Changes in Christian teaching (for Christians only)....?

Question

I have disagreed for a while now with churches focusing primarily on the promises of God, of what we are going to get, and how God has promised to make us healthy, wealthy, happy, and wise.I am amazed at how we are ate up with "prosperity teaching". I am currently reading a textbook that is an introduction into biblical theology, and at the end of each chapter, the author puts a memory bible verse and a hymn. As I was reading one of the hymns, I stopped at the verse
"Jesus the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
Tis music in the sinner's ears,
Tis life and health and peace."
Seems to me that the people who wrote these hymns had a lot more realistic expectations of God than we do today. Agree or Disagree? Why?

BTW, I am NOT saying that God is not capable! The problem is asking God to support habits of materialism.

And BTW, God does know I asked the question. Duh.

Answer 1

I've always liked the words to that hymn.

As a Catholic, I haven't heard much of the "prosperity gospel" stuff in my own church. No "name it and claim it" theology here. But in the middle of the night, I do occasionally catch the Fundamentalist televangelists, and they seem to be big on that sort of thing. Not that all Protestants are (in fact, I think most of my Episcopalian friends would be horrified at the very idea).

There are fads and phases in theology, just like in anything else. Prosperity doctrines aren't new (they were popular in the early 1900s, too) but they're still somewhat faddish, especially as practiced today. People approach God as if He were running a giant candy store in the sky and handing out free samples. Quiet reverence seems to be a thing of the past.

Answer 2

The big problem in the world today is the religions that people join up with that make void the Word of God. God wants us to meet up with each other and share how God has influenced our lives. He wants us to meet so in that presence He can join with and and His Holy Spirit can comfort us.

I have been a Christian man for well over 50 years now and have studied many religions. None have met my needs like what I get from my one on one daily experiences in the Word of God.

Sure I speak with others and they can tell from being in my presence that I am a Christian. Some are surprised when they find out because I don't fit the image of what they think a Christian looks like.

We are at the end of this world age. Yes, time is almost up. This is straight from God's Word and not from me.

As the Word says, That people will search from one end of the world to the other for the truth of God's Word and never will find it. (paraphrased) Why is that? Because it was right in front of them all the time.

It takes a key to unlock the truths that are contained in the Word. The key is Jesus Christ. The truth is there for the asking. The Father is holing that key in His hands and will give it to all the ask.><>

Answer 3

"prosperity teaching" is not The Word and Will of God... ...but I would caution you not to go the "textbook" route either... stick with The Bible and only the Bible... read some comentaries if you like but check and compaire what is said yourself.... always go to The Word...stay away from "Biblical theology".... that is mans word, not God's.... The Bible of The True Christian Faith is not for scholars.... it is for those who are open to the leading of God through The Holy Spirit.... there is nothing in The Bible for those not of God... and only those who are lead by God will find what He has for them in The Bible... no man can guide you to what God has for you in His Word... It is all between God and you... do not put any man in between.

Answer 4

The world is so materialistic today, it was less so when that hymn was written. My church teaches Jesus over came the grave so that all of us can also. He leaves His peace with us, not the absence of war, but inner peace. It is so beautiful.

Answer 5

Many need a different message at different times in their lives.
You know that Jesus is all things to all His sheep.
Today's world is all about me-me-me-.The flesh is pampered and spoiled.Many have turned away from God,because they love them self more then their Creator.
We mature Christians need to keep teaching the truth about our Savior.
Jesus is the same yesterday-today-and forever.
What ever you need take it to the one who hears and answers our prayers.JESUS.<><

Answer 6

in case you examine the e book of Acts contained in the Catholic Scriptures you'll discover the Church worshiped on Sunday from the starting up of the Church. Councils can in reality ascertain and make doctrine what's already believed and/or practiced. So, there became no replace in practice in reality a confirmation of what became already practiced from the starting up. In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

Jesus did say not to fear God, because he cares so much for the sparrow and even the grass of the field, how much more does he care for us? Check it out.

Answer 8

...the prosperity of God for us is there... however, the "name it and claim it" bunch fail to tell you that it involves a step most of us aren't willing to take... complete and total submission to Gods Word... the righteousness of God is for the Righteous, Issiah clearly tells us that "not one of us is righteous"...so, what do we do... "we" want it all" but "we" don't want to participate in the path to have it... Jesus clearly told us that "we" can have what "we" believe for... that requires "Faith"... how much faith... He gives us that answer too... (It's all in The Book)...good reading....

