And what's wrong with a Prosperity Gospel
As I heard these words emanating from the pulpit a lump formed in my throat. Whatever it was they were feeding me was just too hard to swallow, too hard to digest. I could not believe these words were coming from this man of God. Had God changed gears on me? Could I now squeeze the arm of God like a tube of toothpaste to get every last drop of blessings he had for me? Or has God now become a respecter of men that he would bless the have's and ignore the have nots? It could not be that God was justifying my blessing by my works, that would mean God had changed the rules to salvation without ever telling me [1]?
Maybe the preacher needed the money and God is broke, so He now needs my money to help bless this preacher? Isn’t this the same God that framed heaven and earth with His hands? Who formed man from dust, blew His breath in him, and made him a living soul? Wasn't it God which fixed the Sun into nothingness and separated night and day? God never confided with me about any of these great things, but now He needs me to help jump-start Him into blessing again?
Even though this came from high up in the church, I knew in the very core of my spirit that this was not of God. Jesus Christ taught many things to His disciples but I think I’m confident in saying that nowhere did he teach a prosperity gospel. In Mark 6:8 Jesus teaches His disciple that they should take nothing for their journey not script, not bread, not even money for their purse, and though I might be pushing it I think He meant it!
If we use Jesus Christ as an example, and we are told as Christians we should, we find in scripture nowhere is the pursuit of money taught or practice by our Lord and savior. In fact, scripture teaches us the very opposite, rather Jesus Himself would go without even a place to sleep over desiring the things of this world
The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Matthew 8:20.
In Luke 12:15 he tells His disciples that life is more important than the things we possess.
If we use Jesus Christ as an example, and we are told as Christians we should, we find in scripture nowhere is the pursuit of money taught or practice by our Lord and savior. In fact, scripture teaches us the very opposite, rather Jesus Himself would go without even a place to sleep over desiring the things of this world
The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Matthew 8:20.
In Luke 12:15 he tells His disciples that life is more important than the things we possess.
So what wrong with asking for a seed offering to “ Jump-start Your faith”? Paul warns that this teaching (preaching) is not of Christ and we should stay away from these men 1 Timothy 6:3-5 in verses 9 through 11 of chapter 6 Paul warns Timothy that their (those that preach a Prosperity Gospel) foolish and hurtful lust for money is evil and that we should flee from them; 1 Timothy 6:9-11. We can't be so mesmerized by the eloquence of speech of our Charismatic preachers that we become numb to sound doctrine, and with itchy ears get swept away by the needs of this world, desiring the Hand of God greater than the Face of God.
We come to Christ because of our fear of the wrath of God. knowing full well that we by our own righteousness will never be able to attain salvation. So by the righteousness of Christ, we are justified, and our sins are forgiven, not that we are not guilty but our punishment has been paid by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
It is so easy to get confused with the dynamics of a preacher of spiritual leaders, but we have to remember that it is Christ Jesus, not the leaders that we are following. Colossians 2:8 warns us "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ"
So the next time someone asks “ What’s wrong with the prosperity Gospel” tell them not by works but by faith in Christ Jesus.
We come to Christ because of our fear of the wrath of God. knowing full well that we by our own righteousness will never be able to attain salvation. So by the righteousness of Christ, we are justified, and our sins are forgiven, not that we are not guilty but our punishment has been paid by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
It is so easy to get confused with the dynamics of a preacher of spiritual leaders, but we have to remember that it is Christ Jesus, not the leaders that we are following. Colossians 2:8 warns us "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ"
So the next time someone asks “ What’s wrong with the prosperity Gospel” tell them not by works but by faith in Christ Jesus.
May the Lord add a Blessing to this word
Your Brother In Christ
Your Brother In Christ
[1] Any blessing justified by works is not a blessing but a payment. This erred mindset removes the concept of gift to the acknowledgement of payment. Now God has a requirement to bless me. ( wow)
Thanks troy,this bought clarity to something i was questioning. daryl
ReplyDeleteThanks Daryl, if there is any subject you want me to address on the blog just leave a message. PS tell your friends about the blog. One more thing, you might like my blog on blocking your blessing I just published it today.
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