Rev. F.J. Eikerenkoetter II: A Prosperity Theologian - Essay Sample

Reverend Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, was an American minister based in the New York City and well known with his popular slogan "You can't lose with the stuff I use" He used prosperity theology in his evangelical work and mission

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Biographical Sketch

Fredrick Joseph a clergyman was born in 1935 and died in July 2009 in Los Angeles. He is an evangelist whose father was a Baptist minister, whereas his mother, a school teacher, and at the age of 14 years, he started preaching in his father's church and became a teacher in various Pentecostals during Sunday meetings. In 1962 he married Eula may and was blessed with one son who inherited his ministry. The evangelist met Eula Dent while operating a Miracle temple in Boston, and her therapist’s skills were perfect in the role of teaching the blind to move safely, and she is in charge of the Church holdings as well as various educational corporations.

Life and Career

Frederick J .Eikerenkoetter was born in South Carolina and was an African indo descent. He was inspired to start his career at a tender age when he was appointed an assistant minister at Bible Way in Ridgeland. As well he served I the Air Force, and with time he founded the United Church of Christ In the city of Beaufort. In the year 1970, his ministry had spread, given that he held weekly sermons that were conducted in many stations in the United States of America. He invented the blessing plan whereby many people listened to his sermon on the radio and, in return, sent him money for a blessing. He always encouraged his parishioners to be positive-minded as he always sang about lots of money for use.

Reverend Fredrick is believed to purchase Theater movie palace in Washington Heights, which cost over half a million, which later was renamed Palace Cathedral. Over time the palace became restored as it included a high and twin chamber and miracle star of faith. As well Reverend Fredrick became a chancellor for the United Church Schools and as awarded a degree’s honor with his wife and son from Science of Living Institute and Seminary.

Major Contributions

The significant contribution of Reverend Ike is that he founded his church in South Carolina and conducted faith healing ministries in Boston. In New York, the evangelist established Christ Community church in an old movie theatre. Also, a contribution was made concerning the creation of the United Church Science of Living Institute and created a luxurious decoration on it. He was able to gather a congregation of about 5000 parishioners as well as an audience of about 2.5 million as his sermons became broadcasted in television and popular radio stations.

The reverends theology focused on personal gain and practical achievements in an individual's life as he encouraged the parishioners to accumulate a lot of wealth. For him, happiness was life, and in his view, success is directly related to prosperity, which was deemed to be a product of personal will. He asserted that poverty could be unlearned, and it's not by the government help, donation, or grants, but by Mindpower; hence Reverend is regarded as the man and mind. His new message focused on the mind of science that is a kind of positive thinking. For the reverend revolution of the attitude towards the underprivileged population was his primary focus as he encouraged the individuals towards money creation as well as economic assertiveness. Reverend always stated that no one is poor, but only people who have no knowledge of the riches of God in them.

The prosperity gospel is based on a new thought that is a metaphysical science concerning the flamboyant preaching lifestyle. It's believed that prosperity gospel focuses on the belief and power of a person's mind to unlock God's blessings by correct thoughts and speech. It is assumed that the claim of reality is the spiritual and material world is a universal illusion as well; poverty is an error that can be corrected through the desire to make money. A new thought behind the preachers preaching style arises, which is based on three essential concepts. New thought on the concept of anthropology, which means that to be elevated high, the individual potential could, at last, achieves salvation even without connection with God. Also, teaching is based on the necessary power of positive thinking in which the material world does not mean reality, but a little mind thought. Lastly, being a believer, then you share God's creationist power implying an individual is capable of acquiring the same power that God had when creating the world hence use the power to attain God's promises.

Health

The new thoughts about the preaching style have informative knowledge in the current society. Good health is a determinant of faith, and according to the new thought, it demonstrates the power of an individual's faith. According to prosperity theology, Christ's death does not release believers from sin only but also release them from diseases. It is through fasting, intense prayer, and a positive mind though that one believes that healing has taken place (Johnson, 2018). In case an individual prays and is not healed then a problem exists that is connected to lack of faith or judgment from God as a result of sins committed (Comaroff and Leaf, 2019, p 152) There is a clear emphasis on generational sins that are committed by one's guardians and parents as well as all sorts of social, economic and political misfortunes hence need for deliverance to be conducted to an individual for purification purposes (Kelley, 2018 p 14 ). The use of blessed objects is every day, which includes oil, water, and food products, and they are often sold at high prices for individuals who need them hence a sign of prosperity, which is also evident with Reverend Dr. Frederick in his evangelical ministry.

Wealth Thought

Wealth is seen as a blessing from God almighty. But concerning the preacher prosperity, Gospel teaches on the invisible faith of an individual that always leads to tangible financial returns and reward; hence the size of one's wallet determines the level of your faith and prosperity is thus related to the spiritual law of confession by an individual. Poverty is a spiritual fault that has to be curbed through confession with a piece of evidence that the Old Testament has people who enjoyed wealth like Abraham and King Solomon (Niemandt, 2017, p 3). Wealth can only be achieved if one adheres to strict rules like being faithful in giving to the preacher even than giving to Church for God's activities. This implies that the more you saw and more you reap hence leads to the attainment of victory.

Victory

It is considered to be a legal right, and it’s achieved through the total commitment of a believer as preachers believe that a breakthrough is every day since nothing prevents an individual from winning. The concept that covers an aspect of prosperity theology teaching that is as well employed by Dr. Frederick (Rev. Ike) Eikerenkoetter in his ministries.

Conclusion

Dr. Frederick (Rev. Ike) Eikerenkoetter is a famous reverend who advocated for prosperity Gospel, and he was inspired at a tender age has he started preaching in his father’s church. As a result, he founders church and known for his excellent blessing plan, which prompted many people to send him money to receive blessings. The significant contribution of the evangelists was the creation of churches and school corporations that spread all over the United States. As well he became the Chancellor of united Church schools and attained an honors degree from The Science Living Institute and Seminary. New thought behind the flamboyant preacher's style arises that focuses on fundamental concepts that entail high anthropology, teaching power of positive thinking, and believers to share in God's creationist power.

The prosperity gospel is based on various concepts that the preachers do advocate that is concerning health whereby good health determines your faith; hence healing power must be manifested. Wealth health is an issue in the preaching that a belief exists that invisible faith should automatically result in tangible financial benefits. Hence the more productive you become, the more faithful you are, which is related to the power of giving to a preacher. Finally, victory is perceived to be a spiritual right that one can only achieve victory through total commitment

References

Comaroff, J., and Leaf, M., 2019. Man, Mind, and Science: A History of Anthropology. Man, 16(1), p.152.

Johnson, R., 2018. The Gospel and the prosperity gospel. 28-Theology, 121(1), pp. 34.

Kelley, M., 2018. Fifteenth-Century Flamboyant Style and The Castle of Perseverance. Comparative Drama, 6(1), pp.14-27.

Niemandt, N., 2017. The Prosperity Gospel, the decolonization of Theology, and the abduction of missionary imagination. Missionalia, 45(3).

"United Palace Cathedral Gets Landmark Approval, Despite Church Opposition." DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2017-04-06.