Will you do me a favor and give me your favor?
by David Tiesma on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 10:23pm ·
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I can't take it anymore. What is it about televangelists that irritates me like using sandpaper as toilet paper? Seriously. Tonight I overheard one talking about how he will teach you to pray like his dad did. If you do, you will have amazing blessings from God. You will usher in the angel of blessing in your home to prosper you with health and finances. Your cup will run over.
Yeah. Mine is running over too. But I wouldn't call the contents "blessings".
We do love comfort, don't we? I am as guilty as anyone when it comes to this. I understand the seduction of convenience and the easy life. But do we really think that is God's end game? Where are people seeing this?
Do they read the same Bible I do?
Having grown up in the church, I can't tell you how many times I have heard sermons preached about things like this. Songs have been songs, classes have been taught, books written. Entire churches have been formed around the concept that God wants you to have lots of stuff.
And it is often called God's "favor".
Think about this. In the Bible it very specifically says that we are not to store treasures up that rust can destroy or that thieves can steal. And yet we often think, and are taught, that is exactly what God longs to give us.
Excuse me?
God must be confused. Because I also remember him telling us that it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The Bible is replete with verses talking about the poor and how we are supposed to care for them. And there are churches who do. And many believers who do. And many who don't.
There is a serious disconnect in these conflicting messages. Some people have been "blessed" with possessions. But to what end? Is it for them to hold close to their vest? For their immediate families and friends to enjoy?
I heard a comment attributed to Mother Theresa a few days ago that struck me. She thought the spiritual poverty of those living in the West was as dangerous as the physical poverty of the people living in India.
How strange we are. We believe in a God that we think wants to give us stuff while thousands die daily because they don't have enough to eat or clean water to drink.
No, I am not trying to play the white guilt game. I am just trying to point out how nonsensical the "wealth gospel" is.
I know I could also do far more to help those in need. This essay isn't about guilting anyone into doing more. Hopefully it gets us to see our inconsistencies and to get us to stray from that which isn't just unbiblical, it's satanic at it's core.
It is a gospel of greed. Of extreme arrogance.
God wants to pour out his favor on you! He wants you to be blessed!
Except for those poor bastards overseas.
Oh, they are being punished for their unbelief! It is because they have rejected Christ and are reaping the consequences for it!
Yes. That's it.
1 out of 3 adult Americans are obese.
I am not so skinny myself. So the finger points at me as well.
When did we start to think that God wants to pour all kinds of stuff on us?
Jesus said to the people who thought they were God's most ardent followers:
"I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either. You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned."
Thank goodness there aren't any of those type of people left.
People who don't seem to ever do anything wrong make me nervous. I know what a screwed up basket case I can be sometimes. I try to be open about my weaknesses and doubts, but I know of no-one who is 100% open. But it sometimes seems that there are those who portray themselves that way. Sine when does following Jesus mean that we lie about our weakness?
I once listened to a pastor talk about how sinful he was. My ears perked up. As many of you know, I was a pastor who lost my job (twice) due to an addiction. I like to hear other people talk about how they have struggled with failure. I don't feel so alone when they do.
His sin? He sometimes stole extra salsa from his favorite Mexican restaurant. You know, those cute little plastic cups with the nice plastic lids on them? His egregious, heinous crime was stealing salsa. Three ounces at a time. Surely the hottest fires of hell have been reserved for his soul. I wanted to throat punch him.
Perhaps there are people whose biggest faults are the theft of condiments. I do not know if I want to know those people. I do not know if I could trust them.
I DO know of my sins. My weaknesses sometimes parade before my eyes with all the grandeur and gaudiness of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I want to know that other people aren't perfect either. I distrust anyone who pretends they have successfully climbed out of the pit of sin and weakness.
I have no problem when you are beside me trying to get out. Giving me a hand up. Even ahead of me a bit, reaching down to help me.
But when you act like you are out of the pit completely and are throwing your a rope of condescension down to all us losers... A rope that is a braid of your knowledge, success, and tales of triumph.
This I do not want.
Because it can't be true.
How did you get out? And why haven't I?
I do not think we can achieve a sin free life this side of Heaven.
I do not mind if you are ahead of me.
You know why so many people shun church? Because all they hear in it is victory. Which is great, mostly. But when you have been mired in weakness and failure, it seems a bitter taunt, an unrealistic plateau you have know idea of how to reach, something reserved for the "pretty people". The good ones. Not the plain, average people like most of us.
Don't get me wrong, the Bible is full of victory. But it is also full of failure. Not every story has a happy ending. Not every story will.
Where are the answers for people who feel like this? They dont' want to hear how awesome you are. Because what they then think is "What the hell is wrong with me?"
This is the crazy thing about the real Gospel message. People who felt like this loved, absolutely loved being around Jesus. He went down into the pit. To come get us.
For those who pretended they weren't in the pit?
He wished them luck climbing out themselves. He came for those in the pit. Who can't get out on their own. Who need a community to make it. Who need and want to make their weakness known.
You see, we ALL want to be known. To show those we really love ALL of our shit and filth and to know that we will be loved anyway. Despite it. Through it. For someone to see who you TRULY are and not get distracted by all the noise. And rescue you from it. Because you are worth it.
I know there are things you have done that you hope nobody ever finds out. Things you have done, or thought, that cause you so much shame. That haunt you.
Stop shutting your ears to the cry of one who knows you are worth it and wants to rescue you. It is a slow process, to be sure. Don't ignore the one who came to meet you where you are.
Jesus came for those who need a doctor and realize it. It is foolish to pretend you are well. It is just as foolish to shut out the voice calling you to get out of the pit.
Now this is good news. A God who sees me as I really am. Who looks at me and still sees His image despite all I have done to mar and distort it.
