God of Love, not Prosperity Gospel
Photo: Akira Hojo
Prosperity gospel is rampant in our churches. And there’s a consistent message coming from those pulpits - “pray long enough, hard enough,” and God will answer with stacks of money, plus more stuff than you can carry.
God is lifted up as a means to an end, our pathway to affluence even as the world around us unravels. How often are we urged to notice people experiencing homelessness and offer a hand, or contribute to an organization doing work on the ground? Certainly in some church spaces, but it’s not a universal stance.
As followers of Christ, checking out is not an option. Checking in is the call, and we find it in James 2:15-16 (and countless other passages like Matthew 25: 35-40):
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? “
Photo: Steven Knutson
Last year Mom and I interviewed Tommy and Charlene, two members of Jesus People, a community org. and church family of nearly 200 people based in Chicago (listen here); we were struck by their commitment to living as the early church in the book of Acts: building community, embodying Christ’s love by sharing it with everyone, whether through the businesses they run to support this work, or in their shelter for people experiencing homelessness - Cornerstone Community Outreach.
No mega church.
No private jets for leadership - just the radical and welcoming love of God.
In the end, our witness is not measured by material possessions.
How does God show up in and through us to touch the lives of all those we encounter? Have we allowed our faith to expand our definition and experience of community?
If our efforts at outreach stop with people who make us comfortable, we are rejecting some core tenets of Christianity, a faith which runs counter to the systems of this world. God urges us towards a posture of welcome, and love beyond the familiar:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.” Zechariah 7:9-10
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20
Holy One,
Open our hearts to the hurting, the misunderstood, those whose lived experiences are pushed to the margins and never centered. Move us beyond pews and into greater purpose - building beloved community.
May we see ourselves not as separate, but sacredly connected at a soul level to all living beings. Transform our wounds into worship, and a deeper relationship with you, enabling us to meet our human siblings wherever they are spiritually and emotionally; make us the bridge to you, never the barrier.
In your name, Lord, we pray,
Amen.