61% of American Christians believe God wants them to be financially prosperous

[SamTheEagle]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com....aspx?GT1=8579

It's an article about Joel Osteen and the wealth gospel. I'm not sure how you could read the New Testament and ever get the idea that God wants Christians to be financially prosperous.

[Elisha]

Originally Posted by SamTheEagle

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com....aspx?GT1=8579

It's an article about Joel Osteen and the wealth gospel. I'm not sure how you could read the New Testament and ever get the idea that God wants Christians to be financially prosperous.

I really hate this...and unfortunately a lot of my relatives are gripped by this too. Someone needs to shove those passages about "it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven..", the story of the dejected lawyer/whoever that was told to sell all and give to the poor then take up his cross to follow Christ and Lazarus and the rich young ruler who died into Joel Osteen's face.

[soyleche]

Here is an interesting quote from Brigham Young that may or may not fit here:

The worst fear that I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty and all manner of persecution, and be true. It my greater fear for them is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people on this earth. [Nibley, Brigham Young, p. 128]

[SamTheEagle]

Originally Posted by soyleche

Here is an interesting quote from Brigham Young that may or may not fit here:

The worst fear that I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty and all manner of persecution, and be true. It my greater fear for them is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people on this earth. [Nibley, Brigham Young, p. 128]

I think it fits perfectly here. Thanks.

[_BullDog_]

Originally Posted by SamTheEagle

I'm not sure how you could read the New Testament and ever get the idea that God wants Christians to be financially prosperous.

I think alot of it comes from the old testament, but then again I never really looked at it.

[ShebaPoe]

Originally Posted by Elisha

I really hate this...and unfortunately a lot of my relatives are gripped by this too. Someone needs to shove those passages about "it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven..", the story of the dejected lawyer/whoever that was told to sell all and give to the poor then take up his cross to follow Christ and Lazarus and the rich young ruler who died into Joel Osteen's face.

You know that the bolded passage above was not to be taken literally, right? They don't mean a "sewing needle" or a camel literally passing through it.

I won't bore you with what it really means (historically) if you already know.

[SamTheEagle]

Originally Posted by MattTheSkywalker

You know that the bolded passage above was not to be taken literally, right? They don't mean a "sewing needle".

Oh yeah? Given that I already know the whole "one of the gates of Jerusalem was known as the 'eye of the needle'" is a myth, what do you think it means?

[_BullDog_]

Originally Posted by Elisha

I really hate this...and unfortunately a lot of my relatives are gripped by this too. Someone needs to shove those passages about "it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven..",

It also bugs me when people use that passage to say being rich is wrong.... but yah, I agree with you.

[soyleche]

Since my last LDS quote fit, let's go with another:

Jacob 2: 18-19 (From the Book of Mormon)

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

[_BullDog_]

Originally Posted by soyleche

Since my last LDS quote fit, let's go with another:

Jacob 2: 18-19 (From the Book of Mormon)

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

This seems to support the prosperity teachings...