Meditations

As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. Titus 1:7

“The lifestyle of those who teach this [prosperity] gospel does not transparently reflect biblical standards. One of the requirements for leaders and ministers is that they be “not greedy for money” See Titus 1:7 and 1 Peter 5:2. Although Jesus told his disciples that “the worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7) he did not encourage covetousness or exploitation of people.

The lifestyle of prosperity teachers is in sharp contrast with the life of early disciples like the Apostle Paul who said, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Act 20:33-35)

Even from the Old Testament, which is often used by prosperity teachers, we have much to learn from the testimonies of Godly leaders as regards material possessions and integrity. Abraham was careful not to covet other people’s riches for his own prosperity.

At the end of his service, Samuel gave an account of his stewardship by declaring before all Israel “Behold here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it to you”. (1 Samuel 12:3) The response of the people was “You have not cheated or oppressed us”… “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand” (vs. 4).”

Femi Adeleye in “The Prosperity Gospel: A Critique of the Way the Bible is Used” in Lausanne Movement post dated 2 October 2015.

I’ve received lots of emails from people in response to my recent exploration of prosperity gospel as a competing theology to Christian generosity. Many have asked me about specific teachers? Some are familiar to me, and some are not. In reply I say to look at their teaching and consider their lifestyle. Jesus said we would know people by their fruits. Don’t point fingers. Inspect fruits! Tune out voices that build earthly kingdoms.

On a personal note, I made it safely to Florida and had a nice dinner with my parents and my brother and his wife in Winter Haven. After dinner we returned to my brother’s home. Mom made strawberry rhubarb pie. It was so good, the perfect ending to a peaceful evening. Simple and special. Today I hope to snap a new header photo when I spend the day with them as a couple. I am thankful for their humble and generous lifestyle.

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28

“For nearly 8 years I taught at a seminary here in Brazil. Once, when we were looking at some of the characteristics of the early church in the book of Acts, and in particular the economic implications of those biblical texts, student raised his arm and said, “Professora, we can’t preach these things in our churches. There is too much poverty and the churches around us all preach prosperity, wealth and blessing – that is what the people want to hear. If we don’t preach wealth, they will go elsewhere because they hear hope in other churches, prosperity teaching gives them hope. No on who is poor wants to hear about self-sacrifice, self-giving and simple living”

Prosperity theology gives them hope. Well, to paraphrase John Stott and his legacy in both the Lausanne Movement and the World Evangelical Alliance, we must find ways to offer a better hope, a better theology.If fail in this, it won’t really matter how well we criticize the teachings of prosperity theology, how good our analyses are. The call on us is great – to offer a truly biblical, truly evangelical theology of the hope that takes seriously what the Bible has to say both about God’s justice and God’s blessing.

To offer a better theology means reading the Scriptures in such a way that we are forced to think and rethink our practices, our lifestyles, our ways of being church, and in particular how these are shaped by misconception of wealth and the blessings of God.

In a nutshell, if we are to be a prophetic voice and a voice of hope an justice, we must recognize that God judges certain forms of life. There are many things that God judges and condemns, practices and doctrines throughout Christian history that the church has deemed unworthy of the gospel. But there is one thing throughout history, since the stories of ancient Israel to the present day that is judged most harshly: idolatry – you shall have no other gods before me. Idolatry is the sin of misplaced trust and the desire for something other than God. I ask you who do you trust? what do you trust?”

C. Rosalee Velloso Ewell in “Can We Offer a Better Theology? Banking on the Kingdom” a Lausanne Movement post dated 3 October 2015.

The angle of the start of this article may be the best advice for me (and for anyone) who needs to address prosperity theology.

Offer a better alternative that avoids idolatry and gives hope.

I could stop there, but Ewell presses me and everyone reading to consider where our hope is placed (or perhaps misplaced)?

This is where the prosperity message moves from the majority world to the developed world. A better theology is needed here too.

Are you banking on the kingdom?

Ewell points the way to developing a better theology in the conclusion of the post.

“Banking on the kingdom is seeing the ways we can do things we could not do before. It’s recognizing the power that wealth has over us, and repenting. The alternative to prosperity theology isn’t an alternative wealth, another idol or independence, but is in the interdependence made possible by sharing life. It is living in such a way that the world will see that another world is possible.”

