A couple of people around the place have been commenting on God’s blessing lately – specifically Grace and Cynthia talking about the “Lakeland Revival“.
It got me to thinking, as posts from Grace and Cynthia often do.
How does the blessing of God work? Why does it fall so unequally on those who need it most and so liberally on those who want for nothing?
How much of the stuff in our daily lives that is really just ’stuff’, luck, whatever, do we attribute to the blessing of God, when in reality there was no supernatural-type blessing involved at all? Yes, every good gift comes from above, in him all things were created, etc. But I’m talking about blessings that God actually supernaturally orchestrates.
How could a just God who cares equally for every person in the world expend gold dust, supernatural gemstones, gold fillings and spiritual laughter experiences on those who are in the top 1% in the world wealth stakes and ignore the malnourished, the poverty-stricken, the widows, the orphans…
It just doesn’t make sense.
I headed in to the chatroom of those watching the live stream of the Lakeland revival and what I read scared me. Keep in mind these are excerpts from only TWO minutes of messages – the first two minutes I saw.
11:06 kevyhurt : I need $10,000.00. I claim it Lord!
11:06 peanut64 : let us be drunk in the spirit
11:06 riversofrevival : amen all adultery come to an end
11:06 blessed2 : Hallelujah Halleluj OVERFLOW OUR CUPS LORD
11:06 chinagal : THE SPIRIT REALM IS ACTIVE TONIGHT. THERE IS A
BATTLE GOING ON BUT GODS PEOPLE WILl NOt BE DEFEATED
11:06 AgeJonsberg : IN HERE FOR THE GLORY
11:06 walkbyfaith : Kevyhurt, may the lord bless you!
11:06 lightof_favor : YES HOLY SPIRIT
11:06 tdy911 : Here he is
11:06 firelady : GET YOUR BARREL OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11:06 freshrain : RAIN DOWN PROSPERITY IN SPIRIT, SOUL
AND BODY
11:06 freshrain : RAIN DOWN $
11:06 happiness123 : meet that need lord
11:06 arod777 : break out halal over NY
11:06 bobbysullivan : come on TB
11:06 thekingsway : DRINK N DRINK N DRINK N TOUCH DEAF EARS
11:06 wings2 : deep and thick
11:06 birthuslord : Lord I pray for those in need of a financial
miracle, JEHOVAH JIREH
11:06 freshrain : RAIND OWN $
11:06 nw_worshipper : yes Jesus !!!
11:06 stmalo777 : we receive it Lord
11:06 lightof_favor : YES LORD
11:06 lightof_favor : YES
11:06 aanderson : Break Out
11:06 tyarber : I got to get to Florida
11:06 nw_worshipper : so so wasted in Jesus !!! His overwhelming
presence
11:06 freshrain : RAIN DOWN LOVE
11:06 kenj070707 : CAN YOU FEEL IT?
11:06 happiness123 : carry Pastor Brent out in Jesus name
11:06 lightof_favor : AMEN
11:07 firelady : LORD I EXPECT 10K FOR MY NEEDS AND THE
OTHER S IN HERE
11:07 restfulwaters : I see Him opening heaven and pouring out
receive
11:07 tdy911 : Praise you Lord
11:07 pastorbrian : YES LORD
11:07 restfulwaters : take it
11:07 tyarber : Lord please make a way to go to florida
11:07 peanut64 : let us live in the spirit than in the FLESH
11:07 arod777 : it starts with one or two and multiplies
11:07 blessed2 : Hallelujah Hallelujah Glory Hallelujah OVERFLOW
OUR CUPS LORD
11:07 Rwondimu : Lod soak me with your spirit
11:07 aanderson : Lord open the heavens
11:07 lightof_favor : AMEN
11:07 cherished : man I rarely feel anything
11:07 firelady : LORD WE SEE IN OUR ACCOUNTS NOW IN THE
NAME OF JESUSU
11:07 aanderson : pour out the rain
11:07 restfulwaters : He is pouring down
11:07 tdy911 : Joyyed
11:07 restfulwaters : catch the wave
11:07 sinnerssin : amen Lord
11:07 peanut64 : soak it up
11:07 freshrain : RAIN DOWN YOUR KINGDOM
11:07 battleaxmom : joy joy joy
11:07 aanderson : Yes Rain
11:07 AMYFAITH : in Jesus name
11:07 cherished : wow
11:07 paciugone : Let it fall Todd and all the rest watching!
