I've been reading some good books (slowly, but nonetheless) about the role of reason/logic/mind in the life of a Christian. It's not about being book-smart or academic, but about making learning a priority, and aligning one's mind/paradigm with what it true, what is godly (believing that all truth is God's truth).
A Mind for God by James Emery White
Love Your God With All Your Mind by JP Moreland
Anything by Dallas Willard
Along the same lines, I'm going to make a plug for Gordon Fee, a highly respected textual critic of the New Testament (and a committed Christian). He is also an Assemblies of God minister. I've skimmed through his How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth, and it appears excellent. One thing I love about him is his emphatic insistence that Christians NEED to read the Bible well, not to interpret it willy-nilly but to be good students of what the original authors were and weren't intending to convey. A lot of bad theology is put out by pretty decent people, simply because they abuse the Bible rather than use it. Often out of ignorance, not malicious intent.
For example, I found this very insightful:
"Let it be understood that the plain meaning of the text is always the first rule, as well as the ultimate goal, of all valid interpretation. But "plain meaning" has first of all to do with author's original intent, it has to do with what would have been plain to those whom the words were originally addressed. It has not to do with how someone from a suburbanized white American culture of the late 20th century reads his own cultural setting back into the text through the frequently distorted prism of the language of the early 17th century.
"(3 John 2, in the King James Version): 'Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.' Of this text, [Kenneth] Copeland [in The Laws of Prosperity], says, 'John writes that we should prosper and be in health' (p.14) But is this what the text actually says? Hardly! In the first place, the Greek word translated "prosper" in the KJV mean "to go well with someone," just as a friend in a letter two days ago said, "I pray that this letter finds you all well. (cf. 3 John 2 in the KJV, GBN, NEB, RSV, etc.). This combination of wishing for 'things to go well' and for the recipient's 'good health' was the standard form of greeting in a personal letter in antiquity. To extend John's wish for Gaius to refer to financial and material prosperity for all Christians of all time is totally foreign to the text."
That's from pgs. 9-10 of one of my new favorites, The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels.
Go visit your local library!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Preston,
I love reading your blogs! They challenge me SO much and I appreciate another view of God. Could I throw out a question? (Just for argument's sake.) Why wouldn't God want His creations to prosper and be in good health? I understand that prosperity does not have to be material. It could be emotional, intellectual, or even a prosperous relationship. I also know that some views go to the extreme and take scripture and one "reads his own cultural setting back into the text through the frequently distorted prism of the language of the early 17th century." But I think that the Holy Spirit does give us wisdom and understanding in the things of God and that maybe God knew all along that people would misinterpret His words and that's why His Spirit was sent to us. I guess what I'm saying is, there could be a possibility that God does want us blessed, in all areas of our lives. Not that wealth should be our main focus, He should be, but isn't there danger in putting God in a box that's labled with what we think is appropriate "blessing"?
Angie,
Let me, in turn, say how much I appreciate that you read my blogs, and give them thought! I think no greater honor can bestowed on a writer. I have given your questions/comments a lot of thought, trying to understand them well so I can answer them well (they are good questions and deserve good answers).
To the first - I don't believe God doesn't want his creations to prosper. I think it IS his desire to "give what is good to those who ask Him" (cf Matt. 7:7-11). I wasn't intending to convey I thought God wants His creations to suffer, or to be poor, or diseased, or even to live mediocre lives. I don't think that at all.
What I do believe is that we cannot get that principle out of 3 John 2 (at least not as Copeland was trying to), because I think it is a better reading of John's letter to interpret it as a greeting than a spiritual "law." Not that he did not mean what he said: his prayer that "in all respects" that church would prosper and be in good health was surely his desire, and an extension of God's heart. But can we conclude that this verse TEACHES that God wants us to prosper and be in good health? Given the context, I don't think so. It may be evident in other Biblical passages, but not this one.
I also agree with you that the Holy Spirit gives us "wisdom and understanding in the things of God". Fee made what I thought to be a good point about inspiration - if we believe (and I do, as I think you do) that the Holy Spirit breathed out/inspired all Scripture and it is sufficient for its task (as revelation of the truth), then any claim to Holy Spirit inspiration today that adds to, subtracts from, or flat out contradicts the original inspired meaning must be called into question. For why would the Holy Spirit contradict himself? Inspiration (I believe) takes the truth that has been revealed plainly in Scripture and helps us to understand it, and shows how it works in our context today. But the meaning is still plain.
It does not require a scholar like Fee to understand the heart of God(that would be elitism, and God is no elitist), but the work he has done can certainly help in our understanding.
I am still asking for and seeking a wholistic perspective on wealth, blessing, and prosperity (I'm not convinced they are all the same thing), and thus am committed to very little in my views. I raise points and counterpoints, questions and ideas, but if shown to be inadequate or wrong I will abandon them. I don't want to put God in a box about what is appropriate blessing, and yet I will still seek a godly perspective on the nature of blessing and its role in the whole of my life and the life of God's people. And what I conclude may be different than what another concludes. But I cannot cross that bridge until I come to it.
Did I understand you right? Has what I've said been clear? Do you agree/disagree?
I would not at all mind continuing this discussion. In fact, I rather enjoy it!
Preston,
First of all, I was pretty much terrified when I saw your email waiting in my inbox!! Ha Ha!
When reading this, I misunderstood your point. And for that I apologize :) I was under the impression, just from the 1.5 conversations we've had about "The Prosperity Message" that you didn't believe in any of it. So, I am chowing down on some delicious Humble Pie. I completely agree (I did a little research on that scripture and you're right.)
How about a little Angie101:
I grew up in the Word of Faith movement and Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Norvell Hayes, and at one point- (before he starting mishandling his money) Benny Hinn were the big kahunas. My dad went to Rhema Bible College, my aunt works for Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Benny Hinn had a word for my infertile mother that she would get pregnant and now I have a brother and a sister.
I was brought up to believe that Mark 11:22-24 should be the staple verses in EVERY Christian's life and those who don't believe that God wants His children blessed (financially, only) were not real Christians. (Horrible, isn't it?) I have since, because of seeking, praying and PMG and Debbie, learned that there is balance in all things. I now believe that God wants us richly blessed in whatever it is we need, during the season in which we need it. Just like you said, He gives good to those who ask. God's good may not be what we think it should be.
Saying all this, I am very Pro-Prosperity, but I no longer believe that prosperity and financial wealth are the same thing. There are SO many scriptures that speak about God's love for us and how He wants to prosper us in all things.
And I do believe that sometimes you HAVE to confess God's word over your life-not to move God's hand. He doesn't need us for that, as He is quite capable- in order for you to get it rooted into your Spirit. Because "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." And when you've meditated on and digested God's Word, you have your ammunition against attacks of the enemy, or just life itself. And sometimes you just have to interceed in the Spirit. And I love talking about praying in the Spirit, so if you ever want to have a go at that, or any other topic, just ask :) I may not be a Theology Major, but I can give it a shot.
Ok, your quiz on me will be on Friday and it counts towards 60% of your grade :)
Go ahead, fire away with any "Hyperfaith" question you want to ask.
Post a Comment