masking & unveiling

that made me cry. thanks a lot.

What does this mean? God doesn't want us to have anything good? He only wants us to suffer?

WOW!This shall be forwarded to others.

This was great. The idea that material blessing = God's favor is so dangerous, and so hurtful to so many people. I see it play out in such harmful ways when people who are undergoing tragedy are sold the lie that they must not have enough faith/aren't praying hard enough/must have done something wrong early in life, like God is some kind of cosmic karma dealer and only shows His love when you're getting stuff your way, instead of the gracious, loving, and just God we know He is, allowing even terrible things to happen in our lives as part of his plan. And as for the "stuff", Kelly, you're right on... either Christ is sufficient or He isn't, and taking a "Christ AND..." view of what it means to be a Christan is wrong. (Can you tell this issue strikes a chord with me?)

Amazing Kelly. And I stole it for my blog, so thanks for that!

I think that twisting the word of God to imply that God desires us to suffer (as the video implied) robs potential believers and believers alike from the hope that the word of God was sent to be. We will all suffer in some way because we are born into a broken world, but it never was and never will be the desire of God that we suffer. Pain and affliction are the work of Satan who comes to rob, kill and destroy the good things God desires for us. Despite our suffering, whatever that looks like, the word of God says He is way bigger than the work of the enemy and He can reach in and heal and prosper us despite the brokenness of this world. He does this through healing, miracles, signs, wonders, wealth, and building a relationship with us so that he is our strength and our power. So that by His love we can be the hands and feet of Christ to bring hope to the world through our testimony. God's word is truth and the truth is he wants us to prosper and be blessed in a multitude of ways according to his will. He doesn't bless people with a BMW (video example)so they can keep up with the Jones', he blesses people with wealth so they can give it back to him and use it to spread his love to the ends of the earth by blessing the poor. He is healing our son, not because he wants us to live an easier life (although He desires that too) but because He knows that the testimony of our healing will bring light into the darkness for others and hope to the hopeless. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts so that by blessing us we can build relationships and use that blessing to bless others. If the wait is long, it's not because we are not worthy or we don't have enough faith...it's because God's timing is perfect. Don't give up...be still and know that He is God and He is bigger. Believe God's word, believe that he loves you, believe that he wants more than anything to bless you. I say believe it...with all due respect and honor.

Where in the world did people get that God's only desire is for us to suffer out of this clip? Dr. Piper is just challenging the "prosperity" gospel's motives. Is the prosperity movement really about God or about ME?

One can argue that the gospel is about giving us prosperity and blessings, but what does that really say about our "gospel"? It really says God is not enough. Blessings and prosperity are great, but those things are just gravy. Who orders a plate of gravy?!? I want chicken fried steak. Gravy is good too, but it doesn't make the meal. Now Im hungry...