11:07 sinnerssin : finances for our base
11:07 LisaOnfire4HIM : WOW!!
11:07 freshrain : WHOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAh
11:07 lightof_favor : THANK YU JESUS
11:07 happiness123 : lord rain down on all
11:07 thekingsway : ITS IS HOT IN HERE WHERE I AM
11:07 nw_worshipper : yes Jesus it is raining.
11:07 freshrain : whooooooooooooaaaahhhh!
11:07 kenj070707 : I CAN FEEL IT
11:07 lightof_favor : RAIN DOWN ON US LORD
11:07 restfulwaters : I had a mist in my house the other night
watching
11:08 sinnerssin : finances for us individually
11:08 aanderson : Let it come down
11:08 ecstatic : PORTAL OF MORE!PRAISE GOD!
11:08 walkbyfaith : i feel tingles in my arms!
Does that worry anybody else? Really, it’s quite indescribable.
Looking at the world as a collection of people, how can we in good conscience demand from God supernatural blessings in this way? The prayer “I claim $10,000″ seems ludicrous when our neighbour, a widow in Africa, doesn’t have enough food to keep her children alive and our other neighbour, a homeless man in the next suburb, has nowhere to sleep. Is it right for us to be fervently praying for that promotion, that new home, the TV we want to be on sale? Should we instead be praying for God’s blessing to fall on those who really need it, and trust him to give us what we need without either claiming or begging? Should we be spending more time doing something to alleviate the distress of those who are suffering instead of standing in an auditorium waiting for a spiritual experience and blessing for ourselves?
I for one don’t really want tingles in my arms, a ’soaking in the spirit’ or a mist in my house. I’d much prefer to have the knowledge that I made a difference to somebody today.
I have only just today heard about this lakeland revival. How interesting to visit with you and read this.
Revive- to bring to life that which was alive but now is not.
I am not sure what is going on in Lakeland. I am not sure and I do not want to jump to any conclusions.
He is watching it all….
Thanks for this post, friend. It will be good to wait it out and see if the fruit lasts…
Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love. -Rich Mullins
where did I get such an angry face? Pretty scary stuff!
Hi, Linda. Great to see you here – it’s been a while!
Re. the Wavatar icons – they’re automatically generated. Unfortunately now you’re forever scary-faced on my blog unless you create a WordPress account and upload your own pic. It’s the luck of the draw!
Re. your earlier comment, I’m not really sure what’s happening in Lakeland either. I’m not there. I was really just using that as an example to bring across the point, not commenting on only this particular ‘outpouring’ specifically. Just to clarify
I have been hearing about it. But know nothing of it. From what I can tell, people are flocking to it like God is a broken slot machine, and all you have to do to get what you want is pull. But I am a natural skeptic and cynic.
What really got under my skin is that “firelady” didn’t just ask for 10K, she “EXPECTS” it. Huh?
Dear Lord, since you have seen fit to give grace to someone so undeserving as me and I have been such a “good Christian”, I think that an extra 10,000 is too much to ask, do you? Oh yeah, in Jesus name!!
I meant “not too much to ask” typos……*sheesh*
This sounds a lot like the church I came out of. I’m still undecided how much of what I saw there was genuine and how much was just emotional fervor. Same applies here. But I recognize the jargon well. The ‘I expect” thing is very typical.
Great thoughts, Heather (as always)!
Paul tells us that we don’t always know what the will of the Lord is. That’s one of our problems in prayer. From past experience, I realize that I made so many mistakes in the analysis of my own needs that if God had answered some of those prayers, it would have been absolutely tragic!
What if I were in control? What if God were acquiescing to every confession that I made? People say, “Be careful not to make a negative confession! What you say is what you get.” That’s ridiculous!
David said, ‘I know one day Saul is going to kill me.’ Don’t say that, David! That’s negative confession. Now it’s going to happen, because what you say is what you get! And now one day Saul is going to kill you. But Saul didn’t kill David.
