Prosperity Gospel
Those two words really stir up a lot of Christians’ emotions. Dangerous words. A famous pastor and author John Piper gives quite a rant against the properity gospel here… http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=faf0159744aecaf5c732. Its a lot of anger, and perhaps deservedly so. A family in his congregation had recently lost their little daughter. Some prosperity gospel preachers would preach that with God’s blessings no such tradgedy would come upon a Christian. I think these are the people Piper is voicing his anger against… those who preach a prosperity gospel across the board with “no strings attached.” Those who preach the Gospel as a way of making their own money or fame or in a way that makes the Gospel all about money or earthly success/prosperity.
What are my thoughts? I’m just going to use Scripture. Scripture does show that Christians are meant to be the head and not the tail (Deut 28:1-14). I believe I will, “feast on the wealth of the nations, and in their riches I will boast” (Isaiah 61:6). I believe I am the seed of Abraham and have inherited the blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). I believe God does not let the righteous go hungry (Proverbs 10:3) and that He has come that I may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). Does that mean my objective or contentment is found in riches? Not a chance. Does that mean I think my life will always be easy? Not a chance. God also promises trials that will make me stronger (James 1:2-3). God says it has been “Granted to us to suffer for Him” (Philippians 1:29). But in my struggles/suffering, I will continue to ask God for healing, for provision, for deliverance, for strength, and for BLESSING (dictionary definition: “special favor, mercy, gift”). And I believe God will grant it… I may have to wait and at times I might not see prayers answered in the way I expect… but that doesn’t mean I will give up on His promises. Heidi Baker’s stories are good examples (she is a missionary in Mozambique). She is used to heal and deliver so many, but she herself undergoes different illnesses. Some are because she pushes herself too hard, but others I believe God allows her to endure to teach her more compassion for the sick and grant her more intimacy with Him. For most times she is sick she ends up getting miraculously healed, but after a time of suffering. So is she invincible? No way. And sometimes the people she prays for end up passing away. But does that mean the promises of God are false? Not a chance. In such times we have to trust in God’s sovereignty, weep for the loss, ask for more faith, and continue on. We have to understand that God’s ways are higher (Isaiah 55:9) and we can’t explain everything. Sometimes prosperity Gospel is presented in a way that puts God in a box or makes it seem too easy… that is wrong. But to not claim God’s promises is also wrong. God is our Father and our friend. He wants us to talk to Him. If our heart is pure, I don’t think God is angry if we ask for favor at our work, a good husband or wife, or a decent car. In fact, I believe He delights in hearing our requests and answering many of them. Will He give us everything we want? Of course not. He knows what is best and will withhold certain requests for our own good.
You could say some of the stronger enemies of the prosperity gospel could be compared to the prodigal son’s brother. They have been faithful in their duties, but get jealous when someone seemingly undeserving gets blessed. They didn’t even know that if they “just asked” they too could enjoy their Father’s favor (Luke 15:31). They’ve been too busy acting more like a servant than enjoying some of the benefits of being a son. Its wrong to parade God’s blessings as why we love Him. That is evil and its a danger many prosperity preachers can fall into. But I also believe its wrong to ignore or reject God’s blessings saying we don’t need them and only need Him. As a father figure for my kids, I would be hurt if I offered them presents but they rejected them and said, “Its okay JM, we love you, we don’t need what you are offering.” I will then just give the presents to the kids who ask and are grateful. This would be like a family coming together at Christmas with gifts in their hands for each other, as simple earthly expressions of their love, and then saying to one another, “No thanks, I don’t need this expression of your love. I know you love me.”
The song I put up really expresses my heart. I think you all know I’ve given my life to God. I’m a missionary serving in an orphanage and direct a small orphanage ministry. I desire to die for Christ. I’m not in it for money or fame or whatever, my heart is to see Jesus return. I hope that is understood. I will continue to claim God’s promises and ask for His favor and prosperity. If in time God chooses to raise me up like Joseph, Daniel, Mordecai, Nehemiah, and even David and grant me special favor/prosperity over others, its not going to be for my benefit but for God’s kingdom. I’m His. I’ll appreciate the favor, will enjoy any gift He grants me along the way, and will continue to claim more, with the motive being the same as those men of God: “Use me! Come Lord Jesus!” God is my treasure. 
God bless!
