Hey Gordo

Its good to hear that you think you don’t need more money. Could you start forwarding your Matthias Media paycheque to my bank account? Much appreciated.

But seriously, though I in no way wish to defend anyone who makes the assertion that God promises financial blessing in this life, nonetheless I think you have quoted Brian Houston out of context. The quote is from his Introduction, which is intentionally provocative. Part of his thesis (I haven’t read the entire book) is that, we need more money SO THAT we can be a blessing to others.

For example he says,

‘Money can accomplish tremendous things for the Kingdom of God.’ (8)

and

‘There are those who emphatically reject the notion that God could want them to be wealthy. They feel more comfortable serving God with nothing, but with this mentality, they limit their ability to bless anyone, and actually require others to resource them. They become part of the need instead of the answer.’ (9)

In 1 Timothy 6, Paul calls for the rich not to embrace poverty, but to be generous and humble.

I think labelling someone a ‘false teacher’ because they say ‘you need more money’ to be able to serve more people, is a little over the top. To label someone a ‘false teacher’, who claims to follow Christ, is an enormous thing, and should not be said without good reason and ample evidence.

If you wanted to throw mud, you would be better throwing it at comments like, ‘Poverty is definitely not God’s will for His people. In fact, all His promises talk of blessing an prosperity.’ (9)

But, if you still think you don’t need more money, my bank account is always open.

Toby Neal

Tobes,

nice to have you commenting here!

Unlike you, I have read the book (but thank you for your humility in admitting that you haven’t). I am very confident that the quote is in context. It is an introduction to the book intended to summarize the basic message*, and having read the entire book with increasing irritation, I find nothing to contradict what the introduction says, and much to reinforce it.

*Note the first statement “I’m going to get straight to the point”. He does, and it really is.

Gordon,

I do think this it very unjust to Rowan Williams to compare his view on homosexuality to the emphasis on money in the quotation from what you were reading on the bus. That quotation (whether in isolation it fairly represents the views of its author or not) virtually declares that making money is the central message of the Bible.

Williams may be wrong about homosexuality and the Bible but it would be quite untrue to say that he gives the subject the sort of overpowering emphasis that is given to money in that passage. He does not read the entire Bible through the lens of homosexuality the way the passage you quote seems to do with money. He never suggests that homosexuality is “the answer to everything”.

By all means challenge the A of C, or anyone else, on mistaken views. And sometimes it is necessary to call some people “wolfs in sheeps’ clothing”. But there is a real issue here about presuming to see inside others’ souls. In Williams’ case the wolf verdict is far wide of the mark.

Andrew Gleeson