John Piper and prosperity gospel

As we wrap up the holiday season and face the realities of our credit card bills, I think it's good to reflect on the ways that money and God connect. And being a Westerner in the Third World, I certainly see the effects of this. Our Western poverty looks like lavish wealth to them, and so the message that we bring to them of God's love can easily be misconstrued. The craziest thing of all is that the gap keeps widening. Perhaps the world's current recession will keep the developed nations' economies from booming at such a rampant pace, but even so, the recession is likely to break the backs of those in the Third World, literally causing them to lose the little ground that they've been making. This gap is frightening because money is a seductive thing. Islam has no qualms about using their wealth to spread their religion among the poor, and the poor can be easily swayed when survival is on the line.

I feel like the impetus is on Christians in two ways.

First off, to reject the prosperity gospel in all its forms. Secondly, to embrace a lifestyle of giving--particularly to causes that will aid the physical and spiritual poverty found in the Third World. This lifestyle in fact will scream and preach and evangelize that money does not bring us pleasure and security and happiness...God brings us pleasure and security and happiness. That's a lifestyle that is living out the true Gospel.