My War on the Prosperity Gospel

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Mt. 6:19-24)

Does the end justify the means? I run into too many people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ because they are looking for a reward here on earth. They want something they do not have. Wait! Isn't that coveting? Jesus did not come to increase sin but came to save us from our sins. If the thief repents of stealing, shouldn't the covetor repent of wanting what does not belong to him? After all, we are to be content with what we have!  There is so much that could be said here. But perhaps my greatest pet peeve with the prosperity 'gospel' is the if - then dichotomy that is promoted. If I do this God will do that. God isn't waiting on any of us. He is King. He is sovereign. His will will be done! Our earthly blessings come from the knowledge that all things are under His control. We can ask for stuff but God will not give it to us if it does not accord with His holy and perfect will. And if you think you can do something to influence His will, well, let's call that manipulation and what does that say about you? Let us not forget we are God's servants. He does not serve us. Let us trust Scripture when it says:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
    I will not fear;
what can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6)

Paganism, The Default Mode of Humans

pa·gan

   [pey-guhn]  Show IPA

noun

1.

one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks. Synonyms:polytheist.

2.

a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. Synonyms:heathen, gentile; idolator; nonbeliever.

3.

an irreligious or hedonistic person.

4.

a person deemed savage or uncivilized and morally deficient.

adjective

5.

pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that isneither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim. Synonyms: heathen,heathenish, idolatrous, polytheistic. Antonyms: Christian,Jewish, Muslim, monotheistic.

6.

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pagans.

7.

irreligious or hedonistic. Synonyms: unbelieving, godless,atheistic, agnostic; impious, profane, sacrilegious, unholy,ungodly. Antonyms: religious, pious, devout.

8.

of a person deemed backward, savage, or uncivilized ormorally or spiritually stunted. Synonyms: primitive,uncultivated, uncultured, heathenish, barbaric, barbarous,philistine. Antonyms: civilized, cultivated, cultured, urbane.

We are all born pagan. By that I mean no one is born a Christian. If there is no regeneration of the heart by Jesus Himself, we remain a pagan.


We may be religious. We may go to church. We may say we believe in Jesus Christ or the God of the Holy Bible. But without a true conversion of the human heart, we remain the same as those who profess a belief in modern day paganism.


I say all of this now as many in the USA decry our nation's lack of moral leadership as abortions are protected and marriage is redefined. The truth is we come into this world as murderers and sexual idolators. Why else did God give us the Ten Commandments? In order for us be the people we must be in God's eyes, we must change. And the only way we can change is by God's mercy for nothing is impossible with God. The solution to our problems is the preaching of the Gospel plain and simple. Our political leaders need to hear the Gospel and the person in the street needs to hear the Gospel. That my friend is the business of the Church. 

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Gal. 4:7-9)

How to Refute an Idolator

Definition of IDOLATRY

1

: the worship of a physical object as a god

2

: immoderate attachment or devotion to something

"You shall have no other gods before me.

 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1-5)

“Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain” John Calvin

I believe that idolatry is the one sin that is little understood and therefore often ignored when it comes to pastoral teaching. Anything that man creates from his imagination is an idol. And we can even make an idol of the God of the Bible Anytime we define God that pleases our imagination, it is idolatry! Here are a few ideas about God I have heard in my ministry with each one followed by a refutation.

Scenerio 1

Suzie: It doesn't matter what we call God, it's all the same.

Christian: You're absolutely right, Nancy!

Suzie: My name is Suzie.

Christian: But if I can call God by any name I wish, then I should be able to call you by any name I wish. 

As you can see, to make oneself more important than God is idolatry!

Scenerio 2

Bubba: It doesn't matter what we believe about God, He loves us anyway.

Christian: What is 2 + 2?

Bubba: 4.

Christian: I believe it's 16!

Bubba: But that doesn't make any sense. You would get an 'F' from a teacher.

Christian: Then why does it make sense to come to any conclusion about God that one wants to?

I hear this a lot. Belief is subjective. Yet at one time man believed the earth was flat. We can believe anything we want but it does not make it true. To believe anything we want is idolatry.

Scenario 3

All religions are the same. 

Well if all religions are the same, then why are their names different? If all religions are the same, then how come only Jesus' tomb is empty? All religions except Christianity are based on works righteousness! No system of faith offers forgiveness of sins. Only one person, Jesus Christ the Righteous can do that. All religions except Christianity, have at their center the person who believes they are good. This is the beginning and the end of idolatry. As John Calvin also states, "Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols."

And as St. Paul writes:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Rom. 1:18-25)

What does the Bible say about gossip?

What does the Bible say about gossip?

Much is said about homosexuality. Some is said about adultery. And we take for granted that killing someone is a sin. But gossip is also a sin. In fact it is included among the above listed sins in Romans 1 as a fruit of idolatry. If we worship a product of our imagination, idolatry, God gives us over to a debased or worthless mind! (Rom. 1:28-32) In my parish ministry I have never dealt with someone guilty of murder except the guilt incurred from hatred. (Mt. 5:21-22) But I have seen gossip and I have seen the ill effects it has on people. I have also had little support from the congregation to rebuke and reprimand the gossiper because most people think it is just being human. Gossiping is part of our natural selves. It is not a part of our spiritual selves. When we are born again, we leave our old self behind and put on Christ who clothes us in righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10) We gossip because God has given us over to our worthless minds. The only solution is to see our guilt, gossip's harmful effects, and repent of our sinful behavior. If you are a gossip which includes listening to it, Read Romans 1 and ask God to change your heart that you may have grace to worship Him in truth and spirit. If you know someone who is a gossip, share this message with them reminding them that we all stand guilty before God! But it is Jesus who took our place on that Cross taking our debt upon Himself. If we are to gossip, let us gossip the Good News of Jesus Christ!

What is Your Idol!

They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them. (2 Kings 17:15ESV)

We become what we worship. If we worship what is true we will become true. If we worship what is false, we become false as stated above. Our souls are designed for worship. As St. Augustine says, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee." The first two commandments deal with God's uniqueness and the prohibition against any man-made substitute. Idolatry is not just a carved image but anything we desire before God.

John Calvin, the great reformer said, “Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols” We can even make our image of God be an idle when our image contradicts the revelation of God’s nature found in Scripture.

Everything around us in the world we live in tempts us to idolatry. The American culture praises fame and fortune. Some TV preachers reinforce this saying God wants you to have it all! False prophets are not in short supply. The truth is found in all the words of Scripture. Those who worship God in spirit and truth will bear fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)This who worship idols will bear fruit of idolatry! (Romans 1:22-32)

Idolatry

Do we still worship idols? The answer is yes, based on the fruits of idolatry! When we worship something we reflect that something in our lives. By worshipping the true God, we will eventually grow reflecting His true glory in our lives! If we worship idols that are false, we become as false as they are! (2 Kings 17:15)



 ¹⁶ So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want.¹⁷ Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other, so you cannot do just what you please.¹⁸ But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law.

 ¹⁹ The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins,²⁰ worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people,²¹ feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God's kingdom.²² But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.²⁵ We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.²⁶ We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other. (Galatians 5:16-26, New Century Version)