This interdependence is the goal of GTP efforts globally. We are making progress in Africa with AfCAA. As God provided a matching grant which is up to $997 from 12 givers toward the goal of $5,000 USD, please consider making a gift today.

Join the movement writing a new future and offering a better theology for Africa.

And I am flying to Florida today to see my folks, Jack and Patsy Hoag. It is my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary.

We will have dinner and then spend a couple days together celebrating God’s faithfulness and giving thanks for the hope we have in Jesus.

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! Galatians 3:2-4 (The Message)

“PT [Prosperity Theology] has another gospel of salvation. The sin is to be poor, the sinner’s predicament separates them from God’s blessings, the way to God is by positive thinking and positive declarations of change, the only way to be saved is by “sowing” money at the church, salvation bears fruit when you receive manifold times in material tangible ways what you sowed, and Christian life is equated to being wealthy.

If you do not received such salvation, the problem could be you lack faith or you are not sowing enough. Together with wealth, salvation means to be healthy, happy, and in full enjoyment of this world’s amenities. Anything short of that needs to be spoken against by declaring victory loudly and in faith. Otherwise your salvation is not complete.

We could say as Paul: “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.” (The Message).

The idea that we are sinners, separated from God, guilty and condemned to eternal damnation, that only through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection we are rescued from sin and its consequences, and that we are called to live in complete submission to God’s will following Jesus’ example, is totally foreign to PT.

Church matters. PT not only has given us a different Christ, but it has also redefined what church means. PT’s ecclesiastical model in Latin America is “church as a private company”. The successful and charismatic CEO’s (pastor’s) main goal is to increase profits and assets (tithes, offerings, radio and television stations, buildings, etc.) by enticing more costumers (members) to buy its product (message).

In this model the strategy to market religious services becomes superlative and people are secondary. We see the return of a highly clerical model with a few “anointed” who claim to have exclusive access to an endless source of power. They dispense some favors to the lay people who have fulfilled some religious rite (monetary in this case). All kinds of techniques are used to ensure compliance.”

José Daniel Salinas in “How is Prosperity Theology Penetrating the Theology and Practice of Mainline Churches?” in Lausanne Movement post dated 30 September 2015.

Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Galatians 3:2-4 in the Message reveals that the PT phenomenon is not a new problem. Since the days of the early church, people have pursued a gospel that links to good works. Sadly, this gospel forgets about Christ as the source of our salvation.

From there, Salinas rightly explains what happens to the church in his Latin American context. It becomes a private company with the goal of amassing assets, dispensing favors, and controlling people. At this point I challenge readers to look at their own church. See any PT there?

The assets of the early church were the people. The favors went to those society said were undeserving. People were not controlled but empowered to become part of the gospel story. It’s what happens when the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:15-18

Jesus matters. PT [Prosperity Theology] has dethroned Christ, it has removed Him from the right hand of God and has converted Him into a servant. He is not the Lord of the universe and the Head of the church anymore. He exists only to fulfill my dreams, to attend my needs, to grant my wishes. He has no other purpose than to be ready to take our orders and do exactly as we tell Him. For PT Christ is mostly an investment broker in charge of a celestial bank guaranteeing good profits to investors. But this is not the Christ of the Bible.

Argentinean Methodist theologian Jose Miguez said: “A reduced Christ will always result in a reduced Christianity and a rachitic witness.” PT’s Christology has left our people with a powerless Christ. PT proposes a faith that we control, a deity we manipulate. This is similar to animistic or pantheistic religions where the gods exist to give us what we want because we perform some rituals which are supposed to appease them and to convince them to act in our favor. But the Christ of the Bible is not such a little puppet. He is the sovereign Lord of the universe, the firstborn of all creation, His power is limitless, His actions do not depend in any shape or form upon us. He acts alone. We need to recover the majesty of Jesus Christ. Our only response to Him is to kneel down and confess that He is the Lord and by His grace we are His servants. PT has confused the roles in our relationship with Jesus. For PT He is our slave but for the Bible it is the other way around. The prayer should not be “Jesus, I am sowing this much and you better give me back 100% times more.” Rather, “Everything I have, everything I am, everything is yours, take it. Not my will but your will be done.”

José Miguez as cited by José Daniel Salinas in “How is Prosperity Theology Penetrating the Theology and Practice of Mainline Churches?” in Lausanne Movement post dated 30 September 2015.

