Your Best Life Now ang pamagat ng bestseller ni Joel Osteen, isang megachurch pastor. Napaka-influential ng librong ito, na milyon-milyong kopya na ang naibenta around the world. There’s a good chance na nabasa mo na rin at, kagaya namin, marami ring natutuhan. Para kay Osteen, ang susi para maisakatuparan ang iyong “best life now” ay God’s favor.
“Favor” ang ginagamit ni Osteen para ipaliwanag ang everyday miracles sa buhay. Ito ’yung mga bagay na hindi naman inaasahan o hindi karaniwang nangyayari, but because we confess it every day, nagkakaroon ng breakthrough sa buhay natin.
For Osteen: “When you live favor-minded, you’ll begin to see God’s goodness in the everyday, ordinary details…. You may be stuck in traffic. The lane next to you is moving well, but you just can’t get over there. Then, suddenly, for no apparent reason, somebody slows down and waves you in. That’s the favor of God.”
Sa kanyang libro, maraming kuwento si Osteen para ma-encourage ang readers na maging “favor-minded.” Sa Chapter 6, halimbawa, ikinuwento niya ang isang moment sa eroplano na bigla siyang pinalipat mula sa economy papunta sa first class ng flight attendant. Hindi niya ito inaasahan, pero alam niyang favor ito ng Lord. Paliwanag niya: “I knew that it was my heavenly Father giving me preferential treatment. I knew it was the favor of God causing me to stand out above the rest.”
We’re sure na marami sa atin ang nakaka-relate sa mensahe ni Osteen at sa kanyang mga kuwento. Sa churches natin, marami tayong testimonies na parang ganyan. Maliit man o malaki, game na game tayong i-testify ang kabutihan — o favor — ni Lord. ’Yung iba nga, 30 minutes na, hindi pa tapos ang kuwento.
Gusto rin natin ang ganitong testimonies, lalo sa small groups, kasi powerful narratives ang mga ito to encourage other believers na, sila rin, puwede rin makaranas ng favor ng Lord. Malaki rin ang tulong ng pakikinig at pag-share ng testimonies sa pagpapalalim ng commitment ng isang Christian.
One part of the story
Although maraming nakaka-relate sa encouraging message ni Osteen, many others have also criticized him. Sinasabi ng ibang pastors at theologians, halimbawa, na mababaw ang understanding ni Osteen pagdating sa divine grace. Sinasabi rin ng iba na, para kay Osteen, “source of uplifting stories” lang ang Bible at si Jesus is no more than a “self-help guru” na matutulungan tayo “to overcome negative emotions.”
While we understand ’yung pinanggagalingan ng criticisms na ito, sa tingin namin hindi rin helpful na i-reject wholesale ang convictions ng maraming Christians who are drawn to Osteen’s message. Kasama na rin dito ang iba pang katuruan that focus on victory and personal breakthroughs.
Collectively, puwede nating i-categorize ang mga ito under the prosperity gospel.
Para kay Russell Johnson, isang theologian, “We can read Osteen best if we read him as telling only one part of the story.” The point that he makes is that divine blessing is indeed found in the Bible. At the same time, na-encounter din niya sa kanyang research ang Christians na nakakilala kay Kristo sa pamamagitan ng mga katuruan ni Osteen. He has thus concluded that the most effective way to engage the prosperity gospel is by first acknowledging its merits. Pagkatapos, we should also say that there’s so much more beyond it.
Activating one’s faith
So, ano nga ba ang focus ng pagiging favor-minded?
Gaya ng nabanggit kanina, ang favor ng Lord ay maaaring maranasan ng isang tao sa iba’t ibang area ng buhay niya. Mula sa bahay hanggang sa trabaho, pati na rin sa paghahanap ng parking at lulusutan sa traffic. Kapansin-pansin ’yung focus nito sa material needs ng isang tao, pero kasama na rin dito ’yung personal convenience. Either way, makikitang very individualistic ang concerns na pinahahalagahan ng mensahe ni Osteen.
At the same time, makikita rin ang pagiging individualistic ng mensahe ni Osteen sa kanyang emphasis kung paano raw mararanasan ng isang tao ang divine blessings. Specifically, malakas ang psychological dimension sa pagiging favor-minded sa libro ni Osteen. According to him: “We limit God’s ability to bless us by imagining ourselves as unlikely or unworthy to receive blessings. We need to change our understanding of ourselves and our world, and then we will be primed to receive the good gifts God wants to bestow on us.”
Many of us Christians dito sa Pilipinas ang makakarelate sa mensaheng ito. We’re very sure that many of us have read Osteen’s books. Pero it’s also possible na na-encounter natin ang ganitong mga katuruan through other means.
For example, ilang beses na nating narinig mai-preach sa churches natin na ang blessings ng Lord ay “siksik, liglig, at umaapaw.” At para ma-experience ang nag-uumapaw na blessings ng Lord, kailangang i-activate din natin ang faith natin. For some Christians, mahalaga ang positive confession about ourselves, lalo na when it comes to our health and wealth. Sa kanyang discussion tungkol sa prosperity gospel, sinabi ni Katherine Attanasi na “God’s people should claim their divine authority over their circumstances by confessing or declaring the Bible’s promises.”
