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Does that statement sound
strange? Not really. Not in this day and age. It's everywhere! Everything is
about profit and the Christian church does not seem to be exempt. Preachers
on every Christian television channel are exploiting the word of God in a
perverted way and manipulating people as to get their money.
You can be healed of
"anything" order that new book now for only $29.95. Or, For your "love
gift" of $10.00 or more, they'll send you a prayer cloth, prayed over by the
head honcho himself and dipped in the Jordan river.
Sound familiar? Actually,
for this to be more accurate, it should read: "Prayed over by "me" and the
other people Jesus threw out of the temple after he overturned our tables!"
You will be told, "but we
need your donations to reach the millions of people in Bongo, Bongo, with
our television ministry!" There's an old saying and it's still true. "Word
of mouth is the best advertisement". Did you ever hear of "Azusa Street?"
We need to pay for the new
wing on the church for the children's ministry. (just charge it) I'm not
sure God likes being put in debt!
If you can afford a 1 or 2
million dollar church, Wonderful! God has blessed you and has a
purpose for that building. If you have to finance a 1 or 2 million dollar
church, you have become a slave to "money" and put the Lord in debt!
Many rich and powerful
ministries have portrayed God as a beggar! Even the passing of the
collection plate is tacky and did not happen during Jesus ministry. In the
temple there was a collection or offering "box" people would deposit their
money in discretion if they wished, not where everyone could see what they
do, or do not put in.
The moment a church has to
worry about paying the mortgage or making the payment, they are serving
"money" not God. If one would argue "That is Faith" I would say, use the
same Faith and wait for God to allow you to pay cash! Almost every lesson
God teaches you requires patience.
When the mortgage payment
is due, you can expect the monthly sermon about tithing and allot of guilt,
if you don't tithe. There will be the book or seminar that "YOU - ABSOLUTELY
NEED" if you are a Christian and want to be saved. (For a price) No longer
Gods free gift - You paid for it!!
The spirit of God should
be so strong in a church that people look forward to giving. "God loves the
hilarious giver" Give because you are so blown away that God loves you so
much, not because your afraid God will punish you if you don't. (He won't)
Give what is in your heart
to give. Do not give out of guilt or the false promise that God will shower
you with riches if you do. Gods house should be used to worship together and
to hear the word of God.
The bottom line is: If it
is for sale, It's probably not God selling it!
God Bless You
Dan Douglass
Your gift is
needed and appreciated |
