[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Ask and ye shall receive does not mean “blab it and grab it” … ask in faith
believing. Ask and ye shall received did NOT mean God has magic buttons
that produce for us everything we want. God promised he would provide for
our needs and bless us. Some folks see blessings in different ways…. But
those who do not ask in humility and faith believing are barking up the
wrong tree.
It would not take too much research to find that the “prosperity gospel”
of the 80’s left many bankruptcies in its wake.
True, but the miracle healing we teach in the A/G has left some dead. The
problem isn't necessarily the teaching - more likely (in my experience) it's
the way we outside what is being taught interpret it and how we react to it.
For example - growing up I as taught (in A/G churches) that Charismatics were
sinful because they "taught" people how to speak in tongues. As I grew up I
discovered a couple of things.
1) Charismatics in general (nondenominationally tied "Spirit'-filled"
churches) weren't all teaching people how to speak in tongues.
2) There are prayer and alter services in A/G churches where an outside might
interpret how we pray with someone seeking the infilling with the evidence of
tongues as "teaching" them how.
3) Many Charismatics were from other mainstream denominations who had no real
knowledge of the power and actions of the Holy Spirit (or so we-A/G thought).
4) We - A/G tended to overreact because Charismatics were intruding on what
was traditionally "our" biggest difference with other churches - what set us
apart.
5) Instead of offering to help or gently correct we accused.
6) We have since realized (I think) that the Holy Spirit acts however He
wishes and that we-A/G don't have a lock on Him.
The same sort of situation happened with "name it/claim it ... blab...grab".
We hear one thing and take it out of context. How do you know they aren't
naming and claiming in humility and faith? And how exactly do we judge that?
Maybe their blab is with lots of faith. If it's not - what have we done to
help correct in brotherly, Christian love? It seems like we've simply
followed the media opinion - they are different - they aren't us (although
many are) so they must not be right.
At least that's how it appears to me.
Michael
PS Besides, the Bible does speak many times of being prosperous - and please
don't try and tell me that it only means spiritually.
