Comments on: Secretly believing the prosperity gospel.

By: John L.

John L. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:02:46 +0000

Every Christian in America is vastly more prosperous than the majority of the world. Most people live on about a dollar a day many earning it by hard labor done in the blazing sun. Remember that when you enjoy your next $4 coffee searching the net on your new Mac. We are the ones the Bible speaks of as "the rich". I know I see it everyday living as a missionary in SE Asia. Let's lay off Joyce, Creflo, and Joel and take the plank out of our own eye first. Love all yall!

By: Pam D

Pam D — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:31:29 +0000

Hmmm……

"What makes such great confusion is how everyone feels compelled to formulate a theory and obligate everyone else to it. Someone gets an impression of Christianity. Presto! Now there has to be a theory, and everyone must subscribe to his theory. Then he gets busy developing his theory further. Then his theory is attacked, and he defends it – constantly moving away from true religiousness. He does not personally get around to acting according to the theory but manages to introduce a theory about the opposition to the theory.
No, what should be insisted upon is that I feel obligated to obey the New Testament, not to theorize about it. I cannot obligate others. I simply say: I feel obligated in this way and will express it in action. Truth does not try to get a random bunch of people obligated to me or to my conception. No, each person must be alone before God and become obligated by it." -Søren Kierkegaard

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:35:01 +0000

Pam, I have to agree with you about the Irresistible Revolution. I just finished reading it and about a third of the way through I realized that I was totally frightened by what I was reading. And that was exciting.

By: David B

David B — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:57:08 +0000

What did Paul say about being content? (Philippians 4:11)

By: Ann Onymous

Ann Onymous — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:21:24 +0000

Who needs verses chuckdog? You can sleep safe at night knowing that Jesus was riding his spinner-rims tricked out Caddy round down-town Jerusalem flossing his chain-blingy-blingy crucifix (hmm, what's that symbolise again?) whilst supping on some nice vinegar-n-wine with the homies who'd just got back from watching the local football team trounce those pathetic foreigners! Don't worry they all had their star-spangled banner-colo[u]red WWJD = What would Jocks do bands on? GO TEAM USA!

By: Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:45:46 +0000

Amen Carrie!!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:41:17 +0000

Where in the Bible does it say Jesus was dirt poor??? And yes He was a man of sorrows because he was rejected, ridiculed, and destined to take on the sins of the whole world, but poor?? You have to give me chapter and verse on that one.

By: Joe McLain

Joe McLain — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:03:04 +0000

I understand what the blog is about. That being said, I think it is sad that we as Christians feel like we can attack each other and feel justified. I see a lot of people in my denomination speaking against Joel Osteen and Creflo Dollar and even Andy Stanley. Where do we get off tearing one another down. In case we don't know, our numbers are shrinking not growing. This is what others are seeing. Fightings within. Who is propering now?

Joe McLain

By: Joe McLain

Joe McLain — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:55:10 +0000

Guy, you need to read Matthew 25. Nick said that we are called to be obedient. In our obedience, God blesses.

By: Nick the Geek

Nick the Geek — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:14:26 +0000

The income for artisan laborers in America is below that of professions requiring higher education. Yes unions do exists and do fight for better wages, but this process is not as clean as it sounds. Union workers might earn low 6 figure incomes, but their bosses get paid better than them. Ultimately someone has to pay for those wages so inflation happens, which means that $100k salary isn't what it use to be. Housing costs are much higher as well as other goods that are affected by union wages. Moreover, companies that can move their production costs into countries without unions and labor laws tend to do so because they don't value the labor force, just the income they get.

Further, America is in the upper 10% of the world and is not a far comparison to Jesus' contemporary culture. One must account for those differences, which just amplify the pay difference.

I don't believe prosperity is any worse that "anti-prosperity" gospel. Both are not the true gospel, which is that Jesus Christ came to save us. Both take the focus from where our true faith should be.

As a pastor I would love to get a 6 figure income. I work harder than most people in America and I'm paid in the lower 5-10%. I don't worry about any of that though because it is secondary to what God has called me to do. "Seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness and all of these things will be added to you." I may never have a mansion on this Earth, or hundred's of thousands in the bank, but God has always provided and I trust Him to continue providing.

On a side note, I know several well paid pastors that are not prosperity preachers. They spread that blessing by giving more and more of their disposable income and living on less and less. That is pretty impressive if you ask me. If I lived in Semi Valley, CA I'd attend Francis Chan's church because I think he sets the example for his congregation.