POP’S CANDLE
https://youtu.be/kKhwl0yZnmQ
Pop’s candle
ON VIDEO-
.Is God really light?
.Raphael- school of Athens
.Word of faith/Prosperity gospel
.Kenyon- Copeland- Hagin
.My porches
.The dollar tree?
PAST POSTS [verses below]
A
man by the name of Anaximander described it as ‘the boundless’- something that
has no origin- he said it was ‘both unborn- and immortal’ ahh- you can already
see the attributes of God in this [boundless- what Theologians call
omnipresent- God having no limits- he is everywhere [but not everything- get to
that in a moment] and ‘unborn’ that is he himself has no beginning].Ok- this 5th element [some called it Ether- or Aether- a sort of wave theory- that light travels along this ether- this idea lasted till the day of Einstein- who showed us that Ether does not exist [in this way] but that light itself is made up of particles- photons- this was one of the major breakthroughs of modern physics].
A few years ago the movie ‘the 5th Element’- Bruce Willis- hit on this theme- sort of like the ‘God particle’- that is they were in search for some type of being that was eternal – self existent.
The term Quintessence [quint- 5] came to be defined as this 5th element- and today we use the word Quintessential to describe the pure essence of a thing- the perfect embodiment of something.
Over time the Greek thinkers would arrive at the idea that yes indeed- there was one main thing- Monism- that could be the source of all other things.
It is interesting to note that the Jewish prophets- and wisdom literature- which predates these guys- already started from the standpoint of Monotheism- one God.
Now- Monism is not Monotheism.
Monism is really a form of what we call Pantheism [in the study of religion].
Pantheism says that God is ‘everything’- some eastern religions hold to this concept.
The Christian view is that God is separate from creation- that he is indeed the original source of creation- but not the creation itself.
The Geek philosophers even described this 5th element as ‘The One’- see- they were getting close.
In today’s debates- some espouse an idea that there was no beginning point- that the universe is either eternal [something Einstein disproved with the Big Bang theory] or that there is a sort of infinite regress- that there is no one starting point- but that there have been a never ending [or beginning] series of ‘big bangs’ that go on forever.
This defies the laws of logic- and math.
Math?
Yeah- many of the great physicists were also great mathematicians [like Einstein- and Max Plank- who was first a mathematician].
If there was no beginning point- mathematically it doesn’t ‘work’.
You would never be able to arrive at the present time- if there was no starting point to measure from [I know this might sound strange- but this is indeed a proof- that there had to be a starting point].
What these thinkers show us is that even thru the ancient field of Philosophy- you still arrive at some type of ‘thing’ that is responsible for all other things.
Some Christians reject the Big Bang theory- but in my view it gave the Christian apologist the greatest tool to argue for the existence of God.
For many centuries it was believed that the universe was eternal- and if that was true- then indeed you did not have to have an outside source that was responsible for it.
But Einstein showed us that there was a beginning point- that the universe is in a continual expansion mode- and if it is getting ‘bigger’ by the second- then yes- it did have a starting point.
Many today think that it ‘popped’ into existence on its own- this is both scientifically and logically impossible- it violates the law of Cause and Effect [every effect has to have a cause also ‘out of nothing- nothing comes’].
[parts]
. Only Christian [or Deist,
Jewish, Muslim] beliefs place special value and dignity on human life. It is a
common misconception to think that all the enlightenment philosophers were
atheists; this was not the case at all. Locke, Hume and others simply believed
that thru human logic and reason people could arrive at a sort of naturalistic
belief in God. This would form the basis of Deism, the system of belief in God
but a rejection of classic Christian theology. Benjamin Franklin and other
founding fathers of our country were influenced by this style of belief. Now,
getting back to the Greeks. Paul says ‘God destroyed the wisdom of this world’.
What wisdom is Paul talking about? The enlightenment philosophers of the 18th century
had nothing on the Greek philosophers going all the way back to a few centuries
B.C. Plato, the Greek wrestler turned philosopher, had one of the most famous
schools of Greek philosophy. At the entrance of the school the words were
written ‘let non but geometers enter here’. Kind of strange. Geometry simply
meant ‘form’ in this use. Most of the great theoretical physicists were also
great mathematicians [Einstein]. The Greek philosophers were seeking a sort of
‘unified theory’ that would explain all other theories and bring all learning
together under one intellectual ‘roof’. Sort of like Einstein's last great
obsession. The Greeks actually referred to this great unknown future ‘unifier’
as ‘the Logos’. Now, some atheists will use this truth to undercut the New
Testament. They will take the common use of these words ‘The Logos’ and say
that Johns writings [Gospel, letters] were simply stolen ideas from Greek
philosophy. This is why believers need to have a better understanding of the
inspiration of scripture. John’s writings were no doubt inspired, he of course
calls Jesus the ‘Logos’ [word] of God. But he was simply saying to the
Greek/Gnostic mind ‘look, you guys have been waiting for centuries for the one
special ‘Word/Logos’ that would be the answer to all learning, I declare unto
you that Jesus is this Logos’! So eventually you would have ‘the wisdom of the
world’ [both Greek and enlightenment and all other types] falling short of the
ultimate answer. They could only go so far in their journey for truth, and
ultimately they either wind up at the foot of the Cross [the wisdom of God] or
the ‘tree of the knowledge of good and evil’. God said this ‘tree’ [sources of
wisdom and knowledge apart from God] would ultimately lead to death if not
submitted to ‘the tree of life’ [the Cross]. You would have some of the
enlightenment philosophers eat from this tree all the way to the ‘death of God’
movement. Man in his wisdom would come to the conclusion that ‘God is dead’. If
this is true, then the slaughter of millions of Jews is no moral dilemma. If
God is dead then man is not created in his image, he is just this piece of
flesh that you can dispose of at will. To all you intellectual types, it’s Okay
to have a mind, but you must love God with it. If all your doing is feeding
from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die.
