Question:  Dear Greg,

            First of all, I would like to thank you for your efforts in writing the Plain Truth Ministry letters.  I enjoy reading them.  Sometimes they seem to supplement the current study I am doing, which is quite an amazing thing to me.  To think that something you have written directly corresponds to something I’m just digging into.  It’s awesome to see the hand of God in things.

            I am sure you are a man of God and can accept healthy criticism from other believers on your writings, so that’s why I write.  In the letter from August, 2001, you made a statement: “Winning the lottery cannot be compared with salvation, but (since we humans are convinced that money can rescue people and change their lives) the picture of someone who wins the lottery…” The part that I have a problem with is the part in parenthesis.  I understand what you are saying, and I understand that we humans sometimes narrow ourselves into seeing just earthly things as deliverance, but still it bothers me.  I do trust in God, but yet I would like money.

            I come from a family that doesn’t have a lot of money, so you can see why I get a bit upset when people comment about money not making a difference and stuff like that.  I know God can provide, but…

            Thank you for listening.

            Aaron

Answer:  Dear Aaron,

            We receive both healthy and unhealthy criticism.  Of course we prefer the healthy variety rather than the toxic!

            Your comment is certainly healthy—and thank you for it.  Let me briefly clarify.  My point in the letter is that only Jesus Christ can rescue and change us.  Money cannot do that.

            I did not say or mean to imply that money or wealth is bad.  There are a variety of unbiblical beliefs on this topic within Christianity.  One is the health and wealth/word of faith teaching, which basically says that you will be healthy and wealthy if you obey God.  If you sick and/or poor, then you are disobeying God.  Nothing at all about that in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

            The other idea is that authentic Christians will be poor—and usually proud of it.  The idea is that poverty is a mark of distinction, that we know that we belong to God if we are poor.  Once again, nothing at all about this in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

            Wealth—and the lack thereof—is essentially a “neutral” subject in the Bible.  Some of the greatest Christians have been poor all their lives, and some of the flagrant sinners have been wealthy.  God is, of course, concerned with our physical well being, but he is primarily concerned with eternal life, not our temporary lives in this mortal body.

            We have a booklet titled, “Facing Your Financial Problems” we would be happy to send you, if you do not have it already.  May God be with you and bless you, Aaron.  Thanks for your constructive comments.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht