The Prosperity Gospel (also known as the "Word of Faith" movement or "Health and Wealth Gospel") is a theological framework that teaches that God’s primary will for Christians is financial wealth and physical health. It asserts that believers can unlock these blessings through positive confession, visualization, and—critically—financial "seed-faith" giving. This message is problematic because it fundamentally distorts the true Gospel of Christ, replacing the biblical call to suffering and self-denial (Matthew 16:24) with a focus on earthly comfort and material gain. Christians should approach its prominent preachers with extreme caution, rigorously testing their teachings against the whole of Scripture.

When a Christian is attacked or "cancelled" for their faith, the biblical response is not shock, but joy (Matthew 5:10-12). Jesus explicitly promised that faithful adherence to His truth would result in hostility from the world. The appropriate Christian response involves blessing those who persecute you (Romans 12:14), maintaining gentleness (1 Peter 3:15-16), and anchoring your identity in Christ, knowing that your true reward and acceptance are secure in heaven.

God allows chronic illness and long-term pain, not as punishment, but because we live in a fallen world (Genesis 3). The Christian faith interprets this suffering through the lens of God's sovereignty, seeing it as a means to achieve five godly purposes: deepening dependence on Christ, preparing us for eternity, demonstrating His grace (2 Corinthians 12:9), perfecting our character, and allowing us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

True Christian joy is not an emotion based on circumstances, but a deep, stable confidence rooted in God's faithfulness (Psalm 16:11). We can live joyfully through hard times by actively choosing to praise God, trusting His ultimate plan, focusing on eternal hope, and leaning on the Holy Spirit's strength.