The impact of prosperity gospel teaching on whole- life stewardship:a case of Africa Gospel Church in Kampala ,Uganda

Abstract

The phenomenal rise of the Prosperity Gospel Teaching (PGT) continues to mushroom in Christian circles and has an influence on the whole-life stewardship. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of prosperity gospel teaching (PGT) on whole-life stewardship in AGC in the Kampala area, Uganda. The conceptual framework for the whole-life stewardship has three independent variables as popular prosperity gospel teaching, biblical theology of material prosperity, and cultural concepts of material prosperity in Africa. Two intervening variables include current discipleship methods in AGC, and economic levels of AGC members. The study was informed by the following hypotheses: PGT has not significantly imbibed the whole-life stewardship of AGC members in Kampala Area, Uganda, there is no effect of biblical theology on whole-life stewardship among AGC members in the Kampala area, and there is no statistically significant consequence of African culture on whole-life stewardship in AGC, Kampala area. The rationale for the research was to provide insights for shaping the spiritual lives of AGC leadership and congregants. The research would also be used in Christian Biblical/Theological institutions to sensitize the Church on the dangers of PGT and be published online for scholarly purposes. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The design employed quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data from respondents. Two hundred and seventy seven AGC respondents were selected using a purposive sampling approach. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS). In addition, popular gospel teaching, and cultural teachings that accommodate PGT had significant relationships with whole-life stewardship (with P-value=0.00) while the biblical theology of material prosperity did not have any effect on whole-life stewardship (P> 0.05). The study recommends that AGC should develop a formal tool/manual on whole-life stewardship to mitigate the dangers of PGT. It should also conduct periodic workshops and conferences on whole-life stewardship. The churches should encourage and support church leaders to attend formal biblical/theological training to avoid misinterpreting the Bible. Lastly, AGCs should avoid their cultural practices that contravene N.T. principles on whole-life stewardship. The study recommends future research on the factors that contributed to AGC members leaving PGT churches, and how small Christian communities could work together to improve their economic wellbeing.