Your Very Own Prosperity Doctrine
Our own secret prosperity doctrine? Does that really say that?
Absolutely.
Why? Because we all have one and it bubbles up to the surface when we are confronted with a trial or pain. The question of God's love and power comes up because WE are facing a difficulty. Sigh. We will start to consider all the good and right things we have done and how undeserving we are of this trial. We will point to the good deeds and faithfulness we have demonstrated and question the fairness of this. It can easily become a super self-focused, self-pitying time. I'm so thankful that God is not limited by my piddly, self-focused worldview at times.
Just the other day I was talking with a friend and she was wrestling with the question that a nominally christian friend asked her. "Well if God loved me then why has He allowed my son to be born with autistism?"
Now, your questions may not be that exact one, it may be one that questions God's love related to other things- health concerns, singleness, financial instability, a difficult spouse, barenness. The list can go on and on, but remember that those are simply symptoms. They are symptoms of the disease that we daily struggle with as Christians-our sin-natured, prideful selves.
So what can be said, what should be said when this question is brought up?
Really the conundrum comes down to the character of God and the character of the individual asking. See, God is concerned with our holiness, humanity is all too concerned with our happiness and comfort. So that is the question I gently and lovingly respond with when God's love is questioned:
Which is God most concerned with-your holiness or happiness?
For we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
What is this passage speaking to? Your happiness or holiness? It tells us that the ultimate purpose of God is that we be conformed to the image of Christ! This passage is not talking about you eventually getting what you wanted, or "everything working out". When you are able to step back and take the heavenly perspective it enables you to bear up under the trial with all the strength of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. The perspective change is refreshing and encouraging and you are able to rejoice in the midst of it, for you KNOW that God loves you enough to SANCTIFY you.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Absolutely.
Why? Because we all have one and it bubbles up to the surface when we are confronted with a trial or pain. The question of God's love and power comes up because WE are facing a difficulty. Sigh. We will start to consider all the good and right things we have done and how undeserving we are of this trial. We will point to the good deeds and faithfulness we have demonstrated and question the fairness of this. It can easily become a super self-focused, self-pitying time. I'm so thankful that God is not limited by my piddly, self-focused worldview at times.
Just the other day I was talking with a friend and she was wrestling with the question that a nominally christian friend asked her. "Well if God loved me then why has He allowed my son to be born with autistism?"
Now, your questions may not be that exact one, it may be one that questions God's love related to other things- health concerns, singleness, financial instability, a difficult spouse, barenness. The list can go on and on, but remember that those are simply symptoms. They are symptoms of the disease that we daily struggle with as Christians-our sin-natured, prideful selves.
So what can be said, what should be said when this question is brought up?
Really the conundrum comes down to the character of God and the character of the individual asking. See, God is concerned with our holiness, humanity is all too concerned with our happiness and comfort. So that is the question I gently and lovingly respond with when God's love is questioned:
Which is God most concerned with-your holiness or happiness?
For we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
What is this passage speaking to? Your happiness or holiness? It tells us that the ultimate purpose of God is that we be conformed to the image of Christ! This passage is not talking about you eventually getting what you wanted, or "everything working out". When you are able to step back and take the heavenly perspective it enables you to bear up under the trial with all the strength of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. The perspective change is refreshing and encouraging and you are able to rejoice in the midst of it, for you KNOW that God loves you enough to SANCTIFY you.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.