chidiebere
As Christians we sometimes associate being born again and being in Christ to wealth and prosperity forgetting that even righteous men like Job went through turbulent and trying times. And to be honest most of the men of God in our churches are not helping matters with the ceaseless prosperity gospel and give, give give teachings, we are sometimes left in limbo of what is actually supposed to be.
I recently came across a video of a young man Micheal Olasope a student pastor of the Qadosh Kingdom Embassy a church in the London, preaching on the harmful effect of prosperity gospel and i feel it is my responsibility to share.
He said “ We should be preaching faithfulness, unto some have been given 5, unto some 10 and some 1, i don’t believe everyone is going to be a billionaire before they die, but that does not mean you are outside of God’s will but rather what you have be faithful with it, The problem is that prosperity gospel has gone too far, its even gone to Africa, Africa which is already dealing with its own issues are having this prosperity gospel pushed down there throat, some find themselves in situations where they say; i have given my life to Christ, i have thrown away my idols, i have preached to my whole family but i am a humble shoe maker, so because i don’t drive a Bentley am i not in God’s will? now this only puts burdens on an already burdened minds…..”
Reading an article by Vaneetha Rendall Risner she shun more light on the book of Job and how it affects the prosperity gospel she wrote “The book of Job has both shaken me and shaped me.
When I first read it, I found it troubling. It didn’t seem fair. Job was a righteous man. But over the years, this story has helped forge my understanding of God and my theology of suffering. It has taught me that God himself — not anything he gives me — is my greatest treasure.
Years ago, a colleague mentioned what he had learned from Job. I was surprised to hear that his study had yielded a markedly different conclusion than mine. In his words, “Job got everything back and more for his suffering. He was blessed with more children and more money than he ever had before. That’s what the story shows us: doing the right thing always brings blessing and prosperity.”
While the first part was true, I disagreed with his conclusion. He was subtly echoing the message of the so-called “health, wealth, and prosperity gospel” — that God’s goal for us in this life is perfect health, total happiness, and financial gain. In this life. “We simply need to name what we want, live the right way, and then claim our victory,” it says. “That is what living for God looks like.”
I contend that this approach is not living for God. Such thinking is idolatry. It is elevating God’s gifts above him, the giver. And that is a great assault on God’s value.
The Truly Abundant Life
Proponents of the prosperity gospel see things differently. They believe their position is biblical, citing Scripture to back up their claims. One such verse is John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Jesus does give us abundant life, but his abundant life is independent of circumstances.
A diagnosis of cancer, a stock-market crash, and a child’s rebellion cannot diminish the abundant life we have in Christ. And a miraculous healing, a financial windfall, and a prodigal’s return don’t transform it either. True abundant life rests in the God who is Lord over the good things and the terrible things in our life. As Job says, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10).
When we assert that pain-free lives are God’s reward for the righteous, we insinuate to the wounded that their problems are of their own making. As Randy Alcorn says,
Tragically, the prosperity gospel has poisoned the church and undermined our ability to deal with evil and suffering. Some churches today have no place for pain. Those who say God has healed them get the microphone, while those who continue to suffer are shamed into silence or ushered out the back door.
I personally have been ushered out the back door at healing services, after being publicly chastised. Many other disabled people have experienced similar treatment under the assumption that if you’re not healed, it’s your fault. “Because God’s will is for everyone to be healed. Always. The faithful will never suffer.”
This belief is contrary to the Bible. Jesus says we will have tribulation (John 16:33). Peter says we shouldn’t be surprised by suffering (1 Peter 4:12). James says to expect trials and to count it all joy (James 1:2). And Paul says afflictions bring endurance and glory (Romans 5:3–5; 2 Corinthians 4:17).
Of course, healing in this life can bring God glory as well. Sometimes God intervenes in our lives in supernatural ways and miraculously heals us from disease. And God is glorified when that happens.
But I have seen God even more glorified when people are not healed, yet continue to praise him in the midst of deep suffering — when everything they have is stripped away and all that is left is God alone. And he is found sufficient.
God is most glorified when we declare him sufficient in the midst of great loss. Just as Job did.
We need men of God and God’s influential people to start preaching the gospel of truth and not that of Prosperity after all the bible says that “seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other thing shall be added unto you”- Mathew 6 vs 33
