The “prosperity gospel,” as critics call it, is growing highly prominent megachurches and has blacks divided on the controversial message.
While the nation's largest African American religious organization – the 7.5 million-member National Baptist Convention – has clearly denounced the prosperity gospel especially with many black communities suffering in poverty, tens of thousands of black Christians flock to services every week to hear the message of wealth and abundance.
"God gives us power to get wealth. Does that sound like he wants you to be on welfare? That's in the Bible!" the Rev. Frederick K.C. Price, pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, told Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. Current membership at Crenshaw is reported to be over 18,000....