Prosperity Gospel Meets Real Life

What is Christianity supposed to look like? Some teach a "prosperity gospel," the idea that a Christian's life should be externally successful - free from suffering, illness, or debt. Others reject this on biblical grounds, but still believe a spiritualized prosperity gospel. Instead of "health and wealth" in a physical or material sense, they expect spiritual, mental, and emotional prosperity. They expect their spirit to remain calm, strong, and in control regardless of obstacles. They want to proceed smoothly on a pretty continuous basis, without being stretched beyond their internal limitations.

The Bible challenges believers to strive for internal stability. Probably this expectation is the ideal of victorious, mature Christianity (Galatians 5:22-23). Because all Christians are human, however, and live in frail bodies on a fallen planet, all Christians experience trouble (Psalm 34:19). All trials are not identical. Some trials are primarily external - Joseph unfairly thrown into prison or Job with an intense illness. Some trials are primarily internal - Paul's burden of caring for all the churches or Abraham waiting for decades to see God's promise. Trials that are external create internal challenges; Job (one of the most godly men ever) is a prime example. It can be hard to separate these. 

Consider the ongoing pandemic. A Christian's situation may be reasonably stable in the midst of all the chaos. His family is fine. His health is fine. His job is fine. His finances are fine. Even in that "fine" condition, this person would probably say it has been and continues to be a difficult year.

Even someone who is doing fine externally in these crazy days has related internal challenges. The "big" things are okay, but the external creates constant pressures and ramifications that affect the internal. If the external isn't okay - a parent is very sick with the virus, his job is about to be shut down, he can't pay his rent - the internal challenges are even greater. Both of these men may desire spiritualized prosperity - internal calmness and control. Probably neither of them is fully experiencing that.

Some of the issue is lack of spiritual maturity. Probably both men should grow and learn to respond better. On the other hand, it is important to remember that "life is hard" doesn't always mean something primarily external. Sometimes "life is hard" means mental and emotional struggles, even spiritual battles (II Corinthians 4:8). Satan has a diverse bag of tricks, and Christians are constantly beset by spiritual attacks (I Peter 5:8). The expectation of constant spiritualized prosperity is just as vulnerable as the expectation of constant physical prosperity.

Internal battles should be treated much the same way as external battles. (Yes, there is a distinction because some internal battles are clearly sin or maturity issues, but we don't always know where that distinction lies, nor does the existence of a spiritual issue negate the fact that Satan wants to use it for his purposes. The thrust of this post is not to deny legitimate spiritual issues, but rather to consider that some trials are internal by nature.)

Saying the right thing is important. In external trials, it can be relatively easy to say, "I know that God is in control" or "Life is really hard right now, but I choose to trust God." These are also the appropriate things to say in internal trials. When faced with difficult internal struggles, the humble response of yielding is just as important as in external struggles. It is still right to say, "God is good and right, and I will submit to His plan." (I Peter 5:6; Psalm 119:68, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:14-15)

Doing the right thing is also important (Job 6:10). Whether the trial is external or internal, some responses are essential. Reading the Bible more. Praying more fervently. Staying in church as much as possible. Having spiritual conversations with other Christians. Avoiding temptations.

For either type of problem, endurance is needed (Hebrews 10:35-36). One foot in front of the other. One more step. One more day. Faithfulness for as long as it takes. Not quitting.

For either type of problem, faith is needed (Hebrews 11:6). The fact that there are internal pressures does not mean that someone is not pleasing God. They actually provide a way to please God by maintaining faith in Him.

Difficult seasons of life can be like a treacherous swamp. The Christian finds himself with danger on every side, as far as his eye can see. Quicksand, miry mud, hidden roots, dangerous hanging branches, threatening weather, approaching darkness, wild animals, physical injury. As he lies helpless, a Guide comes to him and says, "There is a safe place outside this swamp, and I know how to get there." The poor man exercises faith. He trusts his Guide. He says to himself, "I believe there is an exit. I believe the Guide can safely take me there." Then he simply follows. One step at a time, he keeps walking. He may walk for hours or days without seeing the exit. He may be only one step away from the exit and might still remain unable to see it. No matter how impossible it seems to keep going, he simply trusts and takes the next step. And one day it ends, and he is safe.

In internal struggles as well as external, the suffering believer needs to just keep doing the right thing. Keep having faith in God. Keep humbly submitting. Keep acknowledging God's goodness. Keep leaning on God. Difficult internal struggles don't mean "this isn't the way the Christian life is supposed to be" any more than difficult external struggles do. They do mean that the spiritual battle is real. They do provide opportunities for growth. They do call for obedience, endurance, and faith.

Internal battles should end in some level of victory and growth, in which the believer is better prepared for the next one. But there will be a next one, because internal struggles are a common part of the Christian life. (I Corinthians 10:13)