His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. - 2Peter 1:3-11 (ESV)
The dictionary defines grift as a petty or small-scale scam designed to "grift" money from someone. In fairness to con men like Kris Vallotton the word grift does not really apply because they are not small scale at all. This devotional will cover two areas. First is the link above to a 30-minute session Vallotton recently did with an alleged "financial counselor" named Samia Pedalino. It is important to understand the overarching grift that fuels the individual attempts to fleece the flock. Secondly, I will show you an actual grift just recently "released" by Vallotton, so we can see one in action. For the video, I will highlight and paraphrase the portions that stood out to me. Let us reason once more and hide your wallet!
"We are called to be partakers of the divine nature of God and His nature is not poverty." - Samia Pedalino
Samia is referring to the key verses today, specifically verse four. The surrounding context however reveals this has nothing to do with wealth, poverty, or anything carnal. It has to do with sin and our promise of eternal life. Only those in love with this world pursue the things of this world over the things of the kingdom. Bethel Church likes to pretend they are called to bring the kingdom to earth but they only teach that false theology because they worship this world. What is richly provided for us is an entrance into the eternal kingdom! Just think for a moment how silly her statement is here. You can always tell a teaching is false if it only applies to one country or area. Can Samia Pedalino bring this teaching to the underground church in China? Can she sell this to the indigent workers in South America? To our martyred brothers and sisters in the Middle East? No, she cannot and that is how you know it cannot be of God. He is the same to all in His kingdom.
"Somehow Bill (Johnson) and I got hit with this prosperity preacher label, but I do not own a plane. Bill owns a picture of a plane. The prosperity gospel is presented as a negative yet you're telling me the kingdom is prosperous." - Kris Vallotton
It is true that Kris and Bill do not own private jets like other hucksters but Vallotton presents this as proof that they are not into prosperity. Latest Google searches place Bill's net worth at ten million and Vallotton at over three million dollars. So, spare me. Not exactly everymen. The reason why the prosperity gospel is presented negatively is because it is a lie. It promises repayment from God based upon giving to the huckster. It claims that God wants everyone rich beyond the dreams of avarice. People like Kris Vallotton have taught that if you are not rich it is actually your own fault because you have what he calls a "poverty mindset." The kingdom being prosperous is completely irrelevant. It means God owns everything. Everything He created is His. We worship Him, not try and figure out how to usurp what He owns.
