Prosperity Another Gospel - Sowing & Reaping
Author: Pr. Chuck Morley
Category: Popular Read
Publish Date: Aug 15, 2011
Views: 30296
"God is not moved by need, He is moved by seed."
These were the opening remarks of a nationally known pastor hosting a local Christian telethon. "If God mo ved because of need," he went on, "He would go to the poorest of countries like Haiti..." You can imagine the rest.
Although he later said he wasn't suggesting that you could buy a miracle, everything else he said testified to the fact that you could, just by planting a seed (sending money to the station).
There are few in the church today who are not familiar with the phrase seed faith. It was coined over fifty years ago by a famous tent evangelist. Its theory is if you want corn you sow a corn kernel, then you will reap a harvest of more corn than you sowed. If you want wheat; a wheat kernel. The end result will be a harvest of more wheat than you sowed. If you want money, you sow your money into the ministry, and God will return to you more money than you sowed. Hmmm, sounds logical, even spiritual. But it doesn't pass the litmus test of scriptural context.
One scripture misused to make people think that sowing money will cause them to reap a harvest of more money is John 4:35-38. Let's see if that is what Jesus is speaking about.
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto eternal life: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, one soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:35-38)
In these verses there is no mention of money. Jesus is referring to soul winning; the sowing of the word, the reaping of a harvest of souls. I can hear the wheels turning now. "But pastor, you can use the same principle for sowing money." NO YOU CAN NOT! You cannot use any principle that is not already set forth in scripture. When you take the text (verses) out of the context (the meaning of the verses) you have a pretext (appears right but is wrong). Sowing money into a ministry for the purpose of getting more money is a pretext. The same is true with Galatians 6:6-9.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in will doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:6-9)
Once again there is no mention of sowing money. Sowing to the flesh is the attempt to satisfy us, our personal desires, lusts, pleasures and fleshly comforts. Many who follow the prosperity gospel are followers for this very reason.
A well known pastor's wife, during her television program, began to upbraid members of the congregation for evidently judging her choice of a new car. The price of the automobile she purchased runs about six figures. That is hundreds of thousands of dollars. I don't believe there is anything wrong with a new car. Nor is there anything wrong with an expensive one, if you can afford it. The problem was the attitude. Arrogance just seemed to ooze from every word. I don't remember her exact words, but paraphrased it went something like this, "It's none of your business what I buy, I prayed about it, and God told me He wanted me to have the best. Now get over it!"
The attitude revealed her motive for the purchase; satisfy the flesh. God received no glory, and the vehicle became a stumbling block. Another prosperity teacher said. The whole point is I'm trying to get you to see - to get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and the disciples were poor and then relating that to you - thinking that you, as a child of God have to follow Jesus. The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That's the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce. I'm following Jesus' steps.
Another lady who teaches the prosperity gospel has said that she will not buy any dress that does not cost at least $500. She also feels she should walk in the footsteps of the wealthy Jesus.
You find nothing in the Bible where Jesus ever owned a camel, horse or even a donkey. There is no reference to designer clothes, a big house or land while he walked this planet for thirty three years. The fact is He had to borrow a colt to make His entry into Jerusalem. Maybe we should really learn how to follow in His footsteps, instead of trying to impress people with our expensive cars and fancy clothes. On the other hand, sowing to the spirit conditions me to crucify myself and everything that pertains to me; my wants, my desires, my agenda, my ministry. His will for me is that He becomes the central figure. The things I do, I do for Him, and I do them to the best of my ability. Those are the things He blesses; His things. I would not doubt for a minute that the lady prayed about her purchase. But maybe if she had remained in the presence of God for just a few seconds longer, she might have heard. "My daughter, I want you to have the best....Chevrolet."
There is however, one place in scripture that does teach about money and its relationship to sowing and reaping. I want to look at three verses in 2 Corinthians 9, and remind you that all three work together. You can not take the first one out of context, or it will bring about error and confusion.
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (The prosperity teachers stop here, but there is more.) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for the Lord loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
Now let's look at these verses. First, the word sparingly in verse six means "stingy." I think we can all agree on that. But the Greek word translated bountifully does not mean "in abundance". It means "with blessing" or in "reverential adoration." So our giving becomes an act of worship, praise and maybe even sacrifice. Its motive comes from the heart, to honor God, not to receive more money.
