The Prosperity Gospel
Sep 13th, 2007 by Admin
I used to be pretty anti-prosperity Gospel. I never subscribed in a “poverty Gospel either,” but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the subject after reading the following (found here):
Anyone who knows me, knows of my disdain for the prosperity gospel. The people who preach this gospel are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Watch this video by John Piper and may it touch your soul as it did mine!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukcV-xtU3hc[/youtube]
After watching Piper’s video, I have recently begun to reconsider my position. However, I will quailify that statement by saying that prosperity as defined by God and His kingdom is not the same as how the world has defined prosperity.
Here is my response:
I respectfully disagree.
Prosperity is what God is about. However I will qualify that statement by saying that prosperity in His true Kingdom is not the same as prosperity in the kingdoms of men.
God is not anti-prosperity. He is the God of abundance. He lacks nothing. He is good. He gives good gifts to His children. When they ask Him for bread He won’t give them a stone.
If He can’t or He won’t, then He’s a liar. If He can’t or He won’t then He’s not all powerful. & If He’s a liar and not all-powerful, then He’s not worthy.
Jesus came that we might have life, and that more abundantly. He came to set the captives free, to proclaim liberty to all who are oppressed. Here and now - TODAY! That is the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom. That is the good news. The Kingdom is not coming, it is here now. It is not just in word but it is in deed and displayed in power. Not for the glory of man, but for the glory of His name!
Jesus didn’t die for me or you. He died that He might bring glory to the Father. He died that all men might be reconciled to God to the glory of His name.
He came to bring prosperity of soul to all those who chose to live in the one true Kingdom!
Blessings!
excellent post…u right…Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly and also right that the Kingdom of God isnt the kingdom of man…im too thru wit ppl who claim to serve & know Christ who actually deny the blessing He promise His own ppl, cuz they dont wanna be associated wit televangelists who actually dont preach the true gospel of God at all…they fight so hard against a counterfeit gospel instead of jus preachin and believin the Truth…and lettin the Holy Spirit convict of sin, righteousness and judgment…
Jesus Christ is far more than a mere doctrine contrived by man’s understanding and put on tracts…Jesus Christ came to take the prisoners out of darkness and set the captives free…we are bought with a high price; redeemed and reconciled to our Father…
the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth (Jesus Christ)…its the only journey worth takin…be bless… -g-
In case it wasn’t clear, the prosperity gospel that I “disdain” is the one as the world defines, not God’s word.
A perfect example is Deuteronomy 28:11. I think the world has misinterpreted this verse.
That is only one example of the prosperity verses in the Bible. I believe these are not what the world is talking about.
God is Love!
In Christ, Adam
Heretic,
Check out my response to your comment on my blog. My heart breaks that I wasn’t a better “light” in the past, but I am ready now to receive His blessings.
I agree with you and this issue is on my heart, though I hope I haven’t missed your point.
I was reading Hebrews 11 and 12 yesterday and it tore me in two. All of these people that are listed had this faith that was so abundant but they really didn’t receive their reward on earth.
I find myself lamenting my own anguish til I miss the point of God’s blessing for me NOW and TO COME. I can have abundance here on earth, but it may or may not come in the form of dollars and cents. It will come to me in abundance of love from my children, my grandchildren, my family, my friends, my beautiful, dutiful wife. That is a blessing of prosperity God has in store for me. Not cash flow!
If I do ask for the prosperity of earth, He will give me my bread and not the stone, but His gift for me is love, and I can see an abundance of it coming my way. I just need to clear my vision and finally put to an end my old self.
I think we agree. God is nothing but good and truth. We do NOT have to live a pauper’s life to come to Him, but we might not live a life of earthly blessing either. He makes us out of the same clay.
Romans p says:
“20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”
We are His vessels for Him to do his will. And if we subject to His will, we can find the blessings. If we kneel to be clay, than He will form us into the mold He wishes for us.
Romans 9 says:
“30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.[n] 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law.[o] For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”
If we subject ourselves, by faith, to His works, He will bless us in the ways He sees fit as the others look on in awe. Christ’s kingdom is here. It is in me and you and on the ground we walk. Abel’s blood no longer cries from the ground because the blood of Christ has siezed the skies, seas, and the ground beneath my feet.
We just must endure the subjection to the Father’s hands that He mold us into the best vessel to receive His gifts.
Bandit.
Adam-
Welcome! I’m not taking shots at you personally. Just commenting on the video mostly. I listened to as much of the video as I could stand (and generally I’m a Piper fan). It just didn’t sit well with me.
