A public service announcement from Craig (www.doctrinetalk.com):
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.
Craig, thank you for this. It's perfect.
Is there any room for advancement, or coming into any type of financial blessing with this post?
If so, once I become affluent am I to give most if not almost all my money/blessing away (for I need nothing more that what will sustain me)?
Is that what this is saying?
Star
It’s all about moderation, balance, and perspective…unless, of course, you want to literally follow the words of Jesus:
Is that scripture enough or would you like more?
Onestar, I’ll let the Apostle Paul answer you:
These are examples from NT Apostles and Prophets, so are there scriptures that tell you to go after financial “advancement” in the NT? On the contrary, I think the scriptures tell us to beware of seeking financial “advancement”. Our eyes should be on the heavenly prize. Our Bible study went over Col 3 last night that says:
Is seeking financial “advancement” setting your mind on things above or below?
And no, I do not have a “poverty mentality”.
Was just replying to the post… based on the original, that is what it was speaking of.
By the way, do you know the true heart of the scripture you posted concerning the young man?
Jesus wasn’t interested in the young mans money at all. In fact, Jesus wasn’t even telling him to be poor. The hidden truth there is that Jesus knew that the young man could never depend on Him since his heart was always towards his treasure.
The secret message in that scripture is that if the “perspective” (as you quoted) and motives are correct concerning your finances, then it is ok to have much. That is unless you believe that the entire thriving Corporate America is living in sin because we have too much.
(Onestar says as he scrolls through is Blackberry for Bill Gates cell number waiting for the next post)
“Hidden truth. Secret message”
What are we Buddhist? It’s crazy that though churches say they believe in the “plenary, verbally inspired, literal Word of God”, in practice they go around trying to find the hidden truth or secret meaning so that they can get it to say whatever they want. This is very common unfortunately. Apparently we have some of that yeast even here in the blessed blog.
Craig:
Thanks for the reply. But again if you have that mentality is there room for gain? (Original question) Better yet, let me ask you this. Do you have a job? If so, have you been promoted, or seek to get promoted one day?
I am not saying that your primary purpose is financial gain or to get rich but if you are able to advance would you take it?
I think people get all mixed up in the weeds of preaching and teaching that you will get rich if you do X, Y, and Z, which is not exactly the right thing to do. However, I do believe that God will meet all your needs and depending on the opportunity or situation, he may send more your way. (I.e. you open a business and it thrives as you are faithful to the Lord).
Sola Fide:
At this point I see that your sole intent in speaking with me is to cause confusion, but I will answer you here and it may be the last. It’s obvious that everyone (including you) knew what I was implying. Simply that Jesus was after his heart and didn’t want him to remain dependent on his cash, for his heart was so connected to it.
RED FLAG, RED FLAG…LOOK OUT FOR COOL-AID!
…Dude read the post above…
You didn’t answer my question…
Is seeking financial “advancement†setting your mind on things above or below?
I will plainly say, that we are not to equate gain with godliness. The bible says to withdraw from those who do so. It doesn’t make gain bad, it makes linking gain with Christianity bad (see 1 Timothy 6:5).
The whole prosperity gospel does just that…they say if you are godly and tithe you will gain.
Can you kindly answer my question:
Is seeking financial “advancement†setting your mind on things above or below?
Loaded question….
Chose to give you a practical example instead. We all know that if a man doesn’t work, then a man doesn’t eat, (unless the Ravens drop manna, or a prophet stops by your house and fill your jars) you get the point.
The better question for you to ask would have been, “If you SET YOUR MIND (heart) on financial gain, and your PRIMARY (or only) goal is financial advancement, is that setting it on things above or below?
The answer to the question I posted is obviously below.
How about you respond to my practical example please.
[Comment ID #30603 Will Be Quoted Here]
Just caught the Rick Snow comment in this one…
That was plain cold, and wrong.
You should be ashamed of that Pope.
I am a CPA, and I completely reject the FALSE prosperity gospel.
You might gain, and you might not if you are a Christian. Neither displays more or less virtue.
I suggest you read this from John Piper:
http://tinyurl.com/2w9769
I agree with what he has written.
Do you believe the prosperity gospel? If you don’t, then I think we are OK. If you do, then we are not OK.
[Comment ID #30612 Will Be Quoted Here]
Yeah for reals, RP. Don’t you know to “touch not God’s anointed”?
Tisk, tisk.
And the moral to today’s blog is: Don’t drink the punch at Onestar’s house
I am. I just deleted it.
RP/Craig said: …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….
RP/Craig, I have been studying the Abrahamic covenant (AC) in more detail lately for my book against the mandatory tithe, and so far I have not been able to find one verse in the entire NT that relates material or financial blessings to the AC!
Contrary to material blessings, according to the apostle Paul, the blessings of the AC are the spiritual and ethical blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit:
“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” so those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith….He [Jesus] redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Galatians 3:8,9,14, NIV
Hi David,
Thanks for your comments. I do believe we inherit the promise (singular) of Abraham witch is the the gift of the Holy Spirit through salvation (Galatians 3).
I don’t think we can lay claim to all the other things God promised Abraham. I heard Pastor Wendell say God told him (Wendell) that He will make Wendell’s name great. This is using the “fill in the blank” promises of Abraham. He also said God will make us “fathers of many nations” since all the promises to Abraham are to us (according to the prosperity theology).
I think that is very misguided because Paul made it clear that we are partakers of the promise (singular) to Abraham of the Holy Spirit. Paul then went on to say in Galatians:
I think Paul was saying the “father of many nations”, “make your name great”, “stars of the sky” promises to Abraham were actually made to Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. He is the father of many nations…we (Gentiles) are the many nations. His descendants are as the stars of the sky…we are the stars. He did make Christ’s name great, not ours.
That’s how I see that passage…what do you think?
Not sure where to put this… but it sure made me laugh!
The rest of the article is found here