Prosperity Doctrine or True Financial Stewardship?

In the last 30 years, prosperity teaching have referred to our ability to have wealth from God through our faith. There's alot of talk about "doctrine of Prosperity" coming from various teachers, especially from Word of Faith teachers. Their faith and prosperity teachings states that we can have the nice cars, big homes, and great lifestyle if we have faith in God and plant seeds. Jesus never preached how to be earthly prosperity. The Apostles surely didn't either. Why should Pastors preach Wealth and Prosperity? True Pastors preaches the right attitude of wealth and prosperity from God's point of view rather than the world's point of view. I have said in the past that when someone uses the word "Prosperity" as "one of their primary" topics, they are using it to encourage people have strong desires for pleasures and wealth more than spiritual. My main problem with Word of Faith preachers are using "prosperity" to attract people with itching ears so they will be motivated to do something for themselves rather than sound spiritual docrine. When I do, I am reminded of this verse: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. — 2 Timothy 4:3 When I look at prosperity from the Biblical perspective, I have found such teachings are not biblically sound. Over the years, I have had prospered greatly by looking at my life as a whole. Spiritually, true prosperity is not measured in dollars and cents, rather it is measured by progressing in the things that I am doing according to God's will. Everything belongs to God, who calls the Church (Christians) to live in faithful stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us. Throughout my struggles in life, I have learned that people tend to focus on how to prosper rather than spiritual stewardship. Spiritual stewardship is looking at my financial situation and to look at my life spiritually in from God's perspectives. My spiritual life of a Christian should be focusing on God and His purpose for me individually where He have put me. Understanding what Prosperity doctrine really means spiritually. Jesus warned about greed (see Luke 12). Wealth that is earned for personal growth rather than spiritual growth is not being used to fulfill God’s purpose. God is the one who gave me the ability to make a good living and have a great job. Looking back my Christian life, I have learned what is the purpose of God doing in my life. I don't like Christians using the term "Prosper or Prosperity" because the words give out the wrong message of true finanical stewardship. Focusing on Financial Stewardship rather than Doctrine of Prosperity is the key. The word steward means: manager, custodian, caretaker, administrator, or trustee of God's properties. The steward is the person that effectively and efficiently uses the money and resources that God has given to as Christian duty. I have posted in other threads that the KEY is: How do you manage the money that you receive from our paycheck or earn an income from personal business. God's main goal is for us to earn enough to live by. Money is used to meet our daily needs such as food, utility bills and other expenses. God would meet all of our needs (Matthew 6), however God will not meet our selfish desires. There is nothing wrong with having a desire for something as long as our motives are correct. It is important that we look from God's perspective in our stewardship so that we are not pursuing desires against God's will and purpose. Because if we are pursuiing our selfish desires rather than God's will and purpose, then our motives are wrong. Christians' view of money and material possessions is an effective barometer of our spirituality. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). In Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." (NLT) In Proverbs 21:2, "People may think they are doing what is right, but the Lord examines the heart." (NLT) If we are seeking God for our own selfishness (self-interest) other than our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ is a form of idolatry. We all need to guard ourselves and be on the watch for any that takes away our true worship that belongs only to God.

Prosperity or Stewardship?

Depends on the "doctrine of Prosperity" of someone's teachings. Many churches offer courses on Financial Stewardship. The denominations I have been involved never used the word "Prosper or Prosperity" because the words give out the wrong message of stewardship. Jesus never preached how to be earthly prosperity. The Apostles surely didn't either. Why should Pastors preach Wealth and Prosperity? True Pastors preaches the right attitude of wealth and prosperity from God's point of view rather than the world's point of view. Everything belongs to God, who calls the Church (Christians) to live in faithful stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us. As I said in the past, Christians' view of money and material possessions is an effective barometer of our spirituality. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). On the topic of "Prosperity", depending on what kind of prosperity you are looking for and what kind of spiritual desires do you hunger for. When someone uses the word "Prosperity" as "one of their primary" topics, they are using it to encourage people have strong desires for pleasures and wealth more than spiritual. My main problem with Word of Faith preachers are using "prosperity" to attract people with itching ears so they will be motivated to do something for themselves rather than sound spiritual docrine. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. — 2 Timothy 4:3

Submitting to Government and Behaving politicially

The Bible did SAY that God did appointed all rulers ESPECIALLY Egypt and Rome. Even Jesus submitted to the Roman Government. It is an easy topic but NOT easy to accept the fact. Therefore, God allowed fallible man to run for government such as Hitler, Stalin, Rwanda and others. God is the one who began the process of government. Back in the Book of Genesis, God gave the right of capital punishment to government. And we just read a portion where God himself states “a life for a life.” So the idea of government was given by God for the protection of good men and the punishment of evil men for the preservation of society. Human government is an institution of God. People will say, “But what about the right to kill?” or “What about that? Doesn’t that violate the standards of the scripture?” Turn to Romans 13. Romans 13 gives us a good picture of the relationship that we are to have to government. You say, “Well, you know, the scripture says here, ‘Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. There’s no power but of God.’” The “powers that be” are ordained of God! “Whosoever, therefore, resists the power, resists the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment.” You say, “Well, that’s a different government than today.” Yeah, you know whose government that was? Nero’s! Nero’s government. According to Scriptures government is ordained of God. Government, as such, is ordained of God. It has been corrupted, obviously, but the institution is still ordained of God. Government represents God’s rule in the world. It is God’s way of ordering society. Even the worst of governments around the world, still part of God's ordained government, simply to secure the good and punish the evil. In 1 Corinthians 13, verse 3: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.” You don’t have to fear the law enforcement if you obey the law. That’s what it says. “Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Whatever country you live in, you must obey as long as you don't violate God's holiness. Peter and the apostles had opportunities to say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The only time a Christian can violate his government is when he is asked to disobey God. You can read many Bible characters including Daniel disobey the Government out of principle rather than simple disobience. Even Jesus submitted to the Roman Government simply because He ordained them Himself. The law enforcement is in view: “The man given the power of keeping order in the government is a minister of”—what? “Of God.” He carries about a God-ordained function. “A minister of God to thee for good. But if you do that which is evil”—what? “Be afraid.” Why? “For he bears not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God and avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Put it in the modern vernacular: he doesn’t have his gun for no reason. Now here you see these law enforcements are called the “ministers of God” and they “bear the sword not in vain.” “…Wherefore you must needs be subject,” not only for wrath, not only because you’re afraid what will happen, but because of conscience’s sake! Just because it’s—what? It’s right under God's eyes. God gave them the sword and He gave them the sword to use. This is to keep goodness prevalent and evil subdued. If you will read I Peter 2:14, “Governors we are to be subject to as under them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers.” That’s the law enforcement. They are sent for the punishment of evildoers. They do not bear the sword in vain. The Old Testament law regarding Murder still stands. It was God who designed capital punishment. In Genesis 9:6: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man.” Because of the sanctity of man, because he is created in the image of God, God instituted a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, etc. Murder is a crime against God in whose image man is made—it defiles God—so capital punishment is required. God instituted capital punishment. There were three methods in the Old Testament: stoning, with the sword, burning. If God started capital punishment, I don't remember anywhere in the New Testament that the capital punishment have been removed. God has set standards for us to live in a hostile world. At the same time, the Apostles have written that we are to obey the government. We cannot ignore the New Testament writings about the Government while we are following Jesus' words regarding how we should live. Even Jesus obeyed the Government while He was living on earth. He was put to death by Roman Government's capital punishment. Jesus was put to death by non-Israelites (Roman Government). Throughout the New Testament, Jesus did not once rebuked the Roman Government regarding how they run their government. Remember the story about the Jewish people (Religious leaders) were about to stone a woman for committing an adultry? Jesus prevented them who were not from Government Authority from stoning but Jesus didn't prevent the Government from crucifying Him and others. Sovereign God is the absolute, infinite, unqualified ruler in all realms in heaven and earth and sea. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God takes no orders from anyone and He has already planned out our tomorrows and holds the world in the palm of His hand. God possesses what no creature can—an incomprehensible power, potency that is absolute. God have not created us to be robots. God is not a dictator while at the same time, He uses His resources to direct us according to His will. Within certain areas of our lives, we are free to choose. Even though we are free to choose, there are times that God is involved in the direction of human history and directing us to specific, predetermined God's plans. God governs the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9). God have His plans and no one will be able to change them. If God sees anyone trying to change, He will divinely change the course. We just need to look at the whole picture. God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels". God commanded to Christians to spread the Gospels. The Gospel is for "spiritual society" while the Governments are for "human society". God ordained the Governments to control the human society. God ordained the Church (Christians) to spread the Gospel, to Worship, to Fellowship, Edification, Prayer and much more.