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give..." Paul admonishes us to give the amount we feel in our heart to give. God may be leading you to give $10 when the evangelist is asking for $100. The opposite can be true also. The point is, listen to your heart and respond as you are moved by the Holy Spirit.
Don't give "grudgingly" or reluctantly. If God speaks to your heart, listen to Him and obey Him. Do it freely as an act of worship and love. Don't let anyone int imidate you into giving, or fan the flames of greed with promises of more. Don't give "out of necessity." Don't let the evangelist talk you out of your rent money. That belongs to your landlord. When people are up against the wall financially, they will give anything in hopes of reaping a windfall profit. Even if it means using money that is earmarked for bills and food. Finally, there is a return, but not the type you hear about so often from prosperity teachers. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency (notice the word is not abundance. It is sufficiency; just enough) in all things may abound to every good work." If you will give according to verses six and seven, God's favor will abound towards you so that you will have just enough to accomplish every good work. What is every good work? It is the work He has called you into and commissioned you to do. Giving money to God with the sole intention of getting more money in return is not biblical.
These were the opening remarks of a nationally known pastor hosting a local Christian telethon. "If God mo ved because of need," he went on, "He would go to the poorest of countries like Haiti..." You can imagine the rest.
Although he later said he wasn't suggesting that you could buy a miracle, everything else he said testified to the fact that you could, just by planting a seed (sending money to the station).
There are few in the church today who are not familiar with the phrase seed faith. It was coined over fifty years ago by a famous tent evangelist. Its theory is if you want corn you sow a corn kernel, then you will reap a harvest of more corn than you sowed. If you want wheat; a wheat kernel. The end result will be a harvest of more wheat than you sowed. If you want money, you sow your money into the ministry, and God will return to you more money than you sowed. Hmmm, sounds logical, even spiritual. But it doesn't pass the litmus test of scriptural context.
One scripture misused to make people think that sowing money will cause them to reap a harvest of more money is John 4:35-38. Let's see if that is what Jesus is speaking about.
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto eternal life: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, one soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:35-38)
In these verses there is no mention of money. Jesus is referring to soul winning; the sowing of the word, the reaping of a harvest of souls. I can hear the wheels turning now. "But pastor, you can use the same principle for sowing money." NO YOU CAN NOT! You cannot use any principle that is not already set forth in scripture. When you take the text (verses) out of the context (the meaning of the verses) you have a pretext (appears right but is wrong). Sowing money into a ministry for the purpose of getting more money is a pretext. The same is true with Galatians 6:6-9.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in will doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:6-9)
Once again there is no mention of sowing money. Sowing to the flesh is the attempt to satisfy us, our personal desires, lusts, pleasures and fleshly comforts. Many who follow the prosperity gospel are followers for this very reason.
A well known pastor's wife, during her television program, began to upbraid members of the congregation for evidently judging her choice of a new car. The price of the automobile she purchased runs about six figures. That is hundreds of thousands of dollars. I don't believe there is anything wrong with a new car. Nor is there anything wrong with an expensive one, if you can afford it. The problem was the attitude. Arrogance just seemed to ooze from every word. I don't remember her exact words, but paraphrased it went something like this, "It's none of your business what I buy, I prayed about it, and God told me He wanted me to have the best. Now get over it!"
The attitude revealed her motive for the purchase; satisfy the flesh. God received no glory, and the vehicle became a stumbling block. Another prosperity teacher said. The whole point is I'm trying to get you to see - to get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and the disciples were poor and then relating that to you - thinking that you, as a child of God have to follow Jesus. The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That's the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce. I'm following Jesus' steps.
Another lady who teaches the prosperity gospel has said that she will not buy any dress that does not cost at least $500. She also feels she should walk in the footsteps of the wealthy Jesus.
You find nothing in the Bible where Jesus ever owned a camel, horse or even a donkey. There is no reference to designer clothes, a big house or land while he walked this planet for thirty three years. The fact is He had to borrow a colt to make His entry into Jerusalem. Maybe we should really learn how to follow in His footsteps, instead of trying to impress people with our expensive cars and fancy clothes. On the other hand, sowing to the spirit conditions me to crucify myself and everything that pertains to me; my wants, my desires, my agenda, my ministry. His will for me is that He becomes the central figure. The things I do, I do for Him, and I do them to the best of my ability. Those are the things He blesses; His things. I would not doubt for a minute that the lady prayed about her purchase. But maybe if she had remained in the presence of God for just a few seconds longer, she might have heard. "My daughter, I want you to have the best....Chevrolet."
