Mark Sayers – at his new blog location – has an insightful post comparing the old and new wave prosperity gospel. It’s a development of his ideas from The Vertical Self.
Here’s a snippet:
It offers self actualisation rather than self denial. Social Justice without personal cost. Discipleship without responsibility. It repaints the Christian life as a journey fueled by hype. For young Christian who feel marginalised in a secular society which trades in hip, it replaces Jesus call to take up ones cross, with the lure that you can believe and still be cool. It loves John 1o:10 but ignores Luke 9:23.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve got a friend whose thinking about this at the moment. They’ll appreciate the post
no worries.
Interesting post.
wouldn’t necessarily disagree although I would never have looked at it like this. From the Hills song in Castle Hill, where I grew up, and where a few of my friends attended, I would say that Sayers description of former and later where what I saw up until I left the area in early 2000. I saw both in the church back then, although probably with a stronger prosperity reflection.
Yet, I don’t know if I would label only the charismatic church as the only giving off the cool reflection… but he is probably not saying that, maybe I’m adding words not there.
what are your thoughts DMDC?
I’ll add… the points he makes from the passages, I question: is he saying that for them to deny themselves then they cannot enjoy things around them, is he hinting slightly at the poverty gospel? As the verse goes on, I would not say that they are ashamed of Jesus
In saying that, I understand where he is coming from but question what he is getting at, what line beneath his statement.
I quest you could pin this statement on a general mass of western, reformed Christians
I should state I am not defending the charismatic church.
anyway, your thoughts Dave-o
hey man.
i think it’s a good article.
i think it’s simply an issue of idolatry.
1st wave: making an idol of material wealth.
2nd wave: making an idol of experience.
wealth isn’t the issue
experience isn’t the issue
it’s when you turn ‘good things’ into ‘god things’
Check this article, a report done inside the charismatic church… highlighting exactly what Sayers was stating
http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2812876&cat=Most+Popular&title=Pentecostalism_What_attracts_the_Sunday_masses
and I must humbly say also, after a second read of Sayers article, I missed a lot in my first read.
hey timmy. thanks for the link.