> Time.com -- In three of the Gospels, Jesus warns that each of his > disciples may have to "deny himself" and even "take up his Cross."
> In support of this prediction, he contrasts the fleeting pleasures of > today with the promise of eternity: "For what profit is it to a man," > he asks, "if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
> Generations of churchgoers have understood that being Christian means > being ready to sacrifice. But for a growing number of Christians, the > question is better restated, "Why not gain the whole world plus my > soul?"
> For several decades, a philosophy has been percolating in the 10 > million-strong Pentecostal wing of Christianity that seems to turn the > Gospels' passage on its head. Certainly, it allows, Christians should > keep one eye on heaven. But the new good news is that God doesn't want > us to wait.
[snip]
It's the same kind of "theology" that declares, "Yes, we CAN increase spending for a war of choice AND have tax cuts AND have a surplus!"
-- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com Warning: Do not use Ultimate-Anonymity They are worthless spammers that are running a scam.
This is just typical of most religious types. Deep down they realize that any after life is more imagination than reality so they want to enjoy life while their still alive to enjoy.
> Time.com -- In three of the Gospels, Jesus warns that each of his > disciples may have to "deny himself" and even "take up his Cross."
> In support of this prediction, he contrasts the fleeting pleasures of > today with the promise of eternity: "For what profit is it to a man," > he asks, "if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
> Generations of churchgoers have understood that being Christian means > being ready to sacrifice. But for a growing number of Christians, the > question is better restated, "Why not gain the whole world plus my > soul?"
> For several decades, a philosophy has been percolating in the 10 > million-strong Pentecostal wing of Christianity that seems to turn the > Gospels' passage on its head. Certainly, it allows, Christians should > keep one eye on heaven. But the new good news is that God doesn't want > us to wait.
> Known (or vilified) under a variety of names -- Word of Faith, Health > and Wealth, Name It and Claim It, Prosperity Theology -- its emphasis > is on God's promised generosity in this life. In a nutshell, it > suggests that a God who loves you does not want you to be broke.
> Its signature verse could be John 10:10: "I have come that they may > have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." In a Time poll, > 17 percent of Christians surveyed said they considered themselves part > of such a movement, while a full 61 percent believed that God wants > people to be prosperous.
> "Prosperity" first blazed to public attention as the driveshaft in the > moneymaking machine that was 1980s televangelism and faded from > mainstream view with the Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart scandals.
> But now, after some key modifications (which have inspired some to > redub it Prosperity Lite), it has not only recovered but is booming.
> Of the four biggest megachurches in the country, three -- Joel > Osteen's Lakewood in Houston; T.D. Jakes' Potter's House in south > Dallas; and Creflo Dollar's World Changers in Atlanta -- are > Prosperity or Prosperity Lite pulpits (although Jakes' ministry has > many more facets).
> While they don't exclusively teach that God's riches want to be in > believers' wallets, it is a key part of their doctrine.
> And propelled by Osteen's 4 million-selling book, Your Best Life Now, > the belief has swept beyond its Pentecostal base into more > buttoned-down evangelical churches, and even into congregations in the > more liberal Mainline. It is taught in hundreds of non-Pentecostal > Bible studies. One Pennsylvania Lutheran pastor even made it the basis > for a sermon series for Lent, when Christians usually meditate on why > Jesus was having His Worst Life Then.
> The movement's renaissance has infuriated a number of prominent > pastors, theologians and commentators. Fellow megapastor Rick Warren, > whose book The Purpose Driven Life has outsold Osteen's by a ratio of > 7 to 1, finds the very basis of Prosperity laughable. "This idea that > God wants everybody to be wealthy?" he snorts. "There is a word for > that: baloney. It's creating a false idol. You don't measure your > self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful > followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn't everyone in the > church a millionaire?"
> The brickbats -- both theological and practical (who really gets rich > from this?) --come especially thick from Evangelicals like Warren. > Evangelicalism is more prominent and influential than ever before. Yet > the movement, which has never had a robust theology of money, finds an > aggressive philosophy advancing within its ranks that many of its > leaders regard as simplistic, possibly heretical and certainly > embarrassing.
