Prosperity Theology

~Anastasia~ · Nov 20, 2017

I believe that God gives us what is necessary for our salvation, and best for us and others.

Some people can receive prosperity and use it to bless others. Others might receive prosperity and the effect is less trust in God, more desire for riches, being drawn into lust for worldly pleasures, etc. God knows each of us and what is good for us.

But just as He doesn't prevent people from choosing sin, He doesn't usually block the efforts to achieve prosperity that people undertake for themselves. But we can't expect Him to "bless" us with a loaded gun when we intend to shoot ourselves with it, you know?

Phil 1:21 · Nov 21, 2017

Stancet said:
I don't deny this is true of many televangelists and such, but does it seem possible a faithful Christian could also become prosperous through God's divine favor?

Absolutely. God can do whatever He wants. We know from scripture that He has at times blessed people with worldy wealth, such as was the case with Solomon (2 Chronicles 1:12) and Job (Job 42:10). And we also know that God is the one who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Where this goes sideways is when folks treat our Lord as a vending machine where they insert good works and expect a new Lexus to pop out.

Doug Melven · Nov 21, 2017

I voted yes.
But God doesn't bless us so we can be happy and blessed and watch the world go to hell.
He blesses so we can bless others.
How can we help the needy, if we are just getting by ourselves?

W2L · Nov 21, 2017

Phil 1:21 said:
Absolutely. God can do whatever He wants. We know from scripture that He has at times blessed people with worldy wealth, such as was the case with Solomon (2 Chronicles 1:12) and Job (Job 42:10). And we also know that God is the one who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Where this goes sideways is when folks treat our Lord as a vending machine where they insert good works and expect a new Lexus to pop out.

Jesus said that we should not store money on earth but in heaven, because where our treasure is so is our heart. My heart couldn't ignore that teaching. My conscience also wouldn't allow me to live in a mansion and drive luxury cars, while others struggle to live. What kind of faith is that? The apostles teach us that this world is passing away and we should live that way. There is no need to buy a mansion when it is passing away.

Phil 1:21 · Nov 21, 2017

W2L said:
Jesus said that we should not store money on earth but in heaven, because where our treasure is so is our heart. My heart couldn't ignore that teaching. My conscience also wouldn't allow me to live in a mansion and drive luxury cars, while others struggle to live. What kind of faith is that? The apostles teach us that this world is passing away and we should live that way. There is no need to buy a mansion when it is passing away.

You are, of course, entitled to take issue with the scripture in my post. But your issue is with the One who wrote it, not me.

Shempster · Nov 21, 2017

The way I see it is that God loves to bless His people with abundance, in health and wealth.
Unless....
They LOVE the things of this world more than Him.

That is the difference.

FireDragon76 · Nov 21, 2017

It's superstitious paganism masquerading as Christianity, peddled to poor people, usually at their expense. Not much different from Scientology.

A soft form of preaching the spiritual benefits of wise and holy living is fine, and has been present in Christianity as a minor theme for a very, very long time (I'm thinking in particular of a certain strain of Anglicanism of the moralist sort, such as William Law). But tying divine promises to earthly wealth is ridiculous and unbiblical.

W2L · Nov 22, 2017

Shempster said:
The way I see it is that God loves to bless His people with abundance, in health and wealth.
Unless....
They LOVE the things of this world more than Him.

That is the difference.

2 corinthians 8:13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

W2L · Nov 22, 2017

He who gathered much had nothing left over...

ToBeLoved · Nov 22, 2017

Stancet said:
Hello Christian Forums,

I've been struggling with this doctrine lately because I'm not a rich Christian, nor am I particularly needy. I've always believed prosperity theology to be wrong, but some spiritual leaders whom I respect are making me think otherwise.

What is prosperity theology?

This is the belief that Christians (and Jews) increase in wealth and possessions because God shows his favor upon us when we are faithful. Some Christians believe differently; that we work and earn our money by the same principles as everyone else and the Bible only teaches us how to spend our money wisely.

