Sour Grapes or Religious Fact?

There are several mentions on Facebook that criticize what are being called "prosperity" religious programs.  You know the ones  --  they tell us that God wants his people to have abundance in their lives.  Some of the criticisms mention specific programs.  Others are just general messages.


One such critique told of a man and his wife who were students living in near poverty conditions.  The gentleman said they really wanted to believe that God would offer abundance to his children who truly believed and who tithed their income.  But it apparently did not work out for them.


My experience with these types of ministers is limited to Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen. They have all at one time or another taught those of us who will listen that it is necessary to stay in the faith while believing God for a financial  -- or healing  --  or whatever needed  --  miracle in our lives.  Telling God every other day that his assistance is lacking or a day late and a dollar short hardly qualifies as staying in the faith.


What these ministers offer is hope and a positive approach to religion.  If you had heard some of the hellfire and brimstone sermons that I have heard over the years, you would welcome such ministers with open arms.  Jesus, himself, though not one hundred per cent positive was certainly not one of the hellfire and brimstone types.  He taught love and faith and hope and charity.  He taught us not to judge others.  He taught us to turn the other cheek.  He said we should cast the first stone only if we, ourselves, were above reproach. 


I think with some of the authors of these critiques, we see a little sour grapes.  While the critic's churches are dwindling in attendance, the "prosperity" preachers have to find sports arenas to hold their crowds. 


Perhaps one way to determine the genuine belief and trustworthiness of the pastors is to look for examples of faith rewarded in them and their families.  For instance, Joel Osteen tells a story about his mother's desire to have her own swimming pool.  For years and years, she prayed for a pool.  She positively stated she was going to have one.  She measured the space and told everyone that was where it would be put.  Her husband was always very negative about the idea.  They couldn't afford it he would say.  Then, one day someone told him that he wanted to give the family a swimming pool.  Dear old dad responded in the negative about the prospect.  But Joel's mother gratefully accepted.  When her husband donned swimming trunks to swim with the family, she jokingly told him that he couldn't swim in her pool  This kind of faith is a telling factor in the family belief system.  And possibly it is the main reason God listens to and rewards their positive prayers.


There are sometimes other factors why God doesn't give us a positive answer to our prayers.  For instance, sometimes we need the lessons we can learn from doing without our heart's desires.  Sometimes he is preparing us for our greatest challenges.


Joel Osteen always cautions us by saying that we will have the finances, skills and resources to fulfill whatever plan God wants us to handle as long as we stay in the faith.


Do you suffer from sour grape syndrome, or are you one of the positive thinkers?