Prosperity Gospel

I am a child of modern day Christian evangelicalism.  I mean, you honestly can’t get much more so than me.  I was homeschooled in the 80’s and early 90’s.  I went to Dawson McAllister conferences.  I saw you at the Pole (or at my friend’s school’s pole because again, I was homeschooled).  And I signed my True Love Waits card.  My musical influences were not Madonna or Michael Jackson.  It was Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Petra listened to very quietly in my room at night because I wasn’t allowed to listen to “Christian Rock.” 

So, I have some credentials.  Now onto today’s subject:

Lately, it has become commonplace to for pastors and theologians vilify the Prosperity Gospel doctrine.  This is a belief system that basically says that God loves us, He wants the best for us, and if we will follow the principles listed in the Bible then He will pour out his blessings on us.  Our finances will prosper, our mental and physical health will prosper, and our relationships will prosper. 

Some of the more common verses I’ve heard preached on or taught about:

 Malachi 3:10 - Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! (NLT)

Or

John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NASB)

I firmly believe in the Prosperity Gospel message. 

Ok, now I need to back up a bit. 

In my head, I also believe the Prosperity Gospel doctrine to be in complete error. 

1) One of the 1^st things we learned in Bible college (I told you I had some cred) is that the Bible has to be interpreted against the rest of the Bible.  Meaning, you can’t just pick out 1 or 2 verses that support your belief and run with that.  You have to see what the rest of the Bible says to balance out the subject…keeps one from becoming an extremist. 

For instance, if the above verses were true, across the board, in every situation, what do I do with the situation of John the Baptist, or Stephen the Martyr, or of even Jesus Himself at the crucifixion?  It would seem that God’s idea of prosperity and the American Christianity’s idealism of prosperity are two different things. 

2) Real life.  Kids get sick.  Dads lose jobs.  Tragic car accidents take away someone’s teenager each and every day.  Happens. 

But my dissidence comes when bad stuff happens to me.  I find that I struggle with being angry and bitter against God.  “Why did this have to happen?  Why now?  How could You do this to me?” 

In other words, I hold an expectation of prosperity in my heart.  I've convinced myself that God owes me.  So at some point, I’ve bought Prosperity Gospel hook, line, and sinker.  I want this doctrine out.  The bitterness and the depression it drags along with it have been a life-long battle for me and I’m asking the Holy Spirit daily to get the following counter-thoughts into my soul.

1) I don't control God.  We don't control God.  God is not subject to a formula.  Yes, if I live according to wise biblical principles, I will avoid many pitfalls but He does not have to answer to me.  He’s kinda bigger than that.  “If I do the right thing, then A, B and C will happen.”  But when X comes along instead, my faith is shaken.  I have a lot of friends that don’t go to church anymore because of some great disappointment.  They did all the right stuff and crap still happened.  Bad stuff happens to good people.  Period.  See the story of Job or read about Paul being beaten, put into prison and then beheaded.

2) Faith in God is trusting in Him, not telling Him what to do.  He’s got a very big picture view of the universe, the Church, and my own life.  He is completely prepared to give me some nasty circumstance…if it will build my character, if it will prove His faithfulness, or if it will simply bring Him glory.  He is good – but he is gooder than my present happiness.  He is for long term (eternal even) joy.  And He’ll let me go through a lifetime of misery here, if it will bring about His glory. 

This seems to be my battle.  I may yet one day have complete victory over bitterness and resentment, but I may not.  I may have to fight the lies I bought in my evangelical youth for the rest of my days on earth, but I will bless God while I do and trust the Holy Spirit to continue to weed out my soul.