Please understand that I mean no offense to this brother, but I just cannot stand by and do nothing while he wallows so deeply in such lies spun by the prosperity “gospel” preachers!
I stumbled across a local Christian blog yesterday, and being pleasantly surprised since I don’t really think there are that many Christian blogs in Singapore, decided to read some of his posts.
Written by Yeap Chee Seng, the blogroll on the blog immediately set off some alarm bells in my head — on it were listed the ministry sites of people like Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, and Kenneth Copeland and even a book he authored containing specific verses in the Bible that address prosperity.
Well, maybe he just likes some of the motivational speeches (I hesitate to call them sermons), so I read on. While there are a few Biblical truths in there, it is very well-mixed into the false teachings, much like how rat poison works (98% protein and 2% poison), so much so that an undiscerning Christian can easily fall and buy into the falsehoods.
It is therefore my intention to reply to Chee Seng here not to be intentionally offensive, but to warn against such false teachings and how much they can destroy. As I pointed out, I cannot stand idly by while God’s Word is twisted like a pretzel and falsehoods preached. It’s not me — those who know me well will tell you that you can insult me and call me names to my face but twist God’s Word and I’ll defend it tooth and nail.
Here are some choice quotes from several posts of his that vexed me:
From the post titled “The Extent Of God’s Love“, emphasis mine:
Please do not misunderstand me. I have never said that I am equal or more valuable than Jesus. What I am saying is, in God’s mind he thinks of me as equal or more valuable than Jesus. In Jesus’ mind, I am of equal or higher value than he himself. Do you want me to prove this? Here is my proof: The Cross Of Calvary. The Cross Of Calvary is the greatest proof on how much God loves us and the intensity of his love.
From the post titled “Jesus Bore Our Sickness At The Cross“, emphasis added:
Likewise, for us Christians. When a Christian falls sick, it does not mean that Isaiah 53:4 is no longer valid. The problem does not lie in Isaiah 53:4. The problem lies in the enforcement of it. Who are the ones who have to enforce it? We are. As Christians we have been given all the powers on heaven and on earth. God has given us everything we need to enforce his rule on earth. We have the authority to enforce health, prosperity, long life, success, joy, peace and every good thing that we desire. The only way to activate our authority is to pray by faith.
From the post titled “There Is Treasure In Your House“, where he quotes Proverbs 15:6, emphasis added:
The first part of the verse tells us that there is treasure in our house. If you happen to be a Christian and live in a big house filled with valuable items, you will have no problem identifying with this verse. What if you are a Christian who is living in poverty and in debt right now? You may not even own a house, let alone having treasures in it. Does this means Proverbs 15:6 is not applicable to you? Do you think God has lied to you? If you are religious minded, you will say the term “treasure†in Proverbs 15:6 as spiritual treasures. Yet, Proverbs 15:6 has never tag (sic) ”spiritual” to the word “treasure”. This means the “treasure” in Proverbs 15:6 means treasure. Adding the word “spiritual” to it is nothing more than heresy.
So, the question remains, does the existence of poor Christians invalidate the promises of prosperity from God? Has God become a liar as long as one Christian lives in poverty? The answer is no. God cannot lie. This universe was created by his words. If God lies, his words will become unreliable and consequently this universe will cease to exist. This tells us that it is “illegal” for Christians to be poor. If you happen to be a poor Christian, this is good news for you. You may be able to see only poverty around you but in God’s mind, you have not only a house, this house is filled with treasure. The only choice you have to make is between trusting in your situation or trusting in the Word Of God.
There are a few others that will vex me too much to reproduce here, where he writes that we are gods having full power to overcome poverty, illnesses, etc.
Concerned, I left him a comment at his blog, and it’s his reply (which I appreciate you taking the time to respond to, Chee Seng) is what I’d like to address. Below is his reply in full and I’ll be responding to it point by point (his reply is in blockquotes):
Hi Isaiah,
Thank you for taking time to leave your comments. I choose to believe you wrote in good faith. Therefore I shall respond in kind.
First of all, what is a gospel? It means good news. What news will you consider to be good? Surely it must be news about health, wealth and prosperity. Otherwise, why call it gospel? If you read the Bible, health and wealth had always been a part of God’s blessing for his people. Unfortunately, religious people has made the term health and wealth sound like dirty words.
Chee Seng, the Gospel does indeed mean the “good news”, but not as you understand it to be. The Gospel is the good news that Christ Jesus has come to die for our sins and rose again three days later so that whosoever believe in Him will have their sins paid for and be seen as righteous before God.
