All posts tagged: Prosperity gospel

Religion and Money: Strange Partners

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Did you know that religion is tied to money? Every religion has a powerful influence on our economy and that influence is worth about 1.2 trillion dollars. That’s what some economists tell us. I was driving to work, a few days ago, and I was thinking about my employment future. If you are wondering, we are doing well, and this is not a request for donations. I work for the local government, and our bills are paid, but with changing policies, my job could change. For example, I might have to work as a contractor, and I don’t think I want that. I was having normal thoughts, the kind that most of us have. Don’t worry about me, I am a dedicated cheapskate. I’m sure you also have thoughts about employment and finances. As I pondered my future, I turned on the radio, and I heard a familiar voice. You probably know who Dave Ramsey is: Dave Ramsey is a famous Christian financial advisor who talks about managing our money and paying off our debts. …

Can church make us rich? The prosperity in the Gospel

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We don’t hear the words “Prosperity Gospel” much anymore, but the idea is still with us. You might have heard the story of the pastor in Kansas City, who recently berated his congregation because they didn’t buy him an expensive watch. He asked in November, and he still didn’t have the watch by the following summer. One of his statements was like, “So I’m not worth your McDonald’s money?” He specifically asked for a Movado watch. I don’t operate at that economic level, and I had to read more to get the picture. A Movado is a very expensive watch. As a minister of the Gospel, the pastor believed he was entitled to some bling. Prosperity is a good thing, for God’s people. These days, there is always a person with a camera that can record videos. That’s not even a luxury anymore. The pastor’s lecture was recorded, and it went viral on the internet. He also apologized, a few days later. This is a lesson for us all; we can’t get away with anything: …

Middle East dust storm. Photo: diogo.saravia/Flickr/Creative Commons

Are you covered with the wrong dust?

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Jesus was sending his disciples to preach the gospel in some nearby villages when He gave these odd instructions. 13 If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14 Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. (Matthew 10:13-14 NASV) If the village did not heed their words or receive Christ’s message they were supposed to shake the dust of the village off their feet. In the dry Mediterranean climate, dust was a constant way of life and not surprisingly idioms about dust found its way into the common vernacular. It was a quirky saying and sometimes we struggle to understand what Jesus was referring to. In fact, Jesus may have alluded to a quaint saying associated with Rabbis of the day. In her book, Walking in the dust of the Rabbi, Jesus, author Lois Tverberg explains that Jesus’ teaching approach was very much the …