Your rich life now?

So I got a letter in the mail this week that I dismissed as silly at first, but can't stop thinking about now. I threw it away so I can't remember all of the details, but here was the general idea:

The letter was supposedly from some (ex?)preacher that had prayed over every word in the letter and was led for some reason to send it to me (and everyone else on his mailing list.) It contained instructions on how to send off for my FREE golden cross trinket - which had also been prayed over extensively. Once I had this cross and was wearing it, keeping it in my pocket, etc., I was pretty much guaranteed to be blessed spiritually, physically, and most of all financially. What a deal!

This letter was quite long - also included a separate sealed section containing prophecies just for me regarding my upcoming success that I wasn't to open until I had received my cross - and full of testimonies of others that had received theirs and were singing it's praises. All from their newly acquired mansions, I'm sure. It soon found its way to the trash - but of course not before I tried to convice Kel that I was going to send off for one first. :)

It was completely based on Matthew 18:19, which says: "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." Hmm. Well, I guess we have God right where we want him, huh? Congratulations! Looks like we just secured our genie in a bottle.

You don't have to look far to know that the prosperity gospel is alive and well. And, to their credit, Jesus did say that he came to give us life and give it abundantly. But, how about some perspective? This God who gave up his own son for us, to spare us from his wrath, for no other reason except that he loved us in spite of our hatred toward him... is now turning to us and saying "whatever you ask I'll do." And our first thought is "show me the money!" Could there be a bigger slap in the face? Could there be a more clear way to look at the astounding gift of grace and dismiss it as not enough? It can't be an accident that God made that promise. However, I've got to think that just maybe before we take him up on it we might want to consider his selflessness towards us and make our request in the same way.

Rant over. Oh well, maybe we'll get our billion dollar sweepstakes notification in the mail next week and I'll take it all back . . . ;)

-Jeff