I agree with you — health and wealth should not be dirty words, but that’s not the message of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!
What better news is there, you ask, than health, wealth and prosperity? I consider the best news to be that I can be made righteous before God when I repent and put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ, that I don’t have to work for my salvation because it is impossible to do so!
God might prosper some for His good purpose, but that’s not the central message of the Gospel nor is it the Gospel, Chee Seng.
I won’t deny there are those who used the principle of sowing and reaping to get money from people. However that does not mean this principle is not true. This is a natural law and it works on anyone who knows how to take advantage on it. Even secular self-help books teach people the necessity of giving for those who want to be rich.
It is a natural law for farmers and the course of work, perhaps, but it isn’t the “natural law” when it comes to God’s blessings. God is not a vending machine where you slot in a coin, then press a button to get what you want. Neither can you buy His blessings with your mammon!
By the way, the bad church that I was in do not hold services in the Singapore Expo. Mine is a denomination church with its own land and building.
I do have a heart that seeks after God after I realize that he is not the pervert my previous religious church portrayed him to be. In the past, I never dared to get close to God because I was afraid if I got close enough he will ask me to go for missions or ask me for money. Only after I realized that his greatest wish is for me to prosper and be in health as my soul prosper, I have the desire to seek him.
Thank you for correcting me.
That said, I can’t comment on how that church asked for money, but I would like to know what’s so wrong about going on missions? I would go on one in a heartbeat. Also, how did they paint God to be a “pervert” as you said they did?
Though you say you seek after God, I am afraid that you are seeking Him for the wrong reasons. Is God the Chinese deity “god of fortune”? I don’t want to sound mean but it sure sounds like you are worshipping the wrong deity if you are after prosperity and health alone.
More than anything, read the Bible and Jesus’ words — those who carry their own cross and follow after Him are more likely to suffer persecution and ridicule than any wealth and health.
By the way, just some friendly advice: it might be wise to use “He” and “Him” when referring to God.
Of course, I want to glorify God and be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. However, who invented the law that says we must be poor and sick to glorify God? At the Cross, Jesus took all our sickness for us to be healthy and He died poor for us to live rich. How can anyone who wants to glorify God and does not want health and wealth? Isn’t that a contradiction?
Nobody said it was a law that we have to be poor and sick to glorify God. Neither is there a law that says that when you are a Christian that everything will be fine and dandy for you.
Christ Jesus did not die poor for us to live rich! Christ Jesus died so that WE MIGHT HAVE OUR SINS FORGIVEN AND STAND RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD BY HIS BLOOD THAT WAS SHED AS A PROPITIATION FOR US AND OUR WICKEDNESS! That’s the GOSPEL! That’s why Jesus came to suffer and die — that God’s wrath might be appeased by His perfect sacrifice on that tree!
You seem to be rejecting all that is required of a Christian and only wanting the cherry pickings of God’s blessings. God not only blesses but He also chastises those that He loves and He will put us through trials to refine us as fire refines gold.
I wonder why you are troubled on my remarks on not having faith to receive. Did Jesus not say that whatever you ask when you pray believe you receive and you shall have it? What will you do when you don’t get your prayers answered? Give up? As for me, I will find out where the problem is and fix it. Most likely it has to come from my faith. I will build stronger faith in order to get the answers from my prayers.
You cannot “fix it” like it’s some problem at work. Maybe you might be enlightened to find out that God does say “no” to our prayers as well. I personally believe that there are three primary answers that God gives in answer to our prayers –
- Yes, it shall be given
- Yes, it shall be given, but be patient for He shall do it in His time, which is the perfect time
- A straight “No”.
These “prosperity preachers” preach from the Bible. If they are warped, then the Bible is warped. I will have to turn to secular sources for my prosperity. Ironically, the principles of prosperity taught in the secular sources are also from the Bible. You may choose not to believe in the prosperity principles in the Bible but the truth is, even non Christians have successfully used them for their own prosperity.
Huh?!
Are you saying that these men cannot be wrong and if they are, then it is God’s PERFECT Word that is at fault and not that these men are twisting Scripture for their own selfish objectives!? You are insinuating that mere man cannot lie and God is a liar?!
Please read 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Are you reading the Bible with the whisperings of these prosperity “gospel” preachers already in mind, or are you truly born again and can therefore ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all understanding?
