The Gospel of Wealth?

Question

Just saw "the gospel of wealth" on CNN. Pastor Dollar (his real name) says the Bible is a guide to wealth and requires one to aquire wealth. He quoted something in Pslams. It also said that 61% of Christians beleave this and that poverty is a curse for not obeying this gospil. What do you think about this?

Answer 1

Consider the following: Jesus tells the story of three men who were given money. (You can read the story in Matthew 25). Two of the men invested the money and increased its value. They were rewarded for being faithful with the master's money. The last did not increase, or even invest the money. Instead he buried it away. When the master found out, he was angry and had the man cast in hell. He told the man he should have at least put the money into the bank where it could get interest.

Would appear the Jesus expected people to have some kind of increase, growth, or investment going on with their money. Did He support the "get rich quick", "grab all you can", and "heap it up for yourself" lifestyle? No. But many of the men in the Bible, such as Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Davdid, Solomon, etc. were men of great wealth.

What Jesus taught was that there is a PURPOSE to wealth. It is not for the individuals personal pleasure, but as a tool for helping others.

Perhaps that is men like Willian Hersey, who in the great depression increased his factories (and his own wealth in the process) so that he could create jobs. He even supplied his workers with free homes. What profit he did make personally was almost entirely poured by into orphanages for abandoned boys.

There have been many Christian businessmen over the years who have build fortunes, employed people, improved the economy to where we enjoy the highest standard of living today, and then poured the vast majority of their fortune back into works that helped to feed, house, educate, cloth, etc. millions of people who could not have survived without that money. I have read of many who lived on 10% of their income and gave the 90% to charity. Can you? Then perhaps you need some increase in your fiances so you can give more to others.

So while Jesus warned of the dangers that can come from wealth, he also called more than one rich person to follow him by using their wealth in giving to the poor. (Rich young ruler and Zaccheus are examples). He had several wealthy women listed (Luke 5) who gave regularly to his ministry.

He explained how a rich person is used in the kingdom of heaven when he said "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle, then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven". (See Matthew 19:24). The "eye of a needle" was a small gate that was used after dark when the main city gate was locked. It was only large enough for one person at a time. So a camel had to be unloaded and the "stuff" shoved through first. Then the camel knelt down and crawled in. A rich man enters heaven by sending his "stuff" first, and then coming on his spiritual knees afterwards. But once in, the camel is reloaded. And so a "rich man" is often used a "paymaster" in the kingdom of God. Because he has come on his knees to God, he can be trusted to properly steward finances once he is in.

(Oh, I have listened to Pastor Dollar before. He is good.)

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Watching TBN presently I know of him. Permit me to separate two points for now in this issue here.
Money is a tool in God's word. The thing a Christian has to be careful with is the difference between it being a tool, and 'God'.
(When money goes from being a tool, to an obsession (God), I suspect is where the 'problem' comes in. (perhaps before).
As for 'Pastor Dollar, I do not know what he is saying about the Psalms passage or the 61% of Christians; therefore I will not directly reply to that comment for now here.

Answer 4

It's often called the "prosperity gospel." Generally speaking, it doesn't have much to support it. The Bible consistantly speaks of giving to the poor, storing up treasures in heaven, being good stewards of the things that you have.

True, there are people in the Bible who were very wealthy, but if you look at Jesus, who Christians strive to be like, he's not rich.

As for 61% of Christians believing that God will bless them financially, it's probably false. But most Christians do believe that God will provide for them.

Answer 5

It's a perversion of Christian ethics but nothing that American fundamentalists come out with surprises me. Did the pastor miss the bit in the bible where it says a man cannot serve two masters? If the pursuit of material wealth is your purpose in life how can you serve a spiritual God?

Answer 6

Creflo Dollar is all about getting his dollars, as is Frederick K. Price, Casey Treat and all the other Word of Faith/Prosperity heretical nonsense. They demote God to the status of a restaurant waiter that acts at the beck and call of His creation. They promote themselves as little gods in a brand of polytheism. Why is it that so many of them say that in order to get God's blessing of healing, etc, we must "sow a seed of faith" and give, GIVE, GIVE to their ministry? Do we have to put money into God's vending machine in order to get His blessings? When did Jesus and the apostles ever demand money from people before God would help them? Since when did God ever need money? Was Jesus really a wealthy man as some of them tell us? If so, then why does scripture tell us that He had no place to lay His head?

Paul said it best:

1 Timothy 6:3-7 (Apostle Paul, who is advising Timothy)
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between MEN OF CORRUPT MIND, WHO HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF THE TRUTH, AND WHO THINK GODLINESS IS A MEANS TO FINANCIAL GAIN. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Answer 7

The gospel of wealth or as it is more commonly known the "prosperity gospel" is another false teaching that uses the Bible to get people to worship money instead of God and to seek their own instead of God's will for their lives and this world.

Usually the "preacher" will cherry pick verses, taking them out of the whole counsel of God's Word and use this false doctrine to enrich themselves. Most often the technique centers around the promise God made to Abraham to prosper him and his "seed". Then they quote a passage from the New Testament saying that Christians are the seed of Abraham and a passage from Malachi saying that if people will bring in the whole tithe to God's house then He will open up the windows of Heaven and pour out his blessings upon them.

When people start shelling out their hard earned cash and giving it to one of these hucksters and they don't see blessings being poured out in response to their giving then the "preacher" will usually go to the book of James, chapter one and claim that the fault is that they don't have strong enough faith.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

Malachi 3:8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

People like the one you mention are described by Peter in this prophetic passage.

2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Answer 8

I think this sounds like the latest get-rich scheme. Positive thinking and deserving attitudes towards wealth are how we generate prosperity in our lives. We dont need a religious text to do this. However, I do think that poverity is a [curse].

Answer 9

It's a bunch of garbage...and the standard line for "men of God" whos next line is "Send me money."
They're crooks and give true christianity a black eye.
Just look in the Bilble for your examples, how many of the apostles were a "success" by worldy standards? Does the fact that they were poor mean they didn't follow Christ? I think not.

Answer 10

Pastor Dollar has some real issues. thats what I think.

If he really believed what he says he would be sending people money not begging for it