Piper on the Prosperity Gospel
24 comments | Permalink
A powerful video:
posted by JT at Tuesday, March 04, 2008
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24 Comments:
Zing!!!
That makes my soul happy. Zing is right.
This post has been removed by the author.
I have always been struck in a number of ways by this video.
1. My own sinfulness to satisfy my cravings rather than seek to glorify God.
2. A prayer to grow in my passion for the word of God for all of life.
3. The proclamation of the all-sufficient gospel to all people's, especially those closest to me.
4. The comfort of the sovereignty of God in the midst of the most difficult circumstances.
...Just to name a few.
Amen Trey. That is good. Especially in the hard time, that is when you need to know that it is for your own good that you are going through it, but also that God designed it specifically for you.
Thank you for posting that. Zing! Zing! wow! Thank you!
Astonishing! I had to repost on our site. www.christiansincontext.org
Thank you. Like Damian, I had to repost on my site, as well, since I talk about "biblical productivity." I shudder to think that such language could be twisted to mean something quite different.
http://biblicalproductivity.org
It's amazing how many people come out to hear these prosperity preachers, even in the poorest of the poor countries. I saw benny the hinn preaching to thousands of poor people on TV.
I don't get it.
Does it work for some people, and not others?
Why do these preachers have 15,000-35,000 member churches? Are all these people prosperous and loaded with moola, or filthy lucre?
I can't quite figure it out, unless Satan is prospering these people. I imagine he pays well. And his ministers receive a bonus perhaps.
I have heard this sermon before, and it was even better to hear now. This is a true prophet of God.
I thank the Lord for John Piper. Lord bless him, and give him even more boldness, so he can continue to fight the fight of faith for the Gospel of Christ. Amen.
Rae, in a comment over at Purgatorio, posted a link so that people could listen to this entire message by Piper. The whole message is well-worth listening to. Here's the direct link to the mp3:
http://raewhitlock.com/sermons/John%20Piper%20at%20UCF.mp3
John Piper is BAD!
amen.
theologica.wordpress.com
You know: there's an internet contingent that says that Dr. Piper goes too far when he preaches like this -- that he makes our joy in God idolatrous. The talk there goes that it's a sort of works-righteousness to make having joy in tragedy a necessary part of the Christian faith.
I'm really surprised they haven't come by here to lash you a little, JT, for linking this video and opening up the strongest dose of Piper allowable in this country without a prescription.
'cause you're a fair guy, JT: you're not a creep like me who will make them support what they mean by that. I figured this would be the place for them to come out and tell you what you ought to think about that video and the implication that Jesus is greater than the death of my child.
I'm just sayin'.
You know what's ironic to me? With all of "us" who post comments on here, many of us (I think based on the comments themselves) are God-fearing, bible believing Christians!!! What this nation needs are authentic Christians, ready to die for Christ and the gospel! What's stopping us from all coming together to revive this nation and send it back to the God who created us and everything in this world?! Let's take a stand for the gospel at home, at work, in the streets and especially stand up against those who turn the gospel into something for their own financial gain!!!!
Russ,
I think you need to use more exclamation points!!!!! :-)
I have a friend here in the Middle East who is a MBB. On more than one occasion, he has brought his brother (not a believer) to meet me. Twice, his brother has brought me a copy of Joel Osteen sermons on video CD. Here I am in the Middle East, trying to be a witness for the Gospel, and this muslim guy is telling me how much he loves Joel Osteen, and he thinks because I'm a Christian, that I would like a copy of it, too. It is so sad and heartbreaking.
Personally, I'm tired of it always being John Piper who articulates the rebuke. Not that he should ever stop. I'm ready for the church culture (preachers) as a WHOLE to reject and rebuke the prosperity gospel and decry the damaging effect it has on the Gospel ministry among the nations.
Is it possible to be fully satisfied with Christ in prosperity?
Just asking.
Why does it have to be one or the other? I think there is a case to be made that fulfillment in God can be found in the midst of huge material blessing.
Piper is venting against the distortion of this message, but he may be encouraging a poverty is next to godliness message which can be equally bad.
In case you're wondering, I'd take Piper over Osteen any day. I hesitate to even put both their names in the same sentence. I hope you'll consider my simple questions so as not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
God has hugely blessed many of his followers and he only warned them not to make the riches their idol, but he didn't necessarily curse wealth in general.
metanoia,
I don't think Piper would disagree with your question. He, I think, would simply want to know how you are using your money to the glory of God.(see any of his sermons on money) For most of us Christians in the US this is where we find ourselves (even our poverty would be considered rich in other 3rd world countries).
What Piper is arguing against is the proclamation that the gospel = material blessing. (if I understand this correctly).
Does that make sense?
metanoia:
The answer to your question is "Yes!" The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13:
"I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him in poverty...or in riches, when and only when we say, "I count these riches as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."
amen
That was incredible and quit convicting.
Have to wonder how long it will take until someone gets in a dither about him using the "c" word.
Piper's right on here.
One thing to keep in mind is something that Tony Evans said in a sermon once based on Satan's attempts to tempt Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world. Here's a loose quote: Not all material blessing is from God. Do you think that the home that you can barely afford, that requires you to work overtime to pay for and thereby prevents you from giving time/resources to ministry & care for those around you is something that God gave you?
Prosperity can be blessing, but it is not always blessing.
C.
Niagra Falls, Franky Angel, Niagra Falls! to all who watch this video be sure to grab some kleenex! POWERFUL!
I have to say that was amazing. God is enough is a tough stretch for me and most of those who follow. By faith, we can state "God is enough" but somehow to prevail in the midst of loss is something that requires steps towards a deeper trust and faith. Powerful stuff...haunted me for days.
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