And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
“The message of prosperity resonates with traditional African religious ideas because of the belief in mystical causality. Prayer vigils and healing camps are viewed as the Christian equivalent of traditional shrines. Prayers, like offerings, become ritual actions that are supposed to make things happen. When prosperity is lacking, the explanation given is failure to pay a tithe to the church, or it may be linked to demonic forces, curses, and witchcraft perpetrated by envious family members…
God’s purpose in difficult situations is not always to take us out of them but to take us through them. In the words of the psalmist, ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me’ (Psalm 23:4); and ‘My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever’ (Psalm 73:26). The Apostle Paul himself had a “thorn in the flesh” that was not taken away. He lived with it not by “naming and claiming,” but by grace.”
J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu in “Did Jesus Wear Designer Robes?” Lausanne Movement post dated 1 Nov 2009.
Yesterday was special.
At GTP, we helped host the 5-year celebration of AfCAA, the peer accountability group like ECFA in USA, which serves pan-Africa. Last time I traveled to Africa I spoke on the difference between prosperity gospel and biblical generosity.
So, imagine my surprise when after the online event I opened my email box and saw this article from the Lausanne Movement.
It helped me understand why Africans are drawn to promises of blessing and then helped me get perspective on God’s purpose in challenging times (like the ones in which we find ourselves). We learn by experience that God’s grace is enough to navigate any situation.
Then it sunk in that Africans aren’t the only ones drawn to such ideas. We all are. We want God’s blessing but often forget the purpose of all He graciously supplies.
That’s where I am thankful that AfCAA is making a difference. They are building stewards and helping ministries follow standards. They grasp both the gift of God’s blessing and our purpose to serve as conduits of abundant generosity.
At GTP, we believe so much in what they are doing, we gave them a $5,000 USD match grant to build capacity. Join me in making a gift to celebrate five years.