Greetings Brother Mike,
You speak of 'reform', perhaps? A redefinition and/ or understanding of the prosperity message.... or is it the prosperity doctrine?
Let us look only to the Word to see the truth on this matter, like all other matters pertaining to the Christian.
All this talk of jet planes and new cars and having a multiplication of seed.... my Scripture mentions things like being persecuted, being without... mocked, reviled.... and even gives the prosperity in joy.....
Now, there are other Scriptures that one could loosely quote here, like
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 1Corinthians 6:4 This sort of leaves most experts upset.... they consider their position as a place of authority.... have you heard of 'coming under the authority' of the church?
We see the Word of GOD says differently... and for very good and holy reasons...
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1Corinthians 12:28-31
Notice the Apostles are mentioned as first.... I seem to recall many mortals proclaiming themselves to be Apostles.... and to be honest, even more proclaiming to be Prophets.... who as we see are set secondarily in the church.....
BUT, let us look at something here... and look really closely...
we are talking about Christians.... I have always understood Christian to mean Christ-like.... as in a follower... a person who has the indwelling of Christ through the Holy Ghost.... and we are told that He set the example to follow....
and, then, we see that the Scriptures mention the things of the Old Testament being as an example for us.....
NOW, let us look at the lifestyle of these people... who set the example for us to follow.... after all, that is why an example is set, correct?
Well, we know the way Jesus lived... the fastest jet He ever went on was a colt... and that a Donkey, not even a horse..... but OK, there were no jets back then.... so apart from Jesus riding a donkey, He really didn't have much spare cash or hotel rooms.... I recall He was born in the car-park of the day because the pub was full....
and we know how He was arrested, despised and smitten.... and flogged and I think He even missed a few meals at times..... and admitedly He didn't have life insurance and someone donated a grave-site for Him... but ultimately, He was crucified....
and this after the bloke who WAS into money, lagged on Him and sold Him cheap..... mmmmmm!
OK.... How about the Apostles? I recall reading somewhere they usually were harassed and beaten... on the move, sometimes in hiding..... and even executed..... Paul made quite a point about how he hungered.... and yes, he did say he knew the best of both worlds... but was trying to get the point across about being CONTENT.... and I think he even mentioned that our riches were Christ Jesus.... but all in all, I don't think they had heard the 'prosperity doctrine'...... good job they learnt contentment, or else they might feel underprivileged in heaven for eternity... whew! Just as well the Lord is on the ball!
(I know I might be sounding a little off here, but please bear with me.... it will pan out.... )
The Prophets..... mmmmmm.... shall we follow them? Let's look and see if they were into the 'blessing' of the modern prosperity advocate....
Revelation 18:24
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2Peter 2:1-3
ooops, I meant to say....
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James 5:10
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms,
wrought righteousness,
obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword,
out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight,
turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again:
and others were tortured,
not accepting deliverance;
that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings,
yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned,
they were sawn asunder,
were tempted,
were slain with the sword:
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute,
afflicted,
tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy
they wandered in deserts,
and in mountains,
and in dens and caves of the earth.
Hebrews 11:32-38
Did I forget to keep on track here.... where were we? Prosperity.... being 'blessed'..... excuse me if I shake my head in disagreement to the 'prosperity teachers' no matter what flavour they come in....
they INSULT the glory of God in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Please don't anyone preach or teach anymore soft prosperity stuff here.
We can use our understanding or reasoning to accept the strong words of deceit uttered by folks who have forgotten Christ's teaching and replaced them with a pretend gospel... but, who want's to be deceived? Not me!
I will finish with the Words of Him who really does know what the doctrine is..... Jesus Christ the Lord....
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 23:27-39
Pretty heavy stuff!
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luke 11:49
You see, the riches of this world and the so-called blessings of wealthy abundance all passes.... and
John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
there just doesn't seem to be much about proserity at all in the Scripture....
Blessings come in this sort of love wrapped package.....
Blessed are ye,
when men shall hate you,
and when they shall separate you from their company,
and shall reproach you,
and cast out your name as evil,
for the Son of man's sake.
Rejoice ye in that day,
and leap for joy:
for, behold, your reward is great in heaven:
for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
But woe unto you that are rich!
for ye have received your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full!
for ye shall hunger.
Woe unto you that laugh now!
for ye shall mourn and weep.
Woe unto you,
when all men shall speak well of you!
for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
But I say unto you which hear,
Love your enemies,
do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek
offer also the other;
and him that taketh away thy cloke
forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee;
and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
Luke 6:22-30
Bless you ....><>
Br. Bear
end note:
Here is blessing and prosperity:
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias?
how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Lord, they have killed thy prophets,
and digged down thine altars;
and I am left alone,
and they seek my life.
But what saith the answer of God unto him?
I have reserved to myself seven thousand men,
who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Even so then at this present time also
there is a remnant
according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:2-5
