Office Hours

My alma mater, Westminster Seminary California has a new podcast featuring interviews with its distinguished faculty. One of the things that I loved most about my seminary education was the freedom I had to drop by and chat about theology, ministry, and life with my professors in their offices. So much of who I am today as a minister was shaped by time spent talking, praying, and studying under the godly, pastoral, and deeply pious faculty of Westminster. I am thrilled that the seminary has produced this podcast and I commend it to you. The seminary is giving away five gift packages to listeners during the first season of the podcast. Go to the Heidelblog for more info.

God and Money in Tough Times

The New York Times did a short piece on the ministry of prosperity gospel "evangelists" Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. The Copelands are a dynamic husband and wife ministry duo whose message has been characterized as a "prosperity gospel." The article opens with a description of one of their recent meetings at the Southwest Believers' Convention in Forth Worth, Texas:

"Onstage before thousands of believers weighed down by debt and economic insecurity, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and their all-star lineup of 'prosperity gospel' preachers delighted the crowd with anecdotes about the luxurious lives they had attained by following the Word of God."

Journalist, Laurie Goodstein, observes that even during this severe economic downturn, people are coming out in large numbers to hear these evangelists of "wealth and prosperity." There is a strong appeal to this message of a prosperous life. But the "prosperity gospel" in all its forms offers nothing but an empty and false hope. It is no gospel at all. Here are some of its biggest problems:

1) The "prosperity gospel" is based on works not grace: the promise of wealth and prosperity is given to those who are faithful and more specifically, who faithfully give. There is no grace here. God's blessings in the "prosperity gospel" are not free and unmerited, but earned and well deserved (Eph. 2:8-9). The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely unnecessary to receive these worldly blessings.

2) The "prosperity gospel" offers empty promises: faith in Jesus Christ does not lead to a prosperous and comfortable life, but a life of suffering. The pattern of Jesus' life is suffering in this world, glory in the next. As a people united with Jesus, we must participate in His sufferings in order to participate also in his glory (Rom. 8:17).

3) The "prosperity gospel" preys on the weak and shows partiality to the strong: those who are under financial hardship are told that they must become wealthy in order to fully participate in the blessings of God. Those who are wealthy are held up as examples of those who are blessed by God (James 2:1-7).

While I absolutely reject this so called "prosperity gospel" I have to admit that I myself am tempted to look for more tangible blessings from God in the here and now rather than finding contentment in what is in store for me in the hereafter. At its essence the "prosperity gospel" reverses the already but not yet of the gospel.

The cross and empty tomb declares to me that I already possess the richest spiritual blessings from God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the "prosperity gospel" declares to me that I do not yet possess these blessings until I am wealthy and prosperous here and now. The death and resurrection of Christ declares that I have not yet entered into glory so I must bear my cross and follow where my Savior tread; persevering by faith. But the "prosperity gospel" declares to me that I already can possess glory I can see with my eyes through worldly weath, power, and influence.

I am disgusted by this "prosperity gospel" especially because I see how strongly it appeals to me. I often long to forego the not yet suffering of the gospel and experience the already prosperity of the false gospel. I am not looking for a financial windfall. I am just looking for fewer tantrums from my toddlers, a little more financial stability so I won't have to struggle with living on a budget, a little more free time to do things for myself, a little more impact in people's lives so I can validate my gifts as a minister. None of these things are bad in themselves, yet they subtley rob me of my deepest spiritual treasures in Christ. I can not lust after the so-called blessings that are already in the prosperity of this world without giving up the blessings that are already mine in Christ.

As C.S. Lewis puts it, my desires are not too strong, but too weak. Lewis writes, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imaginge what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

Whare are some ways that you have found the "Prosperity Gospel" infiltrating your life?