THE RUNDOWN
Weekly Information for CBC YOUTH Leadership
Dec 1-7, 2019
- Recap // youth praise // prosperity gospel
- Video // Eric Mason // Prosperity gospel vs. The Gospel
- Birthdays
- Look Ahead
RECAP // YOUTH PRAISE // PROSPERITY GOSPEL
In our series for youth praise of "Theology Fails" our goal is to define common and misunderstood worldviews out there that typically ensnare us today. We begin each session by reminding people that though these are not only incorrect and incompatible with biblical Christianity, we unknowingly fall into this line of thinking and ought to repent and steer clear of it. This December month we focused on the popular distortion popularly named "The Prosperity Gospel."
Definition: The prosperity gospel (also known as the “health and wealth gospel” or by its most popular brand, the “Word of Faith” movement) is a perversion of the gospel of Jesus that claims that God rewards increases in faith with increases in health and/or wealth. Dr. Al Mohler will say that the Prosperity Gospel is a "theology not centered on God and his glory, but an anthropocentric psychological message aimed at making individuals merely feel better about themselves."
What It Teaches:
- The Abrahamic Covenant (and its promises) is a means to material entitlement. Will use Gal. 3:14 to support its claims. Inherited promised of material blessings.
- Jesus’ atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty (cf. 2 Cor. 8-9)
- Christians give in order to gain material compensation for God (Mt. 10:29-30)
- Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity.
- Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity. (James 4:2)
Where are the Issues:
- This false way of cherry-picking random verses out of its context makes the God of the bible extremely small and little. If anything, this theology makes Jesus a divine booty call only to be used when we need something and discarded after we've used and abused him. At the end, we don't really want Jesus, rather we want his stuff and we'll just use Jesus as a means to our end. But for the biblical Christian, our greatest treasure and our desire is God, not his stuff. We want heaven because we get Jesus uninhibited from any other distractions. This is pretty massive for our youth to think through...what is the purpose for them calling themselves a "Christian"? Was it/is it because they truly wanted to follow Jesus? To be his disciple? To have Jesus as their Lord? Or was the intention something different? It may not be only wealth we are seeking, but maybe popularity? freedom from sickness and pain? Maybe comfort or control? Let us be careful friends. The goodness of the Gospel isn't that we get God's stuff but we get God.
- The prosperity Gospel neglects the very scripture that it is pulled from, it neglects church history, it neglects human experience, and ultimately it neglects Jesus Christ himself and the very words he gave his disciples. Jesus never promises that his followers would be exempt from pain and suffering, in fact he promised them that they would! The greatest problem for humanity and our lives isn't the fact that we're broke, or we suffer, or we're lonely, or depressed...but the ultimate problem is sin. This is the main issue with humanity and the solution can only be found in the Cross of Jesus. The effects of sin that we're feeling in this world are real and they suck but for those in Christ, they are reminded that those are only temporary and our hope isn't in temporary relief from those things but our hope is IN Christ. Our hope is that he actually and fully died for our sins and conquered death and will one day destroy death ultimately. Our hope is that in the midst of LIFE (good and bad) that we are in union with Christ and he is our blessing, not just his stuff.
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Where i'm worried: I'm not so much worried that our people believe that "if you are a Christian, God will make you rich and healthy" i'm more worried that we are functional prosperity gospel people. That though we won't outright blindly follow Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland...we operate in this worldview without knowing. We will tend to treat God and his commands as optional or we will only follow them when it's convenient for us. When we want to and when we have time for "real spiritual" things then we'll do it. We will use CBC for its facilities, for its money, for its gym but when it comes time to other things (things we have committed to) like meetings, discipleship, teaching, belonging...then we will only do it if and when we have time and if and when it doesn't conflict with my already scheduled programs.
Please don't see this as an angry guilt trip but more of a "hey everyone, i'm worried" and i'm worried because your actions and your "works" REFLECT your heart. The way you live (as the book of James will say) is an indictment of your faith (what you believe). Because it's December and our initial goals and commitments seem like years ago, I know where we are now and i'm worried for some of us. And again, I don't want you to go "ok, so I just need to do more and not use God or his church"...that's not the point, it's more like "I want you to want to do this and actually put in the effort to do what you have committed to Jesus to do -> Love Him with your whole heart and Love his Bride the Church and Love people".
BIRTHDAY WEEK
Looking Ahead
- Focus in on Advent with your students as we lead up to Christmas. Focus in on slowing down, practice waiting, and anticipation for something better - namely the return of Christ.
- Think through Christmas gifts early if you're considering doing something with your group. Perhaps write a note to your parents and helping them think through Christmas with their youth.
- For Dec. 22, we're going to have a Special Christmas Youth Praise in the Chapel.
- For Dec. 29, it'll be an English ministry potluck like every year. For those leaders who will not be at Winter Retreat, please considering helping out with organizing our students and keeping them on mission.
- As we enter the new year, we'll be engaging Youth Members who have not regularly attended and will be talking with parents and the youth to see what's going on and how we can help.
ACCESS
- This Friday is our last "normal" ACCESS of the year. If you're providing final exams for the class please make sure you have all the info sent out before hand. Be fair with your questions yeah?
- Next Friday (13) is ACCESS White Elephant. Same format as previous years - limit $10 max.
- Friday (20) is Java Jam prep day.
- No ACCESS 27 because of Winter Retreat and ACCESS Kickoff is January 10
- Leaders & Members, we will need to think through next semesters topics this coming Friday.
Youth Symposium
- January 17 & 18
- Training and gathering of youth workers and youth parents.
- January 17 is open to youth who are leaders in their youth group to gather and train
- January 18 is open to adults and parents who work with students in order talk, train, and fellowship.
- Registration opens Dec. 10.