Sunday 3 April 2011

Prosperity preaching poisons the churches

Prosperity preaching poisons the churches because it teaches people to serve mammon and seek worldly wealth.  Some are drawn to conferences on prosperity because they believe that they can become, by miraculous means, a money magnate. This teaching appeals to their greed and avarice, the flesh and carnal desires for selfish gain. It can rob them of godliness with contentment.

Verses in 1 Timothy 6: 9-10

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is the root of kinds of evil; some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

These words are a sobering warning that should be remembered when we hear the poisonous pontifications of the properity preachers .

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

On the surface prosperity preaching would seem wrong and evil if what it is about is getting money to fund a lavish lifestyle of greed and self indulgence.

I won't mention any names but that is not what one high profile so called prosperity preacher teaches.

He teaches that the only reason for anyone to prosper is to be a blessing to someone else. The fact that God blesses you (financially) doesn't mean that you have to squander it on yourself. In fact you are a steward of that blessing and you are blessed to be a blessing.

Many people in the western world say something like I don't need much money - just enough to keep a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food on the table for me and my children. Where is the world big picture in that? Couldn't that be construed as selfish. Just thinking about me my wife our 2 kids us 4 no more. Is this right when God has probably gifted the individual with the opportunity to earn and do a whole lot more? Living here in the UK with considerable blessing and opportunity don't we have a great responsibility. (To him that much is given much is expected.)

You are right in that the love of money is the root of all evil. This applies to people whether they have money or not. There are many people who have no money who spend a whole lot of their time thinking about how to get more money and do evil things in the process.

Having money or not having money is not the issue.

It is whether money has you.

JO

Johli Baptist said...

Thank you Anonymous for your comment.

John the Baptist, who came from a high priestly family, lived a very simple lifestyle and yet managed to do so much.

St Cuthbert is also an example to us
all.

Our citizenship is in heaven. Praise God.

Happy Easter, Resurrection Day!

Dedham

Dedham
River Stour