There's something wrong with the prosperity gospel.

Not just the Christian version. Really any version of commercialized spirituality that consolidates inordinate sums of wealth into the hands of a charismatic leader or oligarchical clergy of some form or another.

The lens of capitalism will shine a favorable light on these pundits. Characters like Deepak Chopra and Joel Osteen are making spirituality available to the masses on a scale like never before. They are providing value: hope, excitement, connection to the divine—you name it.

Let's not question the value of their offerings. Like good capitalists, we can let the market speak for itself: these spiritual leaders must be doing something right if people are buying the best-selling books, video programs, subscriptions, or whatever other offerings they've put out there.

But something doesn't smell right. There's a stink in the air.

Osteen espouses the gospel of Jesus, a man who said it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Jesus did not live a lavish life but one of self-sacrifice. Can you imagine Christ living the way Osteen does? With so much more material wealth than everyone in his church?

Deepak extols the virtues of an amalgamation of Eastern traditions. Siddhartha Gautama, who ultimately became the first Buddha, was raised in the most pristine opulence. He was the platonic ideal of a trust fund baby, with every opportunity, comfort, and pleasure at his disposal. He abandoned his palace to find enlightenment. Instead of enjoying the comforts of his concubine, he meditated under a tree for hours. He lived in poverty.

How can someone who espouses the virtues, values, and teachings of a spiritual leader lead a life so different from the originator of their commercialized teachings? Our modern spiritual oligarchs appropriate the messages of true spiritual leaders for their own economic advantage.

I am not saying that spiritual capitalists don't believe in their own teachings. But there is an implicit hypocrisy, veiled by a narrative that their economic power gives them greater ability to help others in the world. Picking and choosing the spiritual teachings that are convenient to follow, while ignoring others that require sacrifice or moral self-monitoring, is a frail, naïve form of living a spiritual life.

Discomfort and sacrifice are vehicles for spiritual growth. We can "sacrifice" the consolidation of hundreds of millions or billions of dollars to live a life more aligned with the teachings we profess.

Nor am I saying that the teachings of these figures are invalid. No need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Even the great classical composer Wagner was a famous anti-Semite, and yet his work is still considered an important part of the classical canon. A vile character and problematic perspectives do not mean the person's work lacks value. It does not mean their work isn't beautiful.

I see the wisdom of a core Bahá'í principle: the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty. No one needs hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, least of all those who appropriate spirituality to achieve that level of means.

If you achieve that level of wealth, good for you. You now have an ethical responsibility to do good in the world. Consider even capping the amount of money that remains in your own accounts while funneling all excess wealth exclusively toward helping others—not just your heirs.

I get that the system incentivizes us to amass as much wealth as possible. There is no end to the game of power and money. You have to decide when the end is. I recommend deciding that before you get there. And keep to that cap. Give the rest to the world.

Here's my invitation: for the non-billionaires reading this, ask yourself: are my spiritual leaders living the life they espouse? Am I living in accordance with my own beliefs?

We need not be harsh in our judgment of ourselves or others as individuals, but perhaps we will arrive at an awareness of a larger, systemic issue. Perhaps we can then consciously decide which values of capitalism and spirituality we choose to prioritize and uphold.