Here’s an amazing video from Christianity Today’s, The Global Conversation, on the prosperity gospel’s exportation to third-world Africa.
The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.
As someone who grew up in a Charismatic church that was heavily influenced by the prosperity gospel, I know first-hand the damage that can be done by this gross bastardization of the Gospel of Jesus. While watching this video, I surprising found myself crying. Seems the pain of my former church experiences aren’t as healed as I thought.
Here’s another great video from John Piper on the topic as well. (Thanks to Mike Pohlman for sharing these too.)
Freaking powerful words.
All this brings to mind the conversation making the rounds on the blogosphere on the $130 million new building project being started by First Baptist Church of Dallas. There has been a lot of chatter and backlash on this project.
I think the reason for this can be best summed up by the reasoning behind senior pastor, Robert Jeffress rationalization for the project, ”The finest facility in this area should be one that glorifies almighty God.”
Here’s my question, Can a facility really glorify God? No, it is the people who make up the church in that facility. And I’m pretty sure spending $130 million to help the poor and destitute is a better way to engage this recession and glorify God than to take advantage of low construction costs.
Jeffress declares his goal is to create a “spiritual oasis” in Downtown Dallas…and that’s really the problem, isn’t it?
How about we bring the living water to those that are dying of thirst instead of calling them to come to an opulent oasis.
Very powerful! I also teared up at the Piper video…and I have never been near a church that preached the prosperity gospel.
Concerning the building project in Dallas I was most concerned with this statement.
“The church will carry about $19 million of debt into the building program, including from its last project, the $50 million Criswell Center.”
I fail to understand how a church can speak to its members financial stewardship when the church itself spends beyond its means.
I have never been to a church that preached the prosperity gospel, but I understand how enticing it can be. Before I became a Christian many people told me that my problems would be solved and I would finally be “happy” if I accepted Jesus. Thankfully, that’s not what inspired my relationship with God. But it was tempting to think that if I bought in on “this whole Jesus-thing” something magical could happen.
As the other I have never heard the prosperity gospel preached(well except on TBN), but I am deeply saddened that one of Americas chief spiritual exports is the prosperity gospel. It would take to long to type but as an architect I do believe that God can be glorified in a building. But we can talk about that another time.
Mark, I’d love to hear your insights into architecture and the Glory of God. Sounds like a perfect conversation to have at Casey’s…
FO Sho!!
[...] Here’s Paul’s take on the prosperity gospel: [...]