June 1, 2006
The Gospel of Health and Wealth: What Do You Think?
Growing up in the Bible Belt I have come in contact with many varieties of Protestantism. The one that has never ceased to amaze me is the variety that proclaims that the true follower of Jesus will be healthy and wealthy. Now let me follow this comment by saying that I have met many of our Protestant brothers and sisters who have at least a basic understanding of the need for suffering in the life of the Christian. Yet, to this day, I meet individuals who sincerely believe that suffering and financial difficults are a sign that one is not living in accord with God's will.
The purpose of this article is to see what you think. Do any of you know individuals like this? How do you dialogue with them? What are your thoughts about this teaching? Here are a couple of verses that I have found useful in discussing this matter with them.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. - Matt 6:19-21Then Jesus told his disciples, " If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? - Matt 16:24-26
It is not surprising that in an age so strongly influenced by materialism that we see these types of "Christian churches" springing up, but what do you think?
In Christ,
Joe
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Joe,
In our pursuit for interests here on earth, we as Christians give thanks to God for the many blessings he grants us. Do you thank the Lord when you receive a promotion or experience some professional success? I think all Christians give thanks for the blessings they believe come from above. Part of pursing God's will is the search for his blessings. If we find blessings, we think we have done God's will. Hence, I don't find fault with those who believe that their wealth and success are blessings from the Lord and represent God's satisfaction with them and their apparent adherence to His will.
The "gospel of health and wealth" is very American in nature. From the time of the pilgrams, we Americans have equated our economic opportunity and success with our religious efforts and goals. John Calvin's teachings are the source the American work ethic. The Protestants who found this country worked for it, and they believed that the Lord had bestowed on them many blessings, i.e. the American landscape with its economic, social and religious freedom. Were they wrong to beleive this?
Michael
Joe,
The verses that seem to exposes the Health Wealth and Prosperity "Gospel" for what it truly is, is found in I Timothy 6:3-11.
"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth AND WHO THINK THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS TO FINANCIAL GAIN.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
Emphasis mine.
In Christ,
Thomas
Posted by: Thomas at June 1, 2006 5:00 PMJoe
For a guy posting ecumenical articles, this one comes as a bit divisive. Lets see, in the spirit of V II what can we do to bring this together? I reason if not adored (difficult) but instead used to serve God (difficult)money can be used for good.
Indeed, 1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows...but it is the LOVE of money not money which is the root of all evil.
But some are graced with the ability to gain wealth: 1 Peter 4:10 - As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
This ablility must be serving God: Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?' 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How are we robbing thee?' In your tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me; the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
I would like to think our separated brethren are using it in God's will. But remember some of the most wealthy people in the world are Catholics. I note that many give it away. Monaghan was worth 600 mill+ at one time now he is down to 300+ because of charity.
Posted by: when we were one at June 1, 2006 5:10 PMFor clarification...the article on Ecumenism was written by Danny, I simply posted it for him due to a technical problem he was having.
Secondly, the purpose of the article wasn't divisive. I simply wanted feedback on how others engage in dialogue with Protestants who believe in a "health and wealth" based version of the Christian faith. If we never discuss such matters how will we ever be one?
I do want to comment of the following comment Michael made:
The "gospel of health and wealth" is very American in nature. From the time of the pilgrams, we Americans have equated our economic opportunity and success with our religious efforts and goals. John Calvin's teachings are the source the American work ethic. The Protestants who found this country worked for it, and they believed that the Lord had bestowed on them many blessings, i.e. the American landscape with its economic, social and religious freedom. Were they wrong to beleive this?
I wouldn't give John Calvin sole credit for the American work ethic. Some of our founding fathers were Catholics. Yet I am even less inclined to believe that Americans today are so strongly influenced by Calvinist ideals. Some of the hardest working individuals I know are from India, Mexico, Central America, Japan, and other areas of Asia...hardly geographic areas that have ever been influenced by any Calvinists. But I'm not condemning hard work, I'm condemning making work and monetary gain our "god" or primary focus for believing in God. Biblically we know that Christ praised those who gave all up in serving Him. Of course Christianity would be more appealing if it guaranteed "health and wealth" in this life...I'm simply stating that it doesn't and I would just like to know what others think about this matter.
In Christ,
Joe
Joe
Points taken.
Thomas
That was an awesome quote. Your next paragraph echoes this from Sirach:
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1 Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold?
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What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.
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To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own?
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None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness.
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If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.
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In the miser's opinion his share is too small;
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he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself.
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The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale.
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My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can;
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Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time.
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Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.
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Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you.
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Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot?
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Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.
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All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die.
I think we all agree that if people are being taught to worship money there is trouble.
In Love
when we were one
Joe, may I suggest that the mistaken idea that "suffering and poverty is the evidence of disobedience to God" is much much older than Protestantism.
Of all mistaken ideas, this one seems to have the most biblical foundation. In Deuteronomy the Lord says over and over things along the lines of "if you obey me, you will propser with health and wealth - but if you disobey me, you will suffer physical and financial ruin". The next obvious step is to look at someone else's physical health and financial wealth as the evidence of their obedience to the Lord. Many of the Proverbs re-inforce this idea.
But the Psalmists notice that in real life, things go the other way: the wicked prosper, the just suffer at the hands of the wicked. Job's three friends all assume that God is punishing Job for Job's sins and his pride. Job's friends don't listen to his pleas of innocence and use his ruin as evidence of why their counsel is to be trusted over his own. The Lord finally vindicates Job otherwise.
The disciples ask Our Lord "who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
This way of thinking has plagued the people of the Lord for thousands of years before Protestantism.
Though to be honest, the attitude I hear more of is to start with "blessed are the poor - woe to he rich" and "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven" and conclude that anyone richer than themself isn't leading a very holy life.
Rich people with pride, poor people with envy. This sounds like general human nature more than anything specifically Protestant. I'm sure the other religions have the same problem.
Posted by: Broken Record at June 2, 2006 5:59 PMDear when we were one,
Hello, this is Danny, the author of the article on ecumenism. Thanks for your comments, and may this dialogue bring us all closer to Christ. I do not believe Joe's article is divisive. Remember that one of the greatest acts of charity is to help people to realize the fullness of Truth, and that's what this website is all about. Joe is pointing out the fallacy in the health and wealth Gospel logic, and creating dialogue that will hopefully lead to people's deeper conversion to Christ. Also remember that the spirit of V II must be in line with the letter of V II. We cannot avoid discussing controversial issues in order to maintain a false peace, although we must try to be as charitable as possible doing it.
Joe was not saying that money is bad and that it cannot be used for good. But that (I'm addressing Michael as well here) if you make the assumption that God is blessing you because you have health and wealth, then the opposite must be true; God is cursing you if you get diagnosed with cancer, get laid off from your job, etc. This is not true. The Bible dedicates a whole book to show that this is not true (Job). God uses suffering to bring us closer to Him, if we allow him.
Showing the fallacy of the health and wealth Gospel is an act of love which Joe is trying to do through his article.
In Christ,
Daniel West
