Okay, I realize that may be the dumbest and most meaningless blog post title in the history of the Universe, but I'm sticking with it.
This article deals with "Health & Wealth" doctrine. First, let's define it, then let's take it apart.
My very simple definition for Health & Wealth is the idea that a believer should expect great monetary and materialistic rewards, as well as supernaturally protected health, in return for giving money faithfully to God. Now, I certainly admire the fervor and enthusiasm with which subscribers to this particularly self-centered doctrine give of their resources. I believe that everyone, whether they subscribe to Health & Wealth doctrine or not, should give with such gusto!
But the problem with Health & Wealth is that the excitement for giving is derived from an insidiously wrongheaded idea that fabulous wealth is only a few steps away, as long as the giver "believes strongly enough" that they will receive material blessings in return from God.
I would like to present some of the more incorrect ideas of this false doctrine, and address them one at a time.
1. Treating God like some sort of "high yield investment".
The idea that we can simply give faithfully to God and He will return what we give plus some exorbitant amount over and above sounds, at best, like a pitch for the world's most ridiculous Ponzi Scheme, and at worst, like a pitch from a snake-oil salesman. There are very few instances in the Bible where figures who were faithful to God received tremendous wealth and long life simply because they were faithful. Were there wealthy people in the Bible who were also faithful to God and generous? There is no doubt. Was it caused by their faithfulness in giving? I think you would be incredibly hard-pressed to find evidence for that.
The idea that we can simply give faithfully to God and He will return what we give plus some exorbitant amount over and above sounds, at best, like a pitch for the world's most ridiculous Ponzi Scheme, and at worst, like a pitch from a snake-oil salesman. There are very few instances in the Bible where figures who were faithful to God received tremendous wealth and long life simply because they were faithful. Were there wealthy people in the Bible who were also faithful to God and generous? There is no doubt. Was it caused by their faithfulness in giving? I think you would be incredibly hard-pressed to find evidence for that.
I know people who are incredibly faithful in their giving, who are also wealthy. However, as I often remind people (because it is one of my favorite fallacies of logic), correlation does not equal causation. More often than not, in these cases, these people are gifted (by God) with talents that afford them the ability to have lucrative careers, but to say that their wealth is caused by faithful stewardship is willfully ignoring reality.
There are all sorts of problems with this beyond just the cause/effect fallacy of logic. I know plenty of people who have sacrificed to give generously, and yet wealth beyond their wildest dreams hasn't come knocking at their door. In fact, in some cases, they barely have enough to afford their needs. But, God has promised to provide our needs, so His "end of the bargain" is certainly being held up. Likewise, there are some truly evil people in the world who are hundreds and thousands of times wealthier than some of the most faithful givers in the Christian church. If God rewards His people monetarily for faithful giving, why wouldn't he also devastate those who were unfaithful and downright evil? It doesn't make any sense if you believe God is a God of justice.
2. Treating God like some sort of "health insurance plan".
The simple idea that faithful stewardship guarantees a long life, full of many healthy years is so ludicrous, I hardly want to give it any space on this blog. If this were true, then Billy Graham would be as vibrant as ever. Compassionate, caring and giving Christians commonly find themselves in the turmoil of health issues such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. To say that these afflictions are somehow caused by some form of sin or disobedience is a twisted and dark fantasy. Paul was afflicted with an unknown "thorn in his side", and in spite of pouring his life out in missions, God never saw fit to take it from him. But, if God rewards people who give faithfully with long-life and great health, why would this have been the case?
3. God wants your life to be easy.
Bull! There are too many verses to count that indicate that the Christian life is going to be full of struggle, trials and tribulation. The Christian life is hard! God has NO interest in the comfort of believers, and it is actually not in the best interest of believers to be wealthy. In the story of the "rich young ruler" in Matthew Chapter 19, Jesus makes it very clear that it is easier for a "camel to pass through the eye of a needle" than for someone who is wealthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 19:24). If we are to believe that the words of Jesus are true, then why would God seek to make it more difficult for His children to enter His Kingdom by blessing them with tremendous wealth? Truth be told, I don't think anyone wants it to be more difficult to live a faithful Christian walk, nor do I think that God wishes to make things more difficult for those who are striving to live faithfully.
There are many other things I could say on the topic, but these things have been weighing on my heart and mind today. A good friend of mine, and wonderful Christian minister, was taken to the hospital today for 100% blockage in one of his arteries. He had surgery and is recovering quickly (all glory to God!). And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is faithful in giving generously of his time, talents and treasures. And to subscribed to the idea that his affliction is somehow caused by a lack of faithfulness is absolute stupidity, plain and simple.
There are many other things I could say on the topic, but these things have been weighing on my heart and mind today. A good friend of mine, and wonderful Christian minister, was taken to the hospital today for 100% blockage in one of his arteries. He had surgery and is recovering quickly (all glory to God!). And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is faithful in giving generously of his time, talents and treasures. And to subscribed to the idea that his affliction is somehow caused by a lack of faithfulness is absolute stupidity, plain and simple.
Get well soon, John Wolfe!
Learning to Give in a Getting World, by Marc Farnell and Jesse Greever, is available as both a paperback and eBook at the following locations:
Amazon.com (paperback, $9.99; eBook, $5.99) NEW LOWER PRICES!
It is also available to Amazon Prime members as a free eBook download as a part of the Kindle Lending Library. Pastors and church administrators can contact me directly at jesse@accidental-author.com to find out about discounts available for churches that wish to use this for teaching and small group curriculum.
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