The version that I've heard from preachers like John Piper seems to be a backlash against the Prosperity Gospel. The argument basically goes:
- The greatest good that God can do is to glorify himself.
- Therefore, when the Bible talks about God working things out for good or about God's provision, what it really means is that God will glorify himself.
I understand the urge to go against the prosperity gospel's idea of "God want's you to be happy so if you have any problems it's because you don't have enough faith". However, I think that argument's like Piper's go too far in the other direction. They basically deny God's provision and in an indirect way say that "every bad thing is actually good".
- The greatest good that God can do is to glorify himself.
- Therefore, when the Bible talks about God working things out for good or about God's provision, what it really means is that God will glorify himself.
I understand the urge to go against the prosperity gospel's idea of "God want's you to be happy so if you have any problems it's because you don't have enough faith". However, I think that argument's like Piper's go too far in the other direction. They basically deny God's provision and in an indirect way say that "every bad thing is actually good".