Abundant life

Last updated

"Abundant life" is a term used to refer to Christian teachings on fullness of life. It is not an organized movement or a unique doctrine, but a name applied to the teachings and expectations of the groups and people who follow the teachings. Abundant life teachings may include expectations of prosperity and health, [1] but may also include other forms of fullness of life when faced with adverse circumstances. [2]

Contents

Origin

The term "abundant life" comes from the Bible verse John 10:10b, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." [2] "More abundantly" means to have a superabundance of a thing. "Abundant life" refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirit, soul and body. [3] "Abundant life" signifies a contrast to feelings of lack, emptiness, and dissatisfaction, and such feelings may motivate a person to seek for the meaning of life and a change in their life. [4]

Abundant life teachings, that God is a good God who wants to bless people spiritually, physically, and economically, were championed by Oral Roberts in the United States after World War II, [5] with his faith healing ministry having the most effect. [6] These teachings came at a time when many equated poverty with spirituality, and sickness with God's discipline and punishment. [7] He included the term Abundant Life in the name of many parts of his ministries, such as The Abundant Life television program, [8] the Abundant Life magazine, [9] [10] [11] the Abundant Life Prayer Group (ALPG), and the Abundant Life Building used as his world headquarters. [12] [13]

Teachings

Abundant life for a person begins with a new birth, a new relationship with God, new motivations, and a new relationship with mankind. The process of Christian maturity for that person continues with learning to live abundantly, being cleansed from sin, and learning to fight spiritual battles. [14] [15] Christian salvation and maturity is not reliance on the self-efforts of rituals, devotion, meditation, good works, asceticism, and self-control over desires, but by believing in the redemption from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24, 1 Cor 15:3–4). Through faith in divine agency, the working of the Holy Spirit, God transforms a person's desires to be more in conformity with God's will (Ephesians 2:8–10, Romans 12:1–2). [16]

Abundant life teaches prosperity and health for the total human being, including the body, mind, emotions, relationships, material needs, and eternal life. The Bible, the good news (Christianity), and salvation are essential elements of those teachings. Other elements are faith, prayer, evangelism, and concern for human worth in the areas of spiritual oppression, poverty, disease, hunger, injustice, and ignorance. In order for these teachings to affect a person's fullness of life, it is essential for that person to align their goals with God's goals. [17]

Abundant life teachings may include expectations of physical and material prosperity and good health and well-being, [1] but may also include other forms of fullness of life, including eternal life, when persecuted or suffering. [2] For a Christian, fullness of life is not measured in terms of "fun" and "living large", or in terms of wealth, prestige, position, and power, but measured by fulfilled lives of responsibility and self-restraint, and the rewards and blessings that accrue over a lifetime of pleasing God. According to the abundant life interpretation, the Bible has promises of wealth, health, and well-being, but these promises are conditional promises. According to James 1:17, God gives only good and perfect gifts, so God only gives gifts and blessings that are compatible with that person's abilities and God's goals for that person. [18] This interpretation raises serious issues and presents a condemning and discriminating view of poor or disabled Christians in the apostolic times and throughout history. [19]

The source of abundant life is identified as the Spirit of God in Galatians 5:22-23, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance". A Christian is a person who has the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9) received according to the Biblical formula (Acts 2:38). Becoming a Christian means a change to a different way of life with a different purpose. Fulfilling this purpose and experiencing abundant life go together, as described by Matthew 6:33, "But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." [20]

These are terms closely related to abundant life teachings or lifestyles that include expectations of prosperity and health, but that may also include elements of a fulfilled life by responsibility and self-restraint.

Word of Faith
Also known as Word-Faith or simply Faith, the basic teachings are that of salvation through Jesus Christ [21] and what that salvation entails. It is based on Jesus' teachings concerning the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven and the state man can receive through the atonement and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This state of new being or creation (found in the Bible verses 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15) can be received only through faith in the Word of God. The Word of Faith interpretation of this new state includes material and bodily welfare. [19]
Seed-faith
This is the teaching that the things received by faith start with a seed. [1] [22] The name "seed-faith" comes from the Bible verse Matthew 17:20, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Oral Roberts originally called this concept "Blessing Pact", which later became known as "Seed-Faith". [23]
Full Gospel
A movement that places emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that God wills for his children to be prosperous in all areas of their lives.
Prosperity gospel
Also known as prosperity theology, prosperity doctrine, or the health and wealth gospel, this is a teaching centered on the expectation that God provides material prosperity for those he favors. [24]
Health and wealth gospel
A teaching which emphasizes healing and prosperity.

The terms prosperity gospel and health and wealth gospel are used as derogatory terms for Word of Faith or Word-Faith, but the terms do not mean the same things. There are significant differences among these teachings. [6]

Oral Roberts laid the foundations of the prosperity gospel, [25] but his teachings on abundant life and seed-faith have important differences from teachers of the Faith Movement. Even though Roberts was often associated with the prosperity gospel and the faith movement because of his close doctrinal and personal ties with Word-Faith teachers, his abundant life teachings did not fully identify him with that movement. [26]

Terms the world considers contrasting

These are other terms relating to teachings or lifestyles that contrast to expectations of physical and material prosperity, but that may include elements of a fulfilled life by responsibility and self-restraint.