But there are also other ways to activate one’s faith.
Marami sa atin ang familiar din sa katuruan ng seed-faith, for example. The idea is that the Lord would return to us His divine blessings kung magtatanim din tayo, usually in the form of tithes and offering. In this sense, ang faith ay hindi lamang confession. Kinakailangang may act ng pagbibigay ng pera. Karaniwan, the metaphor that preachers use is sowing and reaping. Ang katuruang ito ay galing kay Oral Roberts. Pero dito sa Pilipinas, maririnig natin ito in many congregations.
The prosperity ethic
In recent years, nagkaroon ng transformation ang prosperity gospel ayon sa research nina Erron Medina at Jayeel Cornelio. But, despite the changes they have observed, napansin din nila na very individualistic pa rin ang focus nito.
Based sa kanilang pag-analyze sa mga sinulat ng mga makabagong preachers sa Pilipinas, nakita nila na ang emphasis ay hindi na sa health, wealth, and personal convenience. This time, ang bigger attention ng kanilang message ay ang overall na pag-asenso sa buhay.
Tinatawag nina Medina at Cornelio ang bagong prosperity gospel na “prosperity ethic.” Tumutukoy kasi ang “ethic” sa prescribed behavior. For them, this is the appropriate way of referring to the different skills being prescribed by new preachers to achieve social mobility. In other words, the prosperity ethic is about the acquisition of practical skills, which are justified by the Bible, ayon sa mga preachers nito, para umasenso ang isang tao.
Halimbawa, they encourage their readers and listeners to adopt a “money mindset.” They want people to believe that God wants them to be rich. Para sa kanila, ’yung “bahala na” attitude ng maraming Pilipino leads them to be passive or lazy. What’s interesting about this teaching is that ang hindrance sa blessings na nararanasan ng isang tao ay hindi kasalanan o kakulangan ng faith. Normally, kasalanan or weak faith ang explanation ng ibang pastors kung bakit parang hindi pinagpapala ang isang tao. Sa prosperity ethic, ang main hindrance ay ang “poverty mindset” na laging sinisisi ang ibang tao at ang gobyerno pero never ang sarili.
Moreover, prosperity ethic preachers also emphasize the importance of developing practical skills to earn money. Kasama na diyan ang financial planning and budgeting techniques. They also want their readers to learn other skills na makakakadagdag sa income nila, katulad ng direct selling at investing in the stock market. In fact, itinuturo nila na ang mga bagay na ito, for generating profit, “are God-sent ‘money machines.’”
In contrast doon sa mga na-explain namin kanina, hindi naka-depende ang prosperity ng isang tao sa confession lamang or sa seed-faith. Sa prosperity ethic, mahalaga ’yung pagkakaroon ng “money mindset” bilang antidote sa “poverty mindset.” Mahalaga ring hindi lang faith ang pinanghahawakan ng isang tao. Dapat matuto rin siyang mag-manage ng kanyang pera at i-invest ito sa mga profit-making activities. In other words, nagiging sagrado o isang calling ang entrepeneurial spirit in the prosperity ethic.
And yet, hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagiging favor-minded, na nabanggit kanina. Ang theological premise ng prosperity ethic ay mayaman ang Diyos at gusto Niya na maging mayaman din ang mga tao. Wealth, in other words, is God’s blessing, and everyone should do something to acquire it.
Strength, weakness
Thus far, nakita na natin na ang favor, breakthrough, at victory ay karaniwang tumutukoy sa mga concerns at situations ng isang tao. Whether it’s healing, employment, or financial provision, ang assumption ng pagiging favor-minded ay handa ang Diyos na tulungan tayo at tugunan ang ating mga pangangailangan.
At this point we can see that this attitude is very individualistic. Mayaman ang Diyos at gusto Niyang pagpalain ang tao. Pero nakasalalay ang breakthrough sa faith ng tao at sa kanyang confession, giving, mindset, at skills. Kapag nag-match ang lahat ng mga ito, tiyak na mararanasan ng tao ang divine blessings.
Ito ang strength ng katuruan na ito, pero ito rin ang weakness nito.
Maraming ministers at churches na naka-focus sa favor, breakthrough, at victory ang umiiwas sa pag-engage sa hardcore issues ng ating lipunan. Iniiwasan ang mga usaping political, halimbawa. Iniiwasan din ang complex discussions tungkol sa paglaganap ng kahirapan at general socioeconomic reality na ilan lamang talaga ang nakararanas ng upward social mobility.
Kapag ginawa iyan, a pastor or any Christian has to cover a wide range of sensitive matters, including governance at corruption. May mga policies ding hindi nakakatulong sa ordinaryong tao. One can think of policies concerning taxation, public transportation, and fuel — mga bagay na may direct effect sa mga mamamayan. Mapag-uusapan din ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya at inequality at kung sino lang ang nakikinabang kapag nagkakaroon daw ng economic growth (usually big businesses at hindi ang mga empleyado nila). Bukod pa riyan ang mga issue ng corruption at mga negosyong sangkot ang mga public officials pala.
