Prosperity preaching...a must read!

[lynnmosher]

This article is highly interesting. It is a must read. You'll be glad you did!

http://www.fireinmybones.com/#

[Tamera]

Interesting article. From what I've read, Kenneth Hagin Sr. always had a more balanced approach to the prosperity doctrine, claiming that God wanted to bless His people so they, in turn, could bless others. He's right. It has become very distorted.

[lynnmosher]

I'm very disheartened by the direction of some of the long-standing preachers in regard to this subject. I was glad to read this about Hagin Sr. and his denunciation of those going off in the wrong direction.

[Ransom v. Unman]

Might I put forth that even despite his "too llittle, too late" recantations, Hagin was still very, very off as concerns the true biblical meaning of faith and prosperity, as well as his applications on how to get them?

Compare Christian Science (http://www.carm.org/christian_science.htm), for instance, to a lot of the "revelations" Hagin received.

I'd also reccomend a book, A Different Gospel (http://www.amazon.com/Different-Gospel-Biblical-Historical-Insights/dp/1565631323/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204910495&sr=8-1), by D. R. McConnell, where he examines the origins and links the Word of Faith movement (and Kennith Hagin in particular) have with New Age mysticism, positive-thinking, and other cultish movements.

[lynnmosher]

Please understand...I am not advocating any teaching of anyone here. I just thought it was interesting that Hagin came out against the proclaimers of the prosperity movement as going in the wrong direction. Thanks for the links, Ransom.

[Xenia]

Thanks for the post Lynn. I too found it a comfort to read. "Word of Faither's" today need to own up to the points addressed in that book!

I do find many times that it's the new-agers and cultish movements that often take THEIR religion out of truth but distort it. I think all false religions have a "germ of truth" in them... THE Word was first!!!

[ProfessorAlan]

It seems that the tide has/is turning on the financial side of the "prosperity doctrine" -- but there are still waaay too many people who expect everything in this life to work out for them, and that any little roadblock has to be the Enemy. This non-financial side of the "prosperity doctrine" still needs to be addressed.

[Ransom v. Unman]

It seems that the tide has/is turning on the financial side of the "prosperity doctrine"
You so sure? Osteen's still a bloody multi-million times over bestseller...

[ProfessorAlan]

You so sure? Osteen's still a bloody multi-million times over bestseller...
Maybe just the people I hang with no have figured out how empty all that is ... You're right, I am probably assuming too much from my self-selected, anecdote-heavy, evidence.

But still, his focus is not so much on the financial side, but on the "God wants your life to be candy and roses" stuff -- the second iteration of the prosperity doctrine, that still needs to be slain.

[lindenbooks]

This teaching has always been the most insidious to me; it offends me far more than the outright cults, such as Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness. Admitting that Jesus Christ is Who He says He is, God, and preaching out of an undoctored bible--but it twists the mind of faith like nothing else. I am glad to hear that these "faith teachers" (ooo, using these words in conjunction with them makes me cringe) are being held up to scrutiny somewhere, but there is always the concern that they will do just what you say, concentrate on something less "harmful," and keep peddling Jesus like a credit card. Ah, well, personally I just try to stay far, far away from them!

[Daniel]

Unfortunately, Mr. Hagin, you tried to nip it in the bud way to late, one should always do these things early on! The so called prosperity "gospel" is the one, if I may say, very dangerous "teaching". As Lindenville pointed out, it is insidious, worse then the cults. It glorifies materialism. It doesn't not teach us how to deny ourselves, but using "biblical principles" to "justify" gaining material wealth. :(

Keep assuming Prof. Alan, it's going to continue. And those who know the truth have to, no, are responsible to say something about it! When will people actually rise up against the falsehoods that seep out of Christianity rather then try to speak out against the world?

True riches are for those who have become content with what they have. (1 Timothy 6:2b-14.) I don't hear that coming out of preachers, those who teach and do not teach the prosperity gospel. God isn't just in the "blessing business", and I say that sarcastically :D, but he is there to transform, not to make others conform to him or others because they get material wealth. If materialism is the way into blessing, then whatever happened to the fruit of the Spirit?? :eek:

As you can tell, this is one doctrine that I find to trick and lie to more people and it is slowly getting to me, it must be exposed for what it is. A lie. As a matter of fact, we don't even have to have "material blessing" to bless others. We should look at what we have and see that the Lord is good and how we can bless others with that. Don't wait for that so called "special harvest" blessing for you to "sow and reap" into. :rolleyes: What it is is American indoctrination in Christianity and people buy into it because it is a get rich quick scheme. I'll stop there.

[cpbookworm]

Amen, Daniel.

Did you know that the health/wealth gospel and God's opinion of it is very clearly presented in Scripture? In Revelation chapter 3, the lukewarm church whom Jesus vomits out of His mouth. Notice that the attitude of the church is that they are healthy and wealthy, in need of nothing (paraphrased), and that God sees them as poor, miserable, blind and naked.