Selling Jesus
Category: Faithblogs
A couple of days ago a friend of mine sent me a video of a well known preacher – his only comment, one word, “Unbelievable!”. The video showed this well known preacher basically “selling” Jesus. I won’t mention names, but this preacher came across no different than those guys on the shopping channels selling their wares. This preacher spoke about how when we “buy into Jesus” (his word’s not mine) we say yes to the abundant blessings of the health and wealth kind; not a mention of spiritual blessing. He went on to say that if we then follow Jesus, God will deny us nothing including wealth.
Unfortunately this is the same message that so many of the TV evangelists/preachers out there are proclaiming. And because the health and wealth message taps into that most primal part of human nature, i.e. greed, many people are willing to listen to, and all too quick to believe them.
However, from my experience the only people who usually get blessed financially are the TV evangelists and preachers themselves. They sell their how to get rich and be healthy books, DVD’s, CD’s, Bible study guides, prayer clothes, and so on, usually for elevated prices. And because their message is what people want to hear many of the top Christian health and wealth guru’s make millions upon millions of dollars every year. And rightly so, after all how else would they pay for the three piece Armani suits, the mansions in Beverly Hills and Malibu, the fleets of limousines, the jets, the best hotel rooms, and all the other things that life affords them? On the back of their followers, that’s how!
Oh yeah, selling Jesus is big business, unless of course you’re selling the real Jesus…
What do I mean by this? Well, the Bible reveals to us exactly how God feels about all of this. Jesus himself said things like, “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” John 15:20, and “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. These verses do not say, if you follow Jesus you are guaranteed health and wealth. In fact, they speak of persecution and death. Quite literally Luke 9:23 tells us that we must die to our wants and desires, fully yield to God’s will in our lives, and follow the example that Jesus left us, even unto death. To me this sounds more like a call to true discipleship rather than a get rich quick scheme.
Maybe the biggest argument against the health and wealth, greed form of spiritually is Luke 16:13 when Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” I think this verse speaks for itself, especially when you consider that, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
Some would argue that I have used the above verse out of context. Well, let’s look at the above verse in it’s original context. “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, child of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:3-11.
With that said, I rest my case!
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
February, 2009
Picture by Anonymous
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