(1142) MAN, GODS UNIQUE CREATION- Okay, we already saw how
God made the animals and fish and birds, but when he describes mans creation he
shows us that it is unique. Out of all the other created things, man alone is
in ‘Gods image’ and bears his likeness. Man is a moral being with a built in
conscience, he has the capacity to know God and live with him forever. This is
the basis of the Judeao Christian value on human life. Those religions who
believe in the Genesis account of creation, see man as having special value.
The Darwinian worldview [social Darwinism] sees man as a simple blob of
meaningless flesh, no different than the other life forms along the line. I
always found the atheists reasoning to be a little illogical; they will argue
that they are the real intellectuals, the so called ‘brights’ [a recent term
they have come up with to describe their group] they will then explain to you
how their view of their mind a
[parts]
-[BOOK]
'HOUSE OF PRAYER, OR DEN OF THIEVES'
a critical look at the modern prosperity gospel.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 ‘YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON’
CHAPTER 2 ‘TWISTING THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER’
CHAPTER 3 ‘WHAT IS THE ABRAHAMIC BLESSING ?’
CHAPTER 4 ‘WHAT DID JAMES SAY ?’
CHAPTER 5 ‘WHOSE MINISTRY, JESUS OR OURS ?’
CHAPTER 6 ‘1 TIMOTHY 6’
CHAPTER 7 ‘WERE JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES RICH ?’
CHAPTER 8 ‘COVENANT THEOLOGY’
CHAPTER 9 ‘SOWING INTO GOOD SOIL’
CHAPTER 10 ‘IS THERE HOPE FOR FALSE PROPHETS ?’
INTRODUCTION
It all started a few
years back when I was regularly listening to certain ministries who taught the
prosperity gospel. Over the years I subscribed to a few of these ministry
magazines and truly enjoyed their teaching, but every now and then while
reading through the bible I would come across certain passages of scripture
that seemed to contradict the themes of the prosperity movement. I also found
it strange the way they interpreted certain passages of scripture, it was
almost as if when they were done explaining them, that these passages meant the
exact opposite of what they were plainly teaching.
During this season of
learning, while the Lord was dealing with me about these various doctrines, I
would find myself at times saying 'something needs to be done about the extreme
teaching coming from this camp'. I would also deal with some of the unbalanced
teaching through the small avenues of influence I had through a local radio
program and various speaking opportunities. I would even go through stages
where I was so upset over some of the more extreme elements of this teaching,
that I would avoid dealing with it at all because of the emotional baggage that
comes with having to disagree with a brother in Christ.
Then why write this
book? Each time I would determine to drop the whole matter and never deal with
this issue again, something would happen, or be said on Christian television or
radio, or be written in a new book, that was so off base that I would ask the
Lord again if He wanted me to do more in bringing about a more balanced view of
biblical prosperity. The most recent incident was while watching Christian TV
one night, the preacher who was speaking is a well-known prosperity preacher.
Before he preached he invited another prosperity preacher to share a 'special'
revelatory word the Lord had given him, as the preacher came to the pulpit he
began to lead the people in a series of confessions/actions that he told the
audience to imitate in order for them to experience breakthrough in their
finances. As he stood on the stage he then went through the motions of pulling
down an imaginary lever on a slot machine while confessing in a very loud voice
the words 'MONEY COMING'. He did this three times while the audience followed.
When they got to the last shout, the preacher emphasized the importance of this
last shout, and as he led them in the pulling down of the lever they all
shouted at the top of their lungs 'MONEY COMING TO ME'
Well to say the least
this was another one of those 'incidents' that caused me to ask the Lord if I
should do more about such obvious abuse in the church. A few days later, while
driving to work one morning, I remembered this incident and asked the Lord if
he wanted me to write a book on this subject. Later on in the day during a
lunch break, while reading through the bible during a regular devotional time,
I just happened to be reading through the book of revelation, and when I came
to revelation 1:19 where Jesus tells John to 'write the things which thou hast
seen', it hit me like a ton of bricks. So here I am today, believing that this
book will serve a definite purpose in the Body of Christ and cause us to return
to a more balanced view of the 'things of this world'.
CHAPTER 1 'YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON'
It has been said that
the best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the real. So let’s begin with a
biblical look at true prosperity. In the past, while trying to deal with this
subject, I would often find people responding in defense of the prosperity
gospel by saying things like 'oh, but you don't know how good the Lord is' or
'you don't know how much God wants to meet our needs' or, 'the bible doesn’t
say money is evil, but the love of money'. To which I would reply 'AMEN', I
agree with you. But the bible also gives us many warnings against materialism,
seeking to be rich, and living for material things.
So while trying to deal
with the false prosperity gospel, I would like first of all to establish the
truth that God is good, he does want to meet our needs and give us the desires
of our heart, and yes, he even wants to bless us financially and materially.
God promises not only 'heavenly' or 'spiritual' blessings, but also earthly or
material blessings as well. If you go through the bible from Genesis to
Revelation you will find instances of Gods people being rich, prosperous and
blessed in every way. You will find many promises of Gods provisions for us,
not only spiritual but also financial and material. There is no doubt that God
can, and does bless His children in all areas of life if they are obedient to
Him.
We also know that there
are many warnings in the N.T. against seeking to be rich, living for material
wealth, and the like. So how do we harmonize these two truths?
