Have you ever heard this statement….“Stay out of politics. It’s too dirty.”? How did politics get that way?

How about the people, even religious people who criticize the “prosperity gospel”? Do they have a point?

Have you ever asked God about any of these issues? No? Maybe because you believe one is not to question God, right? Well, there’s another lie from satan. James 1:5 says “if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally….”

Let’s look at the first example. “Stay out of politics. It’s too dirty.”

Taking this to its logical conclusion…if all the righteous, truth-loving people stay out of politics, what’s left? The evil ones. Hence, politics become dirty and that then becomes a self fulfilling statement.

Why do we see all the corruption in government? Do you think the church sitting on the sidelines had anything to do with that? I do. Satan lied to the church and then because there was a vacuum, filled it with the unrighteous because no one, or very few, would stand for doing what’s right. Prov. 29:2 says “…when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Are you groaning yet? Government affects the activity of the church. Look at China.

I have heard that church people were taught to stay out of politics for many years, long before I actually joined the church, after giving my life to Jesus in the 80s. Pastors also have their tax exempt status (501c3) to protect, so they can’t talk about politics to their people. Do you think there’s any chance the government used that to shut the pastors up? I do.

The government threw the church a “bone,” a bribe to shut up about politics to their people, or they would lose their tax exempt status. Pastors have great influence. Do you think the devil shut the pastors up pretty good while he wreaked havoc in the highest levels of government? Look at what is happening now as churches are being closed down, pastors threatened with arrest and other nefarious things are being executed against the citizens in this year.

Unrighteous government fears the influence of pastors. Notice how very few pastors are speaking out about the injustices going on right now. Think the tax exempt status isn’t involved in that decision? That’s why I call it a bribe, and it’s working. Pastors for the most part have been silent. I would submit, they have been mostly silent since 1963, as more and more anti-Christian laws were piled on. In 1972, in the Roe v Wade decision, judges “found” a “right” for mothers to kill their babies in the womb across the nation. To its credit, the church has remained vocal ever since about this decision. For 48 years, there has been an annual march in defense of the unborn of whom millions have perished.

How about the criticism of the “prosperity gospel”? To be fair, the people who criticize prosperity either are jealous, or are so holy they throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let’s look at this logically. The scriptures are not averse to prosperity. I submit the bible upholds it as a normal thing. I know…I may be shaking your sacred cow….let’s reason it out…

Is the good news intended to make us poor spiritually? I don’t think so. Jesus died for our sins. Does that lift us or keep us in despair and “poor-mindedness”? I think that makes most people pretty happy! I know it does for me. That’s something to be joyful about. Does that make me “prosperous”? Absolutely! If my sins are forgiven and yours are not, you might be jealous. (Actually, your sins ARE forgiven because Jesus died for the sins of everyone; you just have to receive that truth.) But if we are going to scorn and put down monetary prosperity, why don’t we scorn that kind of prosperity?

I would submit to you the whole gospel of Jesus Christ is about “prosperity.”

How about this scripture? Paul prayed in 3 John 1:2,” Brethren I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” Is Paul praying against God’s desires for us? I don’t think so. That scripture even uses the word “prospers” twice in one sentence. The people that scorn prosperity give no consideration to that scripture, I believe. Other people’s prosperity sparks jealousy and envy in people’s hearts. I think more than anything, that may be where the criticism comes from, and although I have battled this evil in my own life for some time, I still catch myself on occasion having jealous thoughts that must be rejected. They are wrong. It is good to practice rejoicing when others prosper, even if you don’t have it.

I submit to you the gospel IS prosperity! God LOVES us. Do you love your children? Do you want to see them do well and have enough and more than enough, even for their future? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

Why would a loving God be any different than a loving parent? “God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Paul said in Ephesians 3:20.

To be fair, those who criticize the prosperity gospel as they call it, as I said above, are either very JEALOUS, or they have fallen for a lie. Some are most likely attacking the ACTIONS of those who preach the “prosperity gospel.” And that may be fair game. Maybe.

But I would submit, that in all truth, most of us are not capable of judging rightly what God has said or is doing in anyone else’s life. Furthermore, can I say…it’s really none of your business. Unless you are a witness or have information from more than one eyewitness of nefarious behavior, you don’t really KNOW anything. It is best to wait for the Lord to reveal things. He’s the only one who really knows, and He may choose not to tell you!

Consider Judas, who was a thief, the scripture says, and who objected to the woman using a VERY COSTLY perfume to anoint Jesus with, saying “that could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Do you honestly believe his statement came from virtuous motives? From the guy who has been stealing from the treasury? While the statement may be “true,” it comes through a dubious source. C’mon man. I”m not stupid.

I submit to you that the gospel is all about “prosperity.” Job was very wealthy, Abraham was wealthy. Adam and Eve had total provision in the garden. No financial worries for them. Do you have more than enough? God wants to give it to you, that more than enough so that you can live beyond just survival. God wants His people well and taken care of. That gives glory to Him. Are you proud when your kids are poor, can’t find a job, and don’t have enough to live on or to take care of their families? No? Well, why not, if you think people being wealthy is wrong. Is God’s blessing wrong? I will contend with anyone on this thinking. This is against the scriptures and the infinitely beautiful character of our God.

Do not fall for the lies of the evil one. That is why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and know the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

Pray: Open our eyes, Jesus, to see Your great love and care for us, Your created beings. We have fallen for the lies of satan for too long. From now on, we choose to believe that you are the God who loves us infinitesimally and because of that, You are always for us and for our good. We love you and lean on You for absolutely everything we need in life. We want to see You work in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones./