Today I watched one of the charismatic movement’s favorite motivational “spreachers” (speaker/preacher) dance around the gospel message with funny anecdotes and a whole lot of talk about money with almost no mention of Jesus. Actually, it almost seemed as if he was using the gospel as an occasion to justify glorying in earthly abundance as a primary function of true Christianity. As he told story after story about how much money he had, he was careful to note that, “I’m not being boastful or proud, it’s just the truth.”
What became evident to me was the amount of effort that was being put into convincing people that God wants to get material wealth into the hands of Christians. Certainly there’s nothing wrong with believing God is good and desires the best for us, but an unhealthy, unbalanced priority on prosperity leaves Christians believing in a hybrid gospel of material promises that trumps any serious devotion to the simple gospel message Paul preached; Jesus Christ and him crucified.
In today’s church culture the big name television preachers have left the simple gospel message of salvation in Christ to engage in the, “It’s all about you and how God wants to bless you gospel.” The “spreacher’s” focus is generally on being successful, having material blessings, and keeping a good attitude; nothing more than a motivational speaker. What’s worse is the influence the big name preachers have had on local Pastors who feel they need to re-preach the same hybrid gospel in their churches.
Simply, the direction of gospel truth always points to Jesus, not to us.
(Additional thoughts)
Contrary to the way it may sound, I am one of those who believes part of the gospel message includes God’s bountiful provision in Christ; yes, even material provision. I also believe that we appropriate those blessings through faith in Christ’s finished work. What I am concerned with is the way it has been presented, especially and increasingly over the last ten to fifteen years.
Today’s prosperity message, the way it has been preached by some high profile ministries, does not seem to fit the New Testament model that was laid forth in the Epistles. I know these men would not presume to have received more revelation than that of Paul himself since they refer to his letters when preaching on prosperity. So then, either Paul preached the way some feel at liberty to preach it today or they’re preaching it in a different way than Paul did. The Malachi 3.10 diegesis and the give till it hurts ideology are simply not found in the Epistles. So by what authority or by which pattern are these teachings based?
If Paul was here today, would he preach it the way it is being presented by some today? Doubtful. And I am sure he would not hesitate to reprove those who have drifted in their liberties.
(Recommended reading for more clarity on this subject, PeterSmythe.org)