Chee Seng, of course there is wisdom in the Bible for prosperity. Solomon was the wisest man and there are gems to be found in Proverbs, yet the Bible is not a self-improvement nor a how-to-be-prosperous book. The central theme of the Bible is CHRIST JESUS — it is ALL about our Lord — the Old Testament being a foreshadow of things to come and the New Testament the fulfillment.
By the way, the gold and silver in Exodus come from the Bible.
God bless, and Shalom.
I already knew that, but thank you for pointing it out. 
Please pray for Chee Seng!
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Apparently the Bible the prosperity crowd likes to use is missing a few books.
Paul pretty much lays the matter to rest here:
1 Timothy 6:3-8
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Let’s not forget Paul had a sickness sent from Satan that he prayed to be healed of, yet God chose not to heal him. Does that mean Paul was lacking in faith? Of course not.
It’s a sin to demand of God more than the basic necessities of life. We can certainly request certain material blessings from Him, but to presume that we are entitled to these blessings is absurd. Sometimes poverty itself is a blessing, because it forces one to rely on God’s providential care rather than on his own merits.
These “prosperity preachers” preach from the Bible. If they are warped, then the Bible is warped.
Sorry, I almost choked when I read this. I thought the congregation next door to mine is bad enough, but this is even more ridiculous. I’ll definitely pray for him that God will appear somewhere in his life and lead him back in His light.
There’s too much focus on material gains from God, I wish it wasn’t mentioned in the Bible.
Excellent, excellent post. The prosperity gospel–and I hate even attaching the word “gospel” to it; as you point out so well, the gospel is the good news about Jesus’ salvific work at Calvary, and nothing else–is, in my mind, one of the most dangerous developments in modern theological thought. I admire that your first concern for the blogger is that he needs prayer. That shows your heart is in the right place. Well done. God will honor that.
The first link is a video I posted on my blog you might be interested in checking out. The second is a post of mine dealing with this issue as well.
http://candidchristian.blogspot.com/2008/02/fallacy-of-health-and-wealth.html
http://candidchristian.blogspot.com/2007/10/victory-over-everything.html
God bless, and keep preaching the true Gospel. Grace and Peace…
(Are you on Twitter?)
Just a coincidence, I’m meeting my mentors and folks tonight. I will bring this issue up and discuss. That’s what we usually do, whenever we come across issues that are worth attention and explanation, especially for the younger generations.
Wow…. This guy is seriously deluded. I wonder what church he is in that would tolerate his beliefs. A Word-faith “church” perhaps? And his book is a joke! Try previewing it. It does not deserve even to be called a book. Just a short paragraph (considered one chapter of 2 pages), and then verses upon verses being ripped out of contexts into artificial subheadings he had created.
Wow. Looks like the persecution has begun. Despite your numerical superiority, I have one advantage over all of you. I have been in both sides of the fence.
I have spend 10 years in a denomination church which you can read in my testimony “My Encounter With New Creation Church”. I have witnessed all the hypocrisy it presented. Unless this church is exceptionally evil, I have to assume that its conduct is typical of many churches: If you are not a Christian, God loves you and salvation is by faith. However, when you become a Christian, God loves your money, He wants your money and salvation is by going for missions.
The main point I would like to make is, I am well aware of all your arguments. I have addressed them all in my writings. You can read all of them in your pleasure.
As for those who seek to persecute me through lies and slanders, I will interprete it as I am becoming a threat to Satan. Satan is afraid of me. All the preachers of the Gospel I know of are under persecution from the religious people. If you bother to read the Bible, persecution will only make us stronger. He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.
>The main point I would like to make is, I am well aware of all your arguments. I have addressed them all in my writings. You can read all of them in your pleasure.
You can start by placing some links. It would be interesting seeing someone try to overturn what the Bible teaches, not to mention two milllenia of Bible interpretation.
>All the preachers of the Gospel I know of are under persecution from the religious people.
Ah…. Why bother? We might as well leave you for dead then. The prosperity cult started by E.W. Kenyon wouldn’t last another century; when real physical persecution by the world comes, the Propsperity heresy will die off “naturally”. As it is, you are all fast metastasizing into Mystery Babylon. Time to predict when you all decide to return back to Rome.
> If you bother to read the Bible, persecution will only make us stronger. He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.
Who ever said your views are even Christian in the first place? Ever wondered why there are NO prosperity adherents in the Middle East?
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Tim. 6:10)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Mt. 16:24-26)
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 18:18-25)
This is for all the religious people.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[g] 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Romans 1:16-17
Isaiah,
It seems that you have lost control over your religious friend. If you are interested to join me for further discussion, I suggest we do it at my blog. I can better control over thses religious folks.
Chee Seng,
I’m sorry you see it as persecution, it is not in any manner. I am concerned about how deep you have bought into this prosperity nonsense, hence the post.
Having spent 10 years in a denominational church does not mean that you have spent 10 years in a Biblical church. Some even consider Roman churches to be just another denomination, so that’s not a valid reason.
One particular point you brought up and which I was deeply troubled by was that you were only seeking God after you found out from these false teachers that He wants you to prosper. What about the other aspects of truly following Christ Jesus?
You might say you aren’t ashamed of the Gospel, but you are not preaching the Gospel at all, my friend. What you are peddling is a fake gospel, a gospel straight out of the depths of hell itself! In fact, I very much hesitate to even call it a “gospel” for it does mean good news, and nothing good can come out of the pits of hell.
Please, I beseech you, take time to read the comments of some here and read the Bible in context, praying for wisdom from God to discern. We all mean well here, though some might come across as being harsh. BTW, if you term them “religious folks”, I am one of them.
Dear My Yeap,
I have visited your blog, and I was truly touched by the refreshing manner you have redefined the Gospel. Truly, no one here will stop you from pursuing riches, wealth and health. By all means, get rich and wealthy, lean and healthy like my next door pagan neighbor. As a matter of fact, didn’t the Apostle Paul struck it rich 40 times minus one, kept a lion as a pet, and owned a sailboat in Miletus? He was so healthy he prayed to God to strike him down with a thorn in the flesh three times (coz it’s getting so boring being healthy), and he was so wealthy as CEO of a company which built tents for Caesar he wanted to buy up Rome.
Jesus was so wealthy he said all Christians will stay in at least 6 stars hotels - and He most certainly did! He was the son of a COE for Wood-Works America, and was never in want. Woe is he who is in want, coz he probably had no faith. Jesus most certain had faith! We all know from the Writings that all the Christians were so filthy rich, and the Apostles all owned bungalows and sailboats (to sail to Rome to visit the Pope of course!). All the Apostles except for John ended up as successful CEOs and businessmen. John bought Patmos and started a publishing company - not too bad considering the fact that he didn’t had pension.
Problem is, this Jesus is from Mexico, and the Apostles are not from Jerusalem. They are probably from Singapore and America, like those you know.
Yours truly,
Vincent
Hi,
The prosperity “gospel” is flesh based….Paul tells us that we are to crucify the flesh….the prosperity preachers want us to feed the flesh…..such a contradiction eh Chee?
Prosperity preachers….and I used to be one of them….pull verses out of context….sorta like a perverted game of Twister….because they are only interested in feeding the desires of the flesh….because that’s how they get fed….from your desires.
Think about this for a moment Chee…..if the prosperity “sow a seed” teachings really worked then how come everyone in Creflo Dollars church aren’t millionaires like Creflo?
Phil
Vincent:
My wife and I laughed ourselves crazy reading your comment! You have a wicked sense of humor I can so identify with.
That said, I hope no one really believes what you said, prior to finding out about the Mexican guy named Jesus and his apostles.
Dear Chee Seng,
This link is for you:
http://www.exodusnews.com/Religion/Religion037.htm
Yongchun
All your points had been addressed in my blog.
http://cheee.wordpress.com
Go there and post your questions if you are really serious to find out. I am not going to make it a habit to visit heretic blogs.
For 10 years I was under the bondage of false teachers before God revealed the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to me and set me free. I am not going to sacrifice the truth. Post your questions in my blog and I will refer you to the correct article.
Chee Seng,
If you think you had been under the bondage of false teachers for 10 years prior to this, let me point it out directly to you: you are now yourself in worse bondage than before!
My blog and others are definitely heretic, but only with regards to the prosperity “gospel”; while we remain first and foremost to the true Gospel of our Lord Christ Jesus. I’ll continue to pray for God to open your eyes to the falsehoods.
Chee Seng,
Could you please exegete and reconcile the verses (in my earlier post) with the prosperity verses you quoted in your blog? Scripture does not contradict itself. If you are able to do this convincingly, I will consider leaving my current presbyterian church and follow the teachings of Joseph Prince.
