P.S. the image above is now \sarc
Something about camels and eyes of needles pops to mind.
“And there came a certain poor widow” Mark 12:42
When I was in college, I got a letter from the Rev. Ike.
Included was a very small piece of prayer cloth.
Right at the top was the quotation: “The lack of money is the root of all evil”.
I have no idea how I got on his mailing list.
I don't like it,
God don't like it too.
This message approved by Joel.
Few are going to heaven many to hell.-Jesus of Nazareth
“Is that assessment of the Prosperity Gospel accurate?”
No.
It’s no good. A scam. I think it has decreased in recent years in influence and in how much it is pushed, which is good.
But I don’t think your assessment captured it’s particular heresies.
The poor are so, in the past, because of bad judgement leading to poor decisions. Teenage pregnancy, drug addiction, etc. in the future the poor will be so because of the tyranny they tolerate, also bad judgement.
In a free, modern division of labor society,rich people are rich because they are able to make higher than average rate of profit by developing new products or new methods of production that people approve of because it benefits them. Then, the rich people consume less and save and invest more in their business. Then, they repeat this process over and over for a long period of time.
Your quest for knowledge and pursuit of faith is admirable but obviously in its early stages. Otherwise this seems like a research project for you.
I know nothing of the teachings you present but am keenly aware of the confusion when it comes to Jesus’ teachings. There are mixed messages in the New Testament about wealth and how it is measured. We are taught to use the talents God gave us to make the most of our selves (money wealth and otherwise). We are also taught to share the product of our talents with others (time, talent and/or treasure). To provide the latter, you must first accomplish the former.
It is interesting to note, that Jesus intended all “tithing” to be a measure of one’s soul and grace both for the giver and the receiver. In short, Jesus was saving souls on an individual basis. Thus, he who give freely of what he has for the improvement of others is to be rewarded by God (not forced). Likewise, those who receive these are to recognize the Grace of God in the gift. In this way, both souls are purified.
Finally, wealth is not = money per the teachings. Shoveling snow off of a driveway for elderly neighbors without being asked or seeking appreciation takes little more than a shovel and time. And this fits the teaching of Jesus for the giver. Does the benefactor of this good deed automatically recognize it as the act of a Christian? Maybe, maybe not. But that is between them and God.
This is confusing I’m sure and representative of my faith only. I try to keep it short. But this is what I believe.
If you are rich by your own honest efforts more often than not you believe on the Christ and give glory to God you will gain eternal life.
If you are poor because of dishonest behavior or laziness you will more than likely be poor and you will not believe on the Christ and not give glory to God and you will not gain eternal life.
>>>Is that assessment of the Prosperity Gospel accurate?<<< I believe it is sophistry in the name of the Lord. Shame on them all!
The logical conclusion that one can draw from the Prosperity Gospel is that most rich people are going to heaven, and most poor people are going to hell. The Prosperity Gospel is North America's Capitalist answer to the Latin American Liberation Theology. It is fun to compare and contrast both theological worldviews.
I'll bet it is. Please explain the logic wherein you've equated material blessings with salvation.
It really does seem that sloth, indulgences of the flesh, coveting what others have, etc. put one in a mindset that ushers in poverty.
lazy out in school, hangout on the street, rip off your neighbor, toke up, screw the B. and have no greater goal than to repeat it all again tomorrow:
it fits too many of our youths today
I think this parable pretty much says it all:
Luke 16
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.
22 Accept instruction from his mouth
and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:
If you remove wickedness far from your tent
24 and assign your nuggets to the dust,
your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,
the choicest silver for you.
-Eliphaz the Temanite
So God's cool with me banging a bunch of underage prostitutes like Jeffrey Epstein?
The Prosperity Gospel doesn’t necessarily “pivot” on the point of whether some Christian is sinning and doesn’t deserve blessings, while another Christian is not sinning and therefore does deserve it. “THAT” is not the Prosperity Gospel from what I’ve seen and observed.
Mind you, I’m not a proponent of that, but I’ve had enough people tell me and seen and read enough about it, to form an idea of what it is about.
It has more to do with DESERVING IT (i.e., prosperity) because God wants you to have it all. AND the “key” to it is to “NAME IT AND CLAIM IT”.
You’re not getting it, because you’re not acting in your God-given right (to act like God, yourself) and “name it and claim it”. Namely, you don’t “have” because you don’t believe you have the POWER like God does, to simply SPEAK and get your blessing. You have not, because you ask not (you ask not, out of unbelief).
The idea is ... according to these proponents ... is that your “WORDS” are powerful, and you just have to put those words to use and then it becomes “REALITY”. If you BELIEVE IT IS REALITY and you SPEAK IT, then it becomes reality in the same way God created all things in the beginning!
AND, these proponents believe that once you understand this “LAW OF GOD” that you have POWER OVER, then “all things are possible” and there is no end to all the blessings you will receive.
ALONG WITH THAT, comes “seed faith giving”. You give “out of your need” in the beginning, and then you get back THOUSAND-FOLD!
SO ... you put the NAME IT AND CLAIM IT ... with ... SEED FAITH GIVING and you’ve got the “perfect storm” for the “Prosperity Gospel”.