Let’s look at the
overall purpose of God for his church. We are commissioned by Jesus to tell the
whole world about His love for us, so we can make disciples of all nations. The
message from our lips, [and hearts] is to overflow with who Jesus is and what He’s
done for us. As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us that as we proclaim and talk
about Him, and seek first His kingdom, that He will take care of all the other
less important things. MATHEW 6:19-24 ' LAY
NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON
EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH
AND STEAL: BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE
NIETHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH AND
STEAL: FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE
WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO........ NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR
EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER; OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE
ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT
SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. THEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, WHAT YE SHALL EAT, OR WHAT YE SHALL
DRINK; NOR YET FOR YOUR BODY, WHAT YE SHALL PUT ON. IS NOT THE LIFE MORE THAN
MEAT, AND THE BODY MORE THAN RAIMENT? BEHOLD THE FOWLS OF THE AIR: FOR THEY SOW
NOT, NIETHER DO THEY REAP, NOR GATHER INTO BARNS; YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER
FEEDETH THEM. ARE YE NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEY? ...... THEREFORE TAKE NO THOUGHT, SAYING WHAT SHALL WE
EAT? OR, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR, WHEREWITHALL SHALL WE BE CLOTHED? [FOR AFTER
ALL THESE THINGS DO THE GENTILES SEEK;] FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KHNOWETH THAT
YE HAVE NEED OF ALL THESE THINGS. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THES THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. TAKE
THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW:
FOR THE MORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THE THINGS OF ITSELF. SUFFICIENT UNTO THE
DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF' Jesus is making a distinction between material things
and the kingdom
of God . He is saying if
we seek first His kingdom, then all these material needs will be met. If the
kingdom is about material things, then Jesus contradicted himself. The plain
meaning and thought of this passage is that if we put God first, He will take
care of us. Now say if the disciples took this to mean that the primary message
of the gospel was 'God will add all these things unto you'. And say if they
went around teaching all nations to quote 'all these things shall be added unto
you'. And then all over Jerusalem
and Judaea and unto the uttermost parts of the
earth they had people quoting 'all these things shall be added unto you'. And after
a lifetime of ministry they taught the people how God would give them things if
they kept quoting and meditating on the passages of scripture that speak about
material wealth. What do you suppose Jesus would say when He comes back? First
of all the plain teaching of Jesus in this passage is to get their focus
[meditation, confession] off of material things. He plainly says that the
'gentiles seek these things', and that the disciples are not to be thinking
about these things all the time like the gentiles. He tells us to focus on the
kingdom as opposed to focusing on material things. He tells us that as we go
forth by faith to proclaim his gospel, that he in turn will meet our needs.
After all, the disciples left their jobs in order to follow Christ, and he was
reassuring them that they would be taken care of materially if they forsook all
to follow him.
I find it troubling that
some teachers use this very passage in order to justify materialism, while the
plain meaning of Jesus words are the opposite. Jesus says you cannot serve God
and money. So we must take our minds and thoughts and meditations and focus
them on God, not worldly things!
So true prosperity can
be defined as God meeting all the needs of his children as they proclaim him in
all nations. True prosperity is God meeting our needs while our focus is on him
[not on our needs being met!]. True prosperity is being able to preach the word
of God without a covetous motive [1 PETER:5:2].
I should make note that
there are some who teach that this passage of scripture [MATT. 6:19 -24] actually teaches that we
have a bank account in heaven with real money credited to our account! And
every time we sow [give into] the kingdom
of God , that we are
actually building a fund in this account. And that by faith you can claim a
withdrawal on your account and receive your financial harvest now. But if this
is what Jesus was teaching then the entire passage is twisted into turning our
attention towards money once again! Jesus plainly warned us against focusing
our thoughts on the material things in life, he told us not to be like the
unbelievers who have all their possessions in this life only. Jesus told us to
build up treasures in heaven, which meant a life lived for eternal purposes as
opposed to temporary rewards. I believe that if we get our priorities right,
that God will meet our needs, and we will be so excited about God and his
kingdom that we wont even have time to think about serving mammon!
CHAPTER 2
'TWISTING THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER'
While a new Christian,
enjoying that early honeymoon period with the Lord, I’ll never forget the joy I
experienced while learning the bible for the first time. The clarity, pureness
and unity of scripture were a sure foundation for a long road ahead. While working
as a house painter and listening to Christian radio all day long, it was an
early introduction to the various 'streams' of teaching that were being
produced in the church. One day my job foreman, who often heard me listening to
Christian radio, thought I would enjoy listening to a new tape series that he
had just been given. So I popped the cassettes into my radio and listened with
the excitement of a new believer in Christ. The cassettes were a new teaching
on the parable of the sower. MATTHEW 13:1-9, 18-23 ' THE SAME DAY WENT JESUS
OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND SAT BY THE SEASIDE .
AND GREAT MULTITUDES WERE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO HIM, SO THAT HE WENT INTO A
SHIP, AND SAT; AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE STOOD ON THE SHORE. AND HE SPAKE MANY
THINGS UNTO THEM IN PARABLES, SAYING, BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW; AND
WHEN HE SOWED, SOME SEEDS FELL BY THE WAY SIDE, AND THE FOWLS CAME AND DEVOURED
THEM UP: SOME FELL UPON STONY PLACES, WHERE THEY HAD NOT MUCH EARTH: AND
FORTHWITH THEY SPRUNG UP, BECAUSE THEY HAD NO DEEPNESS OF EARTH: AND WHEN THE
SUN WAS UP THEY WERE SCORCHED; AND BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ROOT THEY WITHERED AWAY.
AND SOME FELL AMONG THORNS; AND THE THORNS SPRUNG UP, AND CHOKED THEM; BUT
OTHER FELL INTO GOOD GROUND, AND BROUGHT FORTH
FRUIT, SOME AN HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTYFOLD, SOME THIRTYFOLD. WHO HATH EARS TO
HEAR LET HIM HEAR.........HEAR YE THEREFORE THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. WHEN
ANYONE HEARETH THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM, AND UNDERSTANDETH IT NOT, THEN COMETH
THE WICKED ONE, AND CATCHETH AWAY THAT WHICH WAS SOWN IN HIS HEART. THIS IS HE
WHICH RECIEVED SEED BY THE WAYSIDE. BUT HE THAT RECIEVED THE SEED INTO STONY
PLACES, THE SAME IS HE THAT HEARETH THE WORD, AND ANON WITH JOY RECIEVETH IT;
YET HATH HE NOT ROOT IN HIMSELF, BUT DURETH FOR A WHILE: FOR WHEN TRIBULATION
OR PERSECUTION ARISETH BECAUSE OF THE WORD, BY AND BY HE IS OFFENDED. HE ALSO
THAT RECIEVED SEED AMONG THE THORNS IS HE THAT HEARETH THE WORD; AND THE CARE
OF THIS WORLD, AND THE DECEITFULLNESS OF
RICHES, CHOKE THE WORD AND HE BECOMETH UNFRUITFULL. BUT HE THAT RECIEVED
SEED INTO GOOD GROUND IS HE THAT HEARETH THE WORD, AND UNDERSTANDETH IT; WHICH
ALSO BEARETH FRUIT, AND BRINGETH FORTH , SOME
AN HUNDREDFOLD SOME SIXTY SND SOME THIRTY'. As the teacher taught through the
parable he explained how Jesus was teaching us how to plant [sow] the word
[scriptures] in our hearts [through confession, meditation, etc.] in order to
receive a thirty, sixty, or hundredfold return. He then applied the entire
teaching to reaping an hundredfold return of MONEY! He taught how that at each
stage of the parable the devil tries to steal the word so we don’t receive our
harvest. He then got to the part where Jesus says 'THE DECIETFULLNESS OF RICHES
CHOKE THE WORD', I couldn’t understand how Jesus could be teaching us about
reaping a financial harvest, and then say this! It almost seemed like a
contradiction. Well the teacher then began to sound uncomfortable as he
explained how the deceitfulness of riches was actually that old traditional
teaching that says you cant be rich [or something to that effect]! Even as a
new believer in Christ I just couldn’t accept this explanation, it was almost
as if the teacher was trying to make Jesus words say the opposite of what he
meant.
The basic
plain meaning of the parable is self-explanatory. There are always obstacles
and enemies of the gospel. Ultimately those who overcome these obstacles will
bear good Christian fruit in varying degrees [30,60 or 100 fold]. The various
hindrances to the word of God include the 'cares of this world and the deceitfulness
of riches'. If you want to produce fruit for God you cant get caught up in the
materialistic pursuits of the world [2 TIMOTHY 2:4].
Many times in connection
with this parable is the doctrine of sowing for a harvest taught. Jesus often
uses planting [sowing] and harvesting [reaping] illustrations in his teachings.
The main focus is usually dealing with the spreading of the kingdom of God
and the message of Christ to the nations. Sometimes the seed refers to
believers themselves, and other times the actual message preached [MATT. 13: 20 ,38]. Sowing and reaping also
refer to the works we do, as well as the money we give into the kingdom [1COR. 9:11 , GAL. 6:8]. While there are many
ways you can apply sowing for a harvest, I find it disturbing that some in the
church have focused the entire teaching towards financial and material gain.
This type of preoccupation with money is in direct opposition to the warning
that Jesus gave in this parable, he told us that the deceitfulness of riches
could derail us from being fruitful, and the distorted teaching that applies
this entire parable to money is in itself a fulfillment of the warning that
'the deceitfulness of riches' can deceive you, because it denies the very
warning of Christ and makes him say something that he never said!
CHAPTER 3
'WHAT IS THE ABRAHAMIC BLESSING'
I must admit that out of
all the various portions of scripture used to teach a false prosperity gospel,
this is one of the most deceptive. In order for us to fully grasp the concept
of the abrahamic blessing, we must do a little history.
In GALATIANS 3, the
apostle Paul makes one of the greatest N.T. arguments for justification by
faith versus law. I personally believe this doctrine to be one of the
foundational doctrines in the N.T.
The heresy that Paul is
fighting against in Galatians is the heresy of legalism that was taught by the
judiazers. The judiazers were the Jewish/Christian sect that taught that
gentile believers needed to be circumcised and brought under the law in order
to be saved. The main argument that Paul uses to refute this doctrine is in
Galatians 3. In this chapter we find Paul going back to the O.T. books in order
to show that God established, by covenant, the basis of justifying man by faith
without the deeds of the law. The main argument Paul uses is 'the abrahamic
blessing'. Paul traces Gods promise to Abraham, made before the law was given,
where God says 'in thee shall all nations be blessed' [GEN. 12:3, GAL. 3:8].
This meaning that God would bless [save] all nations through the promised child
of Abraham [which would eventually be Jesus]. Paul’s point is to show that God
already promised to bless all people through Abraham’s offspring [the abrahamic
blessing], and not through the law. The abrahamic blessing referring to
justifying the world by faith and giving us 'the promise of the Spirit by
faith' [GALATIANS 3:8-14], this argument is also used in Romans 4.
