dkbwarrior
Favoured of the Lord
- Sep 19, 2006
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We can not deny that people do use the Gospel for selfish means and the Bible adresses that.
We are in 100% agreement on that.
The fact remains that many godly and faithful men and women do not have great wealth in this life, at least by mens standards.
True, but how does that address anything we are talking about?
The only way that would be worth the words to say it would be if you thought a persons circumstance was somehow a proof of Gods will for their life, and it is not.
Only the Word of God can set the standard for what God Wills, not someones circumstance.
Alot of godly men and women still struggle with private sins in their lives, everything from gossip to lust. Alot of godly men and women are not healed. Alot of godly men and women worry about things. For that matter, alot of godly men and women have not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Does this mean that God wills for them to struggle with gossip and lust? Does this prove that God does not want them healed? Does this mean God wants them to worry, rather than cast their care on Him? Does this prove that God does not want some to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?
Things of God don't come by being godly, they come by faith. Because someone is poor, doesn't mean that this is Gods will for them.
A quick test of any teaching is whether or not its universal. Can this health and welath gospel be applied to every nation and culture? No, it can not.
I disagree. If it cannot, then why is the so-called 'health and wealth' gospel spreading the fastest in Africa, and other third world countries?
There was an interesting article in Christianity Today last year called "Health and Wealth In Africa, How The Prosperity Gospel Is Taking A Continent By Storm".
It was written by those who are not sympathetic to the message in question. They interviewed some denominational church leaders who bemoaned the fact that they had missionaries in country for decades that could barely hold together some small congregations, only to watch in astonishment as the advent of christian TV and mass crusades have sprouted mega churches almost overnight, and in some countries a plurality of the population is now converted, whith the largest single group of those believers being of what you call the 'health and wealth' variety.
I could go on and on about how mainline protestant christianity is decreasing, and being replaced and overrun by the new move of God, and bringing with it the conversion of masses of new believers from third world countries.
In fact, WOF, what you would call the 'health and wealth' gospel, is the only arm of protestant christianity that is growing exponentially around the world right now. This of course, is what happens with every new move of God initially, until it gets denominationalized and watered down over time.
I encourage you to do some research. There is a book called The Encyclopedia of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement that has facts and figures for every known population of the world, and tracks them from Azusa street to the present.
What are going to say to the man in Ethiopia who does not own a Rolex even though he is extremely faithful and is a mature Christian?
What do you say to godly women who develops breast cancer?
The good news that God can prosper you and God can heal you.
I've lived in a borrowed tent moving form campground to campground and I've owned a home. Do I prefer owning a home? Sure. Do I praise God for His provision? Absolutley. Am I content in every situation because I trust God and I know He will do what He will in and through me as a willing vessel because He loves me and is faithful to give me what He knows I need instead of what I think I need? Yes
That is good. But do you have enough to give to every good work? That is the purpose of prosperity. It is good that you have enough, but what about your neighbor?
God is able to give us sufficiency in all things so that we have more than enough for our own needs, and enough to give to every good work. Us four and no more doesn't help the rest of the world much, does it? If one cannot feed himself, how can he feed his neighbor.
If you don't want money, then believe God for money and give it to those who need it.
Am I against those who are wealthy? No, I praise God that He has blessed them. Am I going to tell the poor that they will be rich in this life? No, I don't want to spread that lie.
Well, Okay, you tell them what you want to. I will tell them this:
9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
-2 Corinthians 8:9
Peace...
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