“If you have enough faith, look at things positively, and give to the Lord’s work, He will bless you with wealth, healing and a comfortable life.” This very message, taught by those who favor the Prosperity Gospel, which truly is NO GOSPEL at all, is pervasive throughout the continent of Africa. As John Piper says, “It is one of the most tragic exports from America to the two-thirds world, especially Africa.” Africans who are suffering from sickness and poverty are so hungry for their physical problems and poverty to be alieviated that they latch onto the “health and wealth” preaching, only to have their hopes dashed by reality. Using passages such as Malachi 3:10, Matt.25:14-30, John 10:10, Phil. 4:19 and 3 John 2 utterly out of context, preachers such as Oral Roberts, Kenneth Hagin, Jimmy Swaggart, Kenneth Copeland, Jim Bakker and Joel Osteen have taught a false Gospel that offers people present physical hope where God’s Word points to future spiritual hope.
Instead of financial accumulation, Jesus makes it clear in Luke 14:33 – “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” The Bible teaches that wealth is oftentimes not a blessing, it is a curse (Lk.18:25 – easier for camel through needle than rich into heaven.) In fact, Paul was talking to the “Prosperity Preachers” of his day when he wrote 1 Tim.6:9-10 about the dangers of the love of money.
As Piper says, “The comforts of the West have made us soft and cautious and fearful and indulgent and self-protecting, instead of tough and risk-taking and bold and self-controlled and self-sacrificing.” The call for Christians is not to accumulate financial blessings or to expect immediate physical healing, but to follow in the footsteps of Christ, as we read in 1 Pet.2:21 – “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
1 Pet. 4:13 – “To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.”
Life can be very difficult, filled with struggle, suffering and hardship, and we should not be surprised by it. 2 Tim. 3:12 – “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Acts 14:22 – “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Why? Sin has tainted the world from God’s original design. And yet God is working in ways beyond what we see to bring glory to Himself.
Certainly we do not seek out poverty and physical affliction and suffering, but we expect them, knowing that our joy in Christ transcends the struggles of this world.
My friends, as I preach this message the next two weeks in different churches here in Tanzania, and as I train church leaders in this message which is so contra the trend in popular churches in Africa, let us pray that God’s Spirit will shed light where there has been darkness and confusion, and may we preach a whole Gospel, one that includes joy and struggle, blessing and sacrifice, one that fixes our hope on the eternal and not just on the here and now (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Praise God for the truth of what Jesus proclaims, “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” –Jn 16:33.
Pressing on by God’s grace, Eric