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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
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If you drank the
wine, pay the bartender! Your gift is needed and appreciated |
