Posted on 11/06/2010 8:57:26 AM PDT by wmfights
“Theology is important,” wrote scholar Millard J. Erickson, “because correct doctrinal beliefs are essential to the relationship between the believer and God.”6 A corollary to this statement is that an incorrect theology will lead to incorrect beliefs about God, His Word, and His dealings with men. The thesis of this paper is that the prosperity gospel is constructed upon a faulty theology. Consequently, many of its doctrines, including the teachings concerning wealth, are erroneous. While it is beyond the scope of this study to examine in detail all of the specific doctrines of prosperity theology, there are four crucial areas of error relating to their teachings on wealth that may be isolated and examined. These areas are the Abrahamic covenant, the Atonement, giving, and faith.
(Excerpt) Read more at bible.org ...
No matter what name is used, though, the teaching is the same. Simply put, this egocentric gospel teaches that God wants believers to be materially wealthy. Listen to the words of Robert Tilton, one of the prosperity gospel’s most well-known spokesmen: “I believe that it is the will of God for all to prosper because I see it in the Word [of God], not because it has worked mightily for someone else. I do not put my eyes on men, but on God who gives me the power to get wealth.”4
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I’m not one to defend the totality of the prosperity teachings but neither do I fully support condemning them. When reading the Bible one cannot but notice the words used to describe the blessings for obedience. Job, Abraham, David and many others were rewarded with great wealth and prosperity for being faithful.
True; but wealth was not their goal, it was a side effect of their behavior.
An honest man is honest because it is the right thing to be. He will be honest in all his dealings with his family, friends, and customers. He is not honest because it is good for business; but it is good for business.
>>True; but wealth was not their goal, it was a side effect of their behavior.<<
Therein lays the problem with either condemning or supporting the teachings of today. Some approach it the right way others with the wrong intent. My problem with condemning them is that it tends to send the message that Christians should not be wealthy.
I’m not one to defend the totality of the prosperity teachings but neither do I fully support condemning them. When reading the Bible one cannot but notice the words used to describe the blessings for obedience. Job, Abraham, David and many others were rewarded with great wealth and prosperity for being faithful.
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This is true, and common. Nevertheless, exile, imprisonment, hard toil and martyrdom are just as likely. As He wills, where He wills.
The first instance of the prosperity gospel being preached came from Job’s supposed friends. They said Job must have sinned, otherwise he wouldn’t have had it all taken away. They declared that God would always bless good behavior. At the end of the story, God said Job’s friends spoke incorrectly of Him.
Great point, there is nothing wrong in honestly creating great wealth.
Yes, in the O. T. God blessed His people Israel with prosperity when they were obedient to Him and warned them about calamity if they did not obey and follow His commandments (such calamity being fulfilled more than once in their history), although God promised to not destroy them completely.
Yes, God does give man wealth and does give man the power to get wealth, but there sure is a whole lot in His Word (the O.T. and N.T.) that warns about the SIN in gaining wealth unjustly, in striving for and focusing on wealth, and in serving wealth. To ignore this is to one’s own peril.
Absolutely true that correct doctrine leads to correct beliefs.
God’s people are responsible to know, understand,and share the truth of God’s Word, and it doesn’t come by osmosis—two verses come to mind along those lines:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
If we are trusting in men instead of God, we will be holding to deceit and falsehood and taking the road to destruction.
Just studied some of Jeremiah this morning...here’s a good one: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. ...Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. ...” (excerpts from Jer. 17:5-8)
—still holds true for today and forever.
Matthew 19:27Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?"
28And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.
30"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Luke 16:13"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth."
14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.
15And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Seeking wealth has one trait with it. Its seeking "greatness".
Jesus said "But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." (Mark 10:31)
The God of the universe humbled himself and became a man.
The King of Kings came as a poor child, in a cave for animals, sleeping in a feeding trough.
NEVER did Jesus ever seek wealth or "prosperity" or glory.
If Jesus had wanted us to help the poor, we would have instructed us to! Instead he said, “The poor you shall always have with you.”
Isn’t that cleat enough? Believe in Jesus. Accept your lot in life, or prosper doing whatever it takes. But who cares about the poor? This life is short, and the lives of the poor are even shorter. If they have believed, a short life means that they will be with Jesus even sooner.
“Compassionate Conservatism” is founded on this truth.
Amen
Just a thought, I remember reading a book "The Millionaire next Door". The quality that the vast majority of millionaires value above all others in people they do business with is integrity. They figure there are always "smarter, more clever" people around, but if someone has integrity they will do what they say and will be honest. Our expectation of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ is to have those qualities.
At the end of the story? At the end of the story Job was blessed by God for remaining faithful. In face, he was blessed with more then he lost.
If only it were so. Waitresses hate to work on Sunday afternoons, since the church crowd is notorious for stiffing the wait staff -- or tipping in a niggardly fashion.
You are being sarcastic, aren’t you?
For believers are told in both the O.T. and the N.T. that we are to take care of our families AND help the poor, the orphans, the widows, etc., both of God’s people who are serving Him, and people who are living in the darkness of their own souls. We are to give of our wealth voluntarily, from the heart, because of who God is first, and because of who we are in Christ.
2 Corinthinans 9 is a passage on giving written through the apostle Paul.
Jesus said that it would be hard for the rich man to enter heaven, not impossible, according to the parable of the rich young ruler (who walked away from Him).
Jesus said we can’t serve the Lord and mammon at the same time.
If you truly believe this you do not understand God’s word or the heart of most conservatives.
Not only is there not anything wrong with it, it is one of the good works we can do.
It provides those around us with the ability to live "by the sweat of their brows." If a man is not worried about his belly, he has time to think about his spirit.
Be fruitful and multiply is not just about making babies.
Yes, the evidence of true faith is the good works that His people walk in—
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
I also like His promise that He will finish that which He has begun in us.
Which is EXACTLY what Christ shows and teaches to us.
If a person can't afford a good tip, they can't afford to dine out. I never understand those who need a calculator to figure a tip. How hard is it to figure 15 or 20%. But what aggrevates me is somebody worrying about a dime or quarter. If the dime or quarter is that meaningful, you can't afford dining out.
Next, look at that waitress and how you/me deal with her. Do we want our God to deal with us the same way? Do we want God "tipping" us to the numbers, or would we rather have him blessing us GRACIOUSLY.
Alot of older Christians believe stewardship is frugality or vice a versa. But the way I see it being a Christian is strictly about one word-GRACE. And its by grace we should deal with others. Being more gracious, maybe than someone deserves. Because God IS more gracious than WE deserve.
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