Summary Blog: Evaluating the claims of Questions 10-20

Jonathan Shuttlesworth’s 35 Questions for Those Who Hate the Prosperity Gospel continues to raise challenging questions from Question 10 to Question 20, focusing on financial prosperity and its role in a believer's life. His claims rely heavily on selective interpretations of Scripture, often emphasizing material wealth as a sign of God’s blessing and a necessary tool for advancing the Kingdom of God.

This summary critically evaluates Shuttlesworth’s questions and arguments against the biblical context, intent, and teachings of Jesus, the apostles, and the early church. It also examines his attitude toward promoting financial prosperity and contrasts it with the attitudes reflected in Scripture.

Shuttlesworth’s Key Claims and Their Biblical Evaluation

Question 10: If God Loves Poverty, Why Did Jesus Feed the Multitude and Fill Peter’s Nets?

Shuttlesworth interprets the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:10-13) and the miraculous catch of fish (John 21:6) as evidence of God’s desire for material abundance. However, Scripture shows these miracles emphasize God’s compassion and Jesus’ identity as the provider of spiritual sustenance, not a principle of material wealth.

• Biblical Contrast: Jesus rebukes those who sought Him for physical bread alone, redirecting them to seek the “bread of life” (John 6:26-35). These miracles highlight God’s provision but do not establish financial prosperity as a universal promise.

  
  

Question 11: Did Christ Condemn the Productive Servant and Praise the One Who Buried the Money?

Shuttlesworth interprets the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as a call to financial productivity. While stewardship is central to this parable, its focus is on using all God-given resources—spiritual, material, and relational—for His purposes.

• Biblical Contrast: The parable emphasizes accountability and eternal rewards, not financial gain. Scripture warns against equating godliness with material wealth (1 Timothy 6:5-10).

  
  

Question 12: How Can Someone Be the Lender and Never the Borrower?

Shuttlesworth uses Deuteronomy 28:12 to suggest that financial abundance is a sign of God’s blessing. However, this promise was part of the Mosaic covenant with Israel, contingent on their obedience, and does not apply universally to all Christians.

• Biblical Context: The New Covenant emphasizes spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), with wealth being a secondary and variable factor.

  
  

Question 13: How Can a Righteous Man Leave an Inheritance to His Children’s Children?

Quoting Proverbs 13:22, Shuttlesworth argues that leaving an inheritance requires financial wealth. While the verse highlights the wisdom of planning for future generations, the Bible consistently prioritizes spiritual inheritance and eternal treasures over material wealth (1 Peter 1:3-4).

• Critical Insight: Shuttlesworth’s interpretation neglects the broader biblical warnings about the dangers of wealth (Luke 12:15-21).

  
  

Question 14: If You Believe Money Is Evil, Why Do You Carry Any?

Shuttlesworth mocks critics of prosperity theology, equating their use of money with hypocrisy. However, Scripture clearly distinguishes between money as a neutral tool and the love of money as sinful (1 Timothy 6:10).

• Biblical Perspective: Wealth is to be stewarded for God’s glory and the benefit of others, not hoarded or idolized.

  
  

Question 15: Do You Not Understand That Prosperity and Suffering Can Coexist?

Shuttlesworth highlights the coexistence of prosperity and suffering in Scripture, citing examples like Isaac (Genesis 26:12-22) and Jesus’ promise of persecution with blessings (Mark 10:29-30). While his claim is partially valid, he overemphasizes material wealth as a primary sign of God’s blessing.

• Biblical Insight: Prosperity in Scripture encompasses spiritual and relational well-being, with material wealth often being secondary and context-dependent (Philippians 4:11-13).

  
  

Question 16: Is It Hypocritical to Speak Against Prosperity While Enjoying Lavish American Luxury?

Shuttlesworth accuses critics of prosperity theology of hypocrisy. While some critics may live comfortably, this accusation deflects from legitimate theological concerns about the dangers of wealth and materialism.

• Biblical Warning: Jesus and Paul consistently warned against the desire for riches and the spiritual dangers of wealth (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:17).

  
  

Question 17: Do You Believe the Blessing of Abraham Is Not for Christians and Doesn’t Include Financial Wealth?

Shuttlesworth cites Galatians 3:6-9 and 3:29 to argue that Christians inherit the material blessings of Abraham. However, Paul’s emphasis in Galatians is on spiritual blessings—justification by faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit—rather than material wealth.

• Theological Accuracy: The blessings of Abraham are fulfilled in Christ and focus on spiritual inheritance (Ephesians 1:3).

  
  

Question 18: Does Good Stewardship Not Lead to an Increase?

Shuttlesworth asserts that financial increase is the natural outcome of good stewardship, citing Proverbs and personal experience. While stewardship often leads to positive outcomes, Scripture emphasizes faithfulness over financial results.

• Biblical Contrast: God’s rewards for stewardship are often spiritual and eternal (Matthew 25:14-30). Material wealth is not guaranteed.

  
  

Question 19: How Do You Explain the Early Church Having Poverty Totally Eradicated After They Gave?

Shuttlesworth claims that Acts 4:32-37 demonstrates the eradication of poverty in the early church. However, the passage describes voluntary, Spirit-led generosity within the Jerusalem church to address immediate needs, not a universal or permanent economic principle.

• Historical Context: Poverty persisted in the broader church, as evidenced by Paul’s collection for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:2-5).

  
  

Question 20: Does God Want the World’s Wealth Controlled by the Wicked?

Shuttlesworth suggests that rejecting wealth allows wicked people to dominate, claiming that Christians’ neglect of money equates to neglecting the poor. While wealth can be used for good, Scripture warns against idolizing it or equating it with spiritual success.

• Biblical Perspective: God’s Kingdom advances through the power of the Holy Spirit, not material wealth (Acts 3:6; Romans 1:16).

  
  

The Apostolic and Early Church Attitude Toward Wealth

Jesus’ Teaching

• Matthew 6:24:

  “You cannot serve both God and money.”Jesus consistently emphasized eternal priorities and warned against the spiritual dangers of wealth.

  
  

The Apostles’ Example

• Paul taught contentment and reliance on God, not the pursuit of material wealth (Philippians 4:11-13).

• The early church prioritized generosity and mutual care over accumulating wealth (Acts 2:44-45).

  
  

Prosperity Gospel vs. Biblical Prosperity

• Shuttlesworth’s attitude often prioritizes material wealth as a sign of faith and blessing, overshadowing the biblical emphasis on spiritual transformation, stewardship, and eternal rewards.

• The prosperity gospel risks promoting a transactional view of faith that distorts the gospel’s message of grace and dependence on God.

  
  

Conclusion: A Balanced Theology of Prosperity

Shuttlesworth’s questions reveal an overemphasis on material wealth as a measure of faith and obedience. While the Bible affirms God’s provision and calls for stewardship and generosity, it consistently warns against the dangers of greed, materialism, and misplaced priorities.

A biblical theology of prosperity recognizes that God’s blessings are holistic—spiritual, relational, and material—and are ultimately meant to glorify Him and advance His Kingdom. True prosperity is found in knowing Christ, living faithfully, and investing in eternal treasures.

Author: Evg. Bradley Sliedrecht BCL, M.Div. ✝️📖✨

(PhD Student)