Was Christ rich?

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Sunday, October 22, 2006) published an article with the title, "Was Jesus Rich?" The subtitle of the article was, "Swanky messiah not far-fetched in Prosperity Gospel." The article says that Christians have sung for many years about Jesus as the poor baby "asleep in a manger with a crib for his bed." According to the article, Creflo Dollar, a popular television evangelist, denies that view of Jesus. He argues that Jesus Christ became wealthy because of the gifts from the kings who came to visit him when he was born. The kings of east brought to him and to his family gold, frankincense and myrrh. In fact, according to Creflo Dollar, Jesus had so much money he had to have an accountant to keep track of his money. He affirms that Jesus wore such expensive clothing that the Roman soldiers who participated in his crucifixion gambled for his robe. Dollar asserts: "He was rich, he was whole, and I use those words interchangeably" (p. MS-1).

 

Incidentally, I might be in imminent danger in discussing and exposing the errors of Creflo Dollar and other prosperity preachers. I heard Dollar say one time that we must not mess with God's anointed. Apparently he considers himself to be God's anointed. The article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Dollar's preaching on television raise a number of great concerns for all sincere Bible students. For example, is there even one reputable Bible scholar in the world—conservative, liberal, radical or otherwise—who believes that Jesus was rich? Creflo Dollar is a very articulate speaker, but he is not a Bible scholar. O I am aware that many Bible scholars are way out in left field, but not all of them are. Not one of the so-called prosperity preachers—not T. D. Jakes, nor Oral Roberts, nor Eddie Long—is a Bible scholar. I am not being hypercritical, but that is a fact.

 

How much gold, frankincense and myrrh would it have taken to make Jesus rich? Did the wise men from the east bring an once or a pound or a wagonload of gold?    Frankincense and myrrh were very expensive items, but no one—not Creflo Dollar and no one else—knows how much of these items the wise men brought to Jesus. The only reason the prosperity preachers maintain that Jesus was rich is to try to justify their own lust for riches. There is not a man on earth who knows how much gold, frankincense and myrrh our Lord and his family received at his birth. There is one thing for sure, however, those gifts did not make Christ rich. How do we know that?

 

The apostle Paul sought to motivate and to comfort the Corinthians and faithful people through the ages by writing: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). Have Creflo Dollar and the other prosperity gospel preachers ever read this verse? If they have read it, they almost certainly will avoid preaching any sermons on it. If they examined the verse carefully, they would know that it contradicts their view that Jesus was rich. The simple and inspiring truth of this verse cannot be harmonized with the so-called "health and wealth gospel." Let us examine every expression in this beautiful passage.

 

What did Paul mean by the clause, "Though he was rich?" The answer to my question is very easy to discover. Jesus Christ owned the entire universe since he was its Creator. These familiar words from the gospel according to John confirm that truth. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:1-3). The apostle Paul informed the Colossian Christians: Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Col. 1:15-17). The author of Hebrews agrees with both John and Paul. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days, spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Heb. 1:1-2). Would you not agree that the One who made the world and is heir of all things was rich beyond our comprehension?

 

Jesus Christ was rich when he existed with the Father in heaven, but because of his infinite love for fallen humanity, he became poor when he came to this earth. Just how poor was he when he walked this earth that he himself had created and continues to keep operating? Luke the Greek physician recorded these words from Jesus Christ himself: "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head" (Lk. 9:58). I grew up in a community that had its share of poor people—including my own family—but I did not know one person who did not have a place to lay his head. Not one of our neighbors had a $2 million house like the one Joyce Meyers and her husband own, but they did have a place to sleep. There is no evidence that Jesus Christ ever owned one foot of real estate or a camel or a donkey or any furniture or other earthly possessions. If Creflo Dollar, T. D. Jakes, Oral Roberts and Eddie Long do not know that, they certainly are not Bible scholars. In fact, they are not even good Bible students. If they know that and preach the perverted health and wealth message anyway, they are not honest. Is it not obvious that they are searching for ways to justify their inordinate desire to be wealthy and powerful? Some of the television evangelists are rich—very rich. I have not heard one of them apologize for fleecing his flock to become wealthy.

 

I plan to return to 2 Corinthians 8:9 in a very short time, but I must urge all of the prosperity preachers to listen to Ray Stevens' song, "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex on His Television Show?" The song tells of a man who awakened to hear a health and wealth preacher on television who was asking for $20 with $10,000 on his arm. In fact, the man was getting ready to write a check to the television ministry when he asked himself, "Would Jesus wear a pinky ring? Would he drive a fancy car? Would he have a second house in Palm Springs to try to hide his worth?" The song reminds me of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "Elmer Gantry." If you have not read the novel or seen the movie based on it, you would do yourself a favor by doing one or the other. The story is a very realistic description of the antics of many of the television preachers.

 

Before Jim Bakker learned better, he also preached the health and wealth gospel. An article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal quoted Jim as saying that he and Tammy Faye had given virtually all of their worldly possessions to the PTL television ministry. There was a very serious problem with his statement. It was a falsehood and he knew it. Investigative reporters learned that he owned a $400,000 house in California, a Mercedes Benz and other property valued at nearly a million dollars. I am not criticizing Jim Bakker or anyone else for having houses and other properties. But when preachers or others bleed their constituents by promising them great wealth if the constituents support the radio or television ministries of the preachers, they are twisting the scriptures: They are as unscrupulous as Elmer Gantry.