Now here comes the
tricky part, some teach that God covenants to make us rich trough the abrahamic
blessing [or covenant]. They use this chapter to teach that Christ died so we
can receive the abrahamic blessing. They then define the abrahamic blessing as
the 'things' that Abraham had. But once again the abrahamic blessing as defined
in Galatians 3 is referring to God justifying us by faith as opposed to the
law. Paul was in no way teaching the Galatians that God was going to make them
rich! He was battling for their very souls! The plain text of this passage
shows us that Paul was dealing with the issue of justification, and not
finances. And it would make absolutely no sense for Paul to begin to address
money issues in the middle of this chapter.
Each time I came across
this type of distorted interpretation, I honestly couldn’t understand how so many
different teachers could so consistently apply the same passage in the wrong
way. It almost reminds me of the O.T. passage that speaks of a conspiracy of
the prophets [EZEK. 22:25 ].
A sort of network of false/distorted interpretations of the scripture that
exist among certain groups of believers, and these same false opinions are then
propagated again and again until after you hear them long enough they seem to
become accepted truth in the church at large. We need to re-examine some of
these doctrines and receive correction and make the proper adjustments in our
thinking and acting [repentance!], so we don’t continue to spread these false
opinions in the church.
CHAPTER 4 'WHAT DID JAMES SAY'
One of the strongest
books in the N.T. dealing with poverty and riches is the book of James. Simply
reading this book in context would give the modern prosperity gospel a strong
rebuke! James contrasts both rich and poor, he says that God has chosen the
poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God .
The context also implies that these poor Christians will remain poor in this
life! [JAMES 2:5] The prosperity message teaches that if you have faith in God
that you will not be poor. It’s obvious that both James and the prosperity
teachers of today have a difference of opinion!
Lets look at exactly
what the word of God says; JAMES 2:1-6 'MY BRETHREN, HAVE NOT THE FAITH OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LORD OF GLORY, WITH RESPECT OF PERSONS. FOR IF THERE
COME UNTO YOUR ASSEMBLY A MAN WITH A GOLD RING, IN GOODLY APPAREL, AND THERE
COME IN ALSO A POOR MAN IN VILE RAIMENT; AND YE HAVE RESPECT TO HIM THAT
WEARETH THE GAY CLOTHING, AND SAY UNTO HIM, SIT THOU HERE IN A GOOD PLACE; AND
SAY TO THE POOR, STAND THOU HERE OR SIT HERE UNDER MY FOOTSTOOL: ARE YE NOT
THEN PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES AND BECOME JUDGES OF EVIL THOUGHTS? HEARKEN, MY
BELOVED BRETHREN, HATH NOT GOD CHOSEN
THE POOR OF THIS WORLD RICH IN
FAITH, AND HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM WHICH HE HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE
HIM? BUT YE HAVE DESPISED THE POOR. DO NOT RICH MEN OPPRESS YOU, AND DRAW YOU
BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEATS? How were they despising the poor and being
prejudiced in their thoughts? They were treating poor people with contempt
while showing honor to the rich. This is exactly what we do in the church, by
teaching that poor Christians have little, or no faith, we unconsciously treat
them with contempt. We teach that the poor are under a curse and are therefore
not living up to all their benefits in Christ. We actually set up a cast system
in the church. James says the poor have great faith! He doesn’t portray them as
having small faith. He warns the rich not to trust in uncertain riches. The
bible flatly teaches that financial abundance is not a measure of ones faith!
We must stop teaching that if you would simply believe God you would have an
abundance of money. This is not true in every case. Sometimes the abundant
supply from God is the grace and patience that he gives to the believer in the
face of severe trials or lack. The N.T. clearly teaches that there are
believers with lots of faith who are poor! You can't deny the plain word of
God. We should not suppose that a lack of financial abundance is a sign of weak
faith!
Now to one of the most
recent 'new revelations' that is being taught in the church. I first heard this
from a very respected soul-winning evangelist. I then heard it taught from a
variety of other teachers. As of this writing it seems to be accepted 'truth'
in certain circles. Lets read JAMES 5:1-6 'GO TO NOW, YE RICH MEN, WEEP AND
HOWL FOR YOUR MISERIES THAT SHALL COME UPON YOU. YOUR RICHES ARE CORRUPTED,
AND YOUR GARMENTS ARE MOTHEATEN. YOUR GOLD AND SILVER IS CANKERED; AND THE RUST OF THEM SHALL BE A WITNESS AGAINST YOU, AND SHALL EAT YOUR
FLESH AS IT WERE FIRE. YE HAVE HEAPED
TREASURE TOGETHER FOR THE LAST DAYS. BEHOLD, THE HIRE OF THE LABOURERS WHO
HAVE REAPED DOWN YOUR FIELDS, WHICH IS OF YOU KEPT BACK BY FRAUD, CRIETH: AND
THE CRIES OF THEM WHICH HAVE REAPED ARE ENTERED INTO THE EARS OF THE LORD OF
SABAOTH. YE HAVE LIVED IN PLEASURE ON THE EARTH, AND BEEN WANTON; YE HAVE
NOURISHED YOUR HEARTS, AS IN A DAY OF SLAUGHTER. YE HAVE CONDEMNED AND KILLED
THE JUST; AND HE DOTH NOT RESIST YOU. The first time I heard this 'new' truth,
the preacher said that this passage was dealing with the end-time transfer of
wealth from the rich to the poor. It was explained that in verse 3 'YE HAVE
HEAPED TREASURE TOGETHER FOR THE LAST DAYS’ meant that the rich gathered
together their wealth so it could be given to the church in the last days.
