Harping again on the theology of relevance - it's amazing to see confirmed the timeless wisdom of scripture. I'm thinking of that statement from the book of Ecclesiastes saying, "What goes around comes around" - a rough paraphrase of ch.1, verse 9: "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."
I say "amazing" but it's also grieving, especially when what is recurring is man's uncanny ability to focus on himself. Even in the Church, if we're not careful, it becomes all about Me. Now. The current theology of relevance in evangelicalism with its emphasis on life in this present world has found it has as a venerable ancestor the classic liberalism of the 19th and 20th century which disdained doctrinal orthodoxy, rejected the transcendent realities of the Spirit and sought instead to improve man's lot in this present life. How shocking it must be to all these suburban hipsters to find the relevance church also has a first cousin in the word of faith, "name it and claim it," prosperity gospel crowd!
Both have the same view of the Christian life - not as communion with the living God but the correct application of methods, mechanics and principles (either for life improvement or for material prosperity). For the prosperity crowd it is the principle of faith as it bears on gaining health and wealth. One needs to understand "the law of compensation" (sowing and reaping) or "positive confession." In relevance theology it is a matter of learning healthy interaction, be it in "steps to recovery" or marital communication.
Both have the same focus - not "the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) but on maximizing one's life in this present world. Both are essentially human potential movements that seek to use God for gaining success in this present life - success as each camp has defined it.
What differs between the two is - to utilize a pun - the currency of each. Of course, in the prosperity message it is cash money and the material things of this world which money can buy. In relevance teaching the currency is not money but relationships - to one's spouse, children, money, employer, etc..
Yet, even here another similarity seems to emerge: the assumption that God wills our lives to be problem free. With the prosperity crowd God wills health and wealth. With the relevance crowd God wills one's relationships be - if not problem free - certainly getting better and better every day.
Of course neither of these frameworks can account for suffering - whether it be poverty and sickness or that difficult if not dysfunctional relationship. That it may be by God's design that His saints be sanctified by poverty or sickness is anathema to prosperity teachers. That a dysfunctional relationship may serve the same purpose likewise does not play well to those in the relevance crowd for whom wholesome, healthy relationships are the supreme good.
How this modern "faith" contrasts with that of our forbears whose faith did not waver though for Christ's sake they found themselves despised and rejected by men, hungry and in rags, meeting their end in the arena, the concentration camp, or in hospice care. This life held nothing for them as they found in Christ a surpassing greatness and for His sake they lost all things.
