'"Well Jim, I just want enough to provide for me and my family." Wow, now that is selfish. That's the spirit of poverty and the spirit of stupid getting married and having a child together.
Let me translate that for you: my needs are met. Who gives a rip about the rest of the world?
This kind of thinking, conscious or not, is what cripples us as believers to represent what Dad is really like.' - Jim Baker
There is no "spirit of poverty." That is a made-up NAR teaching to blame poor people for being poor. The other vile practice here is the creation of strawman arguments that no one is making. I have never heard anyone say I just want enough for me and my family. That is patently stupid to even suggest that this would be a Christian position for anyone. Let's however speculate that a Christian family has been provided for to meet their needs without a lot of extra to be able to "bless" others. How are they crippled to being unable to represent what God is really like? Why is it that only money allows us to show what God is really like? How does the underground believer in China manage to do so then? How about the indigent Christian in the Middle East? If you think you can only bless people or represent God with money? That is what really could cripple you.
"Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of England said this, "No one would have remembered the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well."Here's a revelation"you cannot be a big giver if you don't have a big abundance." - Jim Baker
Thankfully, we do not get our theology from carnal world leaders. The point of the Good Samaritan was not designed to teach finances. First of all, it is a parable. That means it did not actually happen. It is not a historical narrative. The point of the Parable of the Good Samaritan was to expose religious hypocrisy. The Samaritan was chosen as the hero because they were reviled by the audience, the Jewish people. So, it challenged their closely held biases and hatred while also exposing those religious folks who would use their religion to avoid helping people. The story includes having him pay to help the injured man to emphasize the actual points of the parable! The arrogance however of asserting that if Jesus had decided to tell this parable without the money portion that "no one would remember" is borderline blasphemous. Here is an actual revelation - if you think you cannot be a big giver without wads of cash, you are not actually about the giving. Chances are, you're all about the cash.
"Prosperity is about having more than enough not just for yourself but for other people.
"Well, Jim, money can't buy happiness." I would argue that poverty can't buy anything. People who say money can't buy happiness just simply haven't given enough of it away. I hope this challenges you. We need to be shaken out of our poor theology. There is a world that is watching and needing to see the goodness of God. Can you think of a time when your giving purchased someone else's happiness? Let's keep this ball rolling. Let our giving be contagious so that we may reflect the heart of our generous Dad." - Jim Baker
Shaken out of our poor theology? That is hysterical. Jim Baker is not representing God or His word. He is representing the false theology of money, money, money. While money cannot buy happiness that is not a biblical proverb either. Baker closes on an old, tired argument from the prosperity pimps. They set up a polar opposite dichotomy and argue that you have to pick one or the other. It's either mega-cash or poverty. As if God cannot be our provider without us becoming filthy rich. If you want to reflect the heart of the Father, then be generous with your time. Be generous with your mercy. Be generous with your grace. Sure, we should be generous with everything, including finances but that does not have to be our focus. Give as we have been given to. If God blesses us with a million dollars or enough to get by, we remain blessed. Stop making poor people feel bad or infer blame upon them. Do not follow or listen to prosperity pimps like Jim Baker. This entire article was a ruse to pursue greed. Do not fall for it. Mark and avoid.
