The prosperity gospel is a way of thinking that says 'it is God's will for you to be rich and healthy in this lifetime'. It is often backed up by, in my opinion, misquoting texts and Joshua 1:8 is a favourite.
This question about what is the prosperity gospel flows out of a question about Joshua 1:8 which says
Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Does this text teach the 'prosperity gospel'?
The context of this verse is about inheriting the land that God would give them (v6). The primary blessing under the old covenant was rest in the abundance of the land of milk and honey. Under the new covenant this rest is in the superabundance of heaven (Heb 4:1-11). 'Joshua 1:8 remains a valuable text calling for courage and fidelity to God's word, but its specific promise of material prosperity does not apply to Christians' (Brian Rosner, Beyond Greed, p39). I think the other problem with the prosperity gospel is it has discontentment written all of it – I am not happy with my health or my wealth and I want God to fix it for me now. Rom 5:3-5 is helpful here:
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us
Paul doesn't seem to think that the Christian life is one of health and wealth but of hope and hardship and then he firmly believes that this is what is worth rejoicing in (in fact the word 'rejoice' could also mean to boast)!
No comments:
Post a Comment