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There is No Biblical Basis of The Propsperity Gospel

Declan

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There is no Biblical basis for the prosperity gospel. To pretend that those who have wealth and success are somehow blessed by God contradicts the very teachings of the Bible and perverts scripture.

Discuss...
 
I think that depends on your interpretation of the word prosperity, root word to prosper.


Wealth =/= Prosperity.
 
KevinKohler said:
I think that depends on your interpretation of the word prosperity, root word to prosper.


Wealth =/= Prosperity.
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No it does not. Semantics does not get around the ills of the prosperity gospel. Anyone who believes that God blesses people with well and success because they are religiously superior is doomed.
 
Declan said:
No it does not. Semantics does not get around the ills of the prosperity gospel. Anyone who believes that God blesses people with well and success because they are religiously superior is doomed.
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"Live long and prosper". Spok didn't mean to live long and make lots of money. He meant, live long and enjoy much success.

The bible makes NUMEROUS claims to God favoring some over others with bounty.
 
KevinKohler said:
"Live long and prosper". Spok didn't mean to live long and make lots of money. He meant, live long and enjoy much success.

The bible makes NUMEROUS claims to God favoring some over others with bounty.
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So you are equating Jesus with a fictional character?

As for claims, Joel Osteen also thinks he is he car's meow, but that does not make it true.
 
Declan said:
So you are equating Jesus with a fictional character?

As for claims, Joel Osteen also thinks he is he car's meow, but that does not make it true.
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Well, yeah. He's half man, half something else. He's wise. Spiritual. Can heal or harm, those chooses not to do the latter.

The more I think about it, the better and better my analogy gets, actually, lol.
 
Declan said:
There is no Biblical basis for the prosperity gospel. To pretend that those who have wealth and success are somehow blessed by God contradicts the very teachings of the Bible and perverts scripture.

Discuss...
Click to expand...

Damned Calvinists! Got it wrong and sent us up the alley.
 
Declan said:
There is no Biblical basis for the prosperity gospel. To pretend that those who have wealth and success are somehow blessed by God contradicts the very teachings of the Bible and perverts scripture.

Discuss...
Click to expand...

The only "prosperity gospel" I know is "God helps those that help themselves."
 
Declan said:
There is no Biblical basis for the prosperity gospel. To pretend that those who have wealth and success are somehow blessed by God contradicts the very teachings of the Bible and perverts scripture.

Discuss...
Click to expand...
Maybe you should first define the "prosperity gospel," what it means, what it teaches.
 
EdwinWillers said:
Maybe you should first define the "prosperity gospel," what it means, what it teaches.
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Yeah. I, for one, absolutely think that I have God to thank for the many incredible blessings in my life.
 
cpwill said:
Yeah. I, for one, absolutely think that I have God to thank for the many incredible blessings in my life.
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But here's a good question.

Why you?

I guarantee you there are millions of other waaaaaaay more deserving than you and I for the blessings in our lives, why would the invisible hand of god bless us and not others.

I have a fantastic life overall, relatively speaking to most in the world, I've done nothing to deserve it.

I'm an atheist, someone who has committed much sin according to your standards, why am I being blessed by god if according to you he has a direct hand in good fortune for individuals?
 
Jetboogieman said:
But here's a good question.

Why you?
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:shrug: I don't know. I know I'm expected to use my gifts to His glory, and I'll admit, figuring out where and how is an ongoing piece of spiritual growth.

I guarantee you there are millions of other waaaaaaay more deserving than you and I for the blessings in our lives,
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I can guarantee you that there are not. None of us are deserving of the many blessings that God gives us.

I have a fantastic life overall, relatively speaking to most in the world, I've done nothing to deserve it.
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true enough.

I'm an atheist, someone who has committed much sin according to your standards, why am I being blessed by god if according to you he has a direct hand in good fortune for individuals?
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:shrug: because you have Agency. Free Will, if you will.
 
cpwill said:
Yeah. I, for one, absolutely think that I have God to thank for the many incredible blessings in my life.
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Absolutely agree. I like the way Dave Ramsey puts it on his radio show when asked "how are you?" His response: "Better than I deserve!" What a great outlook.

But when I hear the phrase "prosperity gospel," I think of the Joyce Meyers and Joel Osteens of the world out there preaching how we "deserve" blessings and wealth and all the trappings of materialistic living. It's sickening - but probably why they're so successful themselves, preaching to the greed of selfish humans. I think too of all the televangelists out there strictly to make a buck off naïve individuals who swallow their tripe.
 