Yongchun
I read the top 10. Number 2 really caught my eye. I wonder what Christians in Southern Sudan, North Korea, etc would have to say?
Chee Seng,
I’d be interested in hearing your definition of what constututes as a “heretical blog”…..because this blog is far from heretical IMO….
Isaiah,
Add ” I’m not going to make it a habit of visiting heretical blogs” to your top 10 list
Shalom, Mary:
Thank you for dropping by.
That’s my thought as well when people claim that. Moreover, it sickens me to learn that these prosperity preachers say it is a sin or “illegal” to be poor! If it is such a sin and illegal activity, why did Jesus ask us to feed the poor and care for the widows?
God bless, and Shalom!
Phil:
Let’s face it, we ARE heretics in the eyes of some, LOL! The Roman Church would call me one, and instead of being afraid of being called that, I’ll rejoice!
Vincent,
I detect just a wee hint of sarcasm in your comment. :chick:
Yeap Seng
If you read the Bible, health and wealth had always been a part of God’s blessing for his people. Unfortunately, religious people has made the term health and wealth sound like dirty words.
If health and wealth were the litmus test for salvation then why did Jesus tell us the Lazarus the beggar, the one that the dogs licked his sores, why did he end up in Abraham’s bosom?
…..I am becoming a threat to Satan. Satan is afraid of me…..
No you are not a threat to Satan you are his child, his friend, his servant.
He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world
No, again, he who is in the world is Satan, the same one who is in you. Has to be if you say that the Bible, the Word of God is warped.
…..I very much hesitate to even call it a “gospel”…. I agree Isaiah, let’s call it a pospel—possum news, or the popspel—popular news.
Pray all you like, that child is of his father.
Peace
Hello Isaiah, :-h
Sorry for typo……tell us the Lazarus should be tell us that. Oh by the way, where did the rich man end up?
Peace
If the prosperity gospel is totally false then how do we explain Abraham and Job? There must be some wiggle room there. And look at Bill Gates, he gives so much money away to charity. He couldn’t do that without being wealthy.
Yeap Seng,
The Good News is that Jesus came to die–that we might have a “right, once again (Genesis 2:16-17) to the Tree of Life”.
Plain and simple. :*
Mr. Seng,
The so called “Prosperity Gospel” has always made me feel uneasy. In this gospel it never talks about redemtion, forgiveness, repenting, Holiness, sin, Hell etc. All of the things we need to know as Christians to make it to eternal life. It has baffled me that Ministries, Televangelist would take up precious TV time and preach this other gospel, when you have the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to numerous nations. The Bible has everything that we need to live an abundant life, but that is not about money and possessions. It is not connected to how much we have in the bank how big our cars are etc. It is about the redemption of our souls. With all due respect Mr. Seng, I have not seen any of your post on this blog in reference to that. There are a whole lot of things that I want, but I never want more of the things than I do GOD.
Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. You have to first operate in the KINGDOM OF GOD! Once you enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD, these material things that you talk about become as nothing. How is that? You begin to Transform and Conform to the image of CHRIST. My life on this earth is about being as CHRIST like as I possible can. I am having a hard time understanding how you proclaim to be Minister of the GOSPEL, and never mention redemption, sin, THE CROSS OF CAVALRY. As minister of the gospel, I preach the cross at all cost. Because all the money, all the cars, all the material possessions will do me no good if I have not lived as Christ has commanded, if I have not allowed the true GOSPEL to change me from the inside out. It is a trick of the enemy for you to believe some of the things that you do. There are many that can pull scripture out of context and have an argument for let’s say slavery, racism, anti-semtism and many other things. The GOSPEL came to save our souls from an eternity of hell, to give us relationship with the Father through HIS SON JESUS! Not to make our pockets fat, and our houses big. Not only that Sir, but Jesus said we would always have the poor with us and it is up to us tonfeed them, cloth them, and give them the good news of the gospel which saves. Not the gospel that makes them rich materially, or makes them prosper materially. I would much rather be spiritually rich. I would much rather have the wisdom of GOD, I would much rather have a relationship with the FATHER through the SON. I would much rather abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY! Preach the cross MR. Seng, ..for the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that are perishing but to us that are saved it is the POWER OF GOD! No amount of money can buy that Mr. Seng. The law of sowing and reaping will not change, because it is a law. But do understand this for you to concentrate on sowing and reaping in the natural and never in the spiritual how do you grow spiritually?
