A View Of The Prosperity Doctrine
Of course the Bible is pretty clear on the extra level of accountability God gives to those who teach the Bible. James 3.1 tells us: “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” Peter (2Pet 2:3) warned of the prosperity teachers; “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you : whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not , and their damnation slumbereth not.” This is an interesting view of the prosperity doctrine’s spread to Africa.
I remember when my brother and I were in Accra, Ghana about 10 years ago to bring his newly adopted children home… We asked where we could find a real Christian church, and were given directions to a large building under construction.
After about 20 minutes of bragging by the visiting preacher about how many shoes he has and how expensive his clothing is, he began telling the congregation that he knew there were 5 people with US $100 dollar bills. He kept telling them to come up and bring them to him. After about 10 minutes the last of the five came up, and the preacher threatened him “I knew it was you. Don’t you ever do that again.” At that point we walked out, and were met outside by a well dressed lady who asked why we were leaving. I asked who they were worshipping, Jesus or Money? She asked if we were talking about the scare tactics, and commented that it used to bother her as well, but we just don’t understand. They are a poor country. We found much better fellowship with believers in French Guinea, a much poorer country.
Wow, what a story! I wonder about the woman that said the scare tactics no longer bother her. Is that because she gives every dollar to the church and always knows that the preacher is not talking about her, or is that her abused conscience has become so so numb that she is able to persuade herself that she has given enough at each meeting and may safely consider herself righteous. Probably the second. When you’re not hearing the Gospel, you have to sear your conscience at some point to convince yourself that you aren’t hopelessly sinful.
There are some pretty sad implications to that.