> Prosperity's defenders claim to be able to match their critics chapter > and verse. They caution against broad-brushing a wide spectrum that > ranges from pastors who crassly solicit sky's-the-limit financial > offerings from their congregations to those whose services tend more > toward God-fueled self-help.
> Advocates note Prosperity's racial diversity -- a welcome exception to > the American norm -- and point out that some Prosperity churches > engage in significant charity. And they see in it a happy corrective > for Christians who are more used to being chastened for their sins > than celebrated as God's children.
> "Who would want to get in on something where you're miserable, poor, > broke and ugly and you just have to muddle through until you get to > heaven?" asks Joyce Meyer, a popular television preacher and author > often lumped in the Prosperity Lite camp. "I believe God wants to give > us nice things."
> If nothing else, Meyer and other new-breed preachers broach a > neglected topic that should really be a staple of Sunday messages: > Does God want you to be rich?
Once upon a time in alt.atheism, dear sweet you deserve it (youdeserv...@says.god) made the light shine upon us with this:
> The movement's renaissance has infuriated a number of prominent > pastors, theologians and commentators. Fellow megapastor Rick Warren, > whose book The Purpose Driven Life has outsold Osteen's by a ratio of > 7 to 1, finds the very basis of Prosperity laughable. "This idea that > God wants everybody to be wealthy?" he snorts. "There is a word for > that: baloney. It's creating a false idol. You don't measure your > self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful > followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn't everyone in the > church a millionaire?"
Because it doesn't work that way. Religion is about the control of the many by the few. The many are willing to pay a great deal of money for the assurance that god wills them to be poor. The few collect the money, and subsequently, gain control over the many. It's been like this throughout history.
-- Uncle Vic aa Atheist #2011 Supervisor, EAC Department of little adhesive-backed "L" shaped chrome-plastic doo-dads to add feet to Jesus fish department. Plonked by Kadaitcha Man
>> Time.com -- In three of the Gospels, Jesus warns that each of his >> disciples may have to "deny himself" and even "take up his Cross."
>> In support of this prediction, he contrasts the fleeting pleasures of >> today with the promise of eternity: "For what profit is it to a man," >> he asks, "if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
>> Generations of churchgoers have understood that being Christian means >> being ready to sacrifice. But for a growing number of Christians, the >> question is better restated, "Why not gain the whole world plus my >> soul?"
>> For several decades, a philosophy has been percolating in the 10 >> million-strong Pentecostal wing of Christianity that seems to turn the >> Gospels' passage on its head. Certainly, it allows, Christians should >> keep one eye on heaven. But the new good news is that God doesn't want >> us to wait. > [snip]
> It's the same kind of "theology" that declares, "Yes, we CAN increase > spending for a war of choice AND have tax cuts AND have a surplus!"
No problem. If they run out of money, they'll just print some more.
-- Uncle Vic aa Atheist #2011 Supervisor, EAC Department of little adhesive-backed "L" shaped chrome-plastic doo-dads to add feet to Jesus fish department. Plonked by Kadaitcha Man
> for a growing number of Christians, the > question is better restated, "Why not gain the whole world plus my > soul?"
You haven't been studying your scripture, Jenkins. The reason is that "It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get past the Gates to Heaven." It's Darwin who wants you to be rich. Now go to the board and write that statement fifty times.
On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 15:38:17 +0000, you deserve it <youdeserv...@says.god> wrote, quoted or indirectly quoted someone who said :
>If nothing else, Meyer and other new-breed preachers broach a >neglected topic that should really be a staple of Sunday messages: >Does God want you to be rich?
People kid themselves. The New Testament is perfectly clear.
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." ~ Matthew 6:24
In the Christian view, God might add financial blessings to you, but you bloody well better not make money your goal.
Of course there are all manner of shysters such as Osteen, Jakes and Creflo -- are willing to con people into giving them money by telling people they can go after money as their primary goal and still be good Christians.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." ~ Matthew 7:15
Look at the empty, hurtful lives those who worship mammon live, such as George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney. They literally murder millions just for money. They even sink to torture. They are the damned, lead astray by chasing the buck.
I know which god. He wants me to be rich. That's why there's always $5.00 to buy my lotto tickets. Right now, I feel rich, having learned to live frugally...HA!
|
