Prosperity has finally arrived at Oral Roberts University

I decided to follow Jesus at Oral Roberts University. It was in October of 1967 when I slipped out of my bed one evening and committed my life to my God, my leader, and my teacher. I was a basketball player with a wonderful jump shot and a Athletic Scholarship, otherwise, I would of never been at such a place. I love Oral Roberts,  he did so much for me, and I love the university. I have not been what you call a Charismatic, but I learned some very good things about God there that have stayed with me.

One of things that I learned there was that God is a good God. I was taught to think in positive terms about God's desire to bless me and be a part of my life. It is fair to say that Oral Roberts taught a "prosperity gospel."  That gospel teaches that health and financial blessing are part of the salvation package. It would be even more accurate to say that his successor as President, his son, Richard Roberts lived out the prosperity gospel with gusto. The majority of  leaders in the prosperity gospel movement have lived the high life of tailor made suits,  monogramed shirts, first class travel, and expense accounts larger than their salaries. It is part of their testimony that what they teach is true.

The irony of ORU is that  over the years the University has been a victim of this prosperity, in fact the University has been in debt up to the eye balls, 55 million to be exact.  Richard Roberts finally got caught living too high, too fast, and his wife's shopping sprees didn't help. It is often interesting to know that the thousands of regular students and faculty at such a place are not living that same life, don't  agree with it and when given the opportunity to voice their opinion, will do so with dare I say, gusto. The faculty voted 90+ % to give a no confidence to President Robert's continuation as President. Richard Roberts resigned as President, the next week, something happened that the leaders of the University would of never dreamed could, someone pledged 70 million dollars to the school. When the Board of Regents decided to clean house, the flood gates opened. The very prosperity that has so persistently eluded ORU, became a reality. But it came not from the teaching itself, it came because Godly faculty and Alumni took a stand for the right thing.

This is all very telling and is a lesson for all of us in our personal life. God loves a broken and contrite heart that submits to him, confesses sin and seeks to live in the prosperity of his righteousness.