Piper on Prosperity
Posted on August 15th, 2007 by Reformed Pope into the Other Blogs categoryOver at DesiringGod.org, John Piper has written another excellent article. This one is about my favorite subject, Prosperity Teachers. In it he lists five pleas to Prosperity Teachers asking them to stop their false teachings. Here is the first:
1. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.
Jesus said, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" His disciples were astonished, as many in the "prosperity" movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." They respond in disbelief: "Then who can be saved?" Jesus says, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:23-27).
My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?
Why WOULD you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven??? We've been asking that question for years…and I think I know the answer: Because it sells better than the truth…which is quite despicable, in my book.
Anyway, I highly recommend reading the full article. I would especially like to invite the members of Any City Church to read it and send in a response. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Let me know.
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August 19th, 2007 at 12:37 am
this whole website seems to have some sort of issue against prosperity……
August 19th, 2007 at 1:40 am
On the heavy emphasis on material prosperity by church leadership..perhaps yes. Especially when it’s presented as “material prosperity = spiritual success’ and “lack of material prosperity = spiritual failure”.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
On a refreshing note: at my current church the sermon this morning was on Phil. 4:10-13 where Paul talks about his experinces of living in times of need, and in times of prosperity. But either way, he has learned to be content.
So the gist of the sermon was that having Christ is the secret to contentment, and that Paul — whose main goal is to know Him – is encouraging His readers to live in the grace (divine ability) of the Lord, no matter what the current earthly situation is.
:) grace
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:43 am
An opinion of mine is this. Giving when you see a need, no matter how great or small is a wonderful thing to do. When all the reward you will ever get is a big smile, and perhaps a little tear from the recipient satisfies your soul, you have given by Godly principle. Imagine, if you will, that you caused our Lord to smile upon you. Could it be what that “warm fuzzy” you get from unselfish giving really is? Or maybe a Holy Spirit hug for you.
Any other motive for giving won’t qualify here.