For some reason I have been thinking
about the so-called “Prosperity Gospel” the past couple of days.
I’m sorry. I just can’t “buy into it.”
Funny, I was just scrolling down the
homepage of a social media site to which I belong, and found a post which read,
“You will see 2019 and beyond!”
And I thought,
“Well now, maybe I will and maybe I
won’t”
I guess the writer of this prophetic
utterance has a 50-50 chance of being right about anyone who reads his or her providential
assurance.
Of course, the Prosperity Gospel does
not limit itself to the health, and extended life of the believer, but also
includes a promise of wealth.
There are any number of problems
inherent in the assurances of the Prosperity Gospel, foremost of which is…God
never made such absolute promises to those who have invested their trust in
Him.
I mean, what are we to do with Jesus’
parable of the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus? The rich man died in his
sins and received a sentence of eternal death in the flames of hell. Whereas,
the poor beggar inherited eternal life. The rich man enjoyed everything the
world could dump into his lap during his mortal life, whereas Lazarus begged
and went hungry. If there was a Prosperity Gospel for the beggar, it only
“kicked in” when he arrived on the other side of this life.
Pt. 2
And what are we to do with the martyrs
of Hebrews Chapter 11?
Where were the security, health, long
life and riches for them?
They lived in caves, they were
destitute, they were hungry, they were persecuted, they were devoured by lions
and tigers, (“of whom the world was not worthy”).
No one could accuse these heroes of
the Faith of, well, lacking faith.
And what are we to do with a man like
the Apostle Paul?
“I
have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been
near death more often. Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes
by the Jews, three times I was whipped by the Romans, and once I was stoned. I
have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water.
In
my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger
from my own people and from Gentiles. There have been dangers in the cities,
dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends.
There
has been work and toil. I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and
thirsty. I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing.”
(2nd Cor. 11:23-27)
Hmmm, I don’t see a whole lot of Prosperity
Gospel operating in Paul’s life. And yet, I think I can safely say, and without
contradiction, that other than the Lord Jesus Christ, not a better, nobler,
humbler, more spiritual man ever moved, and lived and breathed among us.
The Prosperity Gospel is little more
than a spiritual myth, and is much more about the gift than the Giver of gifts.
It is a gospel of entitlement, and virtually denies any potential for lack, sickness,
suffering and martyrdom among the people of God. It relegates God to the role
of a servant, gift-giver and enabler.
Moreover, the Prosperity Gospel is all
about the “now and now,” rather than the hereafter, and the multiplied
blessings and riches which God wishes to pour into our spiritual cornucopias.
The Prosperity Gospel conveniently
subtracts scriptures such as Romans 8:18 from the New Testament.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of
this present time aren’t worthy to be compared to the glory which will be
revealed in us.”
No, my friend, God doesn’t owe us
anything, and anything we receive on this side of heaven is no more, and no
less than a gift from the Creator’s hand.
It is high time that believers invest
their time and energies in the pure and unadulterated Gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, rather than the so-called prosperity gospel which is bound to leave us
disillusioned and disappointed.
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright Pending
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