1. By the end of this lesson you will have:
Theme 3 – Christianity – Social Developments in Religious Thought: Attitudes towards wealth
By the end of this lesson you will have:
Re-capped the basics of Christianity
Explored what the Gospel teaches Christians about Wealth
Learnt what is meant by ‘the prosperity gospel’

2. Spec Check
AO1
AO2
A) Social developments in religious thought – attitudes towards wealth:
The dangers of wealth (with reference to Mark 10:17-25; Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:33-34, 1 Timothy
6:10); apparent contradiction between biblical teaching on stewardship and the ascetic ideal; the
prosperity gospel of the Word-Faith movement.
* The extent to which wealth is a sign of God’s blessing.
* Whether the ascetic ideal is compatible with Christianity.

3. Starter – Christianity Re-Cap
What is the difference between the old and new testament?
Who were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?
What audiences were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John writing for?
What are the key concepts of Christianity we have studied so far?
(Nature of God, the trinity, atonement, faith and works, community of believers, key moral principles)
What are the religious figures and sacred texts that we have studied so far?
(Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ resurrection, the Bible as a source of wisdom)

4. By the end of this lesson you will have:
Theme 3 – Christianity – Social Developments in Religious Thought: Attitudes towards wealth
By the end of this lesson you will have:
Re-capped the basics of Christianity
Explored what the Gospel teaches Christians about Wealth
Learnt what is meant by ‘the prosperity gospel’

5. The Dangers of Wealth Mark 10: 17-25 Matthew 6:25-34 Luke 12:33-34
1 Timothy 6:10
There is tradition in most religions that wealth affects one’s soul
There are 4 gospel passages which warn us about wealth
In groups, you must complete the worksheet in your booklet on your given Gospel passage (use EDUQAS booklet to help you)
Be prepared to feedback to the class

6. The Dangers of Wealth Mark 10: 17-25 Matthew 6:25-34 Luke 12:33-34
1 Timothy 6:10
Feedback and we will complete all the boxes as we go
Make notes on slide as we go along

7. Which Passage?
Mark 10 – hard for a rich man to get into the kingdom of god
Matthew 6 – Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness

8. Which Passage?
Matthew 6 – direct verse

9. Which Passage?
1 Timothy – rich have pierced themselves with many pains

10. Which Passage?
Luke 12 – sell your posessions

11. Which Passage?
Matthew 6 – The lillies in a field neither toil nor spin

12. Which Passage?
Mark 10 – easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle

13. Which Passage?
Luke 12 – your treasure is where your heart is also

14. Biblical Teaching on Stewardship
Stewardship = administration or management
Stewardship stems from Biblical passages such as:
Creation story (God created the world – it was good, humans have dominion over the material world)
10 commandments – humans have stewardship over their own private property
Psalms – Christians are encouraged to share the world’s resources out amongst the poor
Hebrew scriptures – Christians are encouraged to tithe and give 10% of their income to the Church
Therefore, money isn’t completely shunned in Biblical teachings. Instead Stewardship suggests that money needs to be managed wisely as a God given resource.

15. The Ascetic Ideal Asceticism: Exercise or training
Acts 24 - The Christian lifestyle is represented as an ‘undertaking of a special discipline’ in the New Testament
Mark 8 - Jesus quoted ‘to be my follower deny yourself and take up your cross’
However,
Luke 7 - Jesus also appears to be quoted as enjoying material goods more than some of his disciples (people gossiped that he was more of a drunkard and a glutton than John’.

16. History of Aceticism
Throughout history the ascetic ideal has taken on many different forms in the Church:
2nd Century – Origen the theologian lives a secular life with fasting
Middle ages – monasteries created disciplined life – self-flagellation
Post-reformation – Protestant piety developed and a ‘Christian work ethic’
Some of the best known ascetics are:
Anthony of Egypt (show from )
Desert Fathers
Simeon Stylites (lived on top of a tower for 36 years)

17. Contradictions in Biblical Teachings
Think, Pair, Share:
‘What are the contradictions between Biblical teachings on stewardship and the aesthetic ideal?’
Stewardship promotes a sense that the material world is good, whereas asceticism promotes an idea that we should separate ourselves from the material world
In some passages Jesus tells us to reject material wealth, but in other passages he is described as someone who enjoys food and wine
Asceticism ranges from all kinds of self exercise – some more mild (prayer) and others more serious (self-flagellation). How far are Christians expected to train themselves or ‘strive’ to live in such a way in which God wants

18. The Prosperity Gospel
Prosperity = the state of being materially successful
A new 20th century development in Christian attitudes towards wealth comes from the prosperity gospel
The basic idea is through positive confessions of faith and sowing more seeds of faith, paying tithes and giving offerings to religious causes – God will award you with good health and good wealth
This idea became popular from televangelists
The claim is that one needs to profess out loud that they have good health and wealth (even if it isn’t true) and it will happen
This is linked to the healing powers of Jesus as found in the New Testament

19. The Prosperity Gospel
Think, Pair, Share: What contradictions are there between those who preach prosperity gospel, and stewardship and asceticism?
Clearly the prosperity gospel contradicts the idea of asceticism. As opposed to rejecting material gain, prosperity gospel actively encourages material gain

20. The Prosperity Gospel Problems with prosperity gospel
Craig Blomberg rejects the use of the Gospel to achieve prosperity:
1. God never promised prosperity to individual Israelites – it was promised to Israelite nation as a whole
2. God only made promises of wealth to the nation of Israelites – not other nations
3. No where does the New Testament promise wealth to followers of Jesus

21. Re-Cap
What are the four Bible passages which refer to wealth directly?
What is stewardship and how does this link to personal wealth fro Christians?
How does asceticism contradict a Christian view of stewardship?
What does the prosperity gospel preach about personal wealth?
What is your view on Christians and wealth?

22. Exam Skills
‘Explain the developments of attitudes towards wealth in Christianity (20)’
INDEPENDENTLY plan this essay in quick bullet points
You should now be used to planning for AO1 questions without my help – if you are struggling use the book to help you OR the essay planning sheet in your workbook

23. Exam Skills ‘Wealth is a sign of God’s blessing’. Discuss (30)
TASK: Split a piece of paper into 6 boxes
Walk around the classroom and collect three arguments for and against this point
TASK: Using your answers, complete an AO2 planning sheet for the question above

24. ‘Wealth is a sign of God’s blessing for Christians’. Discuss (30)
WEALTH ISN’T A SIGN OF GOD’S BLESSING
In the Old testament God promises wealth to his followers. (Bible passage)
However, Blomberg stated that this promised wealth is just for the Israelites
In the 10 commandments God approved private property – he must have created it (stewardship)
However, ascetics state that wealth is a sign of sin and gluttony. They believe that poverty is a true sign of God’s blessing
The plan of wealth fits in with the idea that God has a plan for each individual – some are rich and some are poor so those who are wealthy have God’s blessing
However, many would reject the idea that those in poverty are not in God’s favour – it could be societal reasons why people are poor

25. By the end of this lesson you will have:
Theme 3 – Christianity – Social Developments in Religious Thought: Attitudes towards wealth
By the end of this lesson you will have:
Re-capped the basics of Christianity
Explored what the Gospel teaches Christians about Wealth
Learnt what is meant by ‘the prosperity gospel’