EdwinWillers said:
Absolutely agree. I like the way Dave Ramsey puts it on his radio show when asked "how are you?" His response: "Better than I deserve!" What a great outlook.
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Indeed. I have, I think, almost all of his books, including the latest on wealth.


Yeah. Olsteen is......

Pushing right up to if not teaching a different Gospel. I think. Yeah, I think I would even go that far.
 
cpwill said:
Indeed. I have, I think, almost all of his books, including the latest on wealth.



Yeah. Olsteen is......

Pushing right up to if not teaching a different Gospel. I think. Yeah, I think I would even go that far.
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The megachurches that push the prosperity Gospel are the ones that get the attention in the media, on TV, and give a false impression about what Christianity/religion is/should be in the minds of many in the U.S.
 
If a human is more than the sum of his or her possessions, then the money preachers would be full of crap.
 
there is a major difference in faith, spirituality, and todays version of religion (the falwells, osteens, etc)

my local pastor is in the same small church the congregation built back in the 20's

we have no plans on expanding, or rebuilding

the biggest project expenditure we had in the last 24 months, was redoing the duck pond (took out debris, and had it cleaned)

lots of new ducklings in the pond as i write this.....

some people in religion make it about the power and money

most make it about what counts.....the faith, the love, and the community

i am probably one of the least "religious" in our parish.....yet i feel right at home with the rest
 
Money is not good or bad. But when money makes us want to accumulate wealth and power for personal reasons such as ego or selfish power or to acquire and hold to the detriment of others we are likely to find ourselves further away from the spiritual and closer to the material. I believe that applies to all major religions. It's a tough balance for everyone and in some ways it is like playing with fire. No one wants to be poor but having too much money does not make you a better person. It brings different challenges.

IMHO what most people want is to be happy and to enjoy life as much as possible. Jesus nor the Buddha nor Mohammed taught that great wealth equals great happiness.
 
money doesnt help, but it sure doesnt hurt

i can do more now than ever before as far as being charitable

i have pet projects, as does my wife.....as it is a great feeling when you know what you are doing makes a difference

but money will never "buy" happiness.....

it may rent it for a few hours, but you always regress back to who and what you were before
 
Declan said:
There is no Biblical basis for the prosperity gospel. To pretend that those who have wealth and success are somehow blessed by God contradicts the very teachings of the Bible and perverts scripture.

Discuss...
Click to expand...

You're my new favorite.
 
KevinKohler said:
I think that depends on your interpretation of the word prosperity, root word to prosper.


Wealth =/= Prosperity.
Click to expand...
Wife and I are prosperous, but surely not wealthy....

We have been fortunate in many ways and now we can donate more than we ever did, dollar wise. Still the same percentage, though, 10% plus other offerings as are needed by church or people we see in need.

We don't see our situation as rewards from God as much as the inevitable results of trying to follow common sense rules of behavior as taught by God.
 
Declan said:
There is no Biblical basis for the prosperity gospel. To pretend that those who have wealth and success are somehow blessed by God contradicts the very teachings of the Bible and perverts scripture.

Discuss...
Click to expand...


I agree with you.

Prosperity gospel - also knows as Word of Faith - teaches the believer to use God, whereas the truth of Biblical Christianity is the opposite - God uses the believer. Furthermore, that would be stressing on the pursuit of wealth - something that the Bible warns us against.

http://www.gotquestions.org/prosperity-gospel.html



From the description, it is heretical.

Word of Faith (Prosperity Gospel)

At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the "force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate the faith-force, and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and wealth). Laws supposedly governing the faith-force are said to operate independently of God's sovereign will and that God Himself is subject to these laws. This is nothing short of idolatry, turning our faith—and by extension ourselves—into god.

From here, its theology just strays further and further from Scripture: it claims that God created human beings in His literal, physical image as little gods. Before the fall, humans had the potential to call things into existence by using the faith-force. After the fall, humans took on Satan's nature and lost the ability to call things into existence. In order to correct this situation, Jesus Christ gave up His divinity and became a man, died spiritually, took Satan's nature upon Himself, went to hell, was born again, and rose from the dead with God's nature. After this, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to replicate the Incarnation in believers so they could become little gods as God had originally intended.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Word-Faith.html#ixzz3WfdiTq7v
 
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She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
 
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