A Biblical Expository on Brian Houston's "You Need More Money" Chapter 1

Each week I will be creating additions to this expository. The aim of these blog entries is simply to expose the teachings of Brian Houston and compare them with biblical truth. In short, I do not agree with Brian Houston's teachings and through reading this blog entry, I hope you will see why.

Brian Houston, a review of “You Need More Money”, Sydney: Maxamised Leadership Inc, 1999, 7-13

 

 

A Biblical Expository on Brian Houston’s “You Need More Money”

by Daniel McGurgan

Abstract

When I first heard of this book, I was shocked like many Christians based primarily on the title itself “You Need More Money.” I have to admit that this book was difficult to read without flipping tables over in the proverbial sense. At this point, I’d like to mention why I’ve decided to write this expository of You Need More Money. The reason why writing these entries is really because as a Christian I love truth and I love truth to be told in an unhindered loving manner. So with this in mind, I will try as best to let scripture decide if you or I need more money. Given that this book had received a number of bad reviews on the World Wide Web, it’s fair to say that Houston’s title does attract a lot of controversy within the church, the reason being that many mainstream churches teach the contrary that we don’t in fact need more money. In this expository, I will analysis and critic each chapter and expose the teachings of Brian Houston on the topic of money and by upholding the scriptures, my goal is to expose the truth. For the sake of consistency, I’ve decided to use the scriptural quotations as they are written in this book. However, additional quotations will be notified within these entries.

 

Chapter 1

Dealing with a Poverty Mentality

This chapter largely addresses the problem of most church goers that is to say that we don’t have a right view of money. Houston gets straight to the point in saying that we as individuals require more money and he backs this up with scriptural reference. “I believe that God wants the church to have the kind of wealth that the world experiences” Isaiah 60:5 p8

Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the gentiles shall come to you.

Houston’s premise for attaining wealth begins with his belief in God, however the scriptural reference here doesn’t match ‘the church’ as it is today. The reason being is because this passage addresses the House of Israel and actually using this verse to say that “God wants the church to have the kind of wealth that the world experiences” is a bit like shooting yourself in the proverbial foot, really because it doesn’t address the modern church at all. Let’s see what Houston has to say explaining this verse.  “See it is this way: money can accomplish tremendous things for the kingdom of God. In order to do this, we have to become comfortable with wealth, and break the bondage, guilt and condemnation of impoverished thinking. Poverty is definitely not God’s will for His people, in fact all His promises talk of blessing and prosperity.” P8

Well he doesn’t explain the text at all; in fact it’s easy enough to say that this verse has been taken largely out of context (I’ll get to that later). Instead what Houston is doing is eisegeting the scriptures, that is to say that he is interpreting scripture by inserting his own presuppositions. Exegesis is the antithetical of eisegesis, that it is the expository of scripture in order to uphold the scriptures without altering the meaning in anyway. How do I know that Brian Houston is eisegeting scripture? Well there’s only one way to find out, let’s really examine what that particular verse is holding to.

Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the gentiles shall come to you. Isaiah 60:5

Firstly we should probably ask who the ‘you’ is referring to in this verse. Because the verse doesn’t imply who the ‘you’ is referring to, we need to go to other verses within the chapter to see if there are any clues as to who this might be referring to.

 

 with the ships of Tarshish in the lead,
to bring your children from far away,
their silver and gold with them,
for the honor of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
who has glorified you.
Foreigners will build up your walls,

and their kings will serve you.
Although I struck you in My wrath,
yet I will show mercy to you with My favor.
and their kings will serve you.  Isaiah 60:9-10 (HCSB)

There are a couple of clues here in this passage as to who Isaiah 60 is referring to. Isaiah 60 is like a prayer, so without looking deeply into the text, you could easily take what Brian Houston says about Isaiah 60:5 as meant for the modern church. Here in this passage I’ve highlighted two parts, foreigners and God’s wrath upon a people. It’s clear to see that the foreigners (or gentiles, if we take translation what Houston presented with) are separate from this people. But who are they? Well if we look at verse 10 there’s a big clue there “The Holy One of Israel”, This entire chapter is referring to the House of Israel (or Israelites), gentiles and the Lord’s relationship with both of these groups of people. So what does Isaiah 60:5 really mean? Well it doesn’t mean anything relating to money, but the biggest clues are actually found in the beginning verses.

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord shines over you.
For look, darkness covers the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will shine over you,
and His glory will appear over you. (Isaiah 60:1-2 HCSB)

This chapter begins with a wonderful claim of God’s mercy over the House of Israel and a separation of His wrath to those who are outside of His covenant. Isaiah 60:5 is nothing more than a partiality of God’s mercy over Israel, not addressing the modern church, but given that gentiles are mentioned within the text it’s confusing why Brian decided to use Isaiah 60:5 to illustrate his point. Brian does a similar thing with the scriptural text on page 12; “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you, through His poverty, might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

So how does Houston explain this text? “They (Christians) completely miss the crucial point because if you read on, the reason why He became poor was that you through His poverty, might become rich. That is what it says, He became poor so YOU could become rich. The purpose of Jesus coming to earth included giving up a place of abundance and riches and becoming poor so that we could escape poverty.” P12

 The problem here is not entirely his teaching, it’s that there’s a misunderstanding of what is meant by biblical ‘richness’. It’s absurd to consider a Holy God giving up their own throne and lowering themselves to a position of poverty so that we could have nice homes and a sweet ride. One would might want to start questioning Houston’s teachings at this point “why would a holy God give up His rightful position on the throne so that He could grant me an abundance of that which is temporal?” So let’s have a look at what 2 Corinthians 8:9 says in context.  

I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich. ¹⁰ Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.^{[b] 11} But now finish the task^[c] as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. ¹² For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality^[d]— ¹⁴ at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality.( 2 Corinthians 8:14 HCSB)

Of all verses that Houston chose, this one is actually a rebuke on the Corinthian church for their lack of giving for Paul’s ministry. How does this differ from what Houston is saying? Well unlike Paul, Houston is ‘hash tagging’ the idea of richness being something that we need to attain through the poverty of Christ. Paul on the other hand, reminds the Corinthian church of their salvation through Christian and rebukes them on the bases of essentially a lack of giving. The clue really in this text is found in verse 8 “I am testing the genuineness of your love.” How does the Apostle Paul’s teaching differ from Houston’s teaching here? Well essentially it’s the focus; the Apostle Paul begins with a testing of love, whilst Houston’s focus still remains solely on attaining wealth.

 So how does Houston conclude chapter 1 “It is time to relax and become comfortable around money. You need to stretch yourself and position yourself right out of your comfort zone. For example, it may involve a little exercise like putting on your best clothes and ordering coffee in a fancy restaurant or hotel lobby.” This is far from biblical teaching! The scriptures give us commands that are so contrary to this kind of teaching.

for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13 HCSB)

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil (Ephesians 6:10-11 HCSB)

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,  keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:1-3 HCSB)

 
 Final thoughts on Chapter 1

It’s not hard to see how Brian Houston uses scripture to manipulate and uphold his own ideas. However, with close examination of the scriptures in context, it’s easy enough to see how his teachings become easily flawed. My advice like I mention to anyone, is simply this, please test all things with scripture. No man is greater than the scriptures and thus as a biblical principle, we as Christians should uphold and honour the word of God as it stands, pure and immovable. Even if my own quotations are not accurate, I would prefer to be corrected for the sake of biblical accuracy.