The challenge of the Prosperity Gospel was addressed during several presentations and workshops at the Bible College Consultation. It is not a gospel at all. It teaches a false religion that God wants all his children to experience health, wealth and happiness. And if this does not happen to you, you are told that you lack faith. But the Bible teaches something completely different.
Bible texts used to preach the promise of prosperity include Deuteronomy 15:4 and 28:1, Job 36:11, Psalms 23:1 and 91, Proverbs 18:21, Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:13 and John 1:2. But these texts are read out of context. The Bible is misused to enable the preacher to say what he wants to say for selfish reasons. He (or she) distorts the Biblical view of God, of man and of the Scripture. It gives the impression that God needs us. It leads to disappointment and disillusionment. It is a lie.
How should we respond to and confront these heresies? With Scripture: texts such as Matthew 6:19 and 24, Luke 12:15, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Ephesians 5:5-7, 1 Timothy 3:3 and 2 Timothy 3:12. Keep Jude in mind. Also the history of God’s church through ages of hardship and persecution.
Satan greatest weapon
Our homes, churches and schools have become battlefields of the mind. Therefore, people should study the Bible to be armed against Satan’s attacks. Christian education is to tell God’s grand story which is the story of the whole world. It is the only true story. We need to equip our children for this battle by giving them knowledge of God and his Word.
Remember, the greatest weapon of Satan is ignorance of the Word of God. And if God’s children reject knowledge of Him, He will reject them (Hosea 4:6, Acts 26:18, 2 Corinthians 4:4).
Shaping the Christian worldview
Your worldview determines how you see reality, how you see who is man, what is right and wrong, the answers you give to questions such as the purpose of your existence, how you should live, why there is suffering and evil, what happens to you after death, etc.
There are many different worldviews. To name a few: liberalism, post-modernism, humanism, materialism, African traditional beliefs, socialism, capitalism and communism, each one with its own answers to the above questions. All are wrong and lead nowhere but to immorality, inequality, idolism, chaos, destruction, power struggles, war and bloodshed. See Galatians 6:7. History proves it again and again.
The Christian worldview is the only way to be able to give the right answers. It is primarily formed when everything we learn is framed within the context of God’s truth is found in the Bible, and formed through Christian training, teaching, time and practice.
The whole Bible is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness – so that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). Look also at Psalm 36:9, Luke 24:44-45, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 4:4, 10:4 and 11:3.
Bible texts used to preach the promise of prosperity include Deuteronomy 15:4 and 28:1, Job 36:11, Psalms 23:1 and 91, Proverbs 18:21, Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:13 and John 1:2. But these texts are read out of context. The Bible is misused to enable the preacher to say what he wants to say for selfish reasons. He (or she) distorts the Biblical view of God, of man and of the Scripture. It gives the impression that God needs us. It leads to disappointment and disillusionment. It is a lie.
How should we respond to and confront these heresies? With Scripture: texts such as Matthew 6:19 and 24, Luke 12:15, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Ephesians 5:5-7, 1 Timothy 3:3 and 2 Timothy 3:12. Keep Jude in mind. Also the history of God’s church through ages of hardship and persecution.
Satan greatest weapon
Our homes, churches and schools have become battlefields of the mind. Therefore, people should study the Bible to be armed against Satan’s attacks. Christian education is to tell God’s grand story which is the story of the whole world. It is the only true story. We need to equip our children for this battle by giving them knowledge of God and his Word.
Remember, the greatest weapon of Satan is ignorance of the Word of God. And if God’s children reject knowledge of Him, He will reject them (Hosea 4:6, Acts 26:18, 2 Corinthians 4:4).
Shaping the Christian worldview
Your worldview determines how you see reality, how you see who is man, what is right and wrong, the answers you give to questions such as the purpose of your existence, how you should live, why there is suffering and evil, what happens to you after death, etc.
There are many different worldviews. To name a few: liberalism, post-modernism, humanism, materialism, African traditional beliefs, socialism, capitalism and communism, each one with its own answers to the above questions. All are wrong and lead nowhere but to immorality, inequality, idolism, chaos, destruction, power struggles, war and bloodshed. See Galatians 6:7. History proves it again and again.
The Christian worldview is the only way to be able to give the right answers. It is primarily formed when everything we learn is framed within the context of God’s truth is found in the Bible, and formed through Christian training, teaching, time and practice.
The whole Bible is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness – so that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). Look also at Psalm 36:9, Luke 24:44-45, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 4:4, 10:4 and 11:3.
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