There is however, one place in scripture that does teach about money and its relationship to sowing and reaping. I want to look at three verses in 2 Corinthians 9, and remind you that all three work together. You can not take the first one out of context, or it will bring about error and confusion.
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (The prosperity teachers stop here, but there is more.) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for the Lord loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
Now let's look at these verses. First, the word sparingly in verse six means "stingy." I think we can all agree on that. But the Greek word translated bountifully does not mean "in abundance". It means "with blessing" or in "reverential adoration." So our giving becomes an act of worship, praise and maybe even sacrifice. Its motive comes from the heart, to honor God, not to receive more money.
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give..." Paul admonishes us to give the amount we feel in our heart to give. God may be leading you to give $10 when the evangelist is asking for $100. The opposite can be true also. The point is, listen to your heart and respond as you are moved by the Holy Spirit.
Don't give "grudgingly" or reluctantly. If God speaks to your heart, listen to Him and obey Him. Do it freely as an act of worship and love. Don't let anyone int imidate you into giving, or fan the flames of greed with promises of more. Don't give "out of necessity." Don't let the evangelist talk you out of your rent money. That belongs to your landlord. When people are up against the wall financially, they will give anything in hopes of reaping a windfall profit. Even if it means using money that is earmarked for bills and food. Finally, there is a return, but not the type you hear about so often from prosperity teachers. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency (notice the word is not abundance. It is sufficiency; just enough) in all things may abound to every good work." If you will give according to verses six and seven, God's favor will abound towards you so that you will have just enough to accomplish every good work. What is every good work? It is the work He has called you into and commissioned you to do. Giving money to God with the sole intention of getting more money in return is not biblical.
Displaying 2 Comments
The views and opinions expressed in the comment section are strictly those of the comment authors alone and do not necessarily reflect and represent the views and opinions of Believer's Journal.
a. s. mathew (August 15, 2011)
I am so happy that
you are talking very openly about the
modern day religious rip off through
misleading the believers by fancy and
attractive words of enticement and
temptation. "Seed faith" was spoken
by Rev. Oral Roberts and so many prosperity prophets of the modern day are his ardent and true disciples.
Jesus ate the same food the disciples ate. While He was talking with the
Samaritan woman at the well, the disciple went away to buy food from some open stores. He had the same dress like the rest, walked with them.
If we check the home of the prosperity
prophets, they have dozens of top brand
clothings-jewelry-luxuary cars- shoes-private jets etc. All these propsperity comedians are fighting each other to bluff the audience to send their hard earned money to their
address as the best ground to plant the
seed. On the other hand, they all work
as board members of different prospe
I am so happy that
you are talking very openly about the
modern day religious rip off through
misleading the believers by fancy and
attractive words of enticement and
temptation. "Seed faith" was spoken
by Rev. Oral Roberts and so many prosperity prophets of the modern day are his ardent and true disciples.
Jesus ate the same food the disciples ate. While He was talking with the
Samaritan woman at the well, the disciple went away to buy food from some open stores. He had the same dress like the rest, walked with them.
If we check the home of the prosperity
prophets, they have dozens of top brand
clothings-jewelry-luxuary cars- shoes-private jets etc. All these propsperity comedians are fighting each other to bluff the audience to send their hard earned money to their
address as the best ground to plant the
seed. On the other hand, they all work
as board members of different prospe
+3
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To all the saints of God who are strongly
believe in the "seed faith" gospel, I have a very humble request. Indeed, the
right wording is " faith seed".
We must not forget the ministires
being undertaken by true servants of GOD; it will bring greater blessings to all.
After planting seeds at the most fertile ground of the " seed faith" mega
farm, the donors must drive to the
big farm with a high range binocular.
The donors can't see the land because
of the security guards. Simply, watch
the mansion from a far off distance.
When the private jets
of the big farmer lands, take pictures
and say " glory to God for the flying
" faith seed".
GOD's anointed servant Dr. Billy Graham
used to mention very briefly (once only) about the
the financial needs in every crusade, God met the needs. Mother Teresa and George Mueller never sent an appeal for money, but God supplied