Over the last twenty years, a new message is being preached. A new gospel has emerged and some of the largest churches in America are preaching this new doctrine. It has been referred to as the “prosperity doctrine” preached by the “word of faith” churches. The “name it and claim it” nick name really describes this theology. If you name and claim something in faith, then God is compelled to give you what you ask.
This theology is “I” centered rather than “God” centered. It is about what the person wants that is beyond what God may want. The teaching is that God wants all of His followers to have material gain and all it takes is to command God, in faith believing, and God has to acquiesce to your prayers; no matter the circumstances. If you do not gain the wealth, you didn’t have enough faith.
The preachers of the doctrine teach their followers to claim everything from homes (large luxurious) and cars (Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac), to large bank accounts. There is no end to what you can demand from God.
That great Bible teacher and Theologian C. H. Spurgeon said:
I believe that it is anti-Christian and unholy for any Christian to live with the object of accumulating wealth. You will say, “Are we not to strive all we can to get all the money we can?” You may do so. I cannot doubt but what, in so doing, you may do service to the cause of God. But what I said was that to live with the object of accumulating wealth is anti-Christian.(1)
One of their teachings, centers on the phrase – “If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.” This doctrine does not take into account what the circumstances surrounding the trial are. This so-called promise states, if you are facing problems in your life then God will bring you through it. It does not matter that it may be the judgment of God on the believer for sin in their life; God will make them more than conquerors. They use, as their proof text, 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear.”
They take this verse to say that if God brings you to an event in your life, then He will equip you to go through the event. The problem with most of this egocentric and cutesy theology is that this verse is taken out of the context in which it was written. This verse is related to overcoming our “lust after evil things” as found earlier in the text (I Corinthians 10:6) and the temptations man faces to do evil. When we are meeting temptations head on, and we ask God for help, God is faithful to help you “escape” or overcome the temptation if we call on His name. These were “ensamples and written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (I Corinthians 10:11).
The context of this verse is NOT that when we go through trials, “If God brings you to it”, that God will bring you through the trial”. The trial is for you to overcome. Trials are for growth not for bypassing. I am not saying that we cannot seek God while going through trials, quite the contrary, but to say that God will do all the work, “God will bring you through it” is just not accurate.
Temptations on the other hand to do evil are covered in the Apostle Paul’s statement to the Church at Corinth, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” There is a big difference between trials and temptations.
The failure in this cutesy theology is leaving out the next verse; “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:14.
When we see the “wherefore” we ought to see what it is “therefore”. In this case the previous text concerns temptations and not trials. Wherefore followers of Jesus should flee from worship of anything other than God. For example, homes, cars and large bank accounts.
When going through temptations, we can rely on God and His promise that the LORD “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Paul warns us to flee from anything that takes the place of God.
(1) 2,200 Quotations from the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), 216.
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
“The teaching is that God wants all of His followers to have material gain and all it takes is to command God, in faith believing, and God has to acquiesce to your prayers; no matter the circumstances.” Wonder how that theology would preach in India or in the bush of Africa or other third world countries where poverty is so rampant? There are many flaws in this arrogant stance. John asks us why we are surprised when we suffer trials and tribulations. Paul was even in need of a coat when he was imprisoned. The disciples didn’t have enough money to buy food for the multitudes who heard Jesus preach and needed to be fed…and on and on. Surely, if this theology was from God then He would’ve seen that these had abundance pressed down and running over…And they did, of the riches that matter most – blessed assurance that Jesus is mine through the tough times. His grace is more than sufficient for all my need. No, I don’t believe it’s a sin to have wealth but I believe it’s a sin for that to be the object of our affection or for wealth and prosperity to be considered proof of God’s blessing.
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“If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it”. Who is it written by like in the bible
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Clayton, that is the problem. This is not a quote from the Holy Word of God. It is manufactured man.
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To equate Kim Collingsworth’s song, He’ll Bring You Through” with the Name-it-&-claim it movement is totally critical and irresponsible. Her song is very similar to King David’s thought found in Psalm 23: “Though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME!”
The focus is on the Lord – – who HE is and what has promised- – yes, hundreds of promises. It’s time for us all to reach out in faith to claim what He has achieved for us on the cross! Then the world will see and know who Jehovah Jireh is!
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I take this comment, If God brings you to it He will bring you through it to relate more to 1thes 5:24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” If God calls us to a certain task or job, He is faithful and will not leave us or forsake us but will equip us with what we need to carry out what He called us to do. That is not that he will give us material things, but He will give us the words or stamina to do what He called us to do, whether it be to witness to someone, be a missionary in Africa or in our own backyard. I know the statement is not a quote from the bible but I think someone with good intention tried to paraphrase the verse mentioned and it just got out of hand.
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How can I repost this on facebook? I totally agree and I see many who are so confused with what The Word really says. Thank you for writing this.
