Personally I believe that some modern day evangelical beliefs are all mis-representing the Father and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Some modern day evangelical beliefs are all misrepresenting?" We all know that whenever statements like these are made they are unfounded, need to be examined since there is no real corroboration to these claims and they remain unfounded. But the need is to have a diving platform, which you've created for your theory. So, the foundation is faulty to start,and I will go to show why that is below.
On one end of the same tree we have those that say being in poverty is God making us humble
The more important thing here is to find out what Scripture says about this instead of the question begging and leading statements and theories that are unbiblical.
Note Proverbs 30:8 - Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with the food that is needful for me, (Note the connection of falsehood and riches, and the desire to be content)
The opposite end of the spectrum, the question begging here, if you will, is that you believe the prosperity gospel to be of God and to be biblical, and in either case this is false. 1) The biblical side shows us that to desire to be rich is a snare, a trap and is not of God or the Gospel; 2) Of which snare prosperity gospel false teachers are leading others into, and, of which the Scriptures call covetouseness and of which they condemn. 3) And to top that off if any man is covetous, speaking to those within the church, what do the Scriptures say? The warning is quite solemn, quite stern.
Scriptures for each of the above:
1) 1 Timothy 6:2-10 -- Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the soundwords of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain,for we brought nothing into the world, and[SUP]c[/SUP] we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
The above shows that without doubt preaching riches is not preaching the gospel. It warns solemnly against such, not only teachings, but teachers. It teaches us the true godliness that is content with what God has given, and the dangers of seeking to be rich. The twisting of words is what leads these teachers to deceive others. 2 Peter 2 also describes this same scenario. That is a false gospel message, and many are deceived by it. No need to put a spin on what "prosper" means when Scripture is clear, but that is what must be done and what will be done to deceive others as per this passage.
2) The above passage shows this is where these teachers lead others, into covetousness. Note 2 Peter 2:3 -- And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Note: They will use false words, they will twist words, put a spin on words in order to deceive. Brothers and sisters, I do not need to remind you who began that false gospel, right? "Has God said"? or "Here is what that really means". And we see the spin put on words "prosper" and rich turned into "full supply" which spin is contrary to sound doctrine.
3) Concerning what Scripture warns about covetousness in the NT. 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world,
or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality
or greed, or is
an idolater, reviler, drunkard,
or swindler—
not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."
Note that in the above text Paul, speaking of what the Spirit of God says, likens sexual immorality, and drunkenness on the same level as
covetousness. Paul tells this church to expel this wicked man from them, this
sexually immoral man.
Yet, he would have also told them to expel any person who was covetous and greedy in the same manner since the sins are on the exact same level.
Con'td:
Note
Ephesians 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure,
or who is covetous (that is an idolater) has no inheritance in the kingdom of God.
Note that stern warning. Paul warns we may be sure of this (that is,
the end of those who are covetous). Covetousness, being taught and suggested by these teachers is well warned against in Scriptures. The Scriptures are clear. But what will happen to rescue this evil false gospel will be to twist the meanings of words as in the first false gospel, and to entice others with the idolatry of covetousness and dressing this false gospel up. It will allure many because it appeals to the flesh and Satan is using this scheme big time to deceive man, and they think that gain is godliness when it in fact is just the opposite.
I'll address one more thing here:
- then we have those that say God makes us sick to teach us things or the equally abhorrent belief that God "allows" it so He can be glorified.
He did this with Job, and others, so let us all who are looking in be careful to not be deceived by human reason as above, but let's instead look to Scripture: Job 2:10 "But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive
good at the hand of God,
and shall we not receive evil?"
And in saying this God says through His Word, in what Job declared above "In all this Job
did not sin with his lips". Why was it necessary for God to vindicate Job here? That he in fact did not sin in what he stated? Because it is clear that Job knew that even the calamity that he had
was from God. Read the context, read chapter 1:1ff and see that this is true.
So, the testimony of Scripture is there. God was glorified, and this is not an "abhorrent belief" it is a pure, sound in doctrine Biblical belief. In calling this an "abhorrent belief" you are dead wrong sir and Scripture testifies against this. There is no need to go any further, Scripture is clear for all those who have ears to hear.
God bless all His.
