One of the major reasons that many Christians hesitate to live out radical generosity and serve others is a pervasive American heresy called the “prosperity gospel,” which proclaims that wealth and health and success are all a sign of God’s favor. Connected to the prosperity gospel is the idea that has been coined “name it, claim it” as in, if we name what material possessions, health, wealth and success we want from God, we will be able to claim those things and have them for ourselves.
The prosperity gospel causes spiritual crises. If we believe that wealth, health, success and material possessions are all because of God’s favor, when we do not have those things we assume that we no longer have God’s favor. If we believe we no longer have God’s favor, then we assume that we must do something to earn back God’s love. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us: “For by grace you have been saved, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” God’s grace is given to us unconditionally. The prosperity gospel can cause us to think otherwise.
This message is excerpted from “The opposite of radical generosity” by Becca Ehrlich in the July/August 2021 Gather magazine.
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