Poverty Theology vs Prosperity Theology

Pastors often argue against not leaning too far on either side of the theology spectrum.  Somewhere in the middle is ‘right’.

Prosperity |<——— “somewhere here” ———->| Poverty

What if what American Churches consider ‘Poverty’ isn’t actually anywhere near Poverty?  What if…it was actually like:

Prosperity |<——— “somewhere here”                                             |Poverty

Filed under: Christianity

THE LOVE YOU’VE ONLY HEARD ABOUT

Recently while studying the Gospels, I spent some time meditating on the baptism of Jesus, to see how he remained in his Father’s love. Jesus’ baptism is one of the most insightful moments in the Gospels. It’s like overhearing a conversation between the Trinity: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”

I had never before noticed the timing of this verse in Jesus’ life. Jesus was yet to cast out demons, raise the dead, confront the Pharisees, train his disciples, die for our sins, or be resurrected from the grave; yet, the Father tells him that he is pleased with him. Jesus, until this point, had been laboring in obscurity as a humble carpenter; so what was the Father pleased with? It couldn’t have been his ministry or his teaching or his leadership, as these were yet to happen. What had Jesus done that made the Father proud? He had spent thirty years cultivating an abiding passion and love for God. The only glimpse we have of Jesus in his early years is in the temple, seeking to be about his Father’s business.

 

Taken from: http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/SEPT11–the_love_youve_only_heard_about/

Filed under: Christianity

Lord’s Work

What do you see when you hear those words?  Pastor, Missionaries?

We have fairly good theology of salvation, grace etc.  But when it comes to theology of work, not too clear.

Martin Luther puts it well:

The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays – not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors.  The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.

 

Filed under: Business, Christianity, Inspirations, Life

Verse of the Day

Bonus! These two verses I am studying these few days.

Psalm 44:3

³ It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.

Isaiah 50

¹⁰ Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.

¹¹ But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment.

Filed under: Christianity