The City Church Prosperity – At what Cost?
Last year’s prosperity conference was headlined by Leroy Thompson (see my post on the sermon here).
This year they are bringing in Rabbi Daniel Lapin. Below is part of an email Pastor Wendell sent out to justify bringing in a non-Christian to speak on wealth. (Note: Spelling mistakes are from the email…not mine)
Before immigrating to the United States in 1973, Rabbi Lapin studied Torah, economics, physics and mathematics in Johannesburg, London and Jerusalem. This unlikely combination forms the bedrock of his conviction that no conflict exists between faith and wealth, the physical and spiritual, or virtue and strength.
Noted for his best-selling book “Thou Shall Prosper” and radio show on San Fransisco’s KSFO, Rabbi Lapin translates life principles from the Bible into practical and entertaining tools that enhance family, financial and spiritual lives. 2007 Newsweek Magazine included him in its list of America’s 50 most influencial rabbis.
President George W. Bush appointed him to serve two terms on a United States Commission and he has won the admiration of other noted figures such as Dr. James Dobson, John Ashcroft, Rabbi Reuven Bulka, Pastor Joe Hagee, Jack Kemp, Dr. D.J. Kennedy, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Medved, Rabbi Avigdor Miller, the late Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon, and Zig Ziglar.
One person is conspicuously absent from this description – Jesus Christ! Why do we need to have a Jewish Rabbi come in and teach about wealth? I am just floored by this. Pastor Wendell fails to mention the controversy that surrounded Rabbi Daniel Lapin.
Here is where Daniel Lapin gets his material for his book “Thou Shall Prosper” (taken from his web site).
By blending contemporary business stories and his own business experiences with the wisdom of the Torah, Talmud, and even examples from the Zohar, (the Jewish book of Kabalah or mysticism), Rabbi Daniel Lapin, your rabbi, explains the essence of each commandment and shows you how to use this knowledge to prosper financially.
Are the people of the city church going to be taught from Kabalah, just like Madonna? What are they thinking? How can they bring in a false teacher who denies Christ to teach principles of wealth using Jewish Mysticism?
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:14
If you attend the city church, WAKE UP you sleepy Christian. Take heed to the command of Christ and forget not your first love. Don’t be drunk with the wine of prosperity and commit adultery with a false gospel.
Below are Daniel Lapin’s 10 commandments of wealth.
1st Commandment: Believe in the Dignity and Morality of Business
2nd Commandment: Extend the Network of your Connectedness to Many People
3rd Commandment: Get to Know Yourself
4th Commandment: Do Not Pursue Perfection
5th Commandment: Lead Consistently and Constantly
6th Commandment: Constantly Change the Changeable, While Steadfastly Clinging to the Unchangeable
7th Commandment: Learn to Foretell the Future
8Th Commandment: Know Your Money
9th Commandment: Act Rich: Give Away 10% of Your After Tax Income
10th Commandment: Never Retire
Contrast it with what Jesus said:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:24-25
Tags: Daniel Lapin, Prosperity, Rabbi, The City Church
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