There are many possible points of disagreement within Christianity because, like it or not, the Bible is unclear and even contradicts itself on many subjects (and this is a Christian saying this). But prosperity theology is so clearly the opposite of everything in the Bible that any self-respecting evangelical should ostracize it. That they don’t is the proof that the gospel is not what many evangelicals are interested in.
You might enjoy reading some of the works of Bart Ehrman. I’m an atheist who has been reading a lot about Jesus and the early church (first three centuries). I would recommend, How Jesus Became God.
Anyway, good for you for recognizing prosperity bs for what it is.
It’s literally a sin in many sects, not to say those sects aren’t entirely hypocritical on the matter, but trading priestly duties for money is explicitly a sin in a lot of Abrahamic religions.
Ehrman is great, as are his books and his podcast (which is called “Misquoting Jesus”). He’s one of the most objective mainstream New Testament scholars (in the field of textual criticism), and he doesn’t try to advance any agenda. He states clearly whether his points are the consensus of non-evangelical scholars, or whether he’s in the minority (which is rarely); whether other scholars disagree with him (and why); what the evangelical scholars say, etc. He doesn’t encourage either atheism or religion; he’s simply a textual criticism scholar.
I like Ehrman. I think Jesus had, before the Resurrection, no clear idea of who/what he was and that what Ehrman shows is how the early church not invented but discovered the divinity of Jesus.
To reinforce this, Jesus didn’t just say it was hard for a rich person to get into heaven, he said “And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich [person] to enter into the kingdom of God.” --Matthew 19:23-26
Personally, I think this is specifically referring to the level of greed that it requires to hoard enough wealth to become (and stay) a billionaire while the world suffers. It’s important to understand that this is our Bible, the foundation of everything Christianity is supposed to be about. These freaks have twisted it so much, it’s unrecognizable…
fun fact, the “eye of the needle” isn’t referring to a needle. they’re small gaps in the big stone walls just big enough for a person to squeeze through but intentionally designed so that a camel cannot get in. he’s not even saying it’s metaphorically impossible he’s saying it’s literally impossible, and by design.
how is that a cope? doesn’t it make the comment more scathing? and idfk entirely possible someone made that up, just Google it, I got pictures and shit when I checked briefly before posting
That’s how far we’ve come. I know many here are vehemently opposed to any faith-based belief system, and that’s 100% your right. But churches and religious leadership promoting Trump and hate are shitting on everything God said in the one book he gave us. Modern Christians should read the Bible and find a church that follows it. If possible. Not the other way around…
I try to tell Christians to just read the words of Jesus if they don’t have time to read their whole book. Some bibles have them helpfully marked with red ink.
There are many possible points of disagreement within Christianity because, like it or not, the Bible is unclear and even contradicts itself on many subjects (and this is a Christian saying this). But prosperity theology is so clearly the opposite of everything in the Bible that any self-respecting evangelical should ostracize it. That they don’t is the proof that the gospel is not what many evangelicals are interested in.
You might enjoy reading some of the works of Bart Ehrman. I’m an atheist who has been reading a lot about Jesus and the early church (first three centuries). I would recommend, How Jesus Became God.
Anyway, good for you for recognizing prosperity bs for what it is.
It’s literally a sin in many sects, not to say those sects aren’t entirely hypocritical on the matter, but trading priestly duties for money is explicitly a sin in a lot of Abrahamic religions.
Ehrman is great, as are his books and his podcast (which is called “Misquoting Jesus”). He’s one of the most objective mainstream New Testament scholars (in the field of textual criticism), and he doesn’t try to advance any agenda. He states clearly whether his points are the consensus of non-evangelical scholars, or whether he’s in the minority (which is rarely); whether other scholars disagree with him (and why); what the evangelical scholars say, etc. He doesn’t encourage either atheism or religion; he’s simply a textual criticism scholar.
I like Ehrman. I think Jesus had, before the Resurrection, no clear idea of who/what he was and that what Ehrman shows is how the early church not invented but discovered the divinity of Jesus.
I’m convinced that he believed he was the Messiah. I don’t think he considered himself divine. I think that was invented later.
To reinforce this, Jesus didn’t just say it was hard for a rich person to get into heaven, he said “And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich [person] to enter into the kingdom of God.” --Matthew 19:23-26
Personally, I think this is specifically referring to the level of greed that it requires to hoard enough wealth to become (and stay) a billionaire while the world suffers. It’s important to understand that this is our Bible, the foundation of everything Christianity is supposed to be about. These freaks have twisted it so much, it’s unrecognizable…
fun fact, the “eye of the needle” isn’t referring to a needle. they’re small gaps in the big stone walls just big enough for a person to squeeze through but intentionally designed so that a camel cannot get in. he’s not even saying it’s metaphorically impossible he’s saying it’s literally impossible, and by design.
This is a cope made up by wealthy Christians from what I understand. Source?
how is that a cope? doesn’t it make the comment more scathing? and idfk entirely possible someone made that up, just Google it, I got pictures and shit when I checked briefly before posting
No issues with you comment, but I find it disheartening that leadership in churches around the country do not condemn what is happening
That’s how far we’ve come. I know many here are vehemently opposed to any faith-based belief system, and that’s 100% your right. But churches and religious leadership promoting Trump and hate are shitting on everything God said in the one book he gave us. Modern Christians should read the Bible and find a church that follows it. If possible. Not the other way around…
I try to tell Christians to just read the words of Jesus if they don’t have time to read their whole book. Some bibles have them helpfully marked with red ink.