‘If I could have things by just making a positive confession.’ ‘If God must yield to my demands.’ Do you see what that immediately does? It elevates me to the position of God and puts God in the subservient position. I’m no longer serving God, but God is serving me and my every whim.
Certainly, the greatest prayer any of us can ever pray is, ‘Not my will, but Thy will be done.’ That isn’t a spiritual cop-out as some people would accuse. It’s just glorifying God as God and recognizing that He’s a lot smarter than I. I may think that something is best for me, but He knows what’s best for me.
Behind every prayer I offer is an understanding with God that if I’m making a stupid request, He should please not honor it or answer it. I want God to do what’s best for me or whatever is wisest in each situation. If you accuse me of a spiritual cop-out because I pray ‘Thy will be done,’ then you must also accuse Jesus Christ of a spiritual copout-because He’s the source of the prayer!
I absolutely agree. This is terrible and scary. Unfortunately this is what passes for sound doctrine to most of Christendom today.
Heather,
Good post. It is frightening and very sad.
I feel that I am in an interesting place. After coming out of those churches, in the places where things were demanded of God, I don’t know how to pray anymore. I am painfully aware of how selfish my prayers can be and I hardly know how to pray anymore. I think it is why the Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle are so attractive to me. It’s teaching me to pray outside of myself and my comfort as the center focus.
I have so much left to learn.
God does know what we need. I’ve been without a car for over a year now. My son and I want a car. So am I wrong for praying for a car when people are starving in Africa? The answer is no.
Another example of “God the Vending Machine”…
Is this what Jesus really told us to do?
Dang I have been hearing about Lakewood for a few days now and was pretty clueless.
Now I’m just sorry I read that. I remember those days in my own life. *sigh*
I don’t know if you saw my post on Kari’s board but my husband and I went to this event last week. It’s horribly ridiculous. I went hoping maybe I’d be proven wrong but I wound up sitting there watching in amazement at the group-think that was going on. At one point, Bentley said, “God can’t do anything until we rip a hole in the heavens!”
What?! Now God is TRAPPED? If He only does a little bit of miracles it’s because we didn’t rip a big enough hole?
Augh… there’s so many things I could repeat from hearing and seeing first hand but it’s not even necessary. The point of the matter is that it’s a sad show of desperation while the leaders take full advantage of it.
Oh one more thing – while they’re live, on the air – they have a cheerleader kind of guy on stage (behind the camera of course) who jumps up and down and cues the crowd to “praise more” or whatever — for the camera of course.
CRAZY!
This so-called revival is just people seeking an experience. They are more interested in having something done to them than in real change in their lives. Because real change hurts and is uncomfortable and that’s the last thing these guys want.
Show me a revival that focuses on repentance towards God and service towards others and I might take a second look. But until then…
And people wonder why I don’t call myself a Christian any more? Sheesh! Whenever I hear rich Westerners “claiming” another few thousand dollars from God as if he’s their personal bank manager, I want to vomit.
If this is Christianity then they can keep it – I want no part of it. Give me Christ instead.
Nate, you can join me in the Natural Skeptics and Cynics Club. I’m pretty sure I’m the honorary president.
Mike, I think expecting blessings is supposed to be the key to all that “God, give me money” stuff. Does it remind anybody else of The Secret?
Katherine, I know what you mean. It’s hard to know what is just emotion and what is true spirituality. All we can do is make decisions based on what we see and leave the rest to God.
Dan, yes, “Thy will be done” is there for a reason. We don’t know what’s good for us most of the time.
Mark, sound doctrine is rather a liberal term, it seems
Cynthia, I’m going through the same process at the moment. Where is the ’selfish’ line drawn? I guess that’s why as Dan mentioned, “Thy will be done” is so important.
Rachel, I’m not saying praying for something you’re without is selfish at all. It’s hard to decide sometimes where the line is, that’s all.
Rainer, apparently!
Nice to meet you, Tyler. I’m pretty sure you haven’t commented here before, so welcome to my blog! Make yourself comfortable.
Michelle, it’s good to hear a first hand account from somebody who’s not overcome with emotion. Thanks.
Brian, I think a lot of us are looking forward to a revival of repentance and service. Now that is something I could grab onto with both hands.
Barry, agreed!
