Don't know if any of you have seen this recent video of Donny Swaggart condemning the Prosperity Preachers, but it is pretty good.
It's in three parts total, and here is the first one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIdTFSIj8AI&feature=PlayList&p=01B905C7DDF1517A&index=0&playnext=1 .
Enjoy.
-joebib
Yeeaahhh Jobib !
Thank you for this post. It is great. This Preacher needs to get as much exposure as possible. He needs to be heard and seen more. This blog is a great oppertunity to support him and help spread this type of teaching.
Most of us are sick and tired of that same false manmade gospel of prosperity.
Just for laughs, imagine this sermon being posted on the big screen up at City Business Church without frankies knowledge. It won’t happen, but fun to think about.
Hey guys,
Just found this site, still trying to get a grip on what’s really going on here, like it so far. I went to some prosperity churches back in the day, they jack people up for sure. So what is the difference between the pimpin prosperity message and something more like Hillsong’s, ‘God wants only to give you more to bless others’ message?
Hope to have many more visits
Cheers
Pimpin Josh
There is no difference.
OK, but how is it the same. I went to one of those churches where the preaher would say 10 people need to give 100 bucks each. Listening to the Hillsong podcasts you get a totally different feel, not to mention that they live out what the Bible says as far as giving of themselves and whatnot. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been to one of their conferences and don’t see why they just don’t give message cd’s away for a few bucks, especially ones on social justice. I’m trying to make sense of my faith at the moment, no debate intended
thanks
Why do you need God to give you more in order for you to bless others?
It’s the same self-centered message disguised as something noble.
The message needs to be “God has given you all you need by sending His Son to pay for your sins…so go bless others”. When the church gets that message you will see revival.
I get what you are saying, but in this sense I do not get the self-centered message when listening to Brian Houston. Can I really do more for people if I’m living paycheck to paycheck? (which as a college student, I am!) Yes, by an encouraging word, and so much more. If I had a bit more cash, I could have bought this lady I saw last night some food for her and her kids.
Of course you can do more for people if you had more cash (and there is nothing wrong with having lots of money) but the focus should be on helping people…not on getting more from God.
There are plenty of great seminars to go to if you are looking to get inspired to make more money…church doesn’t need to be one of them.
I’m not replying to Justice, but making more of a generic observation.
I’ve seen this attitude put forward not only on this site, but also by almost every christian I know and I’m honestly perplexed. It’s almost like I’ve read a different bible than them. (Random out-of-context single verses aside) at no point do I see Jesus saying “to do the most possible good for me, you need to have the $$”. In fact it seems (to me) to be the opposite.
As a more “modern” example I’m reminded of George Müller who managed to run his entire ministry without needing a helicopter, or house with a pool. (I just googled him and sure enough, there’s a wiki on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M%C3%BCller )
In the end (sorry Justice this is not at all directed at you, I’m on a rabbit trail rant here) I completely distrust anyone who claims to be a christian and believes this. I feel that if you honestly believe Jesus’s teachings, the end of your life would be like the end of Shindler’s List:
Hey Justice, wasn’t it the Apostle Peter who said to the crippled beggar “gold and silver have I none…” That’s our problem, the American church has way too much ‘gold and silver’ and no true gospel-centered power to say ‘arise and walk’.
Negrodamus,
For the record, Mr. Houston is from Sydney, and I totally agree with you on what everyone is saying, just not sure his message is quite the same as the prosperity gospel that pollutes America. This is the same church that has sponsored thousands of compassion international children. Maybe you guys should give their podcast a try because with 16 units, my mind gets a little weary! lol
Hey Justice,
I was talking to my sister about the prosperity gospel in all its forms today, and she brought up a very good point.
When John the Baptist was baptizing people, they asked him what they need to do to be saved. He told them to repent (very important part) and if you have 2 cloaks, to give one to someone who doesn’t have one. Basically, you don’t need two, so give it to someone who has none.
Now what is preached by the prosperity camp is, go get a bunch of cloaks, and give one out of ten away. If you are really spiritual, you will give away 3 or 4…but keep the best for yourself, because that’s why Jesus died on the cross…so we can partake in the blessings of Abraham’s covenant.
Does that make sense? Can you see how what is preached at these churches just 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Jesus said to not give any thought to what we will eat or what we’ll wear because that’s what the heathen do, and Paul said with food and clothing let that be enough? They didn’t encourage us to go after blessings so we can bless others, they encouraged us to bless with what we already have, even if we only have 2 cloaks.
Justice,
Just for the record, Brian Houston has preached at CBC, and Darlene has given concerts also. He has a different preaching style than Frank D, but the underlaying ‘mega church’ philosophy is pretty much the same.
If you would like a source of information about ‘word of faith’ and ‘prosperity’ doctrines and how they contrast with the gospel, try
http://www.inplainsite.org
Lots of good info there.
Nice Craig. I like it.
[Comment ID #30526 Will Be Quoted Here]
Well, first, I don’t know what CDC is to be honest. I saw them both this year and what irked me about it and United concerts is how expensive things are, 20 for a cd, 25 for a shirt, even with a free concert, it’s still too much.
Anyhow, I’m very familiar with WOF and the prosperity message as well as megachurches, I just left one. But from the short time I’ve been listening to their messages, it seems different, different motive and difference spirit of the message to sound a little dorky
Hey Justice,
I don’t know a lot about them either, but I know hillsong has sent speakers to the city church (while attended there) and the city church pastors go there to preach a lot. I remember one time the pastor came back and said they were very excited about the prosperity messages…not sure what that meant.
