Christianity Today on the Prosperity Gospel
Justin Taylor posted an eight minute video that investigates the meaning of the prosperity gospel to West Africans. I like the cinematographic choices: long clips of services with sparse narration. I also appreciate the humble tone in the conclusion.
And the conclusion was?
“In a way, this is the end of the line for the prosperity gospel; pilgrims desparate for God’s blessings but incapable of grabbing them for themselves.
Perhaps the only real difference between them and me is that for me to be materially blessed I don’t have to turn to God at all.”
While the point of the video is to condemn the prosperity gospel and its export to Africa, the narrator ends by noting that we too abuse the gospel by taking our wealth for granted rather than recognizing that it is a gift from God. I think that we rich young rulers need that reminder lest we be puffed up after (rightly) condemning someone else’s error. Twig and log.