In this article, Salinas notes that mainline churches have “lacked theological depth” which has opened the door for reducing Christ to become a servant who fulfills our dreams and takes our orders.

From there, this quote by Miguez alerts us to the implications of this faulty thinking. It results in a rachitic witness. I had to look up the word. In plain terms, it’s a sick or suffering witness. When we have bad theology our witness suffers. It’s sick.

But Miguez does not leave us there. He reminds us who Christ really is, quoting Paul in Colossians, and who we are, and maps the implications. This releases us from being slaves to our own greed to becoming generous living sacrifices for God.

What I am realizing afresh today is the importance of helping national workers have theological depth so they can articulate what is true from Scripture. This is why rather than give handouts that build dependencies we give a hand up to build disciples.

Turning this tide in Africa has been hard work for AfCAA, which I helped form 5 years ago. They just celebrated AfCAA@5. God provided a matching gift. It’s at $797 toward the goal of $5,000. Give today and help strengthen the witness of Christ in Africa.

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“What is striking about Old Testament law, Dewi Hughes notes, is that it recognizes the very strong human bias to self-interest and provides a legal framework to control it. Thus the law, he points out, focuses on putting limits on the rich and powerful ostensibly so that the poor and helpless are not exploited.

Jesus gave considerable attention to lepers, despised women, and other marginalized people and went to the extent of warning that those who do not give to those in need will experience eternal damnation (Matthew 25:31-46). In effect Jesus wanted his followers to give to the poor not take from them…

The teaching that people are poor because they do not give to God is an antithesis to Jesus’ saying that people should forgive even their enemies since God does not discriminate between the righteous and unrighteous in the provision of rain and sunshine (Matthew 5:45). In prosperity teaching, the problem is with the undue emphasis placed on material wealth.

In Jesus’ own words, ‘a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’ (Luke 12:15; cf. 1 John 2:15-17; Proverbs 27:24; 22:28; Ecclesiastes 5:13; Psalm 62:10). The Christian church must therefore be wary of giving undue attention to material things as signifying God’s satisfaction with one’s Christianity.”

Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu in “Prosperity and Poverty in the Bible: Search for Balance” in Lausanne Movement post dated 2 Oct 2015.

As I continue to read Lausanne global research on prosperity gospel, I am learning a lot, especially from authors like professor Kwabena, who sketches many good things in the whole piece, for example, that we need a good theology of both prosperity and poverty to find balance. Well said.

Kwabena adds that material blessings come from obedience but we must not allow them to make us materialistic. Elsewhere, this professor adds numerous times that we must not give undue emphasis on one text which causes us to assert ideas inconsistent with larger biblical themes.

He alerts us that throughout the Scriptures those with resources are to care for those in need. He reminds readers that the sun shines on the righteous and unrighteous and removes the manipulative message that people are poor because they do not give enough money to God.

Challenges like this are complex. I am finding that when I visit settings where it is prevalent, I must unpack the web of ideas, one by one, with Scripture. I can also support local workers promoting truth and help spread teaching that motivates God’s people to serve rather than prey on the poor.

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

“The African concept of prosperity is significantly different from the American understanding of it. To Americans, prosperity means having a new vehicle or a larger house. To Africans, on the other hand, prosperity means having an adequate meal or access to basic medical care. As we can see from what Jesus taught about prayer, it is completely biblical to pray that God will meet our daily material needs. Therefore, we should resist the tendency to generalize about religious beliefs…”

Daewon Moon in “Pentacostalism in African Christianity” in Lausanne Global Analysis post dated January 2021, Volume 10, Issue 1.

As I prepare to minister online and onsite as travel allows in the days and months to come in places where prosperity gospel has been prevalent, I am trying to study it to learn more in advance. Related to Africa, one of the big things I am finding is a key point noted by Moon above. The American perspective of prosperity is far different than an African understanding. So, I have to resist the temptation to generalize.

In such contexts, many are praying to God for help with basic needs, which is the posture God wants us to take. Alternatively, in America, few appear to trust God for daily provision. Many stockpile surplus funds. What should each of us do? Everywhere, as we approach differences in practices, we must not judge but listen. And as we listen, we must resist the temptation to generalize. Instead, let’s call everyone to faithful stewardship.

