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This just makes me sick to my stomach. Here's the rundown on the theology. There is a whole segment of the Christian church that believes in a "Prosperity Gospel." It basically breaks down to this - they take all of the Old Testament promises that God made to the nation of Israel about receiving a nation, wealth, and material blessings if they obeyed the law. They didn't, but that's another story. These people start with the assumption that the church is the new Israel, so all of the of Old Testament promises to Israel now get applied to christians. The key to unlocking all of these wonderful promises? Why, faith of course.
Here's where it goes hinky. It's not faith in the ability of God to do these things, it's faith in faith itself as the key. It's not God's will that gives you blessing, it's your own faith that makes it happen. That's why they won't hear anything negative - it tears down their faith, and then it won't happen. That's the tragedy of a self-referential theology; nothing can disprove it. When the car loan isn't approved, she'll believe that it was her lack of faith that resulted in her not having a PT cruiser, so the next time she wants something, she'll just try to believe it even harder.
It might be instructive for Prosperity Gospel people to read through the lives of some of the early heroes of the faith. Paul, who never had a home and lived off of his work as a tent-maker his whole life. John, who died alone on an island with nothing in the world but his writings. Jesus, whose "material blessings" consisted of a cloak and sandals. If faith was the "magic" that works out to material things, surely these guys could have "faithed" themselves some nicer circumstances.
And here's my theology for the day. Sometimes I love God and hate his people.
-sm
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