Hi Heather! I hope this writing finds you in peace!! Yes, this glimpse into the hearts of some of the people at that chatroom is disturbing. It bears witness to the profound disconnect of some Christians from their Lord and Savior and His kingdom.
But I have to say that some of the comments here to your post are also very illuminating of hearts and equally disturbing. There seems to be so much bitterness in the body for those who have fallen away from the truth for whatever reason and so are living under a cloud of great deception.
Are we not admonished to reconcile and restore our brethren gently? How is it that the eye or ear has determined that it shall severe itself from the mouth or arm because it is unwell? And yes, I see this as a manifestation of dis-ease in the body of Christ.
I am as concerned (actually even more concerned) about brothers and sisters in Christ who look down their noses, with what borders on extreme dislike or even hate from their hearts, toward other ‘family’ members who have gone astray as I am with those who have gone astray. Jesus was in the “going after” business and I take that to mean the one sheep that even though they know Him, has veered off course as well as that one sheep who doesn’t know Him at all.
Where is the compassion? Where is the mercy? Where is the true love of Christ? Where are the exhorters in Christ’s body who understand their call to co-labor with Jesus in the restoration of a very infirm church? Why do we often times show more love and grace toward the infirm world then to our own?
We live in a time where many place a great priority on bringing the unsaved into God’s kingdom without so much as a backward glance afterwards as to whether or not the church is fulfilling the call from our Lord, “to make DISCIPLES.”
When will we stop pointing fingers and condemning others in our church and begin to find ways to be the healing hands and feet of our Lord Christ Jesus? Were we not warned by our Lord that a divided house will not and cannot stand!!! The devil, our enemy, is doing a thorough job of attacking our church. Must we partner with him in the attack?
To a watching world, Christians reviling their brothers and sisters because of their humanity, sin-filled behavior, ignorance, misguidedness, deception, etc. is a powerful testimony and witness to the disunity in the church and a great deterrant to being apart of it. does th worry anyone else?
My heart is breaking, Heather. Profoundly. If you and I really want the knowledge that we’ve made a difference in the life of someone today, might we consider giving ourselves to our family at such a time as this? They need us . . . desperately!
I pray that each and every time we encounter the church in error that we will choose to respond with love and with prayers and with whatever means Abba asks of us. May we never forget that we are one in Him and that what affects the one, affects all.
With love to you, my sister . . .
Laure
Hi, Laura. Thanks for your comment – it made me stop and re-evaluate what I (and others) said.
After reading your comments I read through everybody else’s comments again. I had trouble seeing the bitterness, dislike, hate, reviling, condemning and “looking down noses” that you’re describing.
What I see in the comments is a group of people who are saying “What’s wrong with this picture? We should be questioning it, it’s skewed. It doesn’t add up.” Nobody is attacking individuals, nobody is mentioned by name, and my post isn’t even fundamentally about what’s currently happening in Lakeland, but querying what the true blessing of God means and how our prayers should be structured.
Does it remind anybody else of The Secret?
Yes; and from what I know of The Secret, it’s virtually the same dreck that Word-Faith/Prosperity Gospel/”Name-It-Claim-It” teachers and ministers here in the States have been pushing for at least two decades, if not more.
Reading that chat excerpt is just…disgusting. It’s all about “me, me, me” with those chatters, it seems — you know, what “I” want (money, to be “drunk in the Spirit”). But isn’t the love of money the root of all evil? Isn’t greed one of the seven deadly sins? Isn’t one of the Fruits of the Spirit self-control (or temperance)? Yeah, that worries me, big time.
In response to Laure Krueger:
I assume you thought I was one of those looking down their noses at other believers.
I’m not judging individual believers or looking down my nose at them. I certainly don’t hate them.
I do, however, hate the system that many of them are a part of. It makes me angry, and unashamedly so.
There’s a big difference between recognising (and being disgusted by) the major flaws in the system and hating those who have been taken in by the lies.
In response to Laure Krueger:
“I pray that each and every time we encounter the church in error that we will choose to respond with love and with prayers and with whatever means Abba asks of us. May we never forget that we are one in Him and that what affects the one, affects all.”
Hmm… that is what I have endeavored to do. The church I walked away from would have none of it. And, actually, it was Abba Father who told me, in a plain voice, to “Walk away and let Me deal with it.” That is actually harder than you may think. It was not a decision made in a day – or a week or even a year.
