Prosperity Gospel



From some big church in Singapore

"There's a book of remembrance. For who? For those who tithe. Your name will go into the roster, and God will remember it and in due season, in this lifetime, you are going to be blessed....

God has a book. Every one of you who tithe eventually in this lifetime, you are going to have a hundredfold blessing, houses, lands, properties so that you can be a blessing to the whole world. [To audience's applause]"

I take issue with what he taught. The passage he was preaching on (Malachi 3:16) was actually mentioning the righteous who loved God. For whom is the book of remembrance? I quote Scripture, "for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name." To confirm again, verse 18 says, "so you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."

The book of remembrance records those who are righteous and loved God, not those who tithe! Nothing is said about tithing here. It is not even the main theme of Malachi. And this is not to mention that the rest of what he said is not biblical at all. I wonder how many people are deceived. I wonder how many people give money to the church hoping that they will get more back. And do you think God is so small that He can be manipulated?

How long must it be that people start realizing that Christianity is not a feel good, look good, be rich, be healthy religion? The pastor had totally ignored the historical-redemptive theme of the entire bible and went into his own interpretation that those who tithe, God will give them more money. This isn't true in the first place. This is definitely not what the bible teach! Why should giving be based on returns? There is little doubt that the reason why the reputation of churches is so low is because of such dubious teachings. I could have written an entire essay to tear apart what he taught, but I believe what has been said has already been said. It is up to them to take it, or leave it.

At one point of his sermon, the pastor asked rhetorically, 'When will the world call us blessed?' He then reasoned that it is not when the praise and worship becomes good, because they already have the best praise and worship, and yet nobody calls them blessed. Then, again rhetorically he asked, 'Is it when our preaching becomes good?'.

He should have stopped his sermon there.

He had answered his own question. Yes, pastor, it is when your preaching becomes good and when you stop teaching these nonsense to a deceived generation.

People always wonder why that church is often criticized. I wonder why they are not, and why there are still so many people with itchy ears wanting to hear what they want to hear.