While I have no problem with the idea of the world’s wealth being used for
kingdom purposes, I do have a problem with distorting the word of God to prove
our points! A simple reading of James 5:1-6 shows us that the reason the rich
are being reproved is because they spent their lives building up financial
fortunes without being rich toward God [LUKE 12:16-21]. This scripture also
plainly says what is going to happen to their wealth. Is it going to be
'transferred' to us? Is it going to be given to the Christians in the last
days? Is it going to be used at all? NO! It is going to canker, rust and
corrupt! It is going to be destroyed! It will be of no help at all in the day
of judgment [PRVB. 11:4]. It will be a witness against them for living covetous
lives. The entire theme of James follows this line of thought. To read all the
other things that James says about the rich and poor in this epistle, for us to
then interpret this passage and say that James was now teaching the Christians
that they would become rich through the end-time transfer of wealth, is
ridiculous. Once again the plain meaning of scripture is being distorted in
order to make it say the complete opposite of what it means.
One more thing before we
leave James. The early Christian community did not equate poverty with being
under a curse. They did not equate poverty with sin. There are many rebukes in
the N.T. against sin in the church, but the poor in the church were praised,
not rebuked! The very mindset of looking upon the poor as a lower class
permeates this teaching. If the poor are cursed, not living up to their
inheritance, don’t know how to apply faith principles or simply don’t
know/believe the word concerning prosperity, then in essence we are despising
the poor through our belief system. The N.T. plainly teaches that it is okay to
be poor! We need to heed the warning from this N.T. epistle and stop despising
the poor!
CHAPTER 5 'WHOSE MINISTRY, JESUS OR OURS?'
I'll never forget the
time I was watching 'Christian' TV and saw a preacher holding up his Rolex
watch and then teaching the people that this was an example of his faith in
action! He then went on to explain that when we use our faith to obtain things,
we can then show these things to people as a witness of our faith. If this is
what it means to go witnessing for Christ, I think most people would be
standing in line to sign up!
Over the years I have
heard it taught that the only way the world would be saved is if the church
becomes extremely rich financially so she could send the gospel to the world.
That the world would see our extreme wealth and would ask 'where did you get
all that money?' and we would then say 'from God', and the lost would then want
what we have and get saved! Convenient isn’t it. But is this a biblical picture
of the N.T. church and her witness in the earth?
In order to answer this
question, we need first to look at what the N.T. church is. The church consists
of communities of believers scattered throughout the world. All over planet
earth, right now, there are believers thriving and testifying of Gods grace in
all types of circumstances and situations. The community of believers that
Jesus launched 2 thousand years ago is still going strong. She answers to no
man or human govt. She has outlasted empires, persecutions, false religions and
every other conceivable attack that can be imagined. The prophecy of Jesus has
been fulfilled ‘THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST HER’ [MATT. 16:18 ].
As of today there has
been no other single institution upon earth that has had more influence in the
history of the world than the church! Now, if the church truly consists of
believers [seeds], planted [sown] all over the world under the lordship of
Christ, with various giftings [Apostles, Prophets, etc.] operating under the
administration of the Holy Spirit, this ministry [the kingdom of God ]
already has the potential of a worldwide witness to all nations. As a matter of
fact this worldwide gospel of Christ has been prevailing magnificently
throughout the generations. This wonderful kingdom, under Christ’s rule, has
been active. It has been supernaturally deploying ministers from day one [ACTS
13]. It has even witnessed for Jesus Christ when its main ministers were broke!
[ACTS 3:6]. The witness of the gospel has done extremely well throughout the
centuries and will continue to do so, whether or not we all become rich!
The reason I say this is
because there is a mindset in the church [American mostly] that equates the
witness of the gospel with the success of American charismatic entrepreneurial
ministries. We have been deluded into believing that unless we all become rich,
we will never be able to reach the world. The overall success of the kingdom of God has never been dependent on any
budget of any ministry past or present! Most of the modern day proponents of
the prosperity gospel usually head up American ministry organizations and
equate the sowing of seed [finances], with giving money to help support their
organizations. They then sincerely believe that unless their organization makes
more and more money, they will never be able to fulfill the great commission of
reaching the world.
The N.T. clearly teaches
the principles of our witness for Christ, and the focus has never been extreme
wealth. But on sacrificial living, loving each other unconditionally, a sharing
caring community of people who are known for good deeds of charity. In the book
of acts the early church had a powerful witness, and they weren’t rich
financially, yet they did reach their world for Christ. How? Through great
sacrificial living, through miraculous signs and wonders, through the
empowerment of the Holy Spirit and through a bold proclamation of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. Not one sermon in the book of acts focused on anything else than
Jesus Christ and his great work for us. Their hearts and lips flowed with the
message of Christ, not money!
I find it troubling that
many of the ministries who teach the prosperity gospel usually do receive
extreme amounts of money, not to proclaim the message of Jesus [speaking about
him], but to simply propagate a money making gospel! You can tune into some of
these ministries and find them talking about money all the time. What if a lost
person tuned in? Would he hear about Jesus or money? What about when Jesus said
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks? [MATT. 12:34]. If someone
is always talking about money where is his heart, what’s his treasure?
We need to shift our
focus back to the pure N.T. message of Christ, and understand that his gospel
is the power of God unto salvation! Jesus said the world would be saved when
the truth is preached in all nations by a united church, not when we all become
millionaires so we can finance our own ministries!
CHAPTER 6 '1 TIMOTHY 6'
I have often heard it
said 'if you’re happy with just enough money to get by, you’re selfish and
living in sin, you need to believe God and have faith for increased wealth so
you can finance the gospel'. Is this a biblical concept? Should we teach people
that being content with what you have is a sin?
