We speak about the "Prosperity Gospel" because it is such a prevalent and, well for lack of a better term, depraved new-age theology that has swept our television channels and our bookstores. It's a very unbiblical theology that entangles the lost in this whole "God wants you to have what your heart desires" teaching and claims that the inverse of prosperity, and truly even the lack of great wealth, is but God's punishing for your displeasing (not necessarily even evil, but simply displeasing) ways. The idea that, and someone on here brought this to my attention a few weeks ago, you can be saved but have God punishing you with poverty or even lower-middle-class-ness.
Well, the opposite of this "prosperity gospel" is logically the "poverty gospel". And though I have not yet seen or heard someone actually take it to this point yet, I can see the workings of it.
Now don't get me wrong I think Francis Chan is doing some awesome stuff and I have two of his books and I agree with him wholeheartedly, I think that, and maybe even fear that, his words and the words of others of this new movement towards humility and glory to God alone (as opposed to the backsliding from this way that once was but is now often not in the church) and above all other things may be turned into some sort of "poverty gospel". That is, salvation comes through simplicity and poverty, or better put, simplicity and poverty are the fruits of salvation.
This, unlike the prosperity gospel, is one that could be very easily concluded through the four gospels, as well as the remainder of the New Testament. At a first glance the entire New Testament seems to be an opposition to wealth and riches, but is it? I'd say not. Even Paul, maybe one of the most poverty stricken apostles in the New Testament, says that you should give to lift up others, but you should not give to the point that you yourself fall to where they were! Help your brothers up, but don't trade your place for theirs, lest you yourself end up in the need of another.
The truth of the matter is that riches breeds sin, both greed, idolatry, coveting, and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Speaking from experience, when I was a kid I'd get (what I thought anyways) was vast amounts of wealth each birthday and Christmas. I'd get crisp $100 bills, glorious $50 bills, an awesome $20 bills. I was rich! I was so happy, because of the M-O-N-E-Y! I had the world by the beard and look out because I was unstoppable!
This is what Jesus meant when he warned about wealth. It breeds a sense of power. He warned against it because truly the rich man would see himself as equal to God and as in no need of His help. This is sin, and this is what Christ meant by the words, not that the way to Heaven had a maximum income level, like roller-coasters and their "You Must be This Tall" signs.
Just something to keep your thoughts on, your prayers on, and your eye on, lest someone decides to grab that pendulum as it hits the apex of the "prosperity gospel" and decides to swing it ALLLLLLLLL the way to the other side. Of course this would be something that believers would have to worry about because there is really no way that such a "poverty gospel" would grab many from the world, although maybe a few hippies and some hobos would jump on that train. The true fear is that it will bring Christian brother against Christian brother.
And some may very well say I am just crazy, but it's not something new, this idea of poverty being the fruit of salvation isn't new at all, it's just as old as prosperity being the fruit of salvation!