Vow of poverty
One of the three evangelical counsels or counsels of perfection
Voluntary poverty
A form of self-discipline by which one distances oneself from distractions from God
Testimony of simplicity
A person's spiritual life and character are more important than monetary worth or the quantity of goods possessed
Asceticism
A lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures
Simple living, or voluntary simplicity
A lifestyle characterized by consuming only that which is required to sustain life

See also

Related Research Articles

Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by baptism in the Holy Spirit, it is not caused by baptism in water. It is a core doctrine of the denominations of the Anabaptist, Moravian, Methodist, Quaker, Baptist, Plymouth Brethren and Pentecostal Churches along with all other evangelical Christian denominations. All of these Churches strongly believe Jesus' words in the Gospels: "You must be born again before you can see, or enter, the Kingdom of Heaven." Their doctrines also mandate that to be both "born again" and "saved", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pentecostalism Renewal movement within Protestant Christianity

Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, an event that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, and the speaking in unlearned tongues as described in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. In Greek, it is the name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks.

Perseverance of the saints Calvinist doctrine that the elect will continue in their faith until the end of their lives

Perseverance of the saints is a Christian teaching that asserts that once a person is truly "born of God" or "regenerated" by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they will continue doing good works and believing in God until the end of their life.

Westminster Confession of Faith Presbyterian creedal statement

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" of doctrine in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

Oral Roberts American religious leader (1918–2009)

Granville Oral Roberts was an American Charismatic Christian televangelist, ordained in both the Pentecostal Holiness and United Methodist churches. He is considered one of the forerunners for the charismatic movement and was one of the most recognized preachers in the US at the height of his recognition. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University.

Kenneth E. Hagin American theologian

Kenneth Erwin Hagin was an American preacher. He is known for pioneering the Word of Faith movement.

Jesus in Christianity Jesus as viewed in the Christian tradition

In Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God and in mainstream Christian denominations he is God the Son, the second person in the Trinity. He is believed to be the Jewish messiah who is prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, which is called the Old Testament in Christianity. It is believed that through his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection, God offered humans salvation and eternal life, that Jesus died to atone for sin to make humanity right with God.

Christ Gospel Church is a fundamentalist, Pentecostal Christian denomination. It was founded in the 1950s by Berniece R. Hicks and fellow believers starting in a small Christian mission in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Pentecostal World Fellowship is a fellowship of Evangelical Pentecostal churches and denominations from across the world. The headquarters is in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its leader is William Wilson.

Word of Faith is a worldwide Christian movement which teaches that Christians can access the power of faith through speech. Its teachings are found on radio, the Internet, television, and in some Neo-charismatic churches and communities. Traditional Pentecostal churches cannot be categorized under this teaching. The movement teaches that the salvation won by Jesus on the cross included healing and wellbeing for believers, claiming support from scripture verses such as John 10:10, 1 Peter 2:24, and Romans 10:9-10.

The means of grace in Christian theology are those things through which God gives grace. Just what this grace entails is interpreted in various ways: generally speaking, some see it as God blessing humankind so as to sustain and empower the Christian life; others see it as forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Sacred tradition is a theological term used in Christian theology. According to the theology of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian churches, sacred tradition is the foundation of the doctrinal and spiritual authority of Christianity and of the Bible. Thus, the Bible must be interpreted within the context of sacred tradition and within the community of the church. The Anglican and Methodist churches regard tradition, reason, and experience as sources of authority but as subordinate to scripture – a position known as prima scriptura. That is in contrast to the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, which teach that the Bible alone is a sufficient basis for all Christian teaching – a position known as sola scriptura.

Prosperity theology is a religious belief among some Protestant Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Material and especially financial success is seen as a sign of divine favor.

Ulf Ekman

Ulf Ekman is a former charismatic pastor and the founder of the Livets Ord organization in Sweden, which brought the Word of Faith movement to that country. Ekman is now a Catholic. Ekman is married to Birgitta Ekman and has 4 sons, Aron, Jonathan, Samuel and Benjamin.

Smith Wigglesworth British evangelist who was influential in the early history of Pentecostalism

Smith Wigglesworth was a British evangelist who was influential in the early history of Pentecostalism.

Robert Bunger Thieme, Jr. was pastor of Berachah Church, a nondenominational Christian church in Houston, Texas, from 1950 to 2003. Affectionately called "the Colonel" by his congregation, he was a dispensationalist theologian who wrote over a hundred books and conducted over 10,000 sermons on various theological topics during his 55 years as a pastor.

Free grace is a Christian soteriological view that anyone can receive eternal life the moment they believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Free Grace advocates believe that good works are not the condition to merit, maintain, or to prove eternal life, but rather are part of discipleship and the basis for receiving eternal rewards.

