Confronting the prosperity gospel

A COMMITTED reader of Family and Religion has asked, “What are your thoughts on the prosperity gospel?”

The prosperity gospel contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ who taught that those who would follow Jesus, must deny self, take up their cross and follow Christ. He recognised that those who follow him will have challenges and even persecution. The prosperity gospel, on the other hand, teaches that those who follow Christ will automatically have blessings upon blessings. It gets obscene to the point where some pastors boast of their material wealth as a sign of how blessed they are because of their great faith in God.

Interestingly, many have more faith in faith than faith in God. That is, however, for another conversation.

Then there are those who flaunt their “overflow of blessings”. They are drinking from their saucer because their cup has overflowed. However, in a world with much poverty, need, and want, none of us should be drinking from our saucers. Instead, we should all be seeking to share our cups and saucers while sharing the contents for those who are less fortunate.

Instead of announcing that we are blessed and highly favoured, maybe we could try being a blessing to someone else. Try this thought for a change – I will try to be a blessing to someone else today.

Many quiet disillusioned Christians are moving around after being fed happy-go-lucky faith that teaches them that if their seed of faith is put in, then they will reap rich rewards. Just plant a seed and you will see your fortunes multiplied, is the mantra of the prosperity gospel. This does give a feel-good relief to many troubled folks. Reality, however, has a way of setting in.

The truth is that it takes the good investment of study, time, work and building positive relationships for productive and successful ways of being to be realised. Even after studying and preparing for employment, it often takes some time before finding a satisfying career experience. It will also take some time before a car and house and land and so on are acquired.

Then there are those who are suffering under the weight of abuse. Maybe their life is at risk due to ongoing violence in the household. The survivor keeps “sowing a seed of faith” in the hope for change; but God does not work that way. True, you may feel good in the hope that change will come. Sadly, that change may just be the loss of your life.

God is not a magician! In the Bible, those who walk with God, also encounter challenges. Look at the prophets and the disciples of Jesus and the early Church and the story of Job.

Look also at the lives of some of the world’s freedom fighters. Many of those committed to peace and justice, also died on the march for peace and justice. Many were people of religious faith. However, faith is not a guarantee against the trials and tribulations and loss of life. Faith instead helps us to go on and to keep going on, on the journey, the journey of life with its many twists and turns.

Be encouraged to continue your walk of faith knowing that the journey has potholes and bumps along the way. The reality of the Christian life is like a journey from where you are to some other place 10 miles away. We are all on the same journey, but some are at the one mile point, some are at the two mile point, others are at the five mile point, all at the same time. Some have slowed down for various reasons. Some have had bruises or broken limbs. Some are waiting at a point before moving on. However, we are heading in the same direction with the same objective of success.

Some of the most enlightened and inspiring souls I have encountered are among the most materially poor of the earth. Some of the most admired and seemingly successful are among the most immoral and greedy rich of the earth. It is okay to live simply, humbly, and without great wealth.

It is also okay to trust God to see you through on the journey of trying to acquire a job, a home, a partner, higher education, and so on. Just ask the many who although not knowing how the college tuition would be paid, pressed on with faith in God, and today they are overcomers. Just ask the many who never imagined they would be alive today, but they pressed on with faith in God.

May we not seek to define our righteousness by parading a faith that says that everyone else must believe the way I do. With that, feel free to join my simple prayer in faith in the words of Luciano’s prayer:

“Lord give me strength, to face another day.

Carry on life’s road, carry all my load.

Give me strength, oh Jah, to carry on, oh my Lord.”

Amen.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human dignity and human rights. Send feedback to seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com