"Secondly, whether something "works" or not, really has no bearing on whether it is "true" or not."
So obviously it doesn't "work" for you either, and you're no "better off" (in an "Overt fashion") than the majority of folks around you. I don't know a LOT of dedicated WoF adherents, but it's been pretty obvious to ME over the years that I'm not "Missing anything".
On the other hand, by simply committing my life to HIM 50 years ago, and trusting also in HIM - I'm well provided for (filthy rich by "world standards" - like most "U.S." residents), and He's had me in the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME consistently ever since 1962.
And all that without bothering with popular "Wof" practices, or beliefs.
Bob, Do you ever tell the poor how to get "filthy rich" like you or do you leave it to woffers to do that so that they can get "condemned" for it?
And that is really the point isn't it?
Of course, whether something
'works' or not is entirely dependent upon your place in time when you are observing it. For instance, if you talked to Abram when he was 98 years old, it would have been easy to laugh at him and tell him that it obviously didn't work for him. After all, how many years had he been waiting for a son? Forty some?
But if you talked to Abraham when he was 100, it was a different story, wasn't it? If Abram had already had a son, or several sons, when God spoke to him the first time, would he have had the oppourtunity to believe God, or would he have even wanted to?
The problem with Bobs scenario is that it is exactly what Jesus was addressing when he spoke to the rich young ruler. Jesus told him to go, sell that you have, give it to the poor, and come follow me. The rich man went away sorrowful, because he couldn't give away his goods. The question is why? It was because he had already been provided for by virtue of his birth and status, as well as by his own hand, and by obeying the law. He felt no need to
believe God for his wealth or even just for his needs to be met, when they already were.
This was when Jesus said, "How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
The kingdom of God operates by faith, and one has no oportunity to believe God for anything or to use their faith when they have already managed to meet their own needs
without believing the promises.
That is why the WOF message is the only branch of christianity that is exploding outside of the US in the thrid world. There have been multiple articles written about it, and many of the mainline and older established churches, as well as the WOF critics are completely confused by the movement of world christianity towards WOF beliefs. Specially in light of the fact that some of these groups and denominations have had missionaries in these countries for decades, and even generations without much success. A handfull of salvations here and there, but no mass conversions. Yet mass conversions is the name of the game for WOF, and it is the fastest growing and largest group of Protestants in the third world today.
I remember that 20 years ago the main argument of the WOF critic was that it was an American phenomenon, that could only occur here, and would never work in the third world. This to them, was proof positive that their criticism of WOF was justified. Since then, whole countries, (pluralities and/or majorities) have come to saving knowledge of Christ through the spread of the WOF message, to the absolute consternation of the ciritcs. They cannot understand it. Yet it has happened, and continues to happen.
Why? Because the gospel to the poor is a powerful thing. When you cannot feed your family, or have a roof over your head, or even have clean drinking water, a God who has provided for and cares about your physical well being, and who has provided promises of prosperity to that end, is a God worth serving. These people
need to believe in a God who prospers. The argument that Bob has put forth, is simply a symtom of those that do not
need to believe in a God who prospers. They have already taken care of themselves, so they don't
need to believe the promises of God.
Peace...