The Gospel - Pt 4

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV).

The second misguided, wrong-headed theology is expressed in what we have come to know as the prosperity gospel. One of the fastest growing movements in American Christianity today is the prosperity Gospel movement. Most people wouldn’t say that they out right ascribe to the prosperity Gospel, but many have been affected in some shape or form by this movement. This movement has taken root especially within urban communities, but certainly isn’t limited to these communities. Across the nation we have seen many preachers pressing to their people the idea that if they have enough faith, blessings of health and wealth are subsequent to follow and that they are somehow in control of the amount of blessings God gives. That philosophy places us in control of our lives based on the works of our faith. No one falls in and out of favor with God based off of the works of their faith. The doctrine that is being taught by prosperity preachers is extremely dangerous. While it may lead to financial wealth for some preachers, it is depriving people of their desperate need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our reading makes it abundantly clear that a love for pleasure over a love for God is sinful. This isn’t saying that if someone is pleased in different ways that they are sinful, but that God himself should bring the most pleasure and satisfaction to their lives. If the heart is not constantly seeking protection from these areas, then the person will eventually only demonstrate a form of godliness, denying that God is the ultimate authority. If someone believes the prosperity gospel, they are telling us that they believe that God is only good when we are prospering. They are teaching that we can somehow manipulate God by the amount of faith that we show. This is completely contrary to what scripture says about God and His faithfulness to his people despite their disobedience. We should understand that because we know how broken and helpless we are without God. God will be forever faithful to His people, even when we are unfaithful. So we should center our striving to grow in faith in order to please God alone: just because of who He is and what He did for us on the cross. Not so we can get something from Him because He doesn’t owe us anything. He’s already given us everything in Jesus.