I do not hate my brothers and sisters. My heart breaks sometimes over the deception and the unrecognized hypocrisy and the way they hurt each other and will be hurt by the exposing of evil in their midst. But you know, just because someone goes to church or even stands in a pulpit does not mean they are necessarily my brother or sister.
Anyway, that is enough. It is something very near to my heart. My ‘family’ does not want me and does not want to hear about what I see. I will not force myself on them.
Shelly, I know. It’s so easy to see God as a consumer product.
Barry and Katherine, thank you for your considered responses to Laura. As I suspected, as with myself it’s not the people you are taking issue with, but the system itself.
…been there done that. I didn’t get slain in the spirit, or blessed with heaps of money, or healed, or given riches, or gold fillings etc. …..So, was I more sinful then, or did I not repeat the mantra properly?
I would just be really, truly full of joy and peace, if I could just find God in everyday life, and know him in a close caring way.
I don’t want miracles God, just to know your love deep down would be a fine blessing.
Sylvie, I think that’s the point – to know God in the every day. That way there’s not even any yearning for the gold fillings
Gotta be honest. The streaming stuff from the revival sounds a lot like sex.
Unorthodoxology, great to see you here. You have some very interesting points of view – I just added you to my reader because I’m curious as to what you’ll come out with next
Hi, I just wanted to add my two cents. I think that we must be careful not to judge a move of God by the immaturity of some of the people drawn to the move. If we get offended or disillusioned by that we can miss what is really God. We have to look past the packages God shows up in sometimes. All throughout the Bible God used the most unlikely of people to be His messenger or bearer of what He wants to do in that time and place.
Also, I was skeptical about soaking until I experienced it. I spent several days at a conference hosted by Toronto and I had several opportunities to soak and I felt God surging through me like never before. It was so peaceful and so amazing. It was like tangibly feeling his presence.
I love Tozer’s illustration that everyone knows the sun is up there in space even on a cloudy day or even at night. But there is something totally different when you feel its warmth and see it’s brightness. It isn’t any more there than before, but it is experienced as well as known. God wants to reveal himself to us.
He is doing it all over the world. Muslims are seeing visions and dreams of Jesus and coming to know Christ without ever meeting a missionary. Teams of people who are moving in the supernatural are ministering in this manner in third world nations and to tribes and various people groups. Heidi Baker’s ministry Iris is case in point. Toronto is also sending many people overseas . This outpouring is not isolated to 1% and this kind of movement of God is going to become prevelant in Christians. It will take shape across the world irrespective of denomination or economic status.
God is so amazing! I have witnessed a good many miracles in the last year. Phenominal stuff. God is so awesome.
P.S. I personally know people with the gold fillings. I have seen it happen to those around me. I was wierded out at first and then I thought who am I to say how God manifest his glory and shows people his existence and love. Who am I to Judge God? Certainly those people didn’t make God do it, God did it of His own accord. So how can I judge that?
Hi, Karla. I’m sorry, but I must disagree with you there. I have been completely skeptical of the whole thing since Toronto, and I continue to be. It just doesn’t gel with the Jesus I know at all.
I’m glad that you’re finding something in it, and that you are happy with that. However, after a lot of careful consideration, scripture searching, prayer and thought (I don’t say this lightly) I absolutely believe that none of the stuff I mentioned above has anything to do with Jesus.
I know you’ll continue to disagree with me, but I really do need to make that position clear. If it does become prevalent in Christians worldwide it still won’t change the view that I’ve formed.
I have fallen to the floor. I have laughed uncontrollably. I believed I was seeing the start of a huge revival in my town because prophets told me that was God’s plan ‘before the end of the year’.
That was over three years ago. For me, the rolling and laughing got boring and the revival never came. The one God apparently promised. Who lied?
The church I left has moved on to claiming ‘gold dust’ and ‘the aroma of incense’ at their gatherings. As far as I can tell they’re having a good time, but it’s like some kind of weird addiction – ‘quick! something more exciting (stronger, louder, weirder) before the people get bored’ (ref. Todd Bentley).
