By Linda Leon Matthew, Mark, Luke and John preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Modern day protestant evangelical ministers according to Time Magazine often push another doctrine they termed the new Gospel of Wealth. The issues seemed to be whether God condones or condemns wealth or whether the doctrine of prosperity is progressive or poison. This article brought my blood to a boiling point, especially when they quoted one TV evangelist as saying Who would want something where youre miserable, broke and ugly and you have to muddle through until you get to heaven? Well, that just wiped out Hebrews chapter 11, the Book of Job, at least 2/3 of the Old Testament and the lives of half the disciples. Oh the saints have muddled through, they were sawn in half, boiled in oil, nailed to cross, burned at the stake, and were often without any financial means whatsoever, praising God to the death. The saints of old would not even recognize a doctrine that ties blessings to how many Benjamins you have. Church services have become milking machines and the congregation is the cash cow. I could just imagine how much money Jesus would have made if he had milked his mega multitudes at the Sermon on the Mount or his feeding of 5,000 plus. It certainly would have been a great day to sell a scroll or two. I will say the prosperity message is of God the day the congregation becomes as rich as the rock star pastor. This will never happen. Prosperity pastors have told their congregations that they will be cursed of God (by misrepresenting Malachi) if they dont give tithes and offerings. What a wonderful way to keep the money flowing. Prosperity pastors have told their congregations to sow into good ground i.e. their church in order to receive a harvest. Try selling that doctrine to a farmer. I sow into my neighbors field and expect to get my crop from his property. Prosperity pastors quote give (money) and it (money) shall be given to you pressed down and running over. Now, go to them when you are in a financial mess and the story line will change, I did not mean I would give or my church would give, you know we cant help everybodyI meant pray to God and he will send someone to give unto you. Now ask yourself, how much prosperity they would really have if the congregation stopped giving. Anybody can prosper if you have an abundant money flow. And if you dont like that test, try this one. Ask your pastor with all the money that they round up every week, how much of that goes to take good care of their staff and volunteers. I personally know of ministries that pay their employees poverty level salaries, avoid paying any benefits, and no retirement and yet have multimillion dollar complexes, amusement parks, expensive cars and all the joy that the congregations money has bought. Jesus never lived above the means of his disciples and modern day ministers should not live so lavishly above their congregations and staff. Sometimes the lifestyle which they claim God blessed them with is in reality a by product of what happens when all the money stays at the top and the wealth that God blesses the church with is not properly distributed. Jesus nailed it on the head, the sheep really are dumb, duped, and in need of a saving shepherd. It was funny just a few days ago one of my husbands associates came bragging about how his Pastor is really blessed, and that at one particular service his Pastor asked for a $10,000 dollar offering and got it. My husband asked him, so what did he do with the money and how did that money benefit him as a member. He gave my husband a confused look and said, I dont know? Bah, bah, said the sheep. Rev. Linda Leon is a person who loves God, enjoys inspiring people and has done a gazillion things like write books, produce TV programs, and get ordained. Feel free to contact her blog at
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