Comments on: Prosperity Gospel: Yes or No? http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:48:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Josh http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-451296 Josh Sun, 10 May 2009 03:50:06 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-451296 Since arriving in Mexico as a missionary, I have encountered prosperity theology running rampant and completely unchecked. I have not nor will I ever acclimate my palate to this theological junk food. Prosperity theology may make you feel good as you eat it. but later you feel cheap and disgusting. The pastor whom I have been under for the past nine months has a knack for picking out OT passages and grossly misusing/misinterpreting them to make his prosperous points. Someone mentioned earlier several OT figures that God prospered. I am not debating the fact that in the OT God did make promises of prosperity to those who obeyed him. But if we read the whole Bible, we will find that the one who was obedient his entire life, even through his death on the cross, never prospered materially. If we are going to have a theology that controls our lives (as does PT) shouldn't we be sure that it is one in which Jesus fits? How can I say I want to be like Jesus when we'd rather be like the religious leaders or Caesar? Since arriving in Mexico as a missionary, I have encountered prosperity theology running rampant and completely unchecked. I have not nor will I ever acclimate my palate to this theological junk food. Prosperity theology may make you feel good as you eat it. but later you feel cheap and disgusting. The pastor whom I have been under for the past nine months has a knack for picking out OT passages and grossly misusing/misinterpreting them to make his prosperous points. Someone mentioned earlier several OT figures that God prospered. I am not debating the fact that in the OT God did make promises of prosperity to those who obeyed him. But if we read the whole Bible, we will find that the one who was obedient his entire life, even through his death on the cross, never prospered materially. If we are going to have a theology that controls our lives (as does PT) shouldn’t we be sure that it is one in which Jesus fits? How can I say I want to be like Jesus when we’d rather be like the religious leaders or Caesar?

]]> By: mamazee http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-448676 mamazee Thu, 07 May 2009 04:48:44 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-448676 just for the sake of being the sole dissenting voice, i'm voting no on #10 and 11 First, #11 - if i choose to support people i love preferentially, who are members of God's family, isn't that the *idea*? That we are known by our love for each other? So if i support businesses owned by my Christian brothers and sisters in preference to others, how is that prosperity gospel? #10 - this is a kind of tricky one, because the Qf folk do tend to get a little prosperity gospelly (i know - i'm on all the lists, i've got seven children and not planning on quitting) - thing is, having children *is* a blessing. It doesn't earn you anything - it's a gift that God has given - children are a form of wealth - it's a beautiful gift from God - and yes, He sends the rain on the just and unjust alike, but it's a blessing to both of them if their crops grow, right? Some people don't want to be blessed that way, and fine - I've heard people on the QF lists say "God doesn't send a lamb without a little pasture" - but there are a lot of big families who are struggling financially. I think the blessing is in the children. It's something wonderful, good, pure and sweet. And being content with the way God has made you is a relief and a freedom from the slavery to pharmaceuticals that most Christian women experience. But i don't believe that good women only get pregnant or that bad women suffer miscarriage or stillbirth or disease or congenital defects. In some cases, God has a different blessing for them, and that's wonderful, too... But to deny that children are a blessing to a Christian family is just plain weird :) just for the sake of being the sole dissenting voice, i’m voting no on #10 and 11

First, #11 – if i choose to support people i love preferentially, who are members of God’s family, isn’t that the *idea*? That we are known by our love for each other? So if i support businesses owned by my Christian brothers and sisters in preference to others, how is that prosperity gospel?

#10 – this is a kind of tricky one, because the Qf folk do tend to get a little prosperity gospelly (i know – i’m on all the lists, i’ve got seven children and not planning on quitting) – thing is, having children *is* a blessing. It doesn’t earn you anything – it’s a gift that God has given – children are a form of wealth – it’s a beautiful gift from God – and yes, He sends the rain on the just and unjust alike, but it’s a blessing to both of them if their crops grow, right? Some people don’t want to be blessed that way, and fine – I’ve heard people on the QF lists say “God doesn’t send a lamb without a little pasture” – but there are a lot of big families who are struggling financially. I think the blessing is in the children. It’s something wonderful, good, pure and sweet. And being content with the way God has made you is a relief and a freedom from the slavery to pharmaceuticals that most Christian women experience. But i don’t believe that good women only get pregnant or that bad women suffer miscarriage or stillbirth or disease or congenital defects. In some cases, God has a different blessing for them, and that’s wonderful, too… But to deny that children are a blessing to a Christian family is just plain weird :)

]]> By: iMonk http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441878 iMonk Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:35:16 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441878 OK Tim, if you can find the post where someone TOLD you what to do, and didn't say that it is between YOU AND GOD, then I'll keep posting you. But since there hasn't been any "pious poverty" on this thread, but plenty of "pious prosperity" coming from you, I think we're done. By the way, I turned my TV off. Please enjoy yours. Done. D-O-N-E. OK Tim, if you can find the post where someone TOLD you what to do, and didn’t say that it is between YOU AND GOD, then I’ll keep posting you. But since there hasn’t been any “pious poverty” on this thread, but plenty of “pious prosperity” coming from you, I think we’re done.

By the way, I turned my TV off. Please enjoy yours.

Done.

D-O-N-E.

]]> By: Tim W http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441872 Tim W Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:30:32 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441872 Also, the frustrating thing is the one size fits all attitude, like, "I sold my tv, so you need to sell your tv also." People can trumpet their wealth, but people can also trumpet their pious poverty. If you give, give in secret. Also, the frustrating thing is the one size fits all attitude, like, “I sold my tv, so you need to sell your tv also.” People can trumpet their wealth, but people can also trumpet their pious poverty. If you give, give in secret.

]]> By: iMonk http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441853 iMonk Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:01:39 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441853 Can't say I'm surprised. Can’t say I’m surprised.

]]> By: Tim W http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441849 Tim W Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:59:32 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441849 "If your stuff is your god - get rid of it." What makes something your god? Enjoying it? I have always felt oppressed and manipulated when pastors say this. “If your stuff is your god – get rid of it.”

What makes something your god? Enjoying it? I have always felt oppressed and manipulated when pastors say this.

]]> By: iMonk http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441837 iMonk Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:50:03 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441837 Tim W: Who is this Jesus you speak of? I don't know him. ms Tim W:

Who is this Jesus you speak of? I don’t know him.

ms

]]> By: Tim W http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441835 Tim W Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:48:36 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441835 "We know that Jesus wouldn’t wear a Rolex. We just don’t know why we shouldn’t." We don't know that. He allowed the expensive perfume to be poured on him, he didn't think it a waste. If someone gave him a Rolex i bet he'd have worn it. “We know that Jesus wouldn’t wear a Rolex. We just don’t know why we shouldn’t.”

We don’t know that. He allowed the expensive perfume to be poured on him, he didn’t think it a waste. If someone gave him a Rolex i bet he’d have worn it.

]]> By: Tim W http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441830 Tim W Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:42:38 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441830 "Someone above mentioned Joyce Meyer, and I know iMonk has been disparaging of her before. May I confess to a guilty pleasure? I like Joyce Meyer" me too “Someone above mentioned Joyce Meyer, and I know iMonk has been disparaging of her before. May I confess to a guilty pleasure? I like Joyce Meyer”

me too

]]> By: austin http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/prosperity-gospel-yes-or-no/comment-page-3#comment-441799 austin Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:49:58 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3125#comment-441799 Well said Radagast. Well said Radagast.

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