Catholic Indulgences, Luther and the Prosperity Gospel

Oasis Church posted an excellent essay about the similarities of the old teachings of the Catholic Church selling indulgences and the new teachings called the "Prosperity Gospel" and how similar they indeed are. It is an EXCELLENT post that not only looks at the historical record, but shows what verses most prosperity teachers use and how they take them out of context to make there case.

Here's an excerpt...

“When a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” The poor and elderly were exploited for their gold and silver so the church could construct a new cathedral.Then on October 31, 1517, a catholic monk named Martin Luther nailed a document known today as the “95 Theses” on the door of the church in Vittenburg, Germany. One of these read, “Christians should be taught, he who sees his neighbor in distress, and, nevertheless, buys indulgences, is not partaking in the Pope’s pardons, but in the anger of God.”

Luther boldly asked the church leaders: “If you, being the man of God, claim to have the heart of God, then why are you taking from the resources of the people for your own unjust gain, instead of, as the Apostle Paul, working night and day so as not to be a burden to the people?”

Luther was brought before the church and ordered to recant. Luther replied: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise.”

Today, the modern church is faced with an identical heresy – one that we will attempt to expose. This heresy is called the “Prosperity Gospel” or the “Health and Wealth Gospel”. This particular heresy is running rampant in the church, and must be addressed...

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