One-ness with God…
Question 4 (continued)… Do you know that Christians need to enter and walk in the narrow path to be true believers and find life?
The Holy Spirit wants us to be careful of deceptions, so let’s examine ourselves... What are the signs that a believer is walking on a broad road?
Jesus said we have to choose between God and money (Matt 6:24)… A believer on the broad road would obviously fall into the world’s priorities and are guided by its values including money and riches. We need money to do God’s will and to help needy people, so money is our means to achieve our goal. God will give us money to carry out His will and if He wants us to do more for Him, He will give us more money. Remember it must be His will not our will.
God will spit out people who are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold (Rev 3:16). A believer who knows God yet still worship money, riches or anything else more than God is certainly lukewarm. These believers want both God and money and they prefer the broad road. Remember, however, light cannot mix with darkness.
Believers can live in the world and walk on a narrow path. We certainly can be a Christian teacher, for example. Society needs good teachers who teach with a passion and God wants teachers to demonstrate God’s values which are good for students and society. This is how we can be light of the world… God creates us as individuals. We are designed to do various things to honor His work while make a living. Remember that the Holy Spirit sees in our hearts and testifies that we are God’s children (Rom 8:16).
Please note that the transforming power of the Holy Spirit will change a believer from the inside out, so that they will no longer desire the world and everything in it. They would not want to gain the world and lose Jesus, a trade-off decision that everybody has to make!
Let’s use this opportunity to examine the deception of Prosperity Theology or Feel Good Theology.
Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, or the gospel of success) is a controversial religious belief among some Protestant Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity.
The doctrine emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, proposing that it is God's will for his people to be blessed. The atonement (reconciliation with God) is interpreted to include the alleviation of sickness and poverty, which are viewed as curses to be broken by faith. This is achieved through donations of money, visualization, and positive confession.
Prosperity theology has been criticized by leaders from various Christian denominations, including within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, who maintain that it is irresponsible, promotes idolatry, and is contrary to scripture. Secular as well as some Christian observers have also criticized prosperity theology as exploitative of the poor. The practices of some preachers have attracted scandal and some have been charged with financial fraud.
The Holy Spirit will help us to remain in Jesus and on the narrow path…