Posted on 01/10/2014 5:04:51 AM PST by Gamecock
Tag
“Those so-called preachers and ‘reverend’d on TV who preach that if you send him some month you will get it back 10 times make me sick to my stomach”
The Bernie Madoffs of Christianity.
John 12:4-8 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
John Piper, the preacher he mentions in his testimony, is NOT a cessationist. John MacArthur is a cessationist. Both are friends and preach from a reformed theological framework.
This person’s testimony does not indicate he no longer believes in God’s blessing and healing or in praying for them. (Even John MacArthur does not teach that God does not heal or bless in answer to prayer, just that he thinks the gifts or miracles, tongues and healing have ceased.) I have observed over the years that the proponents of what is here called a “prosperity gospel” do indeed ALWAYS talk about financial and health blessings. This is a certain mark of a heretic - lack of balance. Healing and blessings are important topics we can learn about from the Bible, but these are NOT the focus of the message of the scriptures.
There are those who wanted Christ to stay in their town so He could continue His healing work but He said He must preach (rather than the emphasis being on healing) in other cities. There were those who wanted to follow Him around because He fed them. He told them to seek the Heavenly kingdom rather than material things that perish.
The so-called “prosperity gospel” turns the teachings of Christ on their head. When He says to seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added, the prosperity preachers focus on the secondary things that will be added rather than the eternal reward, and the fellowship and forgiveness, and rescue from eternal destruction. And they become like Job’s comforters who were convinced he must not be doing something right since he was suffering.
Thanks for sharing this.
The direct link to the original article appears to be missing. It is
http://www.9marks.org/blog/gospel-almost-killed-me
Thank you for this thread. I have someone very dear to me who needs to read this, including all the insightful comments here. I pray it helps. And if anybody wants to join in that prayer, I sure wouldn’t object.
the heresy runs even deeper, at the root there is the belief that God is constrained by our words of faith, which, in essence raises us above God.
Roll your own, baby.
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Well they get their reward in heaven.
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