In a follow-up to yesterday’s posting, I will finish the story of how God used a famous false prophet to remind me once again of what I was up against in presenting His Truth–Satan, the one who promises the world and gives it to those who seek it. During the sermon the “name it and claim it” pontificater I was referring to told about having “planted a number of money seeds” and in every case had received many times more than he had planted. Now let me go back into his message to look at an interesting episode that, he said, had taken place some time earlier.

During the “you want it–you got it” sermon the famous preacher told about turning to another famous preacher and asking him if he had ever received a check for a million dollars. The answer was “no.” Then he told him that, because he had pledged X amount of money, someone was going to write him a check for a million dollars. A short time later someone did exactly that. Following these examples of “give to get” theology, what was the conclusion formulated by the congregation and all those watching on television? With the exception of this writer, the consensus was that GOD WAS IN THAT MINISTRY. GOD WAS IN BOTH MINISTRIES. WHY ELSE WOULD HE GIVE THEM SO MUCH MONEY? AND HIS LARGESS WAS NOT ONLY FOR PREACHERS. GOD WAS TELLING CHURCH MEMBERS THAT HIS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS TO FINANCIALLY BLESS THEM AS WELL. THEIR RESPONSIBILITY WAS TWO-FOLD–“PLANT A MONEY SEED” THEN PREPARE FOR THE DELUGE. Forget such spiritual concepts as holiness, righteousness and godliness. That was old school. Being already “saved” and “born again,” and Jesus having already provided all of the righteousness, holiness, etc. they would ever need, they were ready to move on to new heights. A new day had dawned; their salvation a done deal, God’s emphasis had turned to blessing them in the material realm.

If I was the devil, that is exactly what I would do. And he did. The fact is, the preacher I was watching was a throwback to the 1970’s when the “Prosperity Movement” leaped onto the world scene and swept through a large part of professing Christendom like wildfire. I know all about it because I had just recently (finally) answered God’s call to His ministry. It was magical. You need a new car? Just send whoever the “name it and claim it” preacher happened to be a hundred dollars, then sit back and wait for that Buick to arrive. “I know it’s coming in” became the mantra of those who had sown their “seed” and were waiting for their “harvest” to materialize. And it did–initially.

If I was Satan I would promise that if you will do A, then B will be the inevitable result–(A) give a thousand and (B) receive ten thousand. Who wouldn’t make such a sure-fire “investment in God’s work.” Being the creator of “human nature” (see the posting by that name), Satan knows that there must be some initial success in order to set the money hook in the jaw (mind) of the fish (believer). Of course there were many successes, which were broadcasted throughout the world wherever prosperity preachers went. Crowds became larger and larger; more and more money was being poured into “God’s work.” Heaven had come down to earth. Huge, world-renown ministries sprang up, covering the globe with the “get what you want from God” gospel which continues to this day. Those not into the “give money, get more money” theology nevertheless have their own give and get version. For them, its all about giving God the dregs of their time, attention, etc. and then expecting Him to give them what they want–salvation. Like their money-obsessed counterparts, such concepts as obedience, walking as Jesus walked, etc. are relics of the church’s intellectually-challenged past. For example, when is the last time you heard a sermon on obedience to God’s Word as stated in the Bible. Read First John chapter three. When was the last time you were encouraged to read, believe and obey verses 4,6-9 and 13? Except on this website, I would guess the answer is NEVER.

In the final analysis, only the preachers wound up with the big houses, big cars, boats, motorcycles, airplanes, etc. But money blinds its seeker to reality. Money-based hope springs eternal. So here we are in 2016 and little has changed since the 1970’s. Prosperity preachers are still convincing people to “give more than you can” to “the Lord’s work.” After all, “You have to plant a seed in order to receive a crop. And remember, the bigger the seed, the bigger the crop.” Their counterparts are still practicing the show up, ‘fess up, pay up and get ready to go up routine. And through it all you will not hear one word about hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Mat. 5:6), about obedience to the Word of God and being the light of the world. But why go through all that? The spiritual part was settled when the church member completed the prescribed motions and received his/her “stay out of hell” card. Let’s get on to the important stuff.

If I was Satan that’s exactly how I would lead my people. And he smiles.  L.J.