Oh, by the way, I don’t have a problem with money or people that have it. I just love the LORD more than I want the money or anything else. I want to press on towards the mark of the high calling in CHRIST JESUS!
I want more of HIM and less of me…
His Servant
Talescia,
AMEN! Well said Talescia. :-h
Peace
Vincent:
that was wicked…. =) I think there is a very interesting statement made against the Anabaptist schismatics who were crying “persecution” by the Reformers which is pertinent to this fiasco. Cant’ seem to remember where it was. Anyone, if this is what Chee Seng calls persecution, we should just throw him to Saudi Arabia to experience true persecution.
With regards to Chee Seng’s “testimony of being delivered friom error”, I will submit the following texts of Scripture:
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation” (Mt. 12:43-45)
These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:17-22)
The state of Chee Send is truly worse than it was before - “the last state has become worse for them than the first”. It is sad when someone has truly distorted the Gospel and perverted the Faith, of which many Christians throughout history has proven through the texts of Scripture. If he was deceived then, he is even more deceived now. So
And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)
Chee Seng, repent of your heresy. If you continue on this path of yours, your final destination will be hellfire and destruction. This is the word of the Lord.
Talescia:
Thank you for dropping by and sharing your thoughts on this issue. What you said makes perfect sense, and you have put it so very well!
God bless!
Roy:
You forgot David and Solomon.
Answer this then: did Abraham and Job diligently seek their riches first or was their riches a deliberate blessing from God because they first seek Him? Do we read of Abraham or Job “sowing” into a ministry or church building fund?
The prosperity message directs one to seek riches first, though from appearances they seek after God, but only to treat Him as a vending machine where if they put in a coin, they expect God to reward them with 40 times, 60 or even a 100-fold increase (or returns on investment).
That’s the first issue with the prosperity message. The second is this: whoever said God was obligated to give you more just because you sowed more into whichever ministry or building fund that such preachers direct you to? Do you mean to say that God is bound by such laws and, worse yet, mere actions from a mere man, to be obligated to give you returns on your “investment”?
The Lord shall prosper who He chooses to prosper and for His own good purpose and glory. If so many are intent on claiming God’s promises, then why not pick up your own cross to follow Christ Jesus? How about dying to self?
I find it ludicrous that someone thinks that WoF theology is not debunkable - I’m 17, used to teach prosperity principles to fellow teenagers, and dare I say, I know the theology inside out - probably even better that Chee here.
If he really wants to what the Apostles lived like, read Paul’s epistles - he didn’t have a Bentley chariot, a luscious Greco-Romans mansion and enough money never to work in his life. He was shipwrecked, destitute, had to work with his own hands to support himself…and let’s not forget, the Bible seems to indicate the Apostle had some form of infirmity in the eyes. It never says that Paul lived a life of constant external victory, listen to the Apostle himself:
Php 4:10-13 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. [11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. [12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Note how he makes mention of the fact that he was CONTENT in whatever position he found himself - the men you are following Chee will tell you that Paul then did not walk in faith or something ludicrous of that sort. Actually, the same went for all the Apostles - they weren’t favoured by the people of the world - the Jews killed James, Peter was hung upside down according to church tradition, the Apostle John was boiled in hot oil and left to die.
I will leave it here for now, so that others with more self-control can debunk your errors, but I’ll leave you with this thought: Ask yourself when you sleep at night, “Would the Apostles laud me for preaching this “Gospel” or would they huddle round me and anathamatize me?”
To Chee,
Everyone else has said everything else by way of comments, but I just want to share Scripture verses. They are as follows:
Besides 1 Timothy 6:5-7, I’d also like to add 2 Timothy 3:2-5 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! , Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such thing as you have, James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world, James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren; has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?, James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there, James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures, and finally in regards to those that teach the “Prosperity Gospel”: Titus 1:11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain and lastly, Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Now, Chee, I’ve given you 9 different Scripture references that clearly teach that faith in God, specifically for gain is not the Truth, nor is it ithe Way. I shall be praying for you.
Except a man be born again(saved) he can not see the kingdom of God. Kingdoms are realms… kingdoms are a system of governance. A kingdom grows because more people embrace that system of governance. If the citizen of a particular kingdom is in another location he is still ruled by the system of governance from where he came.
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@moses -
Moses, your comment has been truncated because I will not allow anyone to teach the prosperity message (NOT gospel) here. If you want to pursue this agenda, I’ll politely advise you to start your own blog to do so.
God bless.
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