Previously on Cycleguy’s Spin…
“If you, as God’s child, will simply claim healing, prosperity, and the filling of the Spirit-claim it aloud in the name of Jesus, and keep claiming it over and over-you WILL move the hand of God. God WILL heal you! God WILL prosper you! Just claim it in the name of Jesus and it is yours!”
I’m opening up a can of worms here.
Those words from dogmatic men women shysters are so common that they have become a bedrock of belief for many throughout the church worldwide.
But honestly…I have yet to see how someone who claims to study the Bible, can seriously believe that garbage! Take a look around people!! Methinks those who spout off that poppycock like the lining of their pockets.
I have some serious questions to ask: Is God that predictable that He would guarantee all blessings, equal blessings, to all people? Is He so predictable we think He can be manipulated into action on our behalf?
It is true God is predictable. “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever” we are told. His character is predictable. He is holy. Loving. Merciful. Full of grace. Truthful. And more. But never are we told God makes everyday life smooth. And prosperous. And well.
What is predictable is God has promised to go through whatever storms life throws at us…with us. I’ll listen and hang onto that truth far sooner than I will lies of prosperity and wellness.
I love it that God is predictable…in who He is. That makes all the difference in the world.
This is precisely why I had such trouble with books like “The Circle Maker” and “Sun Stand Still”. We can draw circles and claim miracles with our “bold and audacious” prayers all we like. But if it is not in God’s plan or in God’s timing, we will be drawing circles and yammering on until we keel over with no changes in our circumstances. If God were moved by repetition and our repeated requests, we would have figured that out by now.
I agree with you Daniel. As they say, “You are preaching to the choir here.” I tire of making audacious claims as though God is obligated to whatever we say or want. Grrr.
Everything else in the world is always changing. I’m glad that He doesn’t.
Ditto.
As long as there are willing buyers there will always be willing sellers. Selling God as a magic genie or as an invisible friend that tags along in troubled times all seems a bit fraudulent to me. It is just a matter of degrees. But if someone is willing to pay to be told that story there will always be someone to tell it.
Tragic but true Jeff. You also won’t find an argument from me about the fraudulence when it comes to God. Unfortunately you are also right about the statement “if someone is willing to pay to be told there will always be someone to tell it.’ Bandwagon jumpers I’ll call both of them.
Oh, you’re right about the “can of worms”…
My mom recently was at a conference and spoke to a wife of my friend (N). She (N) is the official interpreter for our missionaries and does a lot of translating stuff. However, she and my friend don’t go to church (at least not on regular basis)…
Well, mom and other guys were talking about the situation in Ukraine and N said “But where is God’s justice in that?” Mom asked whether N thinks everything can only be good or not be. “Of course. When I ask God something, He always gives me what I’ve asked for.” “And same with healing?” “Of course. God wouldn’t want his kids hurt. People are sick because something has gone wrong.”
*Facepalm* And that’s the official interpreter for the Church of the Nazarene ministry here. (Considering I’ve done that before, it bugs me that she is not properly prepared in theology…)
Facepalm for sure. God wouldn’t want His kids sick? How about Job? How about Paul’s thorn? I just don’t get it.
Well, and even if God did indeed protect us from sicknesses… we still all die the “first death” – so He’d have to get us all killed in accidents, or what?
Oh, and remember I ranted about that crazy mama who decided to rewrite Potter for her kids?
Spells in her story were transformed into prayers and they prayed “Oh, God, please send us a good hearty meal of burgers and a salad and something delicious for dessert” and it “magically” appeared on the table.
Some people’s faith is exactly like that.
Correct. Expecting God to provide their never-ending shopping list. Do I believe God supplies? Sure. But not at our whim.
Jesus did warn us there would be false teachers, and those who tout the “prosperity gospel” belong in that bunch. One only has to read the Psalms to know life isn’t a bowl of cherries, but God is the unchanging One in whom we can place our trust and faith.
Blessings, Bill!
I wrap them in the false teacher category also Martha. Shysters. Hucksters.
God’s predictability gives me confidence to go and do and be. His stability makes me want to be brave. I am studying Nehemiah right now, and among other lessons, his example of faith plus action fits well here. Yes, we need faith. But, God wants us to partner, He wants us to move out with our faith into action. Doing one or the other is kind of missing His point of relationships.
It is almost as though we say, “God, I’m here. You need to agree with me and come over to my side.” Totally one-sided.
Amen, Bill! Amen!
Thanks Pam.
Great post. My husband and I were just having this exact discussion the other day… – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Thanks Gingi. Been reading yours but not much to say about that domesticated stuff. 🙂
I think the thing that is so unnerving is that sometimes God DOES answer prayers like these. He DOES heal when you least expect Him to. He DOES bless in response to fervent prayer. And so we are left with the sure knowledge that God doesn’t fit into our box–whether that box is where we try to keep Magic Genie God or where we try to keep our Love Must Be Tough God.
God gave me a good lesson in this last year. I had become extremely cynical, thinking that God doesn’t really work miracles anymore. Sure, I would have said that He does, but I didn’t really BELIEVE it. I was wrong. He started answering a whole slew of prayers that I had honestly followed silently with, “But I know you won’t answer.” And I was left like Job covering my mouth in shame that I would presume to judge God.
God refuses to live in a box. So what that means is I have to trust Him and believe Him NO MATTER WHAT. Sometimes that means I will believe Him for a miracle and sometimes that means I will believe that He will give me His grace to cope when the miracle doesn’t happen. Either way — HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!
i am not opposed to God healing or providing wealth. But if it is His will not because I “demand” it or “claim” it from Him. I love to see God work miracles and answer needs. I refuse to put Him in a box in any case. Thanks Melanie.
I like your point about the box. Often we use that “God in the box” saying when we’re talking about limiting His power, but it may also be applicable when we want God to do something “supernatural” (which He easily can and does do) when we want it. The box can also be a Genie Lamp.
So very true….
As you said, how can anyone who claims to study the Bible, believe that garbage ?
The saddest part of this whole theory is the fact that so very many people, friends, CHRISTIANS, etc…are totally blinded by these SHYSTERS.
Blessings of ANY KIND must be Gods will for us….not OUR WILL.
It never ceases to amaze us that Joel Olsteen can continually fool people into believing this concept. Joel stepped into HIS fathers shoes…not ” OUR FATHERS “.
In His hands
Pam
You aptly expressed my feelings Pam. I just didn’t mention any names. 🙂 But he is not alone!!
Amen Bill! Jesus clearly said, “In this world you will have trouble.”
“But…I have come to overcome the world.” He has overcome but we still have trouble. For me, that’s where my faith comes in. I want to faithfully trust and obey that He is always at work for His glory and our good. Even when it doesn’t feel like good to me, I wait, trust, and believe that He is good so what He allows is good.
I can’t tell you how long it took me to get here. Whew!
I’m with you, Bill. I wonder how the ones that spout that theology can square it with the lives of every single prophet and disciple and person in scripture that suffered.
“Prosper” translated from Greek has more to do the spirit than the flesh… but then as you said, I’m preachin’ to the choir here…