The replies I am looking for should focus on your own Christian knowledge and have scripture to back them up. Just remember that we are all friends here and don't get into theological hair-splitting if we can't agree to disagree.

Why did Jesus tell the rich man to give up and sell everything he owned and follow Him?

Mark 10:17-31
The Rich Young Ruler
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words a]">[a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “b]">[b]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 c]">[c]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in d]">[d]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

Phil 1:21 · Nov 22, 2017

ToBeLoved said:
Why did Jesus tell the rich man to give up and sell everything he owned and follow Him?

Mark 10:17-31
The Rich Young Ruler
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words a]">[a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “b]">[b]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 c]">[c]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in d]">[d]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

The answer is found in verse 22. The man valued his riches about God. We should always place God first in our lives, above sports, hobbies, friends, family, everything. The rich man's problem wasn't his money; it was that he loved his money more than he loved God.

ToBeLoved · Nov 22, 2017

Phil 1:21 said:
The answer is found in verse 22. The man valued his riches about God. We should always place God first in our lives, above sports, hobbies, friends, family, everything. The rich man's problem wasn't his money; it was that he loved his money more than he loved God.

Jesus asked every disciple that wanted to follow Him to give up everything.

The man who wanted to go home to bury his father, Jesus said let the dead bury the dead.

My point is it is not just money.

But notice verse 25

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

That is exactly about money and Jesus clarifies that point

Phil 1:21 · Nov 22, 2017

ToBeLoved said:
Jesus asked every disciple that wanted to follow Him to give up everything.

The man who wanted to go home to bury his father, Jesus said let the dead bury the dead.

My point is it is not just money.

You are correct.

drjean · Nov 22, 2017

But wait a minute... Jesus gave us the parable of the talents. This surely shows that whatever He entrusts to us we are to invest...and since he used money as an example, that means money too! No where in the parable does he dun the rich man--not for being rich and not for expecting to be richer when he returned. He gives according to each believer's ability, so if someone says they don't know how to increase or what to do with God's blessings..welllllll ????

Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:14-30
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money....

Jesus also said we have not because we ask not.
And The Word says He will give us the desires of our heart.
(See my first post)

W2L · Nov 22, 2017

Phil 1:21 said:
The answer is found in verse 22. The man valued his riches about God. We should always place God first in our lives, above sports, hobbies, friends, family, everything. The rich man's problem wasn't his money; it was that he loved his money more than he loved God.

Thats true, but Jesus teaches us not to store wealth on earth.

W2L · Nov 22, 2017

Phil 1:21 said:
You are, of course, entitled to take issue with the scripture in my post. But your issue is with the One who wrote it, not me.

You are the one ignoring scripture friend.

Phil 1:21 · Nov 22, 2017

W2L said:
You are the one ignoring scripture friend.

Not at all. I see no contradictions in scripture. You are the one taking issue with scripture that does not support your position. That, my friend, is between you and God.

W2L · Nov 22, 2017

Phil 1:21 said:
Not at all. I see no contradictions in scripture. You are the one taking issue with scripture that does not support your position. That, my friend, is between you and God.

No, i simply gave more up to date scriptures that apply to the New Covenant instead of the old, which you used. I believe i have properly divided the word of truth

Phil 1:21 · Nov 22, 2017

W2L said:
No, i simply gave more up to date scriptures that apply to the New Covenant instead of the old, which you used. I believe i have properly divided the word of truth

I have no doubt you believe that. Best of luck.

W2L · Nov 22, 2017

Phil 1:21 said:
I have no doubt you believe that. Best of luck.

What did the lord mean when he said not to store treasure on earth? Did He actually mean that God will bless us with an earthly mansion?

Prosperity Theology

Do you believe Prosperity Theology is biblical truth? (see original post)

Yes

No

Not Sure

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