Prosperity Theology.

In the Old Testament the idea that obedience to God's Laws brought blessings and disobedience brought curses is clearly stated.

This Prosperity Theology survived until the time of Jesus and formed the basis of the Pharisees' beliefs.

We will also find it in the minds of the disciples.

The idea that God will cause you to prosper - to be rich, with many cattle and goats, fertile and fruitful fields, victory in war, and happy and healthy children - if you obey Him is embedded in the Law.

But the curses that will befall you if you disobey God's Law include misfortunes of all kinds: poverty, loss of livestock, crop failure, defeat in battle, death of children, sickness etc..

It is interesting that the misfortunes said to befall those who disobeyed God's Law are almost exactly those which befell the righteous Job - even to to the affliction of sores and boils.

So why is the Bible contradicting itself?

It must be said that by the time the Book of Job was written it must have become obvious that this Prosperity Theology was not what people experienced.

Why do the wicked prosper?
The rod of God is not against them. (Job 21).

And yet the righteous Job is afflicted.

It is interesting that in the end Job's prosperity is restored twofold including his sheep and cattle, his oxen and donkeys, and his seven sons and seven beautiful daughters.

So what are we to make of this?

What are we to make of our experience of life on Earth?

I would suggest that Prosperity Theology is bankrupt.

There is no evidence that this is how God behaves towards us during our lives.

On the other hand what are we to make of the death and resurrection of Jesus?

Certainly we cannot say that Jesus was a success in a worldly sense.

God did not bless him with prosperity.

He was constantly challenged by the religious authorities of his day who plotted to kill him.

And he was punished and crucified by the Romans.

And yet Jesus was the blessed one of God.

There are echoes of the Psalms in which David constantly complains about the attacks of his enemies.

In fact God's blessing can bring suffering and persecution.

"'If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.'"  John 15:18 (NRSV)

So Prosperity Theology, which promises worldly success, is not what Jesus taught, nor is it what we experience.

But that is not to deny the Love of God.

If we have faith and pray God will rescue us and help us.

But He will not make us rich and successful.

He may, however, make us happy and whole.
 

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.] 

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(The image has been slightly modified.)