I keep seeing Joel Olstein’s name come to the forefront. With the arrival of his new book Become a Better You (the follow up to Your Best Life Now), Olstein has been making the rounds on the TV circuit. There was a short “60 Minutes” piece on him as well that described the “prosperity gospel” that he propagates in his Mega Church. For those who are unaware of the content of this message, it basically states that God wants to pour out favor through prosperity, particularly financial prosperity, and success in business or personal life.
As Olstein spoke to the interviewer, he mentioned the sorts of things that bring him great fulfillment and that should make detractors lay off. He cited restored relationships in marriages, among friends, between family members, and even with strangers. He also talked about a life of peace that could be sustained in this joy-draining existence we call life. And as I listened, if I could set aside who he is and how I feel about the “health and wealth” gospel, I could almost hear the message of the Kingdom. The Kingdom was instituted to initiate restoration between humanity and God. As God rules and reigns in our lives and the lives of others, the natural result has to be restoration. This sort of better life or “full life” as Jesus calls it (John 10:10) is the consequence of the world changing.
But this focus on restored relationships is where the similarities end. Little discussion of God exists in this equation. Olstein turns into little more than a pop psychologist wrapped in loose references to the Bible rather than a minister/ambassador of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5). In the interview, Olstein does not want to confront his audience with the bible and beat people over the head with it. Neither do I, yet when one uses the platform of Christianity to convey one’s message, the hearer also has expectations about the source of the message.
In addition, Olstein and I would define a “full life” much differently. Often you will hear preachers who espouse this view return to God wanting to bless you monetarily – a new job, promotion, increase in wealth, etc. They say that these blessings have been ordained for you since the creation of the world. The only prerequisite is that you believe. Your faith (or lack of faith) determines the level of blessedness you will experience. As I examine the Bible, I just don’t see this sort of theology as the predominate message about faith.
I see peace and blessedness as being integral to the kingdom. But this sort of peace and blessedness cannot be defined with a dollar value. This sort of peace surpasses understanding. This sort of blessedness results in a reversal of social morays and expectations as all people are treated with dignity and worth, not as second-class citizens. The full life that God desires of us is to live up to the potential with which he created us – to love God and one another. There may not be a new car, job, house, or boat in your future, but as the kingdom comes the future will hold a better life.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
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I also agree. The message of the kingdom does not mean that we will prosper financially. Many devout followers of God fail financially. Finances are really irrelevant to the spiritual life.
As faithful followers of God, we also might be called to poverty as a missionary. We might be called to a job that is not financially prosperous.
Nothing in the Bible says we will be successful all of the time, yet that is what these people teach. And if you try to share with people that love Olstein that financial success is not a factor in being a Christian, they become hostile. Maybe I need to communicate differently, but that has happened both times that I have been in a conversation concerning Olstein and whether he teaches the health and wealth gospel.
Finally, if we are blessed financially, we need to make sure that we do not use that blessing selfishly but to be a blessing to others. Too often financial prosperity is about me being better, not about me becoming a blessing.
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