Prosperity Gospel

[sunnier]

It really bothers me to hear preachers preach on prosperity. Ex. God wants us all to be rich, God did not create you to be poor, He wants to prosper you in your business, finances, wants you to have a bigger house, better car etc...

Is that the kind of prosperity the Bible is talking about?

1 Timothy 6:8-10

[MorningGlory]

I totally agree....I often yell 'God doesn't care about our bottom line' to the t.v.!

[humbleseeker]

Show me the money!

[Ovedya]

There's a very good reason some preach prosperity:

1) If I convince you that being wealthy is nothing to be ashamed of, and prove it through the twisting of the Scriptures, then you will begin to seek wealth.

BUT...

2) You must also be convinced that too much wealth is a bad thing, and can corrupt you, so I must also convince you to "sew your seed" (your wealth) into the kingdom of God.

AND IF YOU DO SO...

3) God will reward you abundantly, adding to your "seed" 10-fold, 20-fold, 100-fold, etc.

THEREFORE...

4) You must sew your "seed" to THIS MINISTRY - because look at all the great things we do with it (eg. spreading the message of prosperity to the rest of the world).

If I convince you of #1 then you will have no problem with the fact that I wear gold jewelry, expensive suits, and travel the world in a private jet.

If I convince you of #2 then it insures I will be able to wear gold jewelry, expensive suits, and travel the world in a private jet.

If I convince you of #3 then you will have the "faith" to keep on giving and giving, until it hurts. And if by some chance God does not increase your "seed" then I will convince you that you lack the faith in "the things unseen" and remind you that through prayer you can call things unseen into existence.

Finally, if I convince you of #4 then you won't go anywhere else to seek the truth, because you are convinced already that you must have the faith required to make yourself - and by extension me - wealthy beyond all imagination.

By the way, if you should happen to go broke giving me all your money, don't worry, all of your treasures have been "laid up in heaven" through all that giving.

Hallelujah, amen.

[MorningGlory]

There's a very good reason some preach prosperity:

1) If I convince you that being wealthy is nothing to be ashamed of, and prove it through the twisting of the Scriptures, then you will begin to seek wealth.

BUT...

2) You must also be convinced that too much wealth is a bad thing, and can corrupt you, so I must also convince you to "sew your seed" (your wealth) into the kingdom of God.

AND IF YOU DO SO...

3) God will reward you abundantly, adding to your "seed" 10-fold, 20-fold, 100-fold, etc.

THEREFORE...

4) You must sew your "seed" to THIS MINISTRY - because look at all the great things we do with it (eg. spreading the message of prosperity to the rest of the world).

If I convince you of #1 then you will have no problem with the fact that I wear gold jewelry, expensive suits, and travel the world in a private jet.

If I convince you of #2 then it insures I will be able to wear gold jewelry, expensive suits, and travel the world in a private jet.

If I convince you of #3 then you will have the "faith" to keep on giving and giving, until it hurts. And if by some chance God does not increase your "seed" then I will convince you that you lack the faith in "the things unseen" and remind you that through prayer you can call things unseen into existence.

Finally, if I convince you of #4 then you won't go anywhere else to seek the truth, because you are convinced already that you must have the faith required to make yourself - and by extension me - wealthy beyond all imagination.

By the way, if you should happen to go broke giving me all your money, don't worry, all of your treasures have been "laid up in heaven" through all that giving.

Hallelujah, amen.

You just described, to a 'T', the 700 Club and all the other 'ministries' on television.

[Sir Gareth]

Beyond surviving the only thing money ever seemed good for was providing for God's ministry and missionaries and helping others.

I'd probably just spend it on something stupid anyway

[Miss Elly]

It really bothers me to hear preachers preach on prosperity. Ex. God wants us all to be rich, God did not create you to be poor, He wants to prosper you in your business, finances, wants you to have a bigger house, better car etc...

Is that the kind of prosperity the Bible is talking about?

1 Timothy 6:8-10

Why don't these preachers preaching so much on prosperity quit asking continually for offerings and believe their own words? Why don't they give OF THEIR OWN MONEY to the ministry and see how much they are prospered. Jesus never had a fundraising telethon, he did not stand in Solomon's temple with a microphone and yell out - give me your money, God wants you to be rich, blah, blah, blah. Rich godly men in the bible were uncommon I believe. Jesus said "the poor you have with you always". I do believe God wants our needs to be met and he will bless us as much as he can trust us. I once heard a preacher say "God can't trust some people with 50 cents, it would corrupt their hearts and turn them from God as their first love". The equivilent to that today would probably be more than that of course, but it's still true.

Abraham was rich, his son Issac, Job, several others. But they were full of faith and obedience too.

[Ovedya]

It really bothers me to hear preachers preach on prosperity. Ex. God wants us all to be rich, God did not create you to be poor, He wants to prosper you in your business, finances, wants you to have a bigger house, better car etc...

Is that the kind of prosperity the Bible is talking about?