Sadly, many Christians insist that these topics should not be discussed in churches. This is even if malinaw naman sa maraming biblical passages that human suffering is a direct result of the wickedness of their leaders, unfair economic practices, at pang-aabuso ng may-kapangyarihan.
Sa tingin namin, ang mga bagay na ito ang kakulangan ng mga katuruan na naka-focus sa favor, breakthrough, and victory. Although we do not deny the significance of divine blessings in one’s life and realities, we also insist that there’s a lot that Christians are unable to bear witness because they’re often focused only on personal concerns.
Why are churches not talking about social issues?
Bakit kaya hindi nadi-discuss ang mga bagay na ito sa maraming churches ngayon? Kumbaga, ’yung “public life” ng ating Christian walk ay tila nakakaligtaan. We offer four explanations in the hope that faith communities will realize their own inadequacies and embrace their greater responsibility to society.
The first reason is that many of the messages we encounter in our churches are deeply personal. Again, this is not necessarily wrong, as we know God is concerned about our personal issues in life. Kaya very appealing ang favor, breakthrough, and victory sa preaching at worship songs natin. In the Philippine context, marami sa local churches ay nasa precarious communities, where living is a struggle. Reliable healthcare, a steady source of income, and good education are inaccessible to many. Realidad ang mga ito na hinaharap natin on a daily basis. Thus, whenever Christians pray for favor, breakthrough, and victory, ang nasa isip nila ay ang preferential treatment ng Lord sa gitna ng kanilang struggles.
Connected din dito ang overemphasis sa spiritual or congregational aspect. This is the second reason. At kung papansinin natin, most of the time ang discipleship ay umiikot mostly sa congregational life. Halimbawa, success indicators ng maraming churches ang soul winning, pagdami ng members, paglaki ng small groups, at expansion ng ministries.
To be honest, ’yung ganitong model ay bunga ng success stories ng megachurches, many of which are seeker-sensitive. Kaya nga dito sa Pilipinas, maraming megachurches ang nakaka-attract ng mga kabataan. Ini-involve ang mga kabataang ito sa iba’t ibang small groups at ministries kung saan sila expected to “grow as Christians.” Their discipleship practices — na church life ang focus — then become the gold standard for small, local congregations.
Kapag congregational life ang emphasis ng discipleship ng isang church, magiging concern ng mga leaders and members nito na hindi magkawatak-watak. Sociopolitical issues, unfortunately, tend to be divisive. In some cases, these divisions can be very emotional.
So instead of engaging the faith community in honest conversations about these issues, ministers opt for the easier option. They would rather stay quiet about these things and argue that there’s no room for “secular” conversations in the church. This is the third reason.
The fourth and final reason has to do with the influence of free market thinking in how many Christian churches operate today. In a way, connected ito sa first three, lalo na sa pinakauna. Without dismissing the validity of people’s aspirations to improve their lives, mahalaga ring ma-highlight na ’yung broad emphasis sa wealth and personal responsibility ay bunga rin ng free market thinking.
’Yung karaniwang itinuturo sa paaralan na dapat mayroon tayong mga skills to be competitive, iyan din ang maririnig natin sa prosperity ethic. Ganoon din ’yung idea na dapat mayroon tayong positive mindset about ourselves. ’Yung “money mindset” na itinuturo ng modern prosperity preachers, wala itong pinagkaiba sa pagiging goal-oriented ng mga nasa private sector at sa self-help na itinuturo ng maraming motivational speakers.
Sa free market thinking, the burden of success is placed on individuals.
If you succeed, that is your choice. If you fail, that too is your choice. Wala raw kinalaman diyan ang mga issues na nangyayari sa lipunan at mga suffering na pinagdaraanan ng ibang tao bunga ng mga sistemang kontrolado ng maykapangyarihan. Kapag ganyan ang mindset ng isang Christian, hindi niya makikita ang complex causes ng mga problemang pinagdadaanan ng ating bayan.
From this perspective, mukhang mayroong tension between free market thinking at sa calling natin bilang Christian. Ito ang sinasabi ni Athena Gorospe, isang Pinay na Bible scholar: “There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a better life for oneself and for one’s family, and yet the Savior calls us to a life of downward mobility for the sake of others.”
We may achieve the “best life” now, but is that all there is to our calling? If that is indeed the case, then maybe we have a lot of learning — and unlearning — to do about our faith and its relevance in the world today. – Rappler.com
Jayeel Cornelio, PhD, and Rico Villanueva, PhD, are both based at Ateneo de Manila University. Jayeel is a sociologist of religion, while Rico is an Old Testament scholar. This piece is based on one of the chapters in Discipleship for Today’s Filipino: Ang Calling ng Christian para sa Bayan, which was recently published by OMF Literature.