On MSNBC, AM Joy (Journalist Joy Reid) presented a story on prosperity evangelism (or prosperity gospel), critiquing religious leaders for preaching that if you are good, you will prosper, and if you prosper, you must be good. (Many think President Trump is, ipso facto, a good person in the Biblical sense.) I agree that many think this way, and I further agree it has – as stated in this black-and-white way – no basis in Christ's gospel of reality. However, it's only half the story.
AM Joy talked with Pastor Mark Burns, who is a member of part of President Trump's Evangelical Advisory Counsel. He tried to point out that living by certain principles will help you prosper and bring abundance. I believe that this is true.
While Pastor Burns was very professional and respectful of AM Joy and the other two panelists, New York Times writer, Anthea Butler (who wrote an article on Prosperity Evangelism) was laughing and smirking at Pastor Burns. This is what is rightfully off-putting to the religious right and others who can recognize the value and good things that some religions promote. Instead of rejecting, offhand, what Pastor Burns had to say, Joy and Butler should have listened respectfully and acknowledged – or at least tried to see – that there was validity in what he had to say.
The bottom line is that misfortune and fortune comes to all – good and bad people. When either comes, it is not indicative of the "goodness" of that person. However, we reduce the risk of failure and enhance our chances for success when we live well. Living well often includes adhering to some religious dogmas and teachings, because interestingly enough, such truths are universal and are accessible to all, and their validity can be experienced simply by living those principles.
(Side note: Frank Shaeffer was also a panelist and remained very respectful.)
Loren M. Lambert © September 3, 2017
AM Joy talked with Pastor Mark Burns, who is a member of part of President Trump's Evangelical Advisory Counsel. He tried to point out that living by certain principles will help you prosper and bring abundance. I believe that this is true.
While Pastor Burns was very professional and respectful of AM Joy and the other two panelists, New York Times writer, Anthea Butler (who wrote an article on Prosperity Evangelism) was laughing and smirking at Pastor Burns. This is what is rightfully off-putting to the religious right and others who can recognize the value and good things that some religions promote. Instead of rejecting, offhand, what Pastor Burns had to say, Joy and Butler should have listened respectfully and acknowledged – or at least tried to see – that there was validity in what he had to say.
The bottom line is that misfortune and fortune comes to all – good and bad people. When either comes, it is not indicative of the "goodness" of that person. However, we reduce the risk of failure and enhance our chances for success when we live well. Living well often includes adhering to some religious dogmas and teachings, because interestingly enough, such truths are universal and are accessible to all, and their validity can be experienced simply by living those principles.
(Side note: Frank Shaeffer was also a panelist and remained very respectful.)
Loren M. Lambert © September 3, 2017
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