False profits

The Atlantic magazine asks: Did Christianity cause the crash? In the process, what they really show is how much of what is preached in many congregations is anything but being a disciple of Christ.

It can be hard to get used to how much Garay talks about money in church, one loyal parishioner, Billy Gonzales, told me one recent Sunday on the steps out front. Back in Mexico, Gonzales’s pastor talked only about “Jesus and heaven and being good.” But Garay talks about jobs and houses and making good money, which eventually came to make sense to Gonzales: money is “really important,” and besides, “we love the money in Jesus Christ’s name! Jesus loved money too!”

I wonder what scripture reference he cited for that particular insight, since the Bible warns us "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Who said God's Word is no longer timely??

But wait! There's more!

That Sunday, Garay was preaching a variation on his usual theme, about how prosperity and abundance unerringly find true believers. “It doesn’t matter what country you’re from, what degree you have, or what money you have in the bank,” Garay said. “You don’t have to say, ‘God, bless my business. Bless my bank account.’ The blessings will come! The blessings are looking for you! God will take care of you. God will not let you be without a house!”

I'm sure this would be news to Job.

That so many people are following these biblically illiterate charlatans just goes to show how uneducated and weak the nominal body of Christ has become. The Atlantic article itself notes how little actual scripture is quoted by many purveyors of this manufactured 'prosperity gospel.' Such self-proclaimed prophets would do well to remember the high performance standard established for those who claim to speak in God's name.

It isn't that God doesn't care about our material needs; rather, He has a somewhat longer view of what is ultimately best for us. The funny thing is that those who seek Him most earnestly seem least worried about what they do or don't have. I cannot explain fully why He allows many faithful servants to suffer material deprivation, while schemers and scammers prosper. All I know is that He is able to use all circumstances to both glorify Him and to draw those who seek Him into an ever closer relationship.

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.