 

             Jesus became poor that through his poverty we might become rich. In other words, he left the glories and riches of heaven to come to earth to die for your sins and mine. Let us examine both words—"poor" and "poverty." W. E. Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words (Westwood, NJ: Barbour and Company, Inc., 1940) defines the verb, "became poor," "to be poor as a beggar, to be destitute." The passage Vine uses to illustrate the definition of the word is the one I am discussing with you (p. 192). The word "poverty" is closely related to the word "poor." Vine defines the word "poverty" to mean "destitution." He says the word "is used of the poverty which Christ voluntarily experienced on our behalf; of the destitute condition of the saints in Judea (2 Cor. 8:2); of the condition of the saints in Smyrna (Rev. 2:9), where the word is used in a general sense" (p. 196). How anyone can analyze this verse and still argue that Jesus was rich staggers the imagination.

 

Paul insists that Jesus became poor like a beggar that his followers might be rich. Is Paul saying that we are to enjoy large bank accounts, have expensive homes and automobiles and other material possessions in abundance? Please understand that I am not teaching that rich men cannot be God's faithful servants. I have no doubt that both Job and Abraham were very wealthy. No serious Bible student denies their devotion to their God. The apostle Paul does not condemn rich people, but does urge Timothy: "Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Godly rich people— and rich people can be godly—must use their riches for the glory of God.

 

When Paul affirms that Jesus became poor that we might be rich, what kind of riches did he have in mind? To teach that he became poverty-stricken that we might have millions in the bank is to belittle the enormous sacrifice Christ made for sinful humanity. James severely criticizes some of the early Christians for discriminating against the poor. He asks: "Are you not partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to them who love him" (Jas. 2:4-5)? God desires that all his children be rich in faith—not necessarily rich in material possessions.

 

But did not the apostle John pray that Gaius might prosper? Yes, as a matter of fact, he did (3 John 1-2). Was John speaking of financial prosperity? If the word of God promises financial prosperity to all people who give generously to the cause of Christ, what was wrong with the apostle Paul's behavior? There were times in Paul's life when he did not have enough to wear or to eat. He told the Philippians: "Not that I speak in respect to want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Phil. 4:11-12). Was he hungering and suffering need because he had not given generously to the cause of Christ? Even to hint at such a conclusion shows blatant disrespect for the scriptures and for the life of this great apostle.

 

The Philippians had been generous in supporting the apostle Paul. Paul thanked them for their "fellowship in the gospel from the first day" until the time he wrote his epistle to them (Phil. 1:5). Paul assured his brothers and sisters at Philippi: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Notwithstanding you have done well, that you did communicate with my affliction. Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: having received of Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you, an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ" (Phil. 4:15-19).

 

If God guarantees financial prosperity to faithful Christians, what was wrong with Paul? The author of the article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Creflo Dollar: If Jesus and his disciples were not poor, what does that say about the millions and millions of Christians throughout the world who have been extremely poor? Dollar suggested they did not understand. He says people cannot do better if they do not know better. He was poor and broke until he learned to think differently (p. MS-4). I wonder why the apostle Paul did not have a better grasp of the gospel. Does it not make sense that an apostle would know what to think and how to think in order be rich?

 

One of the members of Dollar's church says he "was homeless and hopeless" until he learned that Jesus preached to the poor so they wouldn't be poor any more. He is now a successful salesman. "He says he believes Jesus was rich because some biblical translations suggest Jesus—as a baby—was visited by a caravan of about 200 kings bearing gold, not three wise men. Jesus also needed wealth to pay travel expenses for his 12 disciples as they took the Gospel from city to city" (p. MS-4). This brief excerpt from the newspaper article raises a number of questions.   Is that salesman successful only because he joined Creflo Dollar's church? Are all the members of that church successful and rich? What translation suggests that a caravan of 200 kings visited the baby Jesus? Would it not help all of us had he given us access to the translation? There is not one reputable translation that provides that kind of information. Besides, the men who visited Jesus were not kings; they were wise men. The Greek word is magoi—not basileos. Our English word "magi" comes from the Greek word translated "wise men." Where did the member of Creflo Dollar's church learn that Jesus preached to the poor so they would not be poor any more? Where is the scripture that teaches that?

 

How much money did Christ and the apostles need to travel from city to city to preach the gospel? They did not travel on a Boeing 747. They walked or rode donkeys. They did need some money to buy food and to pay for lodging. Do Dollar and his followers know that certain women who had money helped to pay the traveling expenses of Christ and of the apostles? Luke explains: "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's servant, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto him of their substance" (Lk. 8:1-3). And do they know that Christ commanded his disciples: "Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip (or bag), neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece" (Lk. 9:3)? Why did Jesus urge them not to take any of the items he listed? The places where they preached would furnish their needs. Jesus told his disciples: "And whatsoever house you enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them" (Lk. 9:4-5).

 

Dr. Eric Myers is professor of archaeology at Duke University. He is also editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia in the Near East. Dr. Myers personally excavated the ancient city of Nazareth. He points out that Jesus was so poor he could not afford his own tomb for burial. "There is no way to speak of wealth in that context," Dr. Myers insists. "This is living at the margins of society, eking out an agricultural existence" (p. MS-5).

 

Is it reasonable for me to use the time on this program to expose the teaching of Creflo Dollar and similar prosperity preachers? I know there are hundreds of other topics that demand our attention. But it is important that we know about the deception of the health and wealth evangelists. Let me give you one example of the damage such false doctrines do. A poor man in West Tennessee heard one of the television evangelists promise a great amount of money in return for his gift to that television ministry. The man sent a substantial amount of money to the preacher. Instead of being rewarded generously for his gift, he lost his job and his child became critically ill. He realized that the preacher had deceived him. The man not only quit listening to the deceiver, he lost faith in all religion. That unquestionably has happened hundreds of times.

 

I have absolutely no doubt God will bless us when we do his will. But does that blessing always involve getting rich? Paul assured the Philippians: "My God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). May God help us to do his will so we may inherit eternal life!

 

Winford Claiborne