We need to remind ourselves that our Articles of Faith affirm the “plenary inspiration” of the Holy Scriptures (Article IV). By this we mean that the authority of the Bible is to be found in its wholeness, not in any of its individual parts considered to the neglect of its message elsewhere. In this we follow John Wesley’s insistence that biblical truth resides in “the whole tenor of scripture.”

The books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Proverbs, and some of the Prophets certainly emphasize that the blessings of prosperity and physical well-being came as a result of Israel’s obedience to God. Likewise, these books recognize that disaster befell the nation when it rebelled against God.

Long experience testifies that natural consequences arise from our choices as individuals and nations. Sin is its own punishment and righteousness its own reward. Statistical correlations exist, for example, between smoking and diseases such as lung cancer and emphysema. Likewise, a wholesome lifestyle statistically correlates with longevity. But every human—obedient or rebellious—eventually dies. Apparently the promise of the so-called “prosperity gospel” has an expiration date.

The stories of Job, Jesus, Paul, and the persecuted—even martyred—early Christians serve as important biblical cautions against presuming anything like a pledge of perpetual health and wealth for the faithful. A person whose life ended in shame, who was abandoned by friends and apparently even by God, would hardly be judged a success by worldly standards. God vindicated his Son by raising Him from death, not by blessing Him with painless prosperity.

Are we blind to the millions of Christians around the world who are faithful and nevertheless still suffer as a result of grinding poverty and oppressive governments? Those who claim that God wants only the best for His children as evidenced by mansions and BMWs need to look again at the Cross and at the evening news. If we imagine that self-preservation is more important than suffering servanthood, we should ask whose disciples we profess to be. There are things far worse than physical suffering and death (Matthew 10:28).

Job’s would-be comforters insisted that his suffering was God’s punishment for his sins. Job maintained his innocence and blamed God for his undeserved agony. Although the voice from the whirlwind scolds Job for his ignorance, it vindicates his innocence. God charges Job’s friends with cherishing foolish ideas about the causes of suffering in the world. Unfortunately, the “prosperity gospel” draws its inspiration from similarly discredited, overly simplistic views that are challenged by the whole tenor of Scripture.

Jesus’ earliest disciples were shocked to learn that it was easier to thread a camel through the opening in a sewing needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:16-26). They had mistakenly assumed that wealth was a clear sign of God’s blessing. Far from it! Paul insists that those who “want to get rich” are headed for disaster (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

The disciples also assumed that a man born blind was suffering for either his own prenatal sins or the sins of his parents. Jesus rejected both options but offered no explanation for the man’s congenital condition (John 9). Jesus saw the man’s suffering as an occasion to show compassion. The disciples were preoccupied with the question “Why?” Jesus saw the real question as “What can we do to help?”

Jesus refused to explain atrocities or tragic accidents as acts of God, as divine punishment for notorious sinners. Instead, He challenged those who escaped disaster to repent while there was still time (Luke 13:1-5).

Those who offer ironclad formulas for health and wealth fail to take Jesus seriously. What He calls for is not presumption but unwavering trust in the Heavenly Father, who gives those who seek His kingdom all they really need (Matthew 6:25-34).—gl