On September 20, 2012, ABC News’
Nightline Fix published an article that I actually found on Yahoo news called
“Lifestyles of the Rich – and Spiritual – on Preachers of L.A.” “Preachers of
L.A.” is a show about the lives wealthy preachers in Los Angeles. There was already some religious opposition to the show just based on
what was seen in the trailer. ABC News’ Nightline Fix interviewed some of the
preachers on the show trying to get the “real story” of these “preachers” and
found, for some of them, there was no difference between the trailer and the
interview. Some of these preachers may have found Jesus and success is just a
nice side benefit, but I feel sorry for those who are preaching for the side
benefits instead of God’s gifts.
This article brings forth the
opportunity for me to explain the dramatic differences between the gospel and
the prosperity gospel. The gospel explains that Jesus is the Son of God, he
died for our sins, he rose from the dead, and the only way to get to heaven is
to believe in that. The gospel also explains that there will be suffering and
persecution on the road to heaven, but that the reward will be worth it in the
end.
The prosperity gospel is an
extremely mutated version of the gospel that has been built up by society and
it says “If you work hard, do your best to remain pure, and pray to God, you
will get what you wish.” This is not true; God is not a shooting star or a
genie. God may bless believers with a success in their lifetimes and isn’t for
them wrong to be glad for that. However, praying to God for the sole purpose of
receiving fame and fortune is wrong.
I am not going to waste my time
trying to decide which preacher is in the wrong and which one is in the right
because it is not my place to decide the fate of others. However, Los Angeles,
the city of angels, is where most souls are lost, their eyes clouded by the desire
to realize their dreams.
Los Angeles is the second largest
city in the United States and ministries there might not receive as much
scrutiny if Hollywood weren’t so nearby.
The people of Los Angeles are searching for life in fame and fortune,
not God, and that may be why this is Oxygen’s new show next month. Some people
question the discipline of these preachers to do their jobs correctly. Oxygen
is making this new show because viewers now have plenty of reason to doubt the
religious leaders of Los Angeles and believers just need to have faith that God
will use the preachers profiled as good examples of Jesus’ disciples.
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