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You may already have seen or heard this, but it is helpful.
The only problem with Driscoll's argument is that the prosperity teacher could say 'Christ suffered so you don't have to.' But that argument doesn't really hold since the Apostle Paul, a spirit-filled follower of Christ, did not experience health and wealth. He was dogged by a thorn in his flesh and was beaten, hated and opposed everywhere. He, and all the apostles, taught Christians to expect persecution trials and sufferings.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
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2 comments:
But like many of Driscoll's arguments, it has more rhetorical merit than logical merit. But that doesn't make him wrong. The real problem with the 'health and wealth gospel' is when it tries to explain the obvious fact that NOT all believers have health and wealth. Apparently those people do not have enough faith. Apparently God would like to give them cookies but they just don't believe strongly enough. Poor old God, he does try so hard, doesn't he?
I have to admit I am susceptible to wanting health and wealth, I guess I even have a presumption upon it. In fact I am fairly keen on wanting comfort generally.
I suspect many of us have not faced challenges to our health and wealth, so we really wouldn't fall for such stuff from Joel Osteen. But what do we fall for?
As (upper) middle class Londoners, I make an assumption about the readership of this blog, what do we get wrong about God to suit ourselves?
Potentially we can conjure up wrong things, theology or practices that suit us just fine but have nothing to with the God of the bible.
PS.I am not saying it was wrong to critique Joel Osteen but it is not what we or our churches are likely to fall for. We pretty much have the health and wealth.
Tom
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