And who benefits when we have our soaking meetings? When we are told to ‘be quiet’, to ‘just accept and not ask so many questions’? To ‘wait for the Lord’s timing before we go out and preach the Gospel’? Things I was specifically taught.
Who benefits when Christians are silent?
Karla, I don’t judge people who are drawn to these ‘moves’, I was one of those people. The traps are well-baited. I pray for them and whenever possible try to reason with them.
However, it is right and scriptural to call the leaders and ‘teachers’ to account.
Oh, and one more thing that keeps niggling away at me. Why gold fillings? Why not heal the entire cavity? God knitted me together in my mother’s womb – he’s a creator, not a dentist. Oops. Starting to rant now.
Anyway, I’m off to Todd’s chat room now. My car’s getting old and I fancy a convertible.
[...] one more thought, courtesy of a fellow-blogger… How could a just God who cares equally for every person in the world expend gold dust, [...]
Thanks for your response, seeking.
‘quick! something more exciting (stronger, louder, weirder) before the people get bored’
That’s exactly what it’s like. A new gimmick to keep us happy, to stop us seeking and to make us idle rather than motivate us to move.
But the biggest problem of all – I am still to see the Jesus from the gospels in any of it.
“How could a just God who cares equally for every person in the world expend gold dust, supernatural gemstones, gold fillings and spiritual laughter experiences on those who are in the top 1% in the world wealth stakes and ignore the malnourished, the poverty-stricken, the widows, the orphans…
It just doesn’t make sense.”
I quite agree. Mad, isn’t it? I don’t get it. However, ‘much will be expected from those to whom much has been given.’ We are His hands and His feet. God chooses us to care for His world. Unless the riches that have been poured out are passed on to the malnourished, the poverty-stricken, the widows, the orphans, these riches will not be blessings but curses and this will be a form of JUDGEMENT on the top 1% in the world welath stakes. ‘Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.’ (James 5:1) So, be warned! Give it away or it will rot and take you with it!
Nice to meet you, Mike (I don’t remember you commenting here before).
It is true that much is expected. I only hope I can live up to those expectations myself.
I take it you’re not a fan of the prosperity doctrine then?
” … I for one don’t really want tingles in my arms, a ’soaking in the spirit’ or a mist in my house. I’d much prefer to have the knowledge that I made a difference to somebody today.”
Oh, and you did!
You took the time to listen in on internet chat and write a post about it.
You DID make a difference today!
And fear not. Those tingles in your arms are not from soaking. It’s RSI. All that typing. But worth it. What a difference you’ve made!
And now that I’ve got that sarcasim off my chest …
I agree that the dialogue you’ve taken the time to share is ridiculous. But then Heather … it’s online chat! What exactly were you expecting?
That said, your comments sadly add very little. Instead, you appoint yourself as judge and jury. Case in point …
” … how can we in good conscience demand from God supernatural blessings in this way? The prayer “I claim $10,000″ seems ludicrous when our neighbour, a widow in Africa, doesn’t have enough food to keep her children alive and our other neighbour, a homeless man in the next suburb, has nowhere to sleep.”
You assume the person “claiming” $10k is not claiming it so he can use it to feed the African widow or provide shelter for the homeless man. On what basis do you assume the prayer is for selfish gain rather than for helping the poor?
” … should we be spending more time doing something to alleviate the distress of those who are suffering instead of standing in an auditorium waiting for a spiritual experience and blessing for ourselves?”
You assume the person “standing in an auditorium waiting for a spiritual experience and blessing” spend an inconsequential amount of time allivating the distress of those who are suffering. On what basis do you assume this?
I could just as easily wonder aloud if you should not spend more time doing something constructive instead of sitting online criticising all and sundry in order to feel morally superior about yourself. (Oops. I think i just did!)
Jason, you also make a rather large assumption – that my entire life is spent blogging. Unfortunately you miss the rest of my life, which is spent attempting to follow in the footsteps of Christ. If you notice some other posts, you’ll also see that I don’t criticise “all and sundry” – I think about concepts, I use things I see and read online (and otherwise) as examples for some of those concepts and thought patterns. I learn, I experience, I do. Some of that I write about, some I don’t.
I’m not sure where your bitterness is coming from. I am wondering if perhaps you have some thoughts somewhere online we could read? I’d be most interested in hearing your thoughts too – on this or other subjects about God.
