The Doctrine of Baalam or the Root of all Evil?

I agree with the conclusions of your post, but perhaps not the route you took to get there. :)

McGee says that the doctrine of Baalam (and my reading concurs with this) is what he told the king after he blessed Israel - that the only way to defeat Israel was to intermarry with them. And indeed, that's what caused Israel to have continual downfall. Therefore, I tend to think the doctrine of Baalam as the doctrine of compromise with the world, "intermarrying" and worshipping the gods of this world as the Israelites intermarried and began to worship the gods of Canaan. The OT is all about not intermarrying away from the faith - we have the entire book of Nehemiah, for example.

As for the mingling of money with the faith - well, we're supposed to pay our preachers, Paul made that pretty clear (at the same time he supported himself with tentmaking). But otherwise - yeah, ewwwwwww. The prosperity preachers make me feel ill myself. The *FIRST* thing that will turn me off of a preacher permanently is a plea for money that I feel is over the top. Yes, they have to make expenses... but you and I both know when "expenses" mean limosines, it's time to find another preacher.

1 Timothy 6: 6-12, 17-19 But godliness with contentment is great gain; For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, unto which thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. ... Charge them that are rich in this age, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to share, Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

I always think of myself as one of the "rich" in this verse, not that I'm rich for an American, but by definition of living a middle class American lifestyle, I'm rich in comparison to the rest of this world. It's a concern to keep that in mind, "ready to distribute". As for the prosperity preachers, "erred from the faith" seems to apply. Some started with the faith, some likely believe it... but they have erred.

Oprah - Again, I don't pay much mind to her. But ... I guess that's part of the point? Not paying much mind and just watching her wander through life, it seems that she gives the impression of being a "good Christian woman" to many of her followers. I'll have to ask my board... hmm, how to do that non-confrontationally?

Ananias and Saphira - I'd always thought (and this seems to be very much like prosperity preachers) that their sin wasn't the money, it was the LYING about the money. They weren't under obligation to give all that money, but they wanted the props for it AND they wanted to keep some for themselves.

In agreement all in all - the church is rotten with folks urging us to intermarry with the world and run after money. I can't think of a better definition for the prosperity gospel and the new-agey "think it into being" nonsense than that! The question is, will the coming economic depression cleanse the church and get us back on track?