Answer 9

God would lay you out if he knew you asked a question like that

Answer 10

There's no such thing as properity teaching in the Bible. Last days will be bad for everyone.

The disciples of Jesus Christ wanted to know those things. They asked him what “the sign” would be of his presence in Kingdom power and “of the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 24:3) Jesus answered by detailing world-shaking events and conditions that would combine to show that mankind had entered “the time of the end,” “the last days” of this system of things. (Daniel 11:40; 2 Timothy 3:1) Have we in this century seen that composite sign? Yes, we have, abundantly so!

World Wars

3 Jesus foretold that ‘nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.’ (Matthew 24:7) In 1914 the world became involved in a war that saw the mobilizing of nations and kingdoms in a way that was different from any war before it. In recognition of that fact, historians at the time called it the Great War. It was the first war of its kind in history, the first world war. Some 20,000,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives, far more than in any previous war.

4 World War I marked the beginning of the last days. Jesus said that this and other events would be “a beginning of pangs of distress.” (Matthew 24:8) That proved true, as World War II was even more deadly, some 50,000,000 soldiers and civilians losing their lives. In this 20th century, well over 100,000,000 people have been killed in wars, more than four times as many as in the previous 400 years put together! What an enormous condemnation of human rule!

Other Evidences

5 Jesus included other features that would accompany the last days: “There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences [disease epidemics] and food shortages.” (Luke 21:11) That well fits events since 1914, as there has been a huge increase in the distresses from such calamities.

6 Major earthquakes are regular occurrences, taking many lives. The Spanish influenza alone killed about 20,000,000 people following World War I—some estimates being 30,000,000 or more. AIDS has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and could take millions more in the near future. Each year millions of people die of heart ailments, cancer, and other diseases. Millions more die the slow death of hunger. Without a doubt the ‘horsemen of the Apocalypse’ with their wars, food shortages, and disease epidemics have been cutting down large numbers of the human family since 1914.—Revelation 6:3-8.

7 Jesus also foretold the increase in crime that is experienced in all lands. He said: “Because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.”—Matthew 24:12.

8 Further, Bible prophecy foretold the moral collapse so evident throughout the world today: “In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power . . . Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse.” (2 Timothy 3:1-13) All of that has come true right before our eyes.

Another Factor

9 There is another factor responsible for the huge increase in suffering in this century. Coinciding with the beginning of the last days in 1914, something happened to put mankind in even greater danger. At that time, as a prophecy in the last book of the Bible relates: “War broke out in heaven: Michael [Christ in heavenly power] and his angels battled with the dragon [Satan], and the dragon and its angels [the demons] battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.”—Revelation 12:7-9.

10 What were the consequences for the human family? The prophecy continues: “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” Yes, Satan knows that his system is nearing its end, so he is doing everything he can to turn humans against God before he and his world are put out of the way. (Revelation 12:12; 20:1-3) How debased those spirit creatures are because they misused their free will! How awful conditions have been on earth under their influence, especially since 1914!

11 It is no wonder that Jesus foretold of our time: “On the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out . . . Men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.”—Luke 21:25, 26.

End of Human and Demon Rule Near

12 How many Bible prophecies remain to be fulfilled before God destroys this present system? Very few! One of the last is at 1 Thessalonians 5:3, which states: “While they are talking of peace and security, all at once calamity is upon them.” (The New English Bible) This shows that the end of this system will begin “while they are talking.” Unforeseen by the world, destruction will strike when least expected, when the attention of humans is on their hoped-for peace and security.

13 Time is running out for this world under Satan’s influence. Soon it will come to its end in a time of trouble of which Jesus said: “Then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.”—Matthew 24:21.

14 The climax of the “great tribulation” will be God’s war of Armageddon. That is the time spoken of by the prophet Daniel when God will “crush and put an end to all these kingdoms.” This will mean the end of all present human rulerships independent of God. His Kingdom rule from heaven will then take over complete control of all human affairs. Never again, Daniel foretold, will governing authority be left “to any other people.”—Daniel 2:44; Revelation 16:14-16.

15 At that time all satanic and demon influence will also cease. Those rebellious spirit creatures will be put out of the way so that they cannot “mislead the nations anymore.” (Revelation 12:9; 20:1-3) They have been sentenced to death and await destruction. What a relief it will be for mankind to be free from their debasing influence!