The Error of Suffering Meaning Divine Punishment

This month, I want to explode some more of the erroneous doctrines preached by charismatic preachers. These false servants of Christ are prevalent on TV and radio where they receive much of their funding.

In Luke 13:1 to 5, Jesus was told about some worshipers who were murdered as they sacrificed to God. Did that mean that they were being punished for some sort of sin? This is how Jesus answered that question.

1   Now some people who were there at that time, gave him an account of how the blood of some Galilaeans had been mixed by Pilate with their offerings.
2   And he, in answer, said to them, Are you of the opinion that these Galilaeans were worse than all other Galilaeans, because these things were done to them?
3   I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to the same end.
4   Or those eighteen men who were crushed by the fall of the tower of Siloam, were they worse than all the other men living in Jerusalem?
5   I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to an end in the same way.

Just because some misfortune happens, it doesn't mean that one is being punished by God. The entire story of Job is about a righteous man whom God tested by letting Satan unleash horrendous events upon him. In the end, Job ended up with double the riches he had and the same number of children he fathered before. The Lord also rebuked Job's friends for speaking falsely about him. They certainly were "miserable comforters."

Hebrews chapter eleven is called the saints hall of fame and for good reason, From Abel onward, the writer listed all those who sought the city of God and the Messiah. Not all were rich either. In fact, some preferred to die a martyr's death rather than give into the pleasures of this world by forsaking God.

And who do those judgemental people think they are? Do they know what only God knows? Job never knew that God let Satan test him with trials. Neither did those self-righteous friends know why Job was suffering so many tragedies.

I'll be writing about this in greater detail in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Many people make the mistake of believing their lives of ease prove their goodness. What a shock they'll get when Christ says, "I never knew you."

On Thursday, I'll post about how some folks believe that taking medicine is a breach of faith. Again, it's a case of people assuming things rather than trusting God's wisdom.

The Prosperity Gospel Error

In my opinion, the worst tragedy to hit Africa wasn't colonialism or the many Ebola outbreaks but the prosperity gospel. Africans flock to charismatic preachers promising "breakthroughs" of wealth and marital partners. All the victims are coaxed to part with what little money they have so they can "sow a seed" in the preacher's ministry.

How I wish those victims could realize that these false teachers are robbing them. I wish the Lord would do what he did in John 2:15 (KJV). "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;"

The Pharisees were of the same mind as today's prosperity gospel hucksters. They use the gullibility of the people to rob them of money. And when the "breakthrough" doesn't happen, they blame the victims for lacking faith or not sowing a large enough seed into the ministry.

If only those Africans could understand what Paul wrote in Romans 16:18 (KJV) about false teachers. "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

Sadly, this movement has swept through other parts of the globe, including North America. But robbing the poor is one thing God hates and doing it in his name is an abomination. They shall finish up like the folks Paul warned about in Philippians 3:19 (KJV). "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

The truth is that many of God's followers were and are poor. Read Hebrews chapter eleven and you'll find out about many people who weren't living their best lives now. They looked forward to Christ and the city of heaven, caring not for the pleasures of this world.

The prosperity gospel is no gospel at all. That's why I'm writing a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People need to read and heed the real gospel, not one geared to their lusts. As I've warned before, many professing Christians will end up on the left side of Christ on the day of judgement and will be told to go to hell.

I'll be writing in my next post about how people obsess over the end times. We need to be watchful but we also need to mind today's needs.

CHARISMATIC CRUELTY: HOW FAITH HEALERS HARM BELIEVERS

Are TV and radio preachers cruel? Those who claim that people can be healed or become wealthy with enough faith certainly are. Many charismatic teachers also brutalize their followers through giving insulting criticism.

How could ministers be cruel? By teaching that faith is a force and that words contain that force, charismatic teachers foist a false notion on their followers. People are taught to pray and claim whatever they want in the name of Jesus and if they have enough faith, they'll receive the desires of their hearts. When their prayers go unanswered and nothing happens, the victims of this dastardly belief are accused of lacking faith or having some sort of  fault.

I experienced this personally in July of 1978. I had attended a house church, led by a self-proclaimed teacher from God,  for six and a half years. Congregants laid hands on me and prayed that I would receive full sight. Whenever nothing happened, elders would insist that I not wear my glasses anymore.

During that time, I missed some Wednesday evening meetings because I had to work. Since the studies were recorded and transcribed by Sister Roberta (not her real name), I asked if I may borrow the tape so I could hear what Brother Herald taught that week. Sister Roberta reluctantly gave me the reel after warning me that Brother herald spoke about me that evening.

I enjoyed hearing the study until Sister Roberta asked why I wasn't being healed of my poor vision. Brother Herald's answer impacted me as if I had been kicked in the crotch. He said I lusted for sight since I wanted it so I could get a better job. If it wasn't for my misguided trust in him and his doctrines, I would have left that church and never returned.

I learned years later that faith is really our trust placed in God. It isn't like a electrical charge that would trip God's relay of blessing as that charismatic minister taught. Additionally, the Lord often works through disabilities. The ninth  chapter of John's gospel is an excellent example of that. I take comfort that the heavenly Father is also working through my infirmity to bring glory to his name and make me a stronger person.

In How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity, I wrote about the ongoing criticism I received from that cultic house church and how God freed me of their reprehensible nonsense. Read more about this inspiring story at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Virtual Bookworm Publishers.