The Gospel of Prosperity still rules the world of evangelism, though most thinking evangelicals have rejected the same. However, the Prosperity Gospel has morphed into the Gospel of Success and like the H1N1 flu this mutation is often more dangerous than the original. Many who reject the Prosperity Gospel have accepted the Gospel of Success without question.
The Gospel of Success essentially stems not from the Bible but the psychological theories that glorify the self which has been more and more popular in recent times, and does not recognise the fallen nature of man. Since I do not have the training to critique these psychological theories, I would recommend the book “Psychology as Religion – The Cult of Self-Worship” by Paul C. Vitz. He probably swings a bit too much to the other side, but then we all do when we are correcting a deviation.
I would like to look at the understanding of “Success” from the Bible.
Success – a word study
The first shock one gets when one takes a concordance and looks for the word success. In the KJV the word comes only once – Joshua 1:8!! Hence this is the proof text of the Success Gospel. The word translated as ‘success’ here is ‘sakal’ whose root means ‘to be circumspect or intelligent’. In other words it means to be wise. It is translated usually in the Bible as consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudently, skill (ful), good success (Josh 1:8), teach, understand, wisdom. Hence the correct translation of Joshua 1:8 should read as, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have GOOD UNDERSTANDING (OF THE MIND OF GOD).”
The word ‘prosperous’ in Joshua 1:8 translates ‘tsalech’ whose root means to push forward, and is used in various ways including push forward in whatever endeavour you are undertaking. In the case of Joshua 1:8, the word coming to Joshua is, “that for you to be successful in entering the Promised Land you need to meditate on the word of God so that you can have a good understanding of the mind of God”.
So, while I agree with the success theorists that in the plan of God and the purposes of God you will be successful if you live by the values of God, it does not mean that I will be successful in whatever I touch, like Midas’ Golden Touch. It also does not mean that “success” is an acceptable Christian objective. I have heard it said that God does not plan for failure and does not call you to failure. That is true, but God’s success may appear as a failure to the world. And so success needs to be seen as ‘a successful fulfilling of God’s purpose for me’, and not understood from a worldly perspective
Recently we took reposnisbility to set up cement sign post all across our family property in Padappai. We took much care in getting the job done well but even before the last post was set up, vandals broke five of them. We got all of the broken one repaired and set them up again. Within a few days they were broken down again, very badly and it was done in broad daylight. No one seem to have stopped them. We gave a complaint to the police and asked around as to who did this. No local person was willing to help. I felt very hurt and angry.
ReplyDeleteI asked the Lord as to why He allowed this to happen, when my wife and I did this work prayerfully, trusting the Lord. The Lord has not given me a clear answer but I know He wants me to just love Him and that is all that matters.
I agree we do not get success in all that we put our hands on, to do.
Notes on Success from Life Application Study Bible
ReplyDeleteWorldly definitions of Success include references to achieving goals, acquiring wealth, prestige and power!
“Successful” people enjoy the good life being financially and emotionally secure!
They are leaders, opinion makers and trendsetters!
By these standards, many of the Biblical prophets and disciples of Jesus were a miserable failure.
They were spokesman to God, but many refused to listen to them.
They were cast into prisons, stoned and persecuted. Regardless of opposition and threat these people boldly proclaimed the message of God!
And in God’s eyes they are the Most Successful people in all History!
Success as measured by God involves faithfulness and obedience !