Evangelicalism vs. a False Gospel
A well-known preacher of prosperity will be praying at the inauguration. It’s time to expose their so-called “gospel” for what it is.
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As you may have heard, several prominent religious leaders have been
chosen to lead prayers at the upcoming presidential inauguration. Among
them: Franklin Graham, and the Archbishop of New York, Timothy Cardinal
Dolan.
Graham of course is the son of the great Billy Graham, and Cardinal Dolan, the recipient of the 2013 Wilberforce Award.
But it’s a third prominent person chosen to pray that has raised both eyebrows and, truth be told, more than a few hackles in part of the Christian world.
Paula White is the Senior Pastor of the New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida, a megachurch with thousands of members. She is also a televangelist and author of numerous books.
Now, I mention her today because both throughout the election and
now, she’s being referred to /as an evangelical Christian leader despite
both political controversy and deep theological error.
Politically, she,
along with Bennie Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland and others, were
the subject of a three-year investigation headed by Senator Charles
Grassley of Iowa prompted by complaints of “lavish spending at the
ministries,” including the purchase of private jets. (위에 열거된 분들은 미국에서 날리는 기복신앙/물질축복 복음주의 목사들임; 목사가 자가용 비행기?)
Now, I don’t believe in government oversight of theology and ecclesiastical practice. But, truth be told, it’s the theological error in the prosperity gospel movement that led /to this political investigation. And the theological error is so grave, we must not allow it to be confused with the actual Gospel.
* ecclesiastical; relating to the Christian Church or its clergy.
You’ll forgive me /for citing Wikipedia’s two-part definition of the
“prosperity gospel,” but it’s quite accurate,
and it reveals the error of which I speak.
First,
followers of the prosperity Gospel believe that “financial blessing and
physical well-being are always the will of God for them.” The phrase
“financial blessing” goes /beyond the meeting of basic material needs /to
what could reasonably be characterized as “luxuries.”
Second, “faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth.” In other words, God can, through our thoughts and actions, be manipulated /into giving us what we want. And if we don’t get what we asked for, it’s because we didn’t have enough faith, we allowed doubt to creep in, or we weren’t generous enough.
물질축복을 못 받으면 믿음이 적어서거나 넉넉히 바치지 못한 때문이라 하며 신도들의 기복신앙을 부추기어
자신들의 �製膀甕� 잔뜩 불림
Now, if that sounds strikingly similar to something () you might hear from Oprah, there’s a good reason. There is more than a little overlap /between the worldview /underlying the prosperity gospel and that underlying stuff like “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne and its “law of attraction.” Neither are compatible with the teaching of the New Testament or historic, orthodox Christianity.
Consider White’s own words on a TBN show: “There is creative power in your mouth right now. God spoke and created the universe; you have creative power /to speak life and death! If you believe God, you can create anything in your life.”
(이런 사기는 사단이 그리스도께 돌을 빵으로 만들어 먹으라는 사기와 동종이다 창조능력이 있으신 그리스도께서도
빵/물질이 전부가 아니다 하시며 거부하신 창조력을 그런 창조력도 없는 사람이 한다는건 어불성 설이다)
There is problem /enough /with those words /without taking into account that exercising this “creative power,” according to prosperity preachers, almost always requires an upfront financial commitment.
These and other heterodox beliefs are why Michael Horton of Westminster Seminary, writing in the Washington Post recently, said that the prosperity gospel is not “just another branch of Pentecostalism,’ but instead, “another religion.”
물질축복 복음은 순복음교단의 하나가 아니고 '다른복음' 즉 진짜복음이 아닌 가짜 복음이다
Now sadly, Graham and Dolan are catching flak /for appearing on the
same platform as White. But that’s unfair.
Ministers of the Gospel should always take the opportunity /to speak truth to power.
And at a time when the general public—and certainly the media—barely
understands Christianity, we need to take the opportunity
/to point out
the very significant differences /between the prosperity gospel and the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Editor's note: The commentary originally quoted Paula White "on her TBN show." We should have said "on a TBN show."
This is a great time for Christians to clarify and reconfirm their commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The foundational tenets we proclaim--Christ’s death for our sin and His resurrection for our justification and everlasting life--are God's work, not ours.
Evangelicals should be deeply troubled by Donald Trump’s attempt to mainstream heresy
Michael Horton | Washington Post | January 3, 2017
Basic Christianity
John Stott | IVP Books | May 2012
The Mark of the Christian
Francis Schaeffer | IVP Books
Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God's Story
Michael Horton | Zondervan Publishers | April 2016
Comments:
I applaud Mr. Stonestreet for standing up to these money changers in the temple.
-The Bechtloff
-youtube.com/thebechtloff
A long winded reply, I appreciate the good thoughts at Breakpoint.
Frank in Virginia