The world’s definition of prosperity is a counterfit of God’s definition. The only difference is they see the prosperity as their source - when God alone is the source.
If God can’t go into a third-world situation and change the the plight of the men and women there - or if He refuses - then what does hope does he really offer.
Look through the tags “Kingdom” on my site. You see Jesus never came and preached the “Gospel of Salvation.” His message was the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” The good news of the Kingdom of God. What was this good news. He said, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words - “Change the way you thing (repent) for their is a kingdom right in front of your face that you’ve never seen before! (at hand)” Why haven’t they been able to see it, because they were looking with the wrong eyes. They were looking for real estate - with a brick and mortar kingdom. However - this Kingdom, God’s kingdom had come - and it is still here and now for those who choose to live there.
This kingdom is not bound by real estate or country borders, because this kingdom (God’s kingdom) here and now, is superior. It rules over all other kingdoms.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray - “thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” You’ve said that God’s kingdom hasn’t come yet. But my question is then why did Jesus say to pray that it would come here on earth (now) as it is in heaven (now)? That doesn’t make sense. Why would He tell them to pray for the inevitable? Because he wasn’t. He was telling them to pray that the reality of heaven would be seen here and now on earth - just as it is in heaven. That God’s kingdom would be established in the hearts and lives of men and women who are bound and captive in inferior kingdoms (of men).
So where am I going with all of this? You see God’s kingdom is here and now. He desires to invade the earth with heaven - today! With signs, wonders and miracles! He wants to transform lives. To set the captives free! Here on earth just as it is in heaven.
A couple of questions: Is anyone hungry in heaven? Is anyone thirsty? Is anyone poor in heaven? Is anyone without basic needs? Is anyone sick in heaven? GOD FORBID!
Follow me here - but he wants that culture to come here on earth as it is in heaven! Prosperity for His children now!
If you don’t think that’s His heart - I encourage you to check out the Transformation videos by George Otis, Jr. God brings prosperity to some of the poorest of the poor around the world in our time - why because they entered the kingdom here and now. And the prosperity they are enjoying - the world would define as prosperity. But you see the difference in the definition goes back to the source.
“And my God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory!”
Blessings
Covenant-
Welcome - & thanks for the comments!
Blessings!
Alamo-
Well said. I like some of your illustrations! Cool!
Blessings!
Heretic, you said,”Jesus didn’t die for me or you” but Romans 5:8b says,”While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
maizie-
Welcome! I think you missed the point and the heart behind the message?
Blessings!
Maizie:
Heretic has another post here entitled “Jesus Didn’t Die For You” that you should check out; he and I have gone back and forth about this quite a bit. There are numerous biblical references, including spoken by Christ Himself, that indicate He did die for us. I agree with you and disagree with Heretic’s one comment that Jesus died “for God and God alone”. If Jesus says directly that he died for us, how can this be untrue?
Obviously, He did not do so JUST for us, as he was following the will of the Father, who so loved the world…you know the rest. I won’t soapbox here, but you should check out the post that actually deals with this subject directly.
For the record, it is the only point of disagreement I have yet encountered in Heretic’s postings, and even if I disagreed with everything, I am so excited to see individuals thinking for themselves, as 95% of American churchgoers just show up, then go eat and go home with little hunger to really know God. It is obvious everyone here is interested in thinking, which in itself puts you in the minority of Americans!
Mike-
Thanks for the kind words. Someone once said that in order to get someone to listen, you first have to damage their hearing. I won’t discount for a moment what Christ did for me. He ransomed me from my captivity. I’m not trying to cheapen His sacrifice, I’m only trying to get the proper perspective! I know you are too!
Blessings!
I can more than co-exist with you as a brother over this small difference in perspective. We both agree that Christ both died for us as sinners and for the glory of God, so there is no quarrel here. Believe me, I have recently spent some time on another (”Christian”) blog that makes Osama bin Laden look gracious and open-minded.
It is a sad reality that the biggest stumbling block many will ever encounter to a relationship with Christ is the Church. As the “older brother” of the story, we should rejoice like the father does in the story of the prodigal son, but too often we (generally, as the church) have the same reaction as the story…these people don’t derserve to be loved. The lost are our brothers and sisters…Muslims, homosexuals, bigots, everyone. Of course, there is great comfort in that parable, that regardless of what the first son thinks, the father is still in control and sees us both as equals.
Okay, okay, enough preaching.