Prosperity Propaganda I

Prosperity Propaganda – Good Christians Don’t Suffer


If you suffer it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:15-16 NIV

I was watching television and a prominent minister was teaching about suffering. He said that suffering is something we do because of poor choices (I agree). He went on to say that suffering is not something God wants for us (I agree, but I was getting nervous). And then he said it… “The only Christians that suffer are the ones that aren’t keeping God’s commands.” At that moment, I not only changed the channel but I stopped watching any Christian ministers on television for nearly ten years.

In my brief time as a Christian I can tell you that I have seen God’s people suffering. I have seen the broken marriages, loss of employment, the effects of wayward children on their parents and how some endure separation from loved ones caused by death. I have seen how people that love God have to suffer. And they suffer not only the troubles of this life, but they have suffered the humiliation that sometimes accompanies a relationship with Christ. Many of them live lives that mirror the scripture so closely, and yet, they suffer.

I think a certain level of suffering is necessary for us to become mature in the faith. I think that troubles are something we should patiently endure like good soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3). It would make sense to me that the phrase “trouble free Christian” is an oxymoron. Jesus said that anyone that wants to follow him has to pickup their own cross (Matthew 16:24). In today’s language, Jesus would say, “If you want to be my follower, pick up this torture-death device and walk my path.” That sounds to me like troubles are inevitable… But I think that the Lord is being kind to us. He hasn’t given us a prosperity propaganda that is full of smiles and dollars. He is letting us know that following him is not for the faint of heart. This will be difficult, even to death in some cases. But if you endure…, there is a crown of righteousness waiting – there is eternal life waiting – the outstretched hands of Christ are waiting - if we endure to the end. And we aren’t alone in our sufferings. Christ walks with us till the end (Matthew 28:20).