prosperity and suffering: an introduction

the prosperity gospel. it sucks. what a waste of time. ("Prosperity theology, also known as prosperity doctrine or the Prosperity Gospel, is the doctrine that prosperity, particularly financial prosperity, and success in business or personal life is external evidence of God's favor." from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_gospel)

how often do we, here in America, live out of the prosperity gospel? you might think, the prosperity gospel is not the Gospel. and you would be absolutely correct. but i think we often talk at least in a way like God owes us something. like He is supposed to give us specific things. i think that often our view of suffering is so off because we think through a lens of the prosperity gospel. but instead of being "God loves me so I'm going to be rich" we say "God loves me so I won't get sick or I'm going to have a happy life"

i am convinced that this is at the root of our poor view of suffering, more than our poor view of suffering, our unbiblical view of suffering.

john piper's view on the prosperity Gospel.


i'm still working out my thoughts on suffering. you'll get them in the new year.

i'm going to indiana so i'll catch you in 2008

christmas.

so i went to this awesome Christmas spectacular last night. it was awesome. there was a 150 voice choir singing all the songs we know and love. as i was listening i was struck with a strange dichotomy the things the choir was singing were radical biblical truths. the one that stuck out to me was the "Jesus will reign forevermore" line. Under other circumstances, if someone were to have simply stood on the stage with a microphone and uttered those very same words, people would have freaked out. they would have called that person a radical Christian fundamentalist. i just think of what is allowed for the sake of tradition. not that i think its bad that we sing Christmas songs. i really enjoy it and i really enjoy the biblical truths. i was just noting the double standard.

on a second note, there was a beautiful lead window that had Father Christmas with the baby Jesus on the "very first Christmas" and it just made me laugh. Father Christmas appears no where in the four Gospels, but somehow he seems to be more affiliated with Christmas than the name Emmanuel, which is the hope that comes with Christmas. listen i like Santa as much as the next person, but seriously.

oh who doesn't love the secularization of Holy days or holidays?

ramblings.

so i think i'm going to tap into creativity more. i like creative things. but i have this fear that other people might think things i've poured my heart out into are lame. which is a risk that i have to be willing to take, right? right. so i'm going to be more creative. i'm going to take risks. scary. i like to try new things. i have enjoyed almost all the new things i have tried this fall. i really like rock climbing, who would have guessed it. i have enjoyed jogging, its good to zone out for a bit. i like salsa dancing when i don't feel like i'm so awkward at it. i have really, really enjoyed my job. i think its a good fit for me. i think i might stay, but who knows. i don't have to decide today, so i won't decide today :) anyway.
i really like Sufjan Stevens rendition of Come Thou Fount...its one of my favorite hymns.
there is something about a good hymn. there is depth and emotion. after all this time, people still feel those things.
i feel like i am beginning an intense thing with the Lord. not that it wasn't intense before, but now it is getting serious. i think it might be hard, i think it is going to be really hard. without going into any detail i think He's going to uproot some junk. i'm excited for when its over and there is freedom, but the process has to potential to be pretty intense.
but i'm in for it. ready or not here it comes.