BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing E-magazine March 2019 | Seite 6

persecutions. Did not Jesus Himself say
that we will have tribulation in this
world(Jn 16:33)? So, let us not lose heart
when we face trials and hardships. We
need not be guilty when we suffer for
Christ's sake
(1 Pet 2:21).
2) Prosperity Doctrine
This teaching gives emphasis to the
physical wealth and health of a believer.
“God will give us a big house and riches” is
their core cry. But what does the Bible
say?
3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that all may
go well with you and that you may be in
good health, as it goes well with your soul.”
While the Apostle John focuses on
the soul, these preachers emphasize
material blessings. Christ warns us, that
our life does not consist in the abundance
of our possessions (Lk 12:15). He calls us
“Fools” when we lay up treasures for
ourselves but are not rich toward God
(vv20-21).
All the desires of the world will pass
away (1 John 2:17) and “if in Christ we
have hope in this life only, we are of all
people most to be pitied.” (I Cor 15:19). If
being a Christian is of value to us only now
in this life, we are the most miserable of
creatures.
We should never focus our attention
upon earthly blessings. We need to keep
our minds on things above (Col 3: 1,2).
Preachers who preach this 'Health and
Wealth Gospel' would never preach on the
subjects like holiness, evangelism and
missions. Their talks and teachings would
be focused on acquiring wealth, being
successful in businesses, climbing up the
ladder and all such things.
I am not saying that God will not bless
us materially. God blessed Abraham. But
see how Abraham lived:
Heb 11:9,10 “ By faith he went to live
in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,
living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs
with him of the same promise. For he was
looking forward to the city that has
foundations, whose designer and builder
is God.”
Our focus should be on the Kingdom
of God. Let us not strive to be rich. Let us
look to God and seek His righteousness.
When our prime aim is to get earthly
blessings,we might be deceived. “For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It
is through this craving that some have
wandered away from the faith and pierced
themselves with many pangs. But as for
you, O man of God, flee these things.
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Tim
6:10,11).
3) Teachings
Emotionalism
Based
on
Some people base their teachings on
their super-natural experiences. They
claim to have super-natural visitations by
the angels and base their authority on
such dreams and visions. These kind of
teachings look very attractive to people.
People consider the preachers to be
spiritual giants and slowly start to
worship them. This approach creates a
chasm between the preachers and the
hearers and keeps the preachers on a
higher spiritual plane, while the hearers
follow them blindly.
The hearers drift away from the Lord
Jesus Christ and are lured towards such
experiences and dreams.
These dreamers say and teach things
that which are not found in the Bible. They
do this with much boldness. The Apostle
Paul warns us against such teachings in
Colossians 2: 18,19 “Let no one disqualify
you, insisting on asceticism and worship of
angels, going on in detail about visions,
puffed up without reason by his sensuous
mind, and not holding fast to the Head,
Blessing March 2019 | www.bymonline.org | Page 6