Lets look at the word of
God HEBREWS 13:5-6 'LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVEOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: FOR HE HATH SAID, I WILL NEVER
LEAVE THEE, OR FORSAKE THEE. SO THAT WE MAY BOLDLY SAY, THE LORD IS MY HELPER,
AND I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MAN SHALL DO UNTO ME. This scripture plainly teaches
us to be content with what we have! I even heard a prosperity preacher teach
that this means to be happy with what you have now, while using your faith to
obtain more. WHAT! When will we stop distorting the plain meaning of scripture?
1 TIMOTHY 6:1-12,17-19
'LET AS MANY SERVANTS WHO ARE UNDER THE YOKE COUNT THIER OWN MASTERS WORTHY OF
ALL HONOUR, THAT THE NAME OF GOD AND HIS DOCTRINE BE NOT BLASPHEMED....... IF
ANY MAN TEACH OTHERWISE, AND CONSENT NOT TO WHOLESOME WORDS, EVEN THE WORDS OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH IS ACCORDING TO GODLINESS; HE
IS PROUD KNOWING NOTHING, BUT DOTING ABOUT QUESTIONS AND STRIFES OF WORDS,
WHEREOF COMETH ENVY, STRIFE, RAILINGS, EVIL SURMISINGS, PERVERSE DISPUTINGS OF
MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS, AND DESTITUTE OF THE TRUTH, SUPPOSING THAT GAIN IS GODLINESS: FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF. BUT
GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. FOR
WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THE WORLD, AND IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT.
AND HAVING FOOD AND RAIMENT LET US BE THEREWITH CONTENT. BUT THEY THAT WILL BE
RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, AND INTO MANY FOOLISH AND HURTFUL
LUSTS, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION. FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: WHICH WHILE SOME COVETED
AFTER, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. BUT THOU O
MAN OF GOD FLEE THESE THINGS.........CHARGE THEM THAT ARE RICH IN THIS WORLD,
THAT THEY BE NOT HIGHMINDED, NOR TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES, BUT IN THE LIVING
GOD, WHO GIVETH US RICHLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY; THAT THEY DO GOOD, THAT THEY BE
RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO DISTRIBUTE, WILLING TO COMMUNICATE; LAYING UP IN
STORE FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION AGAINST THE TIME TO COME, THAT THEY MAY
LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE. Paul is clearly teaching the concept of 'you came
into this world with nothing, you cant take it with you when you die, so be
content with what you have'. I have heard prosperity preachers say that this
type of mindset is a religious spirit, and has no foundation in the word of
God. This passage of scripture teaches plainly against the mindset of the
prosperity gospel. The entire theme and thought of the apostle goes 100 percent
against the grain of the prosperity movement. Paul clearly says that some will
equate gain with godliness, if he is not dealing with the distortions of the
modern prosperity movement, then who is he speaking about? He says that some
will equate godly living with financial gain, or they will teach if you’re
godly you will gain much money. This is exactly what the modern prosperity
movement teaches!
He says that those who
want to become rich will fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts. The craving
[coveting] to become rich can either be through confessing scripture, through
meditating on abundance, through the sowing of seed into good soil or any other
means imaginable. The scripture simply says that if the acquiring of money, for
whatever purpose [even godly purposes], has become your goal, then your
motivation is wrong and you have been sidetracked.
Now the 'love of money'
verse. 1 TIMOTHY 6:10 'FOR
THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: WHICH WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, THEY
HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY
SORROWS'. I have heard it said 'brother,
this says the love of money, not money' and then the preacher will go right
past the warning and talk all about money, not even giving a second thought to
the warning! These passages, read in their entirety, give a powerful rebuke
against the prosperity movement. They teach us to' be content with what we
have,' they tell us' don’t desire to be rich', they plainly state that the
pursuit of material wealth will sidetrack you, and they even state that 'you
came into the world with nothing, when you die you cant take it with you, so be
happy with what you have!' I would exhort any person who is having difficulty
breaking away from this movement to read 1 timothy 6 every day for a year and
allow your mind to be renewed to the word of God!
One more thing before we leave this chapter, in verse 12
Paul exhorts Timothy to 'lay hold on eternal life'. He says this in the context
of comparing eternal life against materialistic living. He is saying in essence
'live for eternal things, not temporary rewards [or money!]'. I just finished
watching a minister on T.V. spend 30 minutes explaining how the eternal life
that Paul is referring to deals with the abundance of God in the area of
finances. He flatly said that Paul was teaching us to lay hold of an abundance
of money! This type of extreme distorting of scripture actually takes the
warnings in the word of God that speak against materialism and turns them around
to teach the exact opposite! When our own interpretations of scripture go
against the plain flow of the text of scripture, then we have usurped the word
of God in order to teach our own traditions!
CHAPTER 7 'WERE JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES RICH?'
One day while listening
to a preacher trying to prove that Jesus and the disciples were extremely
wealthy, he used the common ‘proof texts’ to prove his point. He then went on
to explain that religious tradition portrayed Jesus and the disciples as being
poor [or average], and that the word of God teaches us that they were really
rich. He also explained how important it was for us to know this 'truth',
because if Jesus and the disciples were rich, and Jesus wants us to be like
him, then we are in disobedience if we are not striving to become wealthy!
A simple plain reading
of the N.T. portrays Jesus as someone who came with a radical message of
forsaking all to follow him. He often approached people who were in business
[fishermen], or were rich, and challenged them to leave all and follow him. He
would reassure these followers if they forsook all for his cause and the
gospel, that they would be taken care of. This same type of radical call
continued into the book of acts, where the early followers of Jesus also told
the people that to be a follower of Christ they had to forsake all to follow
him.
