The Myth of The New Thing
Why do we keep trying to work our faith when we should be resting in it?
Many Prosperity Gospel teachers prop up the idea of the new thing, quoting this passage from Isaiah:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”
Isaiah 43:18–21, ESV
You accepted Jesus, and now it’s your time to shine! You need the new thing!
Maybe it’s finances, business, or relationships. The new thing is the increase and the breakthrough you’ve been hoping for. And, lucky for you- giving you the new thing is exactly what God wants to do! (This Chritianity thing is all about meeting your needs, after all…)
Proponents of the new thing doctrine proclaim that God is yet to do His greatest work, and that you need to cooperate in some way to ensure that His plan is carried out in your generation.
This whole doctrine is presented in such a way that the teacher strokes the ego of the hearer. You are special. You have a destiny. You have a special calling.
But, after the ego stroking is through, you’re left to make the big, life altering decisions without the help of the guru of new.
There is no shortage of quasi-Christian teachers who heap heavy burdens on people in the name of destiny, dreams, and the new thing. They deceive people who want to please God into thinking that they must seek “more” from God. These teachers leave people mystified, and their disciples begin to buy into the lies that the Bible is not sufficient, that Christ’s sacrifice is merely an elementary part of some bigger plan, and that they need to do better and be better for God.
The Lord is not a coach, running us through drills to prepare for the big game.
Instead, God has described Himself as a Father. Jesus is described as a High Priest who can sympathize with us in our weakness, because He too experienced the stresses and temptations of humanity (and yet was without sin). The Holy Spirit is called Comforter.
Can we pause for a moment and talk about what Isaiah was really prophesying about?
Isaiah spoke of the deliverance of God’s people out of Babylon, and ultimately, the promised Messiah finally coming and accomplishing the salvation of the world. That was the new thing that Isaiah proclaimed.
Additionally, that day is coming when all things will be made new, the righteous will flourish, and every tear will be finally wiped away.
The truth is, if you have put your faith in Jesus, you’re already walking in the new thing, and it is of eternal significance. The new thing that God is concerned with is not your career, your material possessions, or your success. These are not eternal things. He is concerned with your faith, He is concerned with your eternal destination.
It’s time that we rest in the rich gift of salvation that we have received in Christ. It’s time that we stop listening to teachers who fit the bill of those who imagine that godliness is a means of gain.
“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”
1 Timothy 6:3–7, ESV
If your pastors and teachers are feeding you formulas for success, instead of preaching the scriptures and reminding you of the sacrifice of Christ- It’s time to recognize them as false teachers and turn away.
These (false) prophets of the new thing threaten God’s people with the thought of dying in the wilderness with promises unfulfilled, if they do not complete some ambiguous calling of God. Many have felt that they were cursed, under spiritual attacks, or displeasing to God, because they were unable to capture their destiny.
People have pursued careers, started businesses, begun romantic relationships, and relocated their families, all in the search for the new thing.
If you do achieve the new thing- it’s time to start moving again toward the new-new thing.
It’s an endless cycle of vigorous self-improvement and empire-building. It leaves many feeling that rest is simply not a part of the Christian life, when in fact, entering into God’s rest is a central theme of the holy scriptures. The book of Hebrews, for example, lays out the idea of our rest in Christ beautifully.
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
Hebrews 4:9–10, NIV
Whether it be a yearning for prosperity, supernatural encounters, or miracles- When the more & the new become our focus, we can become idolatrous in our desires. Our prayers and our Bible study turn into tools we use to attain things, instead of avenues to worship God and give Him glory.
This idolatry will inevitably open the door to all manner of foolish practices and unbiblical doctrines. Our faith in Christ becomes something inconsequential while we work, trying to fulfill the call of the new thing, hoping that the strategy we employ next will bring the results we desire.
We try to put our faith to work when we ought to be resting in it.
I recall listening in on a conversation in a church parking lot one afternoon. An elderly single woman lamented that she just didn’t understand why she couldn’t receive a breakthrough in her finances. She had tithed faithfully, but the windows of heaven didn’t seem to be opening as she had been taught. She was doing all the right things and working her faith, but to no avail.
This woman was disappointed, frustrated, and alone in her plight.
(This story makes me want to go down a rabbit trail about bearing one another’s burdens, but I think that could be saved for another blog. Suffice it to say, this woman should have been able to receive help from fellow believers rather than feeling compelled to give away the little she had.)
If you’re finding yourself disappointed, frustrated, even self-loathing, as you reflect on why your Christianity isn’t bringing results: It’s time to reexamine the words of Jesus. He promised us that while we would find trouble in the world, we ought to be encouraged because He has overcome. Our faith is meant to be a refuge, not an additional burden weighing us down.
““Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28–30, HCSB
I challenge you: Take some time this week to rest in Christ. Look into the scriptures and allow the truth of the Word to replenish your soul.
Your work is simple: Believe in the One that the Father sent.
May God bless you richly in the knowledge of His love and the greatness of our salvation in Christ.
