When I hear some of these televangelists I just cringe…When did Christianity become about getting stuff?
This so called claim it a name it, and give to get is really disgusting…I hardly think that wealth is a measure of someones walk with God…I wonder how they explain suffering to their flock with an attitude like this
Many very holy people suffered terribly, and were poor as church mice…I have never heard prosperity gospel ever preached, and if it ever is, I am going to walk out of mass
I here you! (Except for the part about walking out of Mass.)
In all fairness, very many Protestants heartily repudiate the false Prosperity Gospel I heard a lot of it as a Protestent, from various sources; but I also heard a lot of preaching against it.
It seems to have originated in Calvinism. According to Calvinism, only the elect (= pretty much randomly chosed by God) will be saved in the end, and there’s nothing you or they can do about it. I remember reading an early American pastor’s journal entries. Toward the end of his over twenty year career write that he was terrified that he was not one of the elect.
According to the Calvinism of the time, material wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, and those who did not have it were highly suspect of being irrevokably damned. What a terrifying and horrible false doctrine!
I think this belief has saturated American culture and carried over to the soft TV preaching crowd, among many others. Joel Osteen is one of many who often advances this gospel. As an aside, Fr. Benedict Groeschel wrote a book called “The Virtue Driven Life,” in apparent contrast to Mr. Osteen’s “Purpose Driven Life.”
Both Protestants and Catholics will see that experience does not support the Prosperity Gospel theory–that God blesses those who follow him best materially. Notice how many of the saints died young from horrible diseases.
To illustrate the point, I’ll tell you a parable my friend came up with to illustrate the difference between the Protestant “Prosperity Gospel” and Catholicism:
A Christian driving down an abondoned highway sees a desperate looking man staggering down the side of the road carrying a gas can. Being charitable, he pulls to a stop and asks him what he needs. “My car ran out of gas a few miles back. All I need is five dollars for gas and a ride to the gas station and back to my car. I’m so tired I don’t think I can make it one my own–besides, I’m broke!” The Christian eyes his gas gauge nervously–it’s near E, and he knows he only has five dollars. “But Christ died for me,” he thinks to himself, “So I must sacrifice for this man. The Lord will provide according to His will.” He takes the man to the gas station, gives him the five dollars to fill up his gas can, and gives him a ride back to his car. The man thanks him profusely as he pulls away.
ENDING A: PROSPERITY GOSPEL ENDING
He makes it all the way back to the gas station when his car starts sputtering and dies right next to the pump. Not knowing what to do, he stops in the restroom only to find an envelope on top of the urinel. On the outside is written “God’s Told Me to Leave This Here,” and on the inside is fifty dollars. The man rejoices and makes it all the way home. Ten years later he gets a cashiers check in the mail for fifty thousand dollars. Attached is a note that says “You helped me when I had nothing. Now I’m rich, and God has repaid you ten thousand times over!”
ENDING B: CATHOLIC ENDING
He makes halfway back to the gas station before his car runs out of gas. He gets out and walks ten miles to the gas station, sweaty and hot. When he gets there he begs for help but the attendent tell him to get lost. So not knowing what to do, he walks back toward his car only to find that someone has refilled it with gas–and stolen it. A homeless-looking man approaches him and demands money. He says “Friend, I’m a penniless as you are. But I will do all I can for you–I will ask God to bless you!” The homeless-looking man, not satisfied, shoots him and leaves him for dead. The Christian dies young, unknown, and penniless, but trusting in God, but Angels usher him into glory.
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