This is a very interesting article...
I, of course, realise that the media usually has a stunning ability to misquote, quote out of context, and general do a not so great job when reporting about contemporary churches.
Worth reading though. Don't crucify Joel Osteen though - wait until you get to the small section with his interview and you may hear what he was probably really saying.... Also, the last page starts to really get to the point I think....
However, all in all, makes you think...
TIME.com: Does God Want You To Be Rich? -- Sep. 18, 2006 -- Page 1
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5 comments:
I like to think that God does want us to be rich. And when we are, we will be able to tithe even more which is certainly not a bad thing.
God wants us to be rich but purposeful.
I like what Caldwell said in the article: "it depends on how you define prosperity. I am not a proponent of saying the Lord's name three times, clicking your heels and then you get what you ask for. But you cannot give what you do not have. We are fighting what we call the social demons. If I am going to help someone, I am going to have to have something with which to help."
That's exceptionally succinct and basically a perfect answer. I don't think being rich, or being wealthy, or being prosperous has anything to do with it. What will matter at the end of the day is whether or not we have accepted the free gift of Salvation.
Worldy riches (or the lack of them) have little if anything to do with it.
One argument I would make in favour of the "rich Christian" is to look at King Solomon. If the wisest man who ever lived, used that wisdom to make himself and his country extremely wealthy. (note that his wisdom was a divine gift). how can we say that God doesn't want us to have worldly wealth?
once again, I love what Caldwell said: "it depends on how you define prosperity. I am not a proponent of saying the Lord's name three times, clicking your heels and then you get what you ask for. But you cannot give what you do not have. We are fighting what we call the social demons. If I am going to help someone, I am going to have to have something with which to help."
cool article though ruth.
Osteen made a comment
"God wants us to be prosperous, He wants us to be happy."
If prosperity through monetary wealth is the only thing that will make you 'happy', then a recheck of oneself must be in the cards.
I think we need to learn to be content whether we have much or little. This is perhaps the greatest witness we can be in a consumer society such as we have.
However, the church hasn't always done a great job at knowing how to be content with more - we've tended to shun that conversation and instead just pointed fingers at rich Christians and accused them of being greedy or something.
I am captivated by the fact that Caldwell has been able to build housing and offer it to people who are not in his church. That is such an attractive idea! That we do not just say to people to be blessed, and be full - but we feed them! Or clothe them, or house them...
The challenge is to let money be our servant, not our master.
We cannot help the poor if we ourselves are poor.
Rick Warren has made A LOT of money from his book - and he uses it to help AIDS victims and orphans and so many other worthwhile causes. I also don't begrudge him buying a new car or a new house- but he has chosen not to.
There is no one size fits all answer. The biggest question is asking the Holy Spirit what he wants us to do with the money we have - and being obedient to that.
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