Prosperity Gospel teaching...

[cosmicutopia]

I'm beggining to see the thinking in the so called "prosperity gospel". Please read the paraphrased conversation I had with my mother and offer any insight, knowledge or help...


Mom: I'm tired of barely making ever month with the rent. If we had money we wouldn't have to always worry that we won't be able to pay.

Me: If we trust Jesus, we have nothing to worry about.

Mom: I'm trusting him and we're still struggling to make it. God wants us to have money so that we don't have to be anxious all the time and so we can help others with it. There's nothing wrong with money if your heart is in the right place.

Me: I agree about the heart thing. But under your logic, if your rich your blessed and if your poor then you are not?

Mom: Yes. Why would God want anyone to suffer and be poor? It effects their health and so much else. That is a curse, not a blessing.

Me: The disciples were poor and many others in the bible.

Mom: We live in the 21st century, not in bible times. If we had enough money, we could be happy and bless others with it.

Me: You can be happy without money. There shouldn't be comfort in money, only in God.

Mom: Like I said, there's nothing happy about having to struggle to make it every month. Money is not an idol, I just need to survive! That's all!

Me: If God wanted us to have more money, we would have it.

Mom: So he doesn't want us to have money then and suffer instead?


End of conversation... Feel free to comment

 

[reba]

Others can have the Prosperity Gospel.

I believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

[theLords]

How sad. I pray God alleviates your mom's burden and stress. He can certainly do so without increasing her cash flow. I'm always reminded of Paul in the Bible "I know how to have a little and I know how to have a lot" (badly paraphrased, of course).

I certainly see your point. So many people are so frustrated they fall into the PG teaching. If only they realized that giving some random stranger who claims to be a "Christian spokesman for God" isn't going to change a thing, but in fact make it worse.

Just imagine a new conversation:

Jane Doe: We sent that minister on TV $500 dollars and he promised that if we sowed into the kingdom we would receive 10x more! When will we see God's promise come true? How are we gonna pay the rent now that we've given our last $500 away? God has abandoned me, so now, I'm going to do the same.

Just imagine how many people who fall into the trap of the PG come with that same mentality and their faith is completely and utterly destroyed.

You're insights are very good. Satan knows how to prey on us and appeal to our flesh.

 

[cosmicutopia]

What am I supposed to say when we clearly need money to feed ourselves and afford housing?

 

[Jake]

What am I supposed to say when we clearly need money to feed ourselves and afford housing?

You already answered this question when you were speaking to your mom! You said that God will provide all your needs and He will! Keep praying!

The sad thing about the conversation is that your mom thinks that money will make her happy, when we are to have joy in all things. The joy comes from God on the inside, not from material things from the outside. The problem with the prosperity gospel is that it is an idol, we're praying for wealth, not for Him.

 

[reba]

Nothing wrong in asking for help. The churches should be helping folks along with extended family.

 

[Webb]

Please read Matt.6:24-34. Here is the real gospel of prosperity! Maybe at times we need to unload some of the things we have, moving from a too high to handle rent house to a lower more affordable house etc. God supplies His sheep with what we need, not what we want or think we need. Yes, trust Him.