YES Jim, I have noticed that now for about the past 50 years or so. That is one of the reasons that the Word of Faith exists as it is now. Teachers have taken Scriptures and made them say what thay want them to say.
WHY must then be the question????? Simple.......MONEY!!!!
L. Ron Hubbard (Founder of Scientology) once said "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."
While our modern day evangelists have not started their own religion, they have unquestionably improved on Hubbard’s idea. Capitalizing on Christianity has proved to be far more lucrative than starting a new religion.
But as the Bible tells us in 2 Tim. 3:13..........
"evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceiv"
Here then is the responce of those who reject what is being stated. AND it is perfectly fine to reject it because I am nothing but an ld country boy trying to get out the Word Of God!!!
Answer will be........."So the leadership live in nice houses or nice areas, so what? This is God's way of blessing them. They deserve this for leading God's people."
I wonder if you guys ever really stop to think about what you are saying? Do you really believe that God would bless those in leadership with lifestyles that totally contradict everything that Jesus taught. He and the men who led the first century church led by example. They were servant leaders.
Ask yourself if any of the apostles would've chosen pricey homes or affluent areas for themselves. More to the point, would Jesus have done so? Ask yourself if the apostles would have used the contributions and tithes of the people in order to have done so?
Men and women have consistantly made the Scriptures say what they want they to mean and not what they actually do mean. That my friend has been and still is the problem today right up to and incuding this thread.
All I see is the abuse of truth, and those who are sold out to it. You see people who abuse truth and then paint with your huge, broad brush everyone who believes the scriptures completely, as part of them. The "Prosperity Gospel" is a label created by those who like to categorize and lump certain people into a group that preaches the love of money. Of course that is wrong. The posters in this thread do not share this lust for money and material possessions. We simply believe the word of God that tells us that He will supply our every need and will do so with abundance...with some left over! We who believe God and His promises to us also see the same abuses you see and we oppose them. What is the point for your broad brush? I think that people simply do not believe God and His precious promises to His very own children. I also think that somehow people have a basic fear of stepping out in belief lest God doesn't come through. That's simply unbelief.
Psalm 66:12
You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.
Psalm 1:1-3
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Psalm 23:4-5
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
