In the Star Trek series and movies, Spock’s farewell was always, “live long and prosper”. And before you ask, yes I can still make the Vulcan sign of greeting. And no, I don’t belong on Big Bang Theory, I am not smart enough. Anyway, this prosperity thing is the goal of so many. It is the theological foundation of no small number of churches.
This word represents much of what is wrong in this world. To have opulence, wealth, affluence, success…..the list of words goes on. These days we sum it up with the word rich. I once had an employee who was being paid a near six figure salary for a job they had just begun to learn how to do. In a year that person demanded a raise. I met with the person and their significant other (who made a seven figure salary) and simply said, “how much is enough”.? These two were affluent.
I am not suggesting they were bad people, because I know for sure they believe themselves to be exemplary Christians. What I am suggesting is that they are the epitome of the Prosperity Gospel. Think 20,000 member churches in big cities. But before it seems like I am bashing rich people, let me say that this idea is not a new one. The Protestant Reformation introduced us to Calvinism. Calvinism with its ideas of predestination and election, led to the Protestant Work Ethic, which basically teaches that through hard work and prosperity, one demonstrates that they are among the elect.
So there you have it, the preachers of the Prosperity gospel are simply really good Calvinists. Now before my Reformed readers leave, there is much more to Calvanism that prosperity and election. Many do not actually accept the predestination idea anymore. The point is, even the Church has taught this idea that our path in life is toward prosperity and God. That one path. And this idea has spawned hundreds of years of shame, guilt and confusion.
The path to the Father is inward not outward. It may or may not be prosperous but rest assured it is not easy. Hence, Jesus saying that the path is narrow. That does not mean few find it or get to walk it. It does mean that the path inward to the Father (who has always been right there inside) is a direct path governed by love and love alone. It is easier to just not choose such a path.
Choosing such a path, a narrow path, means we have to give up! I have noted before, giving up our way, the path we think we should be on, and our ideas of what is best for us, that is the narrow path. It is also the path to Joy and Love. That is true Prosperity in God, to know and grow in the Love of the One who has always loved us. That is what it means to have “riches laid up for you in heaven”.
So what do you say? Let’s take Spock at his word let us live long and prosper. Prosper in the joyous and loving relationship the Creator of the Universe has already established within us. In this way we will live out a gospel that is opulent in love, rich in joy, and in the good fortune of loving others as much as we love ourselves.
It won’t involve a Rolls Royce or a 20 room mansion or affluence that makes us famous. It will involve giving up, letting go, letting God in all the way. And then living out John 10:10 life in abundance. Now that is prosperity.
TMM