Jesus said to beware of the leaven of the pharisee doctrines, I would say beware of the leaven of the WOF and prosperity doctrines. A little leaven will leaven the whole lump. In my estimation they have leavened the message of the cross to talk very little about Jesus Christ and a lot about themselves. I know that sounds harsh, but it is very difficult to sit through one of their messages if you have heard some really good Christ-centered preaching. A mother of a friend told me she was in those type of churches when she realized lie wrapped in truth is still a lie. She promptly bolted.
I stay far away from those doctrines. That’s what I settled on as a good response for me. I don’t think it is worth the risk, even if they seem good. I thought the city church had balanced doctrine for 4 years…
I think the message in the link below is the opposite of what the WOF and prosperity churches teach. I’m not sure it relates, but I really liked it.
hola hermanos en cristo me llamo juan NORAMBUENA, y me alegra que ciervos de dios denuncien a estos falsos maestros.que lucran con el evangelio de del que lo dio todo por nosotros. que nadie los engañe diciéndoles que dios tiene que encargarse de ellos y que uno tiene que orar y que uno no es juez. lean muy bien lo que esta escrito en san juan. DISE que si tu hermano esta quemándose y puedes salvarlo halo por que si tu cuidas la sana doctrina y miras el blanco perfecto que es Jesucristo. no toleraras que unos pastores como estos que tienen el corazón engrasado y se sientan a mirar y nada hasen por el hermano que no tiene trabajo y que pasa necesidades y tiene a la hermandad oprimida mediante falsa doctrina. y viven ellos en opulencias y por que por que le mienten al hermano y este no se da el tiempo de escrudiñar la palabra para que mi padre le de el entendimiento y se revele la palabra y puedan abrir sus ojos.cuidado si el guÃa es ciego este loa conducirá al mismo infierno. sálvate hermano y arranca de una iglesia en la cual vallas a perdición. por que dios ya entrego a estos tipos de pastores apostatas,blasfemos,avaros,a turbación cauterizar las mentes haciéndoles creer que están bien en lo que hasen. que nadie te diga mira que no caigas. por que también dice mira que no caigan y a y te habla de tu hermano que se esta perdiendo por estos tipos que prostituyeron el evangelio pronto viene a su iglesia a buscar el esposo estas preparado para juntarte con el rey de reyes y señor de señores en el cielo. alabado seas señor JESUS todo el imperios es tuyo amen
Justice: “especially ones on social justice.”
What is Social Justice, and how is it biblical?
Thanks,
[Comment ID #30530 Will Be Quoted Here]
Hey Justice,
I too had issues with HS about their concert costs, but what I found out was that their cds and shirts, etc., were actually being sold by the people putting on the concert. In other words, the conference that brought them in bought them from United for like $7 per cd, and then turned around and sold them for $25 at the doors. I even mentioned it to Joel Houston when I met him later. at the time, I was a college student too and I was kind of pissed that I just had to shell out that kind of money for a cd, and he told me that once their cds leave their hands, they don’t have any say in how much they are sold for. It may have changed since I last went to a concert of theirs, but I’m pretty sure that the venue or organization that brings them in also buys/controls their merchandise.
HOLA HERMANOS EN CRISTO JESUS,QUISIERA CONTARLES LO MUCHO QUE ME DUELE EL VER COMO.EL EVANGELIO DE CRISTO SE A PERVERTIDO ESTE HERMANO DONNY,LO PREDICA CON AMOR Y MUCHO RESPETO NO QUERIENDO QUE NINGUNO SE PIERDA SIGUIENDO A ESTOS TIPOS QUE SIN ESCRUPULOS. PERJUDICAN AL HERMANO QUIERO QUE ENTIENDAN QUE CUANDO EN LA BIBLIA. SALE QUE EL REINO DE LOS CIELOS LO AREBATARAN LOS VALIENTES. NO CREAN QUE ES PARA PERSONAS QUE GOLPEAN A SUS PROJIMOS Y LES PEGAN A SUS ESPOSAS Y SON BRUTOS.ES PARA EL CRISTIANO QUE NO SE AVERGUENZA DEL EVANGELIO Y LE PREDICA A LOS NESECITADOS Y ACUSA A LOS FALSOS PREDICADORES QUE LUCRAN CON EL SEÑOR. HEMANO DONNY,ORO POR TI PARA QUE DIOS TE SIGA USANDO Y PODAMOS SACAR A ESAS ALMAS QUE SE PEDERAN SI PERSONAS COMO NOSOTROS NO FRENAMOS. A ESTOS VERDADEROS PERROS DEL EVANGELIO A LOS CUALES DIOS YA TURBO HACIENDOLES CREER QUE ESTAN MUY BIEN. CUANDO YA ESTAN CONDENADOS SIGAMOS ADELANTE QUEDA MUCHO POR HASER Y QUE LA PAZ DEL SEÑOR Y EL AMOR DE MI DIOS TE AYUDE DONDE QUIERA QUE ESTES ACUSANDO A ESTOS SUCIOS. PORFAVOR ME GUSTARIA QUE ME TRADUJIERAN LAS RESPUESTAS PARA CONTESTAR.CUANDO LE PREDIQUES AUNA PERRSONA HABLALE CON LA VERDAD HASI COMO CRISTO Y LOS APOSTOLES DEL LOS ENSEÑARON.