Prosperity Preaching

[script77]

You’ve all heard of it; Blab it and Grab it, Name it and Claim it, Possess your possessions, speak it and Have it…
Do you think these preachers using these themes have lost the plot of Christianity, it’s piety and servitude, to become more streamlined with worldy material things?

 

[Auriel]

You’ve all heard of it; Blab it and Grab it, Name it and Claim it, Possess your possessions, speak it and Have it…
Do you think these preachers using these themes have lost the plot of Christianity, it’s piety and servitude, to become more streamlined with worldy material things?

I think it causes people to lose their faith. I will use their language, They give, sow their seed, and do not “reap their harvest”.

But the name it and claim it ministers play a good game, there is almost no accountability. For “if you ask and have not, it is because of unbelief”. At least that is how they normally respond when asked, to the ones who gave and are now brokenhearted. It does not have to be about finances, they could want a healing, a mended relationship, etc,…

The ones who buy it, the broken givers, think they did not have enough faith, or worse yet, God does not care. Sometimes that “God does not care” feeling undergoes a metamorphosis, it becomes “God hates me” or worse, “God does not exist”.

I watched this unfold with people I care about, In a way my trust issues have protected me. I have always seen through the “Profit gods”.

There is a song that was written years ago by the 80’s group Poison. It is called “Something to Believe In”.

It was very popular, it was kind of telling in a way. Here are the Lyrics:

Well I see him on the TV
Preachin’ 'bout the promise lands
He tells me believe in Jesus
Steals the money from my hands

Some say he was a good man
Lord I think he sinned, yeah

Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn’t want him back

Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids, no regrets
In a time I don’t remember
In a war he can’t forget

He cried “Forgive me for what I’ve done there
Cause I never meant the things I did”

Chorus:
And give me something to believe in
If there’s a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise

My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news

I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place

And the mirror, mirror on the wall
Sees my smile it fades again

Chorus

Sometimes I wish to God I didn’t know now
The things I didn’t know then
Road you gotta take me home

Solo

I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read JESUS SAVES

A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they’re living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich drinkin’ from a golden cup

And it just makes me wonder
Why so many lose, and so few win

Chorus

You take the high road
And I’ll take the low road

Yes Sometimes I wish I didn’t know now
The things I didn’t know then

**And give me something to believe in, yeah
** END

IMO that is what many are looking for now, just something to believe in.

Some have a lot to account for.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Blab it and Grab it, Name it and Claim it, Possess your possessions, speak it and Have it…

Is this really a little mantra?
Yes, the prosperity gospel is a departure from authentic Christianity. There are Catholics and other Christians alike who have spoken out against this.

 

[cthulhubryan]

Is this really a little mantra?
Yes, the prosperity gospel is a departure from authentic Christianity. There are Catholics and other Christians alike who have spoken out against this.

Yes it is real. You may not remember, since you are Catholic and already had God, the whole Prayer of Jabez phenomenon that went around a few years ago.

[Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.]- 1 Chronicles 4:10

Others as well. Kirbyjon Caldwell runs a more-or-less Methodist congregation in Houston. His book was called the Gospel of Good Success. He followed it up last year with Be In It to Win It: A Road Map to Spiritual, Emotional and Financial Wholeness.

 

[JonNC]

You’ve all heard of it; Blab it and Grab it, Name it and Claim it, Possess your possessions, speak it and Have it…
Do you think these preachers using these themes have lost the plot of Christianity, it’s piety and servitude, to become more streamlined with worldy material things?

My concern about this stuff is it can become me-centered instead of Christ-centered. And if you are blessed with increased wealth, what do you do with it?

Jon

 

[survive]

There are many forms of prosperity teaching, but the gist is, you give to get and get to give so that the world’s total good things are increased quickly, allowing God to bless everyone. It’s usually not really greed so much as pain and worry that lead people to feel the need to try it, and it’s not just material goods.
The idea ois often: You start with nothing – no home, money, relationships, health or hope, just a little bit of faith. You find a dime in a pop machine change return slot. You walk to a church and give a penny (you make change on the way) to the bucket and then go out and hand out the next five pennies to other beggars. Next week, you make a friend, and find a good spot to lie down, and get more faith, and hope, and someone hands you a ten dollar bill. You make change, got o a church, give a dollar, hand out five to other beggars, and the following week you get a job that pays a thousand dollars a week, meet the love of your life and have tremendous faith. You repeat this until all your problems are solved and you are totally happy. It isn’t especially known for working out that way for very many people. I think it does lead some to lose their faith.

 

[cheese_sdc]

I always ask them why the apostles didn’t die old and rich.

 

[script77]

I always ask them why the apostles didn’t die old and rich.

Yeah, considering that the Apostles walked, talked, ate and lived with Jesus himself…!!!

 

[script77]

My concern about this stuff is it can become me-centered instead of Christ-centered. And if you are blessed with increased wealth, what do you do with it?

Jon

I particularly don’t like the idea that these people aim to give to people and their pastor majorly to get something in return. doesn’t the bible talk of getting your full reward then if it is mainly because you want something back?
Do you give out of love to anyone in need in or outside of your church or are you investing solely in your pastor? l actually heard someone say you shouldn’g give to just anybody so you wouldn’t be ‘‘sowing in bad soil’’!!!
Oh, and don’t forget the pastors who preach prosperity driving Maybachs and living in mansions, while the congregation continue to give (to him) expecting their own Maybach to come the more they give…
l have nothing against God blessing us, but like you said what do we intend to do with the blessing? Brag, boast or bless others?

 

[Ag_not]

I’ve watched a few of these guys and gals in action. Lots of information on the web concerning major financial irregularity within some of their churches.

I’m often more amazed at the gullibility of those in the congregation than at the deceit and snakeoil salesmanship of the pastors.

The whole setup stinks. They make up scripture and misquote scripture all over the place: ‘‘Jesus wants you to have that BMW. Jesus said sow your faith seed now and reap a harvest of 100 fold.’’

I also don’t believe a word of the testimonies - ‘‘I was down and out, sent in 10 bucks which was every thing I had, received the manna made with secret ingredients from the Holy Land, and cloth, and the next week I got given 250000 dollars’’

Compare that razzmatazz and noise and glitz to surreal beauty and solemnity of spending a quiet half hour before the Eucharist in adoration.

I know who gets my ten bucks.

 

[JonNC]

Oh, and don’t forget the pastors who preach prosperity driving Maybachs and living in mansions, while the congregation continue to give (to him) expecting their own Maybach to come the more they give…

You make it sound like a ponzi scheme.

Can’t argue.

l have nothing against God blessing us, but like you said what do we intend to do with the blessing? Brag, boast or bless others?

Jon

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

My concern about this stuff is it can become me-centered instead of Christ-centered. And if you are blessed with increased wealth, what do you do with it?

Jon

St. Paul would have had these people for breakfast - unfortunately, spiritualism is verboten, so we can’t get him to​

haunt them When I compare this stuff with the utter refusal of certain Christians to set their hearts on any but Christ, I feel sick.

BTW

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

My concern about this stuff is it can become me-centered instead of Christ-centered. And if you are blessed with increased wealth, what do you do with it?

Jon

St. Paul would have had these people for breakfast - unfortunately, spiritualism is verboten, so we can’t get him to haunt them When I compare this stuff with the utter refusal of certain Christians to set their hearts on any but Christ, I feel sick. ​

BTW - do they realise that the more we receive of anything, the greater our punishment for bad stewardship of it will be ?