One guy's take on the Prosperity Gospel and Joel

[Opti]

Osteen, Joyce Meyer

I don't fully agree with him as I go to a non-denominational church that probably would be thrown under the same umbrella. IMO all churches have their pet dogmas or hot points. Those who focus on an abundance message do tend to treat the poor not as well as they should and forget that not everything manifests in a timely fashion ... plus there might be reasons things never show up. The bible says all prayers are answered. It also says sometimes the answer is no. Prosperity gospel usually acknowledges this as a talking point, but in the RL beliefs of a minister doing well, sometimes they are also asshole rich people, and forget how the world works.

I wonder what others think since bashing Joel Osteen is in style because he owns a home worth less than 25% of his net worth. (I mention that, because as YMAM is a financially leaning board, it is useful to keep things in perspective if you are going to roast someone without being a hypocrite.)

www.huffingtonpost.com/pastor-rick-henderson/osteen-meyer-prosperity-gospel_b_3790384.html

During this time, I remember reading something from Joel Osteen. He and his wife claimed by faith a new house that they wanted. Joel was unsure, but his wife Victoria was confident. And she lovingly chastised him for his lack of faith. Sometime later, they purchased that house. Still in seminary, my wife and I were walking through our dream neighborhood and that was playing through my mind. As I walked through the neighborhood, looking at all the homes, I wanted so badly for what Joel is teaching to be true. I don’t know if you can understand how desperately I wanted it to be true.

I wanted relief and I wanted more. But I knew that it wasn’t true. I knew that my exhaustion and desperation made me emotionally vulnerable to this false Gospel. I’m educated and well read. I’ve haven’t just read the Bible, I’ve translated large chunks of it from the original Hebrew and Greek. I think I understand it. I think I have a relatively significant level of discernment. But for a moment, I was emotionally vulnerable to this false doctrine.

[Shooby]

  Personally, i don't believe in the "health and wealth" gospel.  That is seeking the kingdom of earth, not the kingdom of heaven.  And, someone might pray to be healed and if they are healed that is great but if someone is not healed, that is not a lack of faith or however they want to portray that.  The Bible says it rains on the evil and the good.  It rains on the poor and the rich.  It also sunshines on both.  In other words, everyone is getting their share of rain and share of sunshine.  So, some people will be healed, some won't.  Some people will acquire wealth, some won't.  Buying a home on "faith" rather than you income seems to fall under the "tempting" God category of just jumping in with out using your God given brain to evaluate your actual finances, etc.

[billisonboard]

[tallguy]

Prosperity Gospel theology is upside down and backwards.