The 'prosperity gospel' is what we call the teaching that God wants us to be healthy, wealthy and wise - AND that our ability to attain these things depends on how we pray or the measure of our faith and spiritual growth. This teaching has been around for a long time but has found new legs in recent days. The Secret (which I wrote about a couple days ago) is the most popular mainstream version of it. Perhaps The Prayer of Jabez could be considered the most common Christian version of it.
Often quoted with this is Jn 10:10, "I have come that you might have life and have it in abundance." While even a quick reading of John 10 will show that the 'prosperity gospel' is far from the context of this verse, it should be very true that God desires the best for us. What Father doesn't want the best for his kids? What does Christ's death and resurrection mean for us today? Doesn't it mean we'll have victory? Success? It seems to make sense.
But then Jesus teaches weird stuff. Luke 6:20 and following reads...
"Blessed are you who are poor for your is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude and insult you anhd reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man."
"But woe to you who are rich.....who are well fed now.....who laugh now...when all men speak well of you....."
Maybe our prayers are off base?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Catching up with Science
Almost everywhere these days, there are ads to correct, enhance or supplement the way we are. The vitamin supplement industry is a multi billion dollar enterprise. Almost everyone knows someone within their circle of friends that has had either some kind of 'enhancement' surgery - whether it is cosmetic or corrective (as with laser eyes).
So here's the question. Because we can. Is that a good reason for us to do something?
Is there a line to be drawn as far as what we are willing to do to 'improve' our lives? Most of the time, we leave it up to the individuals concerned. If it makes them feel better about themselves, then why not? But what about the way that God made us? Didn't God make us in His image? Did moles come out after the fall? Should convenience be a good reason for us to mess with something as delicate as our eyes? Do we medicate ourselves for everything just because it's out there and we can?
Those that know me will know that I'm all for the latest fad. I'm not proposing we go back to the Stone Ages. But maybe, we do need to slow down so our theology can catch up with our science.
So here's the question. Because we can. Is that a good reason for us to do something?
Is there a line to be drawn as far as what we are willing to do to 'improve' our lives? Most of the time, we leave it up to the individuals concerned. If it makes them feel better about themselves, then why not? But what about the way that God made us? Didn't God make us in His image? Did moles come out after the fall? Should convenience be a good reason for us to mess with something as delicate as our eyes? Do we medicate ourselves for everything just because it's out there and we can?
Those that know me will know that I'm all for the latest fad. I'm not proposing we go back to the Stone Ages. But maybe, we do need to slow down so our theology can catch up with our science.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Secret
Back in February, Oprah featured a show about The Secret. What is The SecretÉ It is defined as the law of attraction that states that like attracts like. The concept says that the energy you put into the world - both good and bad - is exactly what comes back to you. This means you create the circumstances of your life with the choices you make every day. (from oprah.com)
Basically a spinoff idea from the concept of karma, The Secret has made itself popular by giving people the ultimate self-help formula. The better the energy you put into the universe, the better your circumstances.
It`s all fine and good for someone that is wealthy and rich to pat themselves on the back thinking that they somehow deserve their fortune because of their positive energy giving but I have a hard time imagining a rape victim reading this concept. Who`s going to tell them that they deserve what they gotÉ
It`s part of human nature to try to make life predictable. We want to stereotype people so we can somehow understand and predict what they might be like. We compartmentalize ourselves so that there`s order and predictability to our lives. Deep within us, we want to believe that if we do the right things, say the right things and avoid the wrong people, we`ll be successful, healthy and wise. Our concept of justice demands the opposite for those that do otherwise.
But the true secret isn`t a secret at all. It`s written in the only book the world wants to reject as old and antiquated. Humans, in the image of God, are given free choice. Because of the sin of one man passed down, we are all sinners. That sin perverts the free choice given by God so that some can use it for destruction and brokenness. There isn`t rhyme or reason to most of the anguish in the world. The reality is that it is just there. Waiting for Christ to come back and redeem it once and for all. It won`t happen because of anything we do with our energy or otherwise. It happens because God said it would.
Basically a spinoff idea from the concept of karma, The Secret has made itself popular by giving people the ultimate self-help formula. The better the energy you put into the universe, the better your circumstances.
It`s all fine and good for someone that is wealthy and rich to pat themselves on the back thinking that they somehow deserve their fortune because of their positive energy giving but I have a hard time imagining a rape victim reading this concept. Who`s going to tell them that they deserve what they gotÉ
It`s part of human nature to try to make life predictable. We want to stereotype people so we can somehow understand and predict what they might be like. We compartmentalize ourselves so that there`s order and predictability to our lives. Deep within us, we want to believe that if we do the right things, say the right things and avoid the wrong people, we`ll be successful, healthy and wise. Our concept of justice demands the opposite for those that do otherwise.
But the true secret isn`t a secret at all. It`s written in the only book the world wants to reject as old and antiquated. Humans, in the image of God, are given free choice. Because of the sin of one man passed down, we are all sinners. That sin perverts the free choice given by God so that some can use it for destruction and brokenness. There isn`t rhyme or reason to most of the anguish in the world. The reality is that it is just there. Waiting for Christ to come back and redeem it once and for all. It won`t happen because of anything we do with our energy or otherwise. It happens because God said it would.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)