For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
“In the teaching of TP [theology of prosperity]; God appears as an extremely rich landowner, owner of all the gold of the universe. From this, they derive that Christians must be extremely rich and that they should wear gold. Also, teach that Jesus was a wealthy man, living in prosperity since his birth until his death. The cross is interpreted as the way by which Christ makes Christians prosperous, that is to say Jesus died so that the Christians may live in prosperity and not under the curse of the law (the poverty). The Church becomes a transnational corporation in which it is necessary to invest money to obtain many economic gains. Heaven is transformed into a place of unparalleled luxury, which implies that on earth Christians must live in a sumptuous manner “to be get accustomed” to their future eternal residence. Finally, Christians are financiers, people who know how to invest in the “Bank of God”. They are the “bankers of God”.”
Martin Ocaña in “The New Apostolic Reformation and the Theology of Prosperity: The “Kingdom of God” as a Hermeneutical Key” in Lausanne Movement post dated 2 October 2015.
Thanks to the many people who have sent me messages about how “helpful” and “close to home” these posts have been to you on the theology of prosperity as it relates to generosity. One brother stated, “I hope it makes many of us look in the mirror. What’s happening in our Christian community looks more and more like PG [prosperity gospel] all the time.” Amen! Remember, inspect the fruit!
How we live shows what we believe. So, how many so-called Christians live like they believe that God wants us to pursue all the good things in life (a sumptuous lifestyle)? After all, Jesus came to enrich our lives, right?
Nothing could be further from the truth.
In this piece, Ocaña helps us see the theological flaws of TP and how those who embrace them weave them together to rationalize giving as investing to obtain economic gain and the pathway to sumptuous living. Sadly, many will likely give an offering to God in church tomorrow coupled with a string attached, a prayer that in return God will do something for them or provide something to them.
That’s not generosity, as God does not need money. We need to give it.
Generosity starts with the realization that all we are and all we have is from God and entrusted to us for our enjoyment and sharing. He wants that truth to sink into our heads and permeate our hearts. This leads faithful stewards to use what belongs to God in keeping with His purposes. Rather than hold on to it, they put it in play. That’s generosity.
It appears not as sumptuous living for ourselves but rather simple living for the good of others.
Tomorrow I will wrap up this study of prosperity theology and return to Colorado from Florida (pictured above on a peace boat ride I took with my parents yesterday). I will do that as I fly to the Ukraine on Monday, and I want to research Eurasian thoughts on generosity.