Survey: 76% of U.S. Protestant Churchgoers Say God Wants Them to Prosper Financially

A new Lifeway research study has some revealing findings around the attitudes of both pastors and churchgoers when it comes to financial prosperity.

What is interesting is the study of U.S. Protestant pastors finds few hold or teach beliefs connected to the prosperity gospel. Meanwhile, these beliefs much more prevalent among churchgoers, including many who said their church teaches these ideas.

• Fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) Protestant pastors believe individuals must do something for God in order to receive material blessings from Him.
• Similarly, fewer than 1 in 5 (18%) say their churches teach that if you give more money to the church and charities, God will bless the giver in return.
• Pastors are more split on whether God wants people to prosper financially. Still, only 37% agree, 59% disagree, with 31% disagreeing strongly, and 5% aren’t sure.

But…

• Whatever pastors may believe, many of those regularly attending churches agree with these three beliefs, and that number is growing:
• Almost half (45%) of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say to receive material blessings from God they have to do something for God. The percentage that agrees has almost doubled from the 26% who agreed in a 2017 Lifeway Research study.
• More than half (52%) say their church teaches that if they give more money, God will bless them, up from 38% five years earlier.
• Additionally, 3 in 4 Protestant churchgoers (76%) say God wants them to prosper financially, an increase from 69% in 2017.