto"guardagainstfalse becauseitistiedtotheideathatGod importanceofthemissionfieldinrural teaching,tobewareoffalseprophets "wantsustobehappyandhealthyand Americaandcallingforanendtothe whocometousinsheep'sclothingbut wealthyonthisearth."Criticscontend warinUkrainewerealsoadoptedby inwardlyareravenous theideaemploysapaganideologyto messengersTuesday. wolves,andtoguardtheintegrityof seethosethingscomeintobeing. Theannualmeetingofthelargest Scripture." "TheycomefromAfrican,pagan ProtestantdenominationintheUnited Speakingfromthestageduringthe practices,fromvoodooism,"the StateswasheldJune12-15. debateonresolutions,J.T.English,a messengerproposingtheamendment 4 VOLIII AUG2022