Many religions promise the possibility of a better life. Some say reincarnation will reward those who strive hard enough with an opportunity to move upward along a supposed hierarchy of beings. Some posit a type of behavioral balance scale in which doing more good things than bad things increases one’s chance of a pleasant eternal existence. Others rely on some combination of faith in a deity plus good works (or at least trying hard) to attain an enviable afterlife. And almost all view positive circumstances in this life as evidence that God (or god, or gods) is rewarding the faithful for their belief and/or behavior. The sequence is simple: first I do what is required, then I am rewarded accordingly (“blessed”), and finally I feel grateful for my circumstances.” The concept is easy to understand, even if hard to live up to.
But Christianity is different. Jesus was a first century Jewish rabbi, steeped in the theology and traditions of Judaism, as were most who initially followed him. And the predominant schools of thought within Judaism at the time interpreted positive circumstances in this life in a manner virtually identical to other faiths. Good things (health, wealth, and happiness) were evidence of God’s favor; trouble and sufferings were signs of God’s displeasure. The Jews believed that the blessings of God, and particularly financial wealth, were evidence that those who enjoyed them were living lives pleasing to God. Poverty, sickness, and misery were evidence that the person (or their parents) had offended God, and were receiving appropriate punishment.
Jesus turned this thinking on its head. He did not abolish the “rules” for living (e.g. he affirmed the 10 commandments) or ever suggest that doing good to others was not important. In fact, he commanded his followers to commit to the highest imaginable standards of behavior toward others (“love your neighbor as yourself”). But he replaced the usual sequence of behavior-blessing-gratitude with a different sequence which runs counter to that of other religions. Jesus challenged our natural desire for a positive self-image by teaching that people simply cannot perform well enough to deserve the favor of God. God is perfect, people are not, so they will inevitably fall short. Basically, Jesus said that the teachings about gaining a place in paradise through one’s efforts or behavior were false.
Jesus then gave his followers a new teaching with a different sequence from the behavior-blessing-gratitude model they had known. He taught them about a God who recognized their imperfection and wrong behavior (“sin”) but who, rather than condemn them for failing to achieve perfection, offered them eternal paradise as a gift simply because he loved them. And he taught that those who accepted this gift (“salvation”) were to then show their gratitude through their behavior toward God and others. Thus, he gave the traditional behavior-blessing-gratitude sequence a radical reordering, with the new sequence being blessing-gratitude-behavior. The new model presented to Jesus’ followers no longer required a certain standard of behavior for people to be accepted by God. They could come to him just as they were, with their faults, problems, addictions, wrecked lives, pride, conceit, etc. and receive an offer of complete forgiveness and an eternity of bliss. And, as God healed their minds and spirits, their behaviors would reflect their gratitude.
The majority of first century Jewish leaders rejected Jesus’ teaching. They found the idea that people were unable to somehow earn God’s favor insulting. They also objected to Jesus’ attention and devotion the poor and downtrodden. The religious leaders of the day held firmly to the belief that wealth was an indicator of a life well lived and a direct blessing from God (this belief correlated nicely with the fact that most of them were relatively wealthy). Prosperity was a blessing, but not undeserved. Follow the rules and God will pour out riches upon you. Don’t follow the rules, and you’ll likely end up in poverty. The proof of this concept? I’m a good person, I’m wealthy, and others are not.
For a long time, followers of Jesus and his teachings believed and adhered to the sequence of blessing-gratitude-behavior. And their behavior was so exemplary that even those who rejected Jesus and viewed the early Christians as a ridiculously radical offshoot of Judaism were impressed. Secular historians recorded extraordinary acts of generosity and self-sacrifice, both toward fellow Christians and non-Christians. When plagues struck Rome, healthy citizens escaped to the countryside, leaving the sick to die alone. On their way out of the city, they met Christians rushing into the city to care for the sick at the risk of their own lives. Christians who possessed wealth shared it freely with others in need. All of these things were done out of a sense of gratitude for the blessings (and particularly the greatest blessing, that of salvation and eternity in paradise) already received from God.
But there are some legitimate questions about people’s circumstances in this life that none of this quite answers. For example, is it wrong to be wealthy? Are those who enjoy prosperity not blessed by God? Is money really the root of all evil? If I follow “the rules” and try hard to be good, why wouldn’t God bless me? I feel blessed to have all the things I have; is there something wrong with that? Are we to think that money is bad, and God likes poor people better than rich people (that sounds ridiculous)? I know some Bible stories – King David and Solomon and others were really wealthy; doesn’t the Bible say they were blessed with wealth? Good questions! Here are some responses:
- · Yes, every good thing in this life, including life itself, is a blessing from God. That includes health, family, relationships, and everything we possess.
- · No, it is not wrong to be wealthy. But wealth demands answers to two questions: (1) How did you become wealthy? [implication: if by mistreating others, your wealth is illegitimate], and (2) What are you doing with your wealth [implication: if you are not truly generous to others, your wealth is being misused]
- · No, money is not the root of all evil. It seems that in 21st century America the pendulum has swung from the first century idea of wealth as an indicator of God’s favor (“I’m wealthy, that means I’m a good person”) to the opposite idea that wealth is an indicator that one does not deserve God’s favor (I’m wealthy, therefore I’m despicable). This extreme swing is evidenced by the vehement dislike expressed toward those who are wealthy (often referred to as “the one percent”).
- · The root of all evil referred to in the Bible is “the love of money.” Simply put, this applies to those who are more dedicated to money/possessions/status/stuff than to God or their fellow human beings. The label of “evil” applies based on attitude toward possessions, whether a person’s net worth is $2000 or $200,000 or $200,000,000.
- · No, there is not a linear or “one for one” relationship between the “godliness” of people’s lives and their wealth. There are myriad examples of godly but poor people, godly rich people, ungodly poor people, and ungodly rich people. And there is no promise that trying to live a godly life will guarantee prosperity.
Over the centuries, the original teachings of Jesus have often been misinterpreted, misquoted, twisted, or simply ignored in favor of other philosophies and theologies. One of the most dangerous of these distortions in modern times is what is called “prosperity theology.” This is a type of heresy that teaches there is a direct relationship between people’s belief/commitment to God and the material blessings they receive. It is often presented under the guise of supposed dedication of one’s life to God with an expectation of substantial wealth as a reward. As one might expect from the charlatans who preach this concept, one’s expectation of wealth (“name it and claim it”) can often be enhanced by contributing financially to the church in which this falsehood is taught.
Simply put, prosperity theology is not Christian, is not Biblical, and does not work. It is used to prey upon people with a hunger for wealth and an ignorance of Scripture, often to benefit so-called pastors who live sumptuous life styles at the expense of their parishioners or contributors. If you have been tempted by the principles of prosperity theology, or if you know someone who has, please consume the antidote – careful Bible study, with particular attention to what Jesus actually said and did, accompanied by a prayerful request for understanding of the truth he taught and demonstrated.
Oh, and one final thought. I do have quite a bit of ‘stuff’ ... so is that a blessing? Sure, in a sense. But it is also a responsibility that demands answers to the two questions noted above: (1) How did you become wealthy? and (2) What are you doing with your wealth?
I’m not telling. J
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