This starts with each of us. It’s also what the work of GTP is about globally, and why we support efforts like AfCAA in Africa. Competing theologies like prosperity gospel don’t stand a chance against authentic Christianity when lived out faithfully by national workers in every nation. To support GTP capacity building efforts in Africa, please make a gift in support of AfCAA. We are at $486 toward a $5,000 goal in the next month.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:34-35

“The point that Jesus makes in Luke 6 is not that disciples should never give with the expectation of reward; the point is that disciples should not lend to others expecting repayment from those to whom they lend, for in refusing to participate in this kind of reciprocal exchange, they will receive a reward in another exchange economy, not from other humans but from God.”

David J. Downs in “Giving for a Return in the Prosperity Gospel and the New Testament” Lausanne Movement post dated 3 Oct 2015.

Yesterday my attention turned to Lausanne Movement research so I lingered there.

Today’s meditation comes from another one of their posts. Advocates of the prosperity gospel are often attacked for seeking a return. In this article Downs rightly notes that it’s right to seek a return, but where the wrong turn is made is seeking material reward.

From our Scripture we learn that when we do good and give to the undeserving, we get a “great” reward, which is to be labeled as children of the Most High. So in our generosity, let’s seek our return not from people or in this life but from God. He blesses now in unexpected ways and in eternity it will be unfathomable.

Join me in supporting AfCAA to promote good stewardship in Africa.

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.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

“No doubt pain as God’s megaphone is a terrible instrument; it may lead to final and unrepented rebellion. But it gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment. It removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.

If the first and lowest operation of pain shatters the illusion that all is well, the second shatters the illusion that what we have, whether good or bad in itself, is our own and enough for us. Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We “have all we want” is a terrible saying when “all” does not include God. We find God an interruption.

As St. Augustine says somewhere “God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full — there’s nowhere for Him to put it.” Or as a friend of mine said “we regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.”

Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as He leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call “our own life” remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make “our own life” less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible sources of false happiness?”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in The Problem of Pain (Quebec City: Samizdat University Press, 2016) 59-60.

Today’s Scripture aims to give us perspective amid suffering. The professor adds to our knowledge. Only when we have the right perspective can we be generous in the times in which we find ourselves.

Those who pursue false happiness need the megaphone of pain to get their attention. God is at worst an “interruption” or at best to them “a parachute” when He wants to be the object of their happiness.

When happiness lies in Him, we surrender to His ways. When we have false happiness, we get frustrated when things are less “agreeable” to us. I am learning to examine my heart in frustrated moments.

What is the bigger plan God is unfolding? What may He be trying to teach me? When things do not go how I plan, can I remain agile to follow God’s leading? How might I choose generosity in crisis?

When we attune to God we actually realize the “worth” of the present sufferings. God is not to be questioned but rather to be thanked for helping us to find our happiness only in Him.

You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:20

“Consider what is the aim of Providence in all the tender care it has manifested for you. Why does it protect you so assiduously, and suffer no evil to befall you? Is it not that you should employ your bodies for God, and cheerfully apply yourselves to that service He has called you to? Doubtless this is the end and goal of these mercies; or else to what purpose are they afforded you? Your bodies are a part of Christ’s purchase, as well as your souls (1 Cor. 6. 19). They are committed to the charge and tutelage of angels (Heb. 1. 14), who have performed many services for them. They are dedicated by yourselves to the Lord, and that upon the highest account (Rom. 12. 1). They have already been the subjects of many mercies in this world (Ps. 35. 10), and shall partake of singular glory and happiness in the world to come (Phil. 3. 21). And shall they not then be employed, yea, cheerfully worn out, in His service? How reasonable it is they should be so! Why are they so tenderly preserved by God, if they must not be used for God?”

John Flavel (c. 1627-1691) in The Mystery of Providence (Monergism Books) 84.

Like many of you, I have friends who are suffering, some related to Covid and others linked to other illnesses and challenges. On the days when our health is not right, we realize how faithful is God’s care for us, day in and day out.

In exploring Providence this morning and remembering what God has done for us, this idea that God purchased us for a purpose got my attention. That He deploys angels to minister to us moves me deeply. But why is this the case?

He wants us to honor Him with our bodies. He wants us to serve Him with every ounce of strength that we have. Our purpose as we age is not to increase our comfort but to be “cheerfully worn out” in His service.

What trajectory are you on? Would people say that your focus as you age is to work less, to pursue possessions and pleasures? Or would they say you are seeking not to be served but to serve?