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Violet, thank you for reading my blog, and taking the time to respond. You can simply copy the link and post it on your facebook page.
https://pastorbobcrowder.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/if-god-brings-you-to-it-he-will-bring-you-through-it/
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With all due respect, I disagree with you. I do not believe that “God will bring you through it” means that “God will do all the work.” That is totally not the intention of that saying. I believe the intention was that if the situation/etc. was God’s will, then God will be your strength through it. Do not rely on only yourself or have the pride to think that you can accomplish things without God. I think the intention of the saying was good and pure. I am in the middle of PA school, and I have been saying to myself “If He brought you to it, He will see you through it.” All things are possible with Christ. I find comfort and reassurance with that. If I don’t study for a test, then I am not doing my part. If I study and prepare and do my part, God is faithful and always does his part. Sometimes that might not be doing well on the test. Sometimes that is not God’s will. I’m ok with that. I love the fact that God will be with me.
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Michelle, first of all, thank you for taking the time in submitting a response to my post. This one blog has been responded to quite a bit.
Secondly, I sure do not imply that the Holy Spirit is not active in the life of the believer. I do not know what the intention of the one who created the saying; “If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.” I only know the teachings from some churches, as I wrote about.
Not everything in our life is directed by God, “If God brings you to it”. As free-will agents, we make our own directions many times against what God may have had for us. And, that is the crux of my argument. Just because believers may find themselves at some sort of crossroads of their own making, does not mean that God is required to “bring you through it.”
Through out the Bible we read where God’s people error by going against His desire for them, and the LORD used circumstances to judge them in order for them to confess their sins and “return unto Him.”
I agree with you that we have a major role in our journey through this life and we are responsible for our decisions. Too many use the phrase as a blanket requirement for God to act on their behalf no matter the circumstances or their poor judgment.
When Jesus was leaving this world, he told the disciple that He would not leave them alone, but was going to send the Comforter. The Holy Spirit dwells within the believer and I love that God goes with me everywhere I go. Now, just to learn to rely on His leading instead of my own, is my battle. I quote the seventh chapter of Romans a lot. “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15 ESV)
Once again, thank you for your response Michelle
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I do believe He has a will in our lives and if we choose to align ours, He will help us though. comforting. Didn’t he call apostles into boats to lead them through storms?
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Michelle, I couldn’t agree more. This is a perfectly true statement of how God works. Even when we utterly fail God and receive his chastisement (like David and Bathsheeba, or Peter’s denials) God is faithful to restore us if we repent with a contrite heart. He allows consequences of sin in our life, and He challenges us to move on into our calling, but always, always He is with us, even to the end of the age.
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Pastor Bob- I just came across your blog, and thankfully so. Whenever I would see or hear the phrase” If God brings you to it He will bring you through it” I would think- but what if He didn’t bring me to it? Does that mean He won’t be with me through this trial? Which inevitably brought on a whole new panic! (Not very encouraging to me) But I never said anything to anyone..before now. And now I believe the Holy Spirit is nudging me to speak out about some of the ridiculous quotes that Christians use with thoughts of encouragement. It doesn’t even matter where this loose “paraphrase”comes from, it’s not scripture, therefore it’s not God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11 says So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;It shall not return to Me void,But it shall accomplish what I please,And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
SO!! Why would we want to speak words in our lives other than the very Word of God?
Scripture is God’s Love Letter to us- it need not be watered down nor
“paraphrased”….. I too quote Paul in Romans 7:15, many times in my life unfortunately, yet I am thankful to have such beautiful words to quote.
Grace and Peace be with you…
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Thank you for your response Kelley. I also don’t like “church speak” when it isn’t biblical. The Bible is rich and full of wonderful verses, psalms and quotes worthy to be placed in our daily conversation and to help us in our walk. Every word is “God breathed.” I love John 16:32-33.
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Everything is sifted through God to allow, modify or stop if that’s His will. He brings us to everything, even our worst decisions. And He will work all things into something good for those who trust Him and are call according to His purpose. For those who are unbelievers, they are on their own, except that God will continue calling to them. Jesus stands at the door and knocks.
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Hi, I too have a comment about this blog. When my 10 year old son was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, I stumbled upon this quote, though a little different: “If God leads you to it, He means to lead you through it.” I leaned heavily on the idea that I could trust him and that no matter what happened, we would be ok. Even if my son did not survive, God was equipping us for the journey and he was holding us in his hands.
I did not at all take it to mean that he would do all the work, but that he would guide us in the way we should go, and that he would bring the people we needed and the ones who needed us across our path. We just needed to trust him. And trust him we did. Even when our son relapsed in 2017 and needed a bone marrow transplant, He guided us and equipped us once again to face that. I still find that quote a source of great comfort.
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I am so sorry about what is happening to your son. However, as Christians, our duty and responsibility is to have FAITH and TRUST GOD. Even in the darkest times of the night, no matter the circumstances, have Faith and Trust God. I am so happy to hear that that was your journey experience…
I would love to pray for you and your family Stacey. Could you tell me your sons name?
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