The Sin of Greed in Today's Church

[Andrew Wabomba]

The April issue of Everyday Gospel

Magazine featured an article written

by Dr. Marc LaMont Hill who

touched on the subject of the

epidemic of prosperity teaching in

the church. I’d like to add my views

to the discussion. I feel compelled to

talk about this because of the

overwhelming number of television

preachers and evangelists who are

preaching about prosperity. The

preaching of the prosperity message

in today’s church boils down to one

thing: greed.

[cozmoe]

Philippians 4:12   I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Hopefully the ultimate goal in the Church is to become more Christ like , I just let the Lord do the picking and the choosing ,and he will bless us all in different way's according to his will for us , I agree that some have twisted scripture to suit an idea that all will have great wealth,i do also agree though that the Lord will bless other's in finance's that he know's will be good steward's and produce fruit to further the work of his kingdom , he know's they will be responsible and their heart's are in the right place and are mature enough to handle that , It is fairly easy to see in time  what the driving motivation is from  behind the pulpit , all a person really can do is pray that those that are caught up in this receive truth , and be delivered from self and for ourselves that we have the discernment to know the difference weather were just judging or judging with righteous judgement , and that they will come to a working knowledge of our Lord,be delivered and know the Lord's love for them .

[nebula]

Hello Andrew - 

 

Would not these discussions best be posted in the "General Discussions" forum?

 

The Worthy: Q&A forum is meant for people who are asking genuine questions in search of an answer.

[Guest]

... I feel compelled to talk about this because of the overwhelming number of television preachers and evangelists who are preaching about prosperity. The preaching of the prosperity message in today’s church boils down to one thing: greed.

 

~

 

With Joy

 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Be Blessed

 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

[Fez]

 

... I feel compelled to talk about this because of the overwhelming number of television preachers and evangelists who are preaching about prosperity. The preaching of the prosperity message in today’s church boils down to one thing: greed.

 

~

 

With Joy

 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Be Blessed

 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

 

Amen Joe, thankfully my church and those we associate with do no suffer under this "gospel". I have heard one preach on tithing in the last ten years, and it basically went around the scripture you quoted, and yet we are a church with sufficient resources to meet any needs of the church and those we support. My pastor does not take a salary and lives off the proceeds of selling his farm to enable him to pastor full time. And God continues to bless our church. 

[Guest]

Yes, there are many false doctrines in the church, and some are very popular.  The prosperity message is one, because people are content to believe that if they sow faith seeds, they will get rich.  The other is the salvation message where we simply believe in Jesus and it doesn't matter how we behave afterward.  We are eternally saved, and can never be lost.  These are both dangerous doctrines, but you can understand why they are so popular?

 

Amen~!

 

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

[Chaos268]

I was listening to a televangelist recently and he was talking about sending out the hundred fold blessing to people that sent money to him.  My question was, if that worked, why wouldn't he send US the money and then HE would get the hundred fold return for HIS money? 

[other one]

then that would rob you of the blessings of giving......    at least that's what Jim and Tammie Baker used to say.

[Willa]

I would call the prosperity message a false gospel along with mormon teaching. It seems to be a cult that tells people only what they want to hear.

Yet I do believe in God's promise in Malachi to try God and tithe to Him. While it is to the Jews, God does bless His promises.. God did it for me before I even heard of that promise. I just walked in obedience to His Spirit and He rewarded me by replacing that money that I had given to Him. Most of the time He just keeps things from wearing out so fast, or helps us to find good bargains. And more important, He rewards us with spiritual blessings such as contentment with what we have.. I do not give to those who beg for money as though their ministry will fold if we don't send them money. Perhaps it would be better if those ministries did shut down. For one thing, they want us to give to them instead of giving to God.

Nevertheless,, people who give in order to get do it with wrong motives and usually do it to spend it on their own pleasures as in James 4:3.

God also tells us to give to the poor, and often that includes giving to poor churches as the early church supported the one in Jeruselem. Our church provides by giving Christians jobs both here and in India and Africa.

[JohnD]

I would agree that in prosperous nations the life style standards of the average Church member / citizen tends to be higher than is actually biblical. Of course, we are so off course as far as every believer being a priest before God and using their spiritual gifts in their own ministries to evangelize the world... in stead we are extremely worldly.

 

BUT !

 

When the rich start griping how the commoner wants too much

 

THEN

 

I am eternally their enemy.

 

For they will put masses of people out of work and disable them to even make a basic living to pay for their over abundance without batting an eyelash.

 

They want their trillions and will suck the life out of any people or nation they can to do so.

 

I say to you who do so, there is a God in heaven and you should read up in the Bible on what he has in store for you. James 1, 2, 5 and Revelation 17-18