Hank Hanegraaff definitely does his research. His most recent book is no exception. Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century outlines the progression of the prosperity preachers currently in vogue in the Christian arena. Some you’ve heard of; others you may not know.
If you are curious how the religious right’s “prosperity doctrine” came to be, this is the book you need. Wow, I’m appalled and disgusted by all of it. Since when did tons of money mean you were truly a child of God, or that you were the recipient of God’s total blessing?
It’s foolish.
My sister spent almost a month in west Africa last year. She came back a changed person, both inside and out. The entire team that went came back changed. It wasn’t that they gave all their belongings or money to the poor, or went to live in a little shack, but their perspective on everything changed. In Africa (and others have said this much better than I will), the people have nothing . . . and I mean nothing. They save for months to buy a garbage can to store their water! But it doesn’t have any bearing on their faith or on their God. It doesn’t mean their God loves them any less or that they aren’t fully living in His grace. It means they don’t look around them at what they have and compare it with anyone, they just are glad to have it.
I thought so much of the Nigerian people (heck, all of those who live on less than 2 dollars per day around the world) while reading about diamond-encrusted dog houses and bigger cars and more money than we’ll ever know what to do with in a lifetime as I read this book. And no, Jesus Christ did not come to earth wearing designer clothes, nor did He even care about such things.
Good grief.
I think Africa could show all of us a thing or two about gratefulness and joy, don’t you think? As I read this book and then set it aside, I felt overwhelmed by the greed represented in its pages. Loving nice things isn’t the problem, loving them more than anything else is the problem.
Oh, do I have a lot to learn.
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