Why don't the prosperity preachers tell the whole truth?

Joel Osteen's Twitter post from 12-27 reads: "God does not have disaster and failure in your future. He is for you, and you are His treasured child. He wants to bless you."

Has Pastor Osteen said anything technically wrong? At first blush perhaps not depending on your theological persuasion. It even "sounds" like something Jeremiah might have said. "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11

So on the surface, Osteen is right; God IS a good God yet the Psalmist in Psalm 73 writes complaint after complaint about how the "good guy" is always getting the shaft while the evil doer is the one who succeeds.

So being a faithful person does not guarantee success, fairness, or justice--in THIS life. Which is why Asaph in Psalm 73 has his eureka moment writing, "When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end." Psalm 73:16-17

So how come Joel rarely if ever seems to give the whole story? Failing to do so sews discouragement to thousands of people whose lives aren't always rosy no matter how faithful they have been. The conclusion they walk away with is that their faith is faulty in some way. That they just don't measure up to the standard of faith that ensures the blessing of God which always seems to mean blessings of money and materials.

The TRUTH is, bad things happen to good people no matter how much positive talk you give yourself, or the strength of your positive thinking.

In "The Proper Pursuit of Prosperity" which goes into production in January, I explain the PROPER pursuit of prosperity which is a biblically balanced and biblically complete handling of the subject of success and affluence in this life.

I'll keep you posted on its progress!