Are You Kidding Me?
During Samantha’s morning nap, I found myself watching a program on the one Christian channel we can pick up with our rabbit ears. It definitely makes for some good, clean, humorous entertainment. The program I ended up watching made me ask the question, “Are you for real?”
The title of the program, “Becoming a Millionaire God’s Way.” The host of the program, Paula White, appeared to be a bleach-blonde, Botoxed late 40’s/early 50’s woman. She looked straight into the camera and said some of the following:
“God wants you to be a millionaire.”
“Jesus wasn’t poor.”
“No one listens to a poor man.”
“Your attitude has a lot to do with your altitude.”
“God wants you to be wealthy.”
Obviously, the program was wrapped up in the prosperity Gospel. On one hand, it was much more direct than many prosperity Gospel peddlers communicate. And, I’m sure White has tons of supporters who have helped turn her into a millionaire.
Now, here’s the catch…the program touched on some of the ways you can become a millionaire. But, for the most part, it was simply an infomercial trying to get viewers to purchase the book, “Becoming a Millionaire God’s Way” by Tom Anderson.
I agree that God wants us to prosper and succeed. However, I’m not convinced that becoming a millionaire is what God intends for every believer. There are many faithful millionaires…And there are many faithful living in poverty. Is there something wrong with my faith if I’m not a millionaire? You might get that impression from Paula White and Thomas Anderson.
I had to laugh. Yet, I also have to say a pray for the people that are being manipulated by this programming. How many will end up feeling like a failure if they don’t become a millionaire?