Gospel Hall Assemblies

The Gospel Halls are a group of independent Christian assemblies throughout the world that fellowship with each other through a set of shared Biblical doctrines and practices. Theologically, they are evangelical and dispensational. They are a conservative strand of the Open Brethren movement and tend to only collaborate with other assemblies when there is doctrinal agreement.

Christian theology Study of Christian belief and practice

Christian theology is the theology of Christian belief and practice. Such study concentrates primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, as well as on Christian tradition. Christian theologians use biblical exegesis, rational analysis and argument. Theologians may undertake the study of Christian theology for a variety of reasons, such as in order to:

Evangelical theology is the teaching and doctrine that relates to spiritual matters in evangelical Christianity and a Christian theology. The main points concern the place of the Bible, the Trinity, worship, Salvation, sanctification, charity, evangelism and the end of time.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Statement of Faith". Oral Roberts Ministries. Archived from the original on 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "John 10:10 — The Abundant Life". Grace Communion International. 2000.
  3. ↑ Oral Roberts (1969) [1947]. If You Need Healing, Do These Things (4th ed.). Whitefish, MT, USA: Kessinger Publishing. Sections: A personal word; God's abundance of life. ISBN   0548384908. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. ...minister to the peoples of the world with the goal of seeing them made whole in mind, body and soul. ... God seeks to give men life – more abundant life – life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength. He is life itself and He seeks to share it with us.
  4. ↑ "Bible Verses about Abundant Life". Crossway Bibles. 2001.
  5. ↑ Bill Sherman (December 20, 2009). "Oral Roberts 1918-2009: A Lasting Influence" (PDF). Tulsa World . p. 2. God is a good God who wants to bless people spiritually, physically and economically.
  6. 1 2 Ted Olsen (December 16, 2009). "Why the Oral Roberts Obituaries Are Wrong". Christianity Today . Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Celebrating the Life of Oral Roberts: The Man Who Obeyed God". Oral Roberts Ministries. Archived from the original on 2011-06-23.
  8. ↑ "Oral Roberts, OAB Hall of Fame, Inducted 2010". Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters (OAB). November 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27.
  9. ↑ "Oral Roberts". Telegraph (UK). December 16, 2009.
  10. ↑ David E. Pratte (2000). "Part I: The Nature of Spiritual Gifts". Miracles and Spiritual Gifts: The Bible Teaching about Prophecy, Tongues, Healings, and Holy Spirit Baptism. The Gospel Way.
  11. ↑ David Edwin Harrell, Jr. (1985). Oral Roberts: an American life. pp. 274–275. ISBN   0253114411.
  12. ↑ Bill Miller (September 2, 2009). "The Abundant Life Building, 1957". Historic Tulsa. Location: on South Boulder Avenue and between West 17th and 18th Street, Riverside, Tulsa, OK 74119
  13. ↑ David Linde; Johnny Fletcher. "Abundant Life Building". Abandoned Oklahoma.
  14. ↑ Bill Bright. "2: The Christian and the Abundant Life". 10 Basic Steps to Christian Maturity. Campus Crusade for Christ. Archived from the original on 2010-06-26.
  15. ↑ Bill Bright (1994). The Christian & the Abundant Life Step 2, 10 Basic Steps Toward Christian Maturity. New Life Resources. ISBN   9781563990311.
  16. ↑ Fritz Ridenour (2001) [1967]. So What's the Difference?. Regal Books / Gospel Light. pp. 97, 107. ISBN   0-8307-1898-2.
  17. ↑ "What Does The Bible Mean By "Abundant Life"?". Spirit-Filled Life Bible. Quoted by Living Way Ministries. January 2002. Section: The study notes of John 10:10. Archived from the original on 2009-12-14.
  18. ↑ Richard T. Ritenbaugh of Church of the Great God (July 2005). "Are You Living the Abundant Life?". Forerunner. Bibletools. Section: "Ready Answer".
  19. 1 2 Richard J. Vincent (c. 1997). "An Examination of the Word-Faith Movement". Apologetics Coordination Team (ACT).
  20. ↑ David C. Pack (2004). "You Can Live the Abundant Life!". The Restored Church of God.
  21. ↑ "Salvation: Foundational Teachings". Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17.
  22. ↑ "Seed-Faith". Oral Roberts Ministries.
  23. ↑ Bill Sherman (December 15, 2009). "Oral Roberts dies". Tulsa World .
  24. ↑ David Van Biema (September 10, 2006). "Does God Want You To Be Rich?". Time . Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  25. ↑ Keith Schneider (December 15, 2009). "Oral Roberts, Fiery Preacher, Dies at 91". The New York Times . Archived from the original on March 31, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  26. ↑ Daniel G. Reid; Robert Dean Linder; Bruce L. Shelley; Harry S. Stout (1990). Dictionary of Christianity in America. Westmont, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. ISBN   978-0-8308-1776-4.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.