American Gospel: Christ Alone a review

 American Gospel: Christ Alone is a 2018 documentary which became available on Netflix in May 2020. Written and directed by Brandon Kimber, American Gospel offers a critical critique of the Word of Faith Movement also known as the prosperity gospel and its influence on Christianity. Through expert interviews, biblical references and personal testimony, the documentary exposes the dangers of the prosperity gospel as well as the call to refocus on the true gospel. Through the Word of Faith history into the prosperity gospel of today, American Gospel argues that salvation with through Christ alone and a call to return to the true gospel, the gospel of Jesus. The Bible gives example after example that Jesus is the hero, the source of our salvation. Throughout the Old Testament, God is saying we need a better lawgiver, we need a better judge, we need a better king and we need a better prophet. The New Testament is Jesus as the fulfillment of those needs. The prosperity gospel teaches man as the hero and God is simply a genie in a lamp to make requests. What is the core of the documentary? What are the praises and well as the criticisms?

American Gospel opens with the core of what Christianity and the gospel is about and that is Jesus. The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus brings salvation and from other the fruit of good work follows. The prosperity gospel appeals to two basic human desires: 1) not to be sick or unhealthy and 2) to be wealthy, not to have to worry about money. A common theme among all the prosperity gospel proponents is that Christians are called to be healthy and wealthy and if you are not, then your faith isn’t big enough or strong enough. It is idolatry as it elevates the gift above the Gift Giver. At the heart of the prosperity gospel is “the more money you give to the Lord’s work, the more likely God will answer your prayers.” The prosperity gospel is a softer, gentler salvation by works. It is still the law, “do this and be blessed.” American Gospel focuses on exposing the falseness of these various teachers including Benny Hinn’s and his “healings” and well as Todd White of Gateway Church. The prosperity gospel teaches that you cannot speak against or criticize the anointed (aka the pastors) and if we do, God will curse us. However, Scripture after Scripture that tells us that we are to hold our teachers accountable and call out the false teachers. In Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans heard Paul’s message and checked it against the Scriptures to make sure what he said was true.

The documentary has been praised by many. American Gospel reveals that “the money changers are still in the temple, still making God’s name a mockery” (Strachan, 2019) as Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn and former Prosperity Gospel follower, “provides a key perspective that is brutally honest while being compassionate” (Vandenboom, 2020). I had known little about the Prosperity Gospel before this documentary. I had tried researching it before and the information out there was so convoluted that I eventually stopped. I knew it wasn’t biblically based as many of the teachers in the Prosperity Gospel rarely teach from Scripture with specific verses. The Prosperity Gospel’s main teaching is the “Name it and Claim it” doctrine, essentially the Power of Positive Thinking that God calls all Christians to be healthy and wealthy while ignoring the truly sick. Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries has made it his mission to expose the fallacy of the faith healers like Benny Hinn. I also liked that American Gospel shows why the Prosperity Gospel has been able to thrive in the United States as “America has always been a pragmatic, can-do kind of country” and “the material focus of the “gospel” suits the American culture” (Strachan, 2019).

American Gospel is not without its critics as Todd White, who is featured prominently in the film as a false teacher and faith healer, has stated that the film has been “demonically inspired” (Bjornson, 2020). Another criticism is that the film “enables a patriarchal power structure” (Pidcock, 2020) as men were interview for an instructional purpose while women were interviewed for their emotional stories. Unfortunately, many churches have a prohibition against women in leadership roles, especially as senior pastors. However, it doesn’t mean that women cannot have an active role the church, but that’s a different post. Another criticism is the film’s view on sin and justice (Pidcock, 2020). In the film, Ray Comfort, a minister, is seen doing his common Ten Commandments confrontation with a stranger, and with a microphone and camera in this individual’s face, Comfort questions and questions about lawbreaking until this person relents and admits he is a sinner. I understand Comfort’s motivation to share the gospel in the world; however, this is the part of the film I did not like. It is a common evangelistic method: confront, pray the sinner’s prayer, and then move on. I think the film would still have an impact without featuring Ray Comfort and this tactic.

In conclusion, American Gospel opened my eyes to the prosperity gospel which I have heard about in the last decade but didn’t truly delve into it very deeply. I knew it felt wrong, against my understanding of the Bible. The basics of prosperity gospel is great faith leads to health and wealth. The truth is that is not a great faith we need but a small faith (a mustard seed as Jesus says in Luke 17:6) and a great God. While the idea that we can be healthy and wealthy simply undermines the many examples in the gospel in which Jesus tells people to give up everything and follow him. The story of Jesus and the rich young man in Mark 10:17-31 comes to mind. The Church needs to refocus on the focus of Christianity in Jesus. Christianity is simply Jesus and nothing else. American Gospel is not perfect; however, it does an amazing job expose the truth behind the prosperity gospel. A teaching which doesn’t allow you to question and challenge your pastors is not a teaching we need in the church today. I recommend watching American Gospel and take the information they present to begin an investigation of your own. 

References

Bjornson, Greta (May 29, 2020). ‘American Gospel Christ Alone’ Controversy: Why The Film is Dividing Netflix Viewers. Decider. www.decider.com/2020/05/29/american-gospel-netflix-controversy/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Pidcock, Rick (August 14, 2020). Six ways ‘American Gospel’ is small-minded and abusive. Baptist News Global. www.baptistnews.com/article/six-ways-american-gospel-is-small-minded-and-abusive/#.X15cS2hKi1t. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Strachan, Owen (January 17, 2019). ‘American Gospel’ Blows a Hole in the Prosperity Gospel. The Gospel Coalition. www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/american-gospel-blows-hole-prosperity-gospel/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Vandenboom, Liza (June 22, 2020). “American Gospel” Shows Real-Life Consequences Of Poor Theology. Ministry Watch. www.ministrywatch.com/american-gospel-shows-tangible-consequences-of-poor-theology/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.