Poor or Rich

This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"

Anita Van Ingen of Moving Godward has a parable on her site regarding poor churches and prosperity churches.

PONDERINGS: A Man and A Woman The stage is dark. As two columns of light emerge from the darkness, a man stands in the light on the right side and a woman appears in the other column of light on the left. The man looks at the woman and notices her tattered clothing. To save her from embarrassment over her appearance, he quickly turns his back to her. He gracefully moves aside his suit jacket, and then hides his hands in his trouser pockets. He appears to have an internal debate. Then, he turns forward and glances over his right shoulder at the woman. He says, "Hello. How are you? My name is the Church of Prosperity. What is your name?" She pulls a ragged shawl over her shoulders to ward off the cold, and turns to face him. "I am the Poor Church," she answers calmly. His eyes concentrate on the floor in front of him as he begins his accusation, "I know of you. I have been called "Greed Christianity" by the Poor Church." "I also know of you." she replies. Her soft voice is steady. "I have been called a failure by the Church of Prosperity." "Well, just look around you. The townspeople point to me as evidence of God's power," the man shifts his feet a little toward her to speak. "They come to my door with television cameras to get my opinion." "The townspeople use me as a servant. I suffer much, and they repay me little." Her eyes dart as if images are appearing in the dark. For a short minute, she hides her eyes behind a hand, and then wipes them dry. A droplet of water collects in his eye as his face softens with compassion; he offers his method as a suggestion. "The Church of Prosperity makes bold statements of faith, and names those things we want as we stand before God. See where we are now!" "The Poor Church is seeking to know God's will rather than our own desires." She looks away. Her eyes cast down, until a smile begins to form on her lips as she whispers, "And we have witnessed miracles." He straightens his lapels. They are on equal footing until he thinks of something she does not have. "I am pleased to spend my days managing the wealth of Jabez. I wear his crown with glory and receive his honor." She shakes her head in the negative. "I have earned a crown of thorns. I have received nothing more than Jesus was given. Oh, I have just enough to get by, just barely enough to get by. Sometimes my pastor works without pay. Sometimes I have to walk through the wheat fields and glean what Prosperity left behind for my family

Comments

[queen]

just found your blog, and this post was very thought provoking, thanks.

[Pen]

No problem. Glad you enjoyed it. Come back again.

[Eric]

Pen, are there really any Christians who would admit that, given a choice, they'd rather be in a church with money instead of the Holy Spirit? Oh, never mind; I already know the answer. I don't believe a church without the Spirit is really a church, anyway. It's just a social club, isn't it, despite the loftiness of its pretended spirituality. The interesting thing is there are also wonderfully Spirit-filled AND prosperous churches. Their secret? They can't out-give God, but they give it a good try. They see their prosperity not as an end, but as a means; not as a reward, but as an obligation. They invest some of it in themselves, but only what is needed in order to be the best possible stewards of the Kingdom-building resources entrusted to them. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

[ronz]

In the case of most of those things you list, Pen, someone somewhere thought the Holy Spirit was the initiator. When we have the means it's easy to assume that our "success" is the result of the Holy Spirit's blessing, rather than plain old good business.

[Pen]

Thanks for the compliment Eric. I think the part of the 'parable' that works for me is where the prosperity church grabs its own pole and walks off stage. Often if we have the means to do something we do. Regardless whether it is in God's will -- we have the brute strength so we decide what is best for church - and what is best for God. Think of some of the crazy things that churches have funded and participated in in the life of the contemporary church. TBN, Televangelists, 'X' devotional Bible (fill in the X with any sub-group), Christian Kitsch (see http://www.gutlesspacifist.com/archives/00000080.htm)," rel="nofollow">http://www.gutlesspacifist.com/archives/00000080.htm), etc. A better choice would be praying for God's will, seeing where God is working, and then going there and working with/for and because of God. Thanks for the conversation.

[Anita]

I would love to have my church read your comments, Pen. I am just not certain whether the truth would uplift them or depress them. They are hanging onto their building for all they are worth. I have doubts about the many things I have tried to prove or disprove concerning God, but I know this for sure: God loves the poor, and Jesus is God incarnate. May God bless you as you search within the soul of the church for the unity of Christ Jesus. Amen.

[Anita]

I was corrected by a church member, and I know she is right. We are holding onto our church, with or without the building, for all we are worth!

[Pen]

Ronz - good old business vs. Holy Spirit. My experience as a pastor - is that American church people feel more comfortable with business strategies than spiritual disciplines. But I can see your point - and appreciate your comments.