A friend I met while at the City Church has a blog with a couple good posts.
The first is a series of youtube sermons from Donnie Swaggart (Jimmie Swaggart’s son) decrying the lies of the prosperity gospel. They are passionate pleas to repent from selling Jesus as a new gospel.
The second is an excellent article on faith…
Both are very informative so check them out!
Thanks Cameron!
Tags: Prosperity Gospel
The first sermon I listed to for the prosperity conference was Where is the Money: Part1 (Wasting time with God) by Pastor Wendell Smith. (listen to the sermon here)
The sermon started off with Pastor Wendell using Galatians 3 to support the foundation of the prosperity gospel. See this article that points out the poor use of scripture needed to support this claim.
To keep this post short, the sermon was a lot of preaching of in defense of critics of the prosperity gospel…with an exhortation to seek the money (hence the title “Where is the Money”). In this sermon we are told the money is (drum-roll please) in the PRESENCE OF GOD!
Honestly, I never thought I would hear this out of Pastor Wendell’s mouth directly. In a nutshell, he was saying if we stay in the presence of God enough and pray enough we will get money. If I am not mistaken, he is saying godliness is a means of gain …spend time with God (godliness) and you will get prosperity (gain).
This scripture comes to mind:
useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 1 Timothy 6:5
I cannot begin to put into words what a travesty this is for a “man of God” to say to his congregation. Basically one of the motivations we should have for seeking God is to get worldly prosperity. This is the opposite of what Jesus did in the Gospel of John Chapter 6. Jesus realized the people were following him for bread (prosperity) and gave them a sermon that drove them all away, all except who followed Him because He gives us eternal life.
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. John 6:26-27
Then Jesus went into one of my favorite sermons about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and to see not the bread that perishes (prosperity), but the bread from heaven (eternal life).
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66
This fits well with the following scripture:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:6-7
And…
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3
If you are seeking the presence of God to receive prosperity, you are seeking the manna that perishes, and the things of the earth that will rot. You are not seeking God for who and what He is, but being carnally minded on the things of this earth. I really don’t know how more simple it can be.
What is amazing (prophetic) about Pastor Wendell’s title “Wasting time with God” is if you don’t come to him with the right motivation, the time you spend will be a waste.
Tags: False Gospel, Prosperity With a Purpose, The City Church, Wendell Smith
I had the time to listen to a few prosperity “with a purpose” conference sermons. What caught my attention is how much time Wendell spent talking about the critics. I think this blog may be what he was talking about, unless I have an inflated view of my blog and he doesn’t know it exists…but I just don’t hear any other critics out there speaking up against the City Church’s false teachings about prosperity.
Wendell’s Straw Man
Pastor Wendell said those who oppose their teaching of prosperity “with a purpose” are really questioning their motives.
That is simply just not true (well, ignore the quotes above…I couldn’t resist). On my blog, I haven’t questioned their motives. I believe they are sincerely deceived, and they think they are doing God’s work. My contentions have to do with doctrine and scripture.
The Mormons are sincerely deceived and think they will become little gods when they die (well if you are a man that is). Many Jewish people are sincerely deceived and think by rejecting Jesus they are honoring God. Doing things sincerely does not make your doctrine correct.
Just like with Mormons, the prosperity gospel comes down to scripture, not motives. The bedrock of the prosperity gospel is Galatians 3:29. It is quoted often times by Pastor Wendell as a reason we should expect the promises of Abraham.
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
According to Pastor Wendell, this means you can put your name in the place of Abraham and receive all the promises given to him by God.
Unfortunately for Pastor Wendell’s theology, Paul thought of that interpretation and headed it off earlier in the same chapter.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14
As partakers of the promise we get the Holy Spirit from God’s covenant with Abraham (not to mention a much better covenant with Christ). Notice how Paul said we might receive the PROMISE (singular). Not all the promises to Abraham.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Galatians 3:16
Paul makes it abundantly clear that the PROMISES (plural) here are not to the seeds (us) but for one Christ. Paul is telling us that Christ received all the promises that were promised to Abraham, and we should not expect them because they were promised to one (JESUS CHRIST) and not many (US). We were not promised the stars in the sky, we are the stars in the sky promised to Jesus Christ.
When Pastor Wendell says to insert our name in the place of Abraham, we should be inserting the name above all names. We can’t take what belongs to Jesus.
Pretty simple little bible study.
Now, Pastor Wendell Smith and the City Church can do whatever they want with their money. I really don’t care (unless they want to give some to me).
Another straw man argument he used:
1. Critics think Christians should be poor. I don’t think that…I just think we should be content, not clamoring to “positioning ourselves for prosperity”.
2. We lack faith in a big God – I don’t lack faith, I think I can show more faith by doing what Jesus said and not seek after prosperity. Those are the things the heathen do according to Jesus.
So, if you wish to support your doctrine, it is better to do so with scripture and not straw man arguments. Straw man arguments by definition are deceptive. They are presented to deceive those who you wish to convince. If you can’t answer the questions posed by critics honestly, it is better to not be deceptive and ignore the critics altogether.
Tags: Abrahamic Covenant, Prosperity Gospel, Straw Man, Wendell Smith
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