Hi Heather, well spotted – I’m new to this.
Depends what you mean by prosperity doctrine. The Bible is full of God blessing people in all sorts of ways including materially – but God’s blessing is for a PURPOSE not as a consequence.
God CAN bless individuals whilst caring equally for every person in the world, but the whole of the Biblical story is of God’s blessing of individual people and nations IN ORDER THAT THE WORLD WOULD BE BLESSED. ‘I will bless you and you will be a blessing…’ That’s where the people of Israel screwed up. And why they came under such judgment when they failed in their purpose. If anyone thinks that they can continue to receive from God without using what they have to feed the poor and give to those who have not, then they are very sadly mistaken.
And it’s usually those in the world who have the least who have the greatest faith and trust in God – traditional prosperity doctrine is made a nonsense of by these wonderful people.
Jason, your generous assessment of people is commendable but probably doesn’t bear out in practice. I’d like to think that a person who gets given $10,000 by God actually gives that whole $10,000 away – but, to be honest, I don’t share your optimism. Nevertheless, that is the test!
We have generous and lavish God who causes his sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous. God is outrageously generous – so we may be outrageously generous. What WE may see as a waste comes from inexhaustable storehouses. I reserve judgement on what is going on at the moment, but if only 10% of people who have been blessed take God’s call on their lives seriously and pass that blessing on, the world will be a better place.
However, the 90% may well regret ever receiving anything.
Nice to meet you, Mike.
That really is a rather generous approach you have there. Possibly a little less caustic than mine
I have trouble seeing through the greed of treating Jesus like an ATM and believing that these people really do want to use their blessings for good.
It so often seems to be those who have nothing who are the ones giving their lives to the service of God, without getting a cent in return.
When the multimillion-copy-book-writing, revival-meeting-leading, offering-taking ones give back as much as they get, I will truly see that as a move of God.
Like I said, your approach is much more generous.
Hi Heather…I have just now found your blog….and have read through this particular one and I have a comment about all of this hoopla concerning gemstones, gold dust, gold teeth, sapphire dust, manna found in their Bibles etc.
I personally don’t see the purpose in these things. I would much rather have my leg back that was amputated due to a car accident a few years ago. There is no gemstone or gold dust that can buy me my leg back. I am really sick and tired of hearing about this stuff. Why is it that all this stuff is only happening to those who don’t really need it so to speak? to those who are well off financially, physically, emotionally??? I just don’t get it and quite frankly it infuriates me reading that exerpt from the chat room….none of it makes any sense….it is just a bunch of chatter about me, me, me! what is up with that? I am a Christian and it sounds stupid to me, I can’t imagine what a non-believer thinks when reading something like that……it isn’t leading them to repentence or to Jesus…I imagine it doesn’t even make sense to them…..it sure doesn’t to me!
It’s lovely to meet you, Suzanne. and I agree wholeheartedly, which is what lead me to write this post. You’re right, it doesn’t lead anybody to either Jesus or repentance.
Feel free to stick around and join in the conversations!
Hi Heather, I’ve read your blog occasionally, and always enjoyed it. Your recent Top 5 post lead me back to this one which I missed earlier.
I have always wondered why God “fills teeth” instead of restoring them to new again. To my way of thinking God is in the restoring business, not the patching business.
We had a pastor in NZ who gained very short public attention when a person at his service claimed to have had a tooth filled by God. The pastor (and a TV camera) had the tooth checked by a dentist, who found the filling was a very old filling that the person had forgotten about.
We are desperate for signs, so will grasp at anything that makes it easier to believe in what we can’t see. Unfortunately for us, faith is believing in what we can’t see or prove.
I hope 2009 is a good year for you.
Blessings
Welcome, Brian. Thanks for introducing yourself.
The teeth filling (as opposed to healing) thing never made any sense to me either. Not very many of these “miracles” are ever checked out either, and it’s good to see some being properly checked. Like Benny Hinn with not a single properly documented healing, and the recent Florida thing with raisings from the dead that weren’t able to be verified either. I do believe you’re right – grasping at the miraculous (something Jesus himself actually denounced) is in our nature. I can see why people do it, but it’s still a sad thing when they deceive themselves in this way.