THE GREED GOSPEL

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20

No one who is truly born again wants to call anything cursed that God has called blessed. Yet, many Christian televangelists and Bible teachers are doing exactly that. They routinely accuse two segments of society – the poor and the sick – as being cursed of God. They also assert that Jesus Christ himself was wealthy, and therefore His followers should be as well. If you are broke and sick, you must be doing something wrong in God's eyes. If you are healthy and wealthy, you must be doing something right in God's eyes. The common name for this heresy is "Prosperity Gospel," but it is really greed wrapped up in the guise of doctrine.

Let's examine the most fundamental claim, that Jesus was rich. Luke 8:30 says,
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

"Substance" in this case refers to financial support. Joanna, Susanna and other disciples financially supported Jesus' ministry.

Look at Matthew 8:20:
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Clearly the the idea that Jesus was wealthy has no support in scripture.
As for health and material gain being a sign of godliness, check out Luke 6:20:

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Notice that this is not the verse that says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." That is elsewhere, but the meaning in this context is clear: The poor are blessed of God!

Luke 6:21:
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.

The hungry are blessed of God!

Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

The sorrowful are blessed of God!

Healthy and wealthy people aren't poor, they don't weep and they don't hunger, poor and sick people do. In light of this, why do so many Christians seek out lavish-living, mansion-owning, private jet-flying "Bible teachers" for spiritual insights? Why do these teachers not simply repeat the scriptures; they always put their conclusions into their own words? They can't directly quote from the Bible because their conclusions aren't found in the Bible! The truth is, the life of a prophet in ancient Israel was difficult. So is the life of a disciple today. If the teachings you receive make your flesh feel good, they are probably not the truth.

Examine the description of behavior in Romans 1:22-26:

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections.

We should at least consider that the riches these Prosperity Gospel teachers seem to enjoy are not necessarily a sign of God's blessing. Rather, it may be a sign that they are the people whom God has given over to their reprobate desires.

On March 29, 2007, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reported on a boat carrying 102 Haitian migrants that landed on Hallandale Beach. The boat spent several days sailing in the water. The passengers had a strong chance of dying just making the journey. The Sun-Sentinel reported that, "...one man was dead and the other 102 on board were bruised and dazed, their bodies parched from a diet of seawater, their lips whispering Creole prayers. 'God is the only reason we didn't die,' said Cynthia Toussaint, 24, who boarded the 35-foot vessel from Ile de la Tortue with her cousin."

The above scene is descriptive of true spiritual prosperity. If that sounds incredible to our carnal minds, consider the account of Matthew 8:5-10:

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Indeed, Jesus would not find many in "prosperous" North American Christianity with such faith as Toussaint expressed. It is the same faith by which Abraham was justified in the eyes of God. You know, the "blessing of Abraham," that phrase "prosperity" teachers like to throw around? The blessing was faith, not material riches.

Romans 4:2-3: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Most Christians know the the story of the moneychangers in the temple. Do these millionaire televangelists know the story? Maybe not, but they soon will, by being on the receiving end of a large whip.