Challenging the Prosperity Gospel

Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

We see each person that attends our weekly session, as that treasure that was hidden in a field called Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. If you only knew how valuable you are to this community. You are priceless. And it’s all because of the treasure that is within you.

Paul wrote: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels; that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” - 2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

Urban Life isn’t a large ministry, but we have a prosperous work. The prosperity far exceeds what money could buy. The Word of God told Chris and Carol Green to sell all and buy THIS field because they had discovered the hidden treasure within it. That treasure was a select and special people who understood what it means to always carry in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in them. Even though you have been hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down, you have not been crushed, despaired, forsaken, or destroyed because you have a treasure within you.

Over the past 30 years, America has been saturated with the so-called prosperity gospel, where the emphasis was placed on quantifiable blessings through earthly assets and finances. That message caused many ministries and churches to grow into massive mega-congregations during the 1980's and 1990's. However, true prosperity is that which takes place in the soul of a person. Yet, the soul prosperity message doesn't seem to cause rapid growth. In fact, it seems to take months to hear it, and even longer to receive it.

Ever since we first moved to this region, we have been asked, 'Why in the world would one want to move to and start a ministry in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?' Many people felt it was their duty to inform us that there’s nothing in Harrisburg. Our answer, today, is the same as it was when we first arrived. We came here because God told us to GO and work in this part of the vineyard.

After we arrived in this field, we found its hidden treasure. It wasn’t in the government, business, education, sports or entertainment. We have watched organizations and churches fight over memberships, grants, donations and contributions through fund raisers, activities and events.

Thankfully, we discovered that the treasure was in God’s people. The treasure was in YOU. The treasure was not your tithes and offerings. The treasure was not your property or special connections with rich people. The treasure was IN you. It’s CHRIST in you. It’s HIS LIFE in you. It’s HIS PURPOSE through you. It’s the rivers of living water flowing out of you. With this understanding, we can now change the emphasis of the prosperity gospel; that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

So today, hopefully, you can understand why we consider ourselves to be two of the wealthiest people in Pennsylvania. We found treasure, hidden in a field, and it’s been worth it all to purchase that field. We have learned that you cannot measure one's prosperity by their income. You measure it by their investment. We found treasure!