Many pastors have proclaimed the definition of the "poverty spirit" from the pulpits into the ears of their congregations, especially over the past 10 years. However, is there such a thing as the poverty spirit in the eyes of God, or is it a man-made doctrine pronounced upon church members?

As defined by today's pastors, the poverty spirit is a mental deficiency that both believers and non-believers alike possess while ensnared in certain thinking. Thinking that is contrary to prosperity and success. In no uncertain terms or certain biblical doctrine, this theory says that people who possess the poverty spirit have accepted life as it comes without trying to improve themselves or their economic situations by using the inheritances God left for them.

It says that people have succumbed to a type of contented mind-set that restrains them from seeking the riches of the Kingdom. In more uncertain terms, this theory says that people should get their inheritance here and now on earth and not wait for the promises of heaven. Preachers preach this and expect their members to take heed and grow financially, for the benefit and up building of the ministry of course.

What this has led to is when peoples' economic situation looks to have not changed over a period of time from bad to better, the problem must be that these people are possessed with the poverty spirit because they cannot grow and prosper the way God has promised.

It implies that these people are disobeying God because they have refused to accept His gifts and blessings and must be disobedient to His word because they are not reaping the rewards. When people feel they have disappointed God by not prospering enough financially to overcome the supposed poverty spirit, their self-esteem drops and they feel they are unworthy of God and all He has to offer, which include happiness and joy.

Never mind that the possibility of economic recessions and downturns may have an effect on the economic well being of the labor force as a whole, as it did after 911. During this time, when many people lost jobs and the economy of many different businesses dropped, preachers did not have an answer for the physiological effects of time and matter and thus were not able to differentiate between reality and spirituality.

People just assumed that something unforeseen was tossed into God's plan for their prosperity and sought after any reasons to excuse their sudden financial losses and slow downs. Preachers, of course, sought out Bible verses to justify what happened to the economy by preaching encouragement and faith.

The truth is, if the economy had gotten worst and society had fallen even deeper into a world of lack and poverty, all people, even the rich, would have felt the brunt of reality and the meaning of the poverty spirit. Poverty is not a sin and neither is riches a blessing and the Bible encourages neither, however, it is better to eat herbs with the poor than share an ox and make merry with fools.

© 2004 by CR Hamilton