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

Jonathan Shuttlesworth, in his book and YouTube blog 35 Questions for Those Who Hate the Prosperity Gospel, asks:

“Does God want the world’s wealth controlled by the wicked so they can use it to rule over the righteous?”

He argues that rejecting wealth leads to its concentration in the hands of wicked people, claiming that money is essential for Christians to help the poor, spread the gospel, and influence culture. While he highlights the potential for wealth to be used for good, Shuttlesworth’s arguments contain theological and practical inconsistencies. This blog critically analyzes his claims, measures them against Scripture and actual statistics, and evaluates the doctrine he promotes.

1. Examining Shuttlesworth’s Claims

Claim 1: “Does God Want the World’s Wealth Controlled by the Wicked?”

Shuttlesworth implies that God desires wealth to be in the hands of Christians rather than the wicked, suggesting that rejecting wealth allows evil people to dominate.

Biblical Context

1. God’s Sovereignty Over Wealth:

   • Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”God controls all wealth, and its distribution reflects His purposes, not human manipulation.

     
     

2. Warnings About Wealth:

   • 1 Timothy 6:9-10: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”Scripture warns against the dangers of pursuing wealth, particularly when it becomes an idol.

     
     

Critical Analysis

Shuttlesworth’s rhetorical question creates doubt in believers by oversimplifying the relationship between wealth and righteousness. God’s ultimate concern is not who controls wealth but how His people steward what they have for His glory and the good of others.

Claim 2: “If Money Is Not Important to Christians, Then Helping Others Isn’t Important to Them”

Shuttlesworth equates financial wealth with the ability to help others, implying that rejecting wealth equates to neglecting the poor.

Biblical Context

1. Jesus’ Teaching on Generosity:

   • Luke 12:33: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”Jesus prioritizes sacrificial giving over the accumulation of wealth.

     
     

2. Faith Over Resources:

   • 2 Corinthians 8:2-3: “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”The Macedonian churches demonstrated that generosity is not dependent on financial abundance but on faith and love.

     
     

Critical Analysis

Shuttlesworth’s argument assumes that wealth is the primary means of helping others, ignoring the Bible’s emphasis on sacrificial giving and trust in God’s provision. His claim risks misleading Christians into prioritizing the pursuit of wealth over faithfulness to God’s commands.

Claim 3: “The More Money a Truly Righteous Man Has, the Better Off the World Is”

Shuttlesworth asserts that wealth in the hands of the righteous benefits the world, whereas poverty among Christians harms society.

Biblical Context

1. Stewardship Over Accumulation:

   • Matthew 25:14-30: The Parable of the Talents emphasizes faithful stewardship, not the pursuit of personal wealth.

     
     

2. Eternal Perspective:

   • Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”Jesus calls believers to prioritize eternal treasures over earthly wealth.

     
     

Critical Analysis

While wealth can be used for good, Shuttlesworth’s claim oversimplifies the relationship between wealth and righteousness. The Bible teaches that the true measure of a righteous person is their faithfulness, generosity, and dependence on God, not their financial status.

2. Theological and Practical Concerns

Accumulated Wealth of Prosperity Preachers vs. Global Poverty

Shuttlesworth criticizes Christians who reject wealth but does not address the disproportionate accumulation of wealth by prosperity preachers.

• Estimated Wealth of Prominent Prosperity Preachers: Some well-known prosperity gospel advocates have net worths exceeding $1 billion.

  
  

  • Example: Kenneth Copeland alone is estimated to have a net worth of $300-750 million.

    
    

• Cost to End Global Hunger: According to estimates from the UN’s World Food Programme, eradicating global hunger would require approximately $45 billion annually.

  
  

Critical Perspective

If prosperity gospel preachers redirected even a fraction of their wealth toward feeding the hungry, millions of lives could be saved. This raises ethical questions about storing up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21) while claiming to champion the poor.

Non-Christian Organizations Helping the Poor

Contrary to Shuttlesworth’s implication that only Christians can effectively help the needy, many non-Christian organizations make significant contributions to alleviating poverty:

• UNICEF: Spends approximately $6 billion annually on child welfare and education.

• World Food Programme: Allocates $9 billion annually to combat global hunger.

  
  

These organizations demonstrate that wealth is not exclusive to Christians and that generosity transcends religious boundaries.

3. Shuttlesworth’s Additional Claims

Claim: “Powers Work to Keep the Church Poor”

Shuttlesworth suggests that efforts to keep Christians poor aim to silence the gospel.

Biblical Response

• The Bible does not teach that wealth is necessary for the gospel’s advancement.

  • Acts 3:6: Peter and John, lacking money, said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

  • The power of the gospel lies in the Holy Spirit, not in financial resources (Romans 1:16).

    
    

Claim: “There Are More Pay-Per-View Pornography Channels Than Gospel Channels”

Shuttlesworth implies that wealth is necessary to counteract cultural evils. While financial resources can aid ministry, the Bible emphasizes spiritual transformation as the foundation of cultural change (Romans 12:2).

4. Evaluating Shuttlesworth’s Doctrine Against Biblical Warnings

Misleading Questions

Shuttlesworth’s rhetorical questions risk creating doubt about sound biblical doctrine by framing wealth as central to righteousness and ministry. This approach aligns with the “false teachings” warned about in Scripture:

• 1 Timothy 6:3-5: “They are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words… and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.”

  
  

Idolatry of Wealth

The Bible consistently warns against turning wealth into an idol:

• Colossians 3:5: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature… greed, which is idolatry.”

  
  

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

While Shuttlesworth raises valid points about using wealth for good, his arguments often distort biblical principles by overemphasizing financial prosperity. Scripture calls Christians to faithful stewardship, sacrificial generosity, and reliance on God’s provision, not the pursuit of wealth as a measure of righteousness.

The gospel’s power lies in the message of Christ, not in financial resources. Christians are called to prioritize eternal treasures, trust God to meet their needs, and use what they have to serve others and glorify Him.

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

(PhD Student)