The prayer of Jabez

The Prayer of Jabez is a minor prayer by a minor figure in a minor part of the Bible. However, its influence belies its insignificance.

The Prayer of Jabez is a major bestseller that is a major component of a major Evangelical marketing campaign. Nine million copies sold. Top of The New York Times bestseller list. Numerous spin-off products.The core product is the overpriced, undersized book The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking through to the Blessed Life by Protestant minister Bruce Wilkinson. Wilkinson says a number of years ago he began to say a short prayer daily and, in response, God poured out blessings on him. Now he encourages others to say the prayer daily in expectations of blessings. In many cases such 'blessings' equate with financial gain.

Should Christians pray the Jabez prayer? Well, sure. There isn't anything wrong with the prayer itself. The problem is Wilkinson telling people they should say it daily, expecting God to uniquely reward this prayer.There is no such thing as "the Jabez blessing." God made no such promise, and inflating a microscopic Old Testament character with modern, Madison-Avenue, Evangelical ad-speak does not create one.

Unfortunately the ruthless gold digging TV Evangelists and 10-a-penny Pastors exalt the Jabez prayer as they preach a prosperity gospel devoid of any human compassion.

TV Evangelism and its impact on Sub Saharan Africa

Being a minister of God may not sound like the normal route to becoming rich. Certainly here in Europe one does not think of one's local Priest or Vicar as being in it for the money. However, in other parts of the world Christianity is big business! The phenonomean of the American TV Evangelist has spread across the world and is particularly influential in the developing world. Millions of people hoping for a better life are taken in by charlatans such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch and T.D. Jakes. These ruthless conmen and their associates have broadcasting deals established all over Sub Saharan Africa. TBN and other such networks are broadcast from daybreak to beyond sunset into the homes of millions of Africans. In many cases it is the only channel on air during the morning and afternoon as the national networks often don't come on air until evening. As a result the viewing figures for such programmes are substantial as is influence of these rich Americans who claim to have found blessings and riches through God (rather than through the most sickening exploitation of the world's most vulnerable people!)