1 Timothy 6:8-10

Why don't these preachers preaching so much on prosperity quit asking continually for offerings and believe their own words? Why don't they give OF THEIR OWN MONEY to the ministry and see how much they are prospered. Jesus never had a fundraising telethon, he did not stand in Solomon's temple with a microphone and yell out - give me your money, God wants you to be rich, blah, blah, blah. Rich godly men in the bible were uncommon I believe. Jesus said "the poor you have with you always". I do believe God wants our needs to be met and he will bless us as much as he can trust us. I once heard a preacher say "God can't trust some people with 50 cents, it would corrupt their hearts and turn them from God as their first love". The equivilent to that today would probably be more than that of course, but it's still true.

Abraham was rich, his son Issac, Job, several others. But they were full of faith and obedience too.

Jesus went into the places where people were sick and dying. He went to places where the Jewish religionists refused to go due to their "uncleanness." Jesus went to those people - He met them right where they were - and He healed them. Today if you want to get your healing you have to pay upwards of $25 to attend a grand "revival" or "healing crusade," and you have to fight past throngs of people just to get close enough for the preacher to wave his jacket at the crowd, spreading "The anointing of the Holy Ghost" over the crowd.

Where are the faith healers in the hospitals?

Where are the prosperity preachers in the homeless shelters?

[MorningGlory]

It really bothers me to hear preachers preach on prosperity. Ex. God wants us all to be rich, God did not create you to be poor, He wants to prosper you in your business, finances, wants you to have a bigger house, better car etc...

Is that the kind of prosperity the Bible is talking about?

1 Timothy 6:8-10

Why don't these preachers preaching so much on prosperity quit asking continually for offerings and believe their own words? Why don't they give OF THEIR OWN MONEY to the ministry and see how much they are prospered. Jesus never had a fundraising telethon, he did not stand in Solomon's temple with a microphone and yell out - give me your money, God wants you to be rich, blah, blah, blah. Rich godly men in the bible were uncommon I believe. Jesus said "the poor you have with you always". I do believe God wants our needs to be met and he will bless us as much as he can trust us. I once heard a preacher say "God can't trust some people with 50 cents, it would corrupt their hearts and turn them from God as their first love". The equivilent to that today would probably be more than that of course, but it's still true.

Abraham was rich, his son Issac, Job, several others. But they were full of faith and obedience too.

Jesus went into the places where people were sick and dying. He went to places where the Jewish religionists refused to go due to their "uncleanness." Jesus went to those people - He met them right where they were - and He healed them. Today if you want to get your healing you have to pay upwards of $25 to attend a grand "revival" or "healing crusade," and you have to fight past throngs of people just to get close enough for the preacher to wave his jacket at the crowd, spreading "The anointing of the Holy Ghost" over the crowd.

Where are the faith healers in the hospitals?

Where are the prosperity preachers in the homeless shelters?

Good questions.....

[turtletwo]

Good topic, sunnier! Well said, Ovedya. You called it like it is. Actually, to those not too familiar with this movement, it may seem like sheer stupidity on the surface. But countless people are decieved by the prosperity gospel! Most shamefully, senior citizens and other desperate persons who are too feeble to know better. Meanwhile, these so-called "men of God" are laughing ...all the way to the bank. But the last laugh will be on them. Because they will have a lot of serious explaining to do when they meet their Maker! They took advantage of the ignorant and the weak. In a sense, it is a form of gambling too. Hoping that if you 'sow your seed' then you will reap some huge harvest. Like playing the lottery with God?

This is also often a stumblingblock to the lost, who view such scams with disdain. Sadly, I have had relatives fall into both categories! Elderly ones suckered in...honestly thinking they were obeying God through this rampant deception. And wiser relatives who quipped, 'Now you see what Christianity is REALLY about...making money off Jesus. What a racket! Talk about con men..."

How sad! I mean, Jesus was the very King of kings... Yet He chose to be born in a manger, live as a peasant and hang around those "scum" people (embarrassing outcasts) who the rich and proud Pharisees despised. Jesus had a LOT to say about the love of money and sent the rich young ruler away because he would nor forsake his wealth to follow Him. And let's not forget about the camel and the eye of a needle illustration He gave!

The prosperity can't possibly mean what these teachers say. God's Word is truth and it does not contradict itself. I've watched biographies of some of the most devout men of God ( the real ones...from the olden days.) Case in point, George Mueller...who opened many orphanages without that tacky begging for money. Yet God kept supernaturally providing just what was needed! This was a humble man of huge faith and much prayer. Documentaries about people like him can be rented and are well worth learning of. They are so inspiring and often put us to shame. Then there was the Salvation Army who took pity on the 'down and out.' These are the ones who touched our Savior's Heart and were used to change tons of lives.

Forgive me for the long post (what else is new, right? ) but I truly feel strongly about this heresy. Some even go so far as to promise salvation of loved ones, physical healing, etc will occur if you "sow." (And to people who are feeling hopeless, this can be tempting when you see no other options out there.)