If you look at the
overall picture [not the prooftexts!], you see the early Christian community as
a people who forsook all for the gospel. You find them living and sharing as a
corporate community who took care of each-others needs [ACTS 2:44 -47]. You find those who were wealthy [not
all of the church, but certain individuals, ACTS 4:32 -37] sharing their wealth for the needs of the
Christian community. You can even trace the ministries of some of the early
apostles and still find them many years later proclaiming Christ through much
suffering and persecution. Not only does the N.T. portray the early Christian
community in this light, but also church history confirms it. You find the
apostles still learning to deal with financial lack many years later well into
their ministries [PHIL 4:11-12, 2 COR. 11:27]. You see a beautiful picture of a
people willing to suffer for the cause of Christ cheerfully. You also see a
gracious Lord who met all their needs according to his abundant grace. You find
stories where the material needs of people were supernaturally met [not by
extreme wealth, but by Gods miraculous intervention [MATT. 14:17 -19, 15:34 -36].
Now what about the
promise Jesus made to Peter in MARK 10:28-31 'THEN PETER BEGAN TO SAY UNTO HIM,
LO, WE HAVE LEFT ALL, AND HAVE FOLLOWED THEE. AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID,
VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THERE IS NO MAN THAT HATH LEFT HOUSE, OR BRETHREN, OR
SISTERS, OR FATHER, OR MOTHER, OR WIFE, OR CHILDREN, OR LANDS, FOR MY SAKE AND
THE GOSPELS, BUT HE SHALL RECIEVE AN
HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS TIME, HOUSES, AND BRETHREN, AND SISTERS, AND MOTHERS,
AND CHILDREN, AND LANDS, WITH PERSECUTIONS; AND IN THE WORLD TO COME
ETERNAL LIFE. Did Peter personally posses [inherit] more houses, lands, sisters
and mothers? How was this promise fulfilled in Peter’s life? In the book of
acts Peter became a part of the 'Christian family' who had all things common,
they shared everything and had no lack [ACTS 4:32 -34, 2:44 -47].
They had no lack because of their membership in the family of God. The
fulfilling of the law of love in their sharing of material things was the
fulfillment of Jesus promise to Peter, not making him financially rich!
Look at all the
apostolic ministries in the book of acts. Wherever they went, whatever city
they ministered in, their needs were always met. Why? Because when they became
part of the Christian community, the homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, lands
and all the other resources were SHARED by all the believers. They ministered
to each other’s needs, they supported one another, they truly fulfilled the law
of love by bearing one another’s burdens!
This picture of Jesus
and the apostles as extremely rich 20th century American evangelists who headed
up big budget ministries is absolutely no where to be found in the plain
reading of the N.T.! I just don’t find Jesus and the disciples as rich
evangelists going into the world with extreme wealth, while at the same time telling
rich people to sell all they have to come follow him! [MATT. 19:23-24,LK. 1:53 , 6:24 , 16:19 -31,
18:18 -25]
CHAPTER 8 'COVENANT THEOLOGY'
The early settlers
[pilgrims] of our nation came by faith in God, believing their new nation to be
a promised land of freedom that the Lord had given to them. One of the
descriptions of the 'belief system' of these puritans is called covenant
theology. They saw themselves as 'new covenant' people who were inheriting a
promised land, much like the old covenant people [Israel ] inherited their promised
land. They claimed and believed the many O.T. promises of God concerning the
inheriting of nations. They took God at his word, and it worked!
In a sense all believers
are covenant theologians, whether they realize it or not. It is through our
covenant with God [the blood of Jesus], that we are made right with God
[justified], have forgiveness of sins and are made children of God. As a matter
of fact, everything that God does for us, or that 'we do for him', is based
upon the bedrock foundation of the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now, it has been taught
because of our covenant with Christ, we can go through the bible and find all
the promises that are good and by faith hold God to his word and 'cause the
things that are not seen [not manifested] to become seen [manifested]', or to
put it simple, to get the things that God has promised us by putting our faith
into action. I believe this principle is both scriptural and profitable. But
the covenant cuts both ways.
When people enter into covenant, the 2 parties have
complete access to each-others rights and privileges. There are times were the
Lord will require of the believer all that he has [leave your nets and follow
me mentality]. There are even times where the Lord called people to lay down
their lives in martyrdom in order to receive a better resurrection [HEB 11:35 , ACTS 7]. As a matter of fact
there are many examples of people of faith who have endured great sufferings
even though they had great faith [HEB. 11].
So what does it mean to
be a covenant believer? It not only implies going throughout the bible and
claiming all the good promises and quoting them by faith [sowing], it also
carries with it the meaning of laying down all that we have [in this world] for
the cause of Christ [HEB. 10:34].
While the early puritans
did claim and receive the promises of God by faith concerning their 'promised
land', they also endured tremendous suffering and loss [many died in their
pursuit!] in order to obtain a noble goal. The N.T. commands us not only to
believe and teach the good parts [or the parts we like the most!], but also to
heed the warnings [LUKE 12:15 ,
ACTS 20:27 ]. If we reduce
covenant theology to a belief system that only reads and quotes the 'good'
promises, but never heeds the warnings, then we are failing to proclaim the
full gospel and are presenting a distorted view of the Christian life [ACTS
14:22]. A simple overview of the N.T. shows us how the principles of the N.T.
are supposed to work. For example, you never find Jesus or the disciples going
around quoting the money verses in order to receive a harvest! As a matter of
fact, if we teach people to 'quote, meditate, memorize and only think on the
money scriptures', we would be doing the exact opposite of what Jesus said in
MATT. 6:31-34. He specifically told us to take no thought [meditate, focus our
minds, etc.] of what we shall eat, drink or wear [material things], the whole
point of this passage was to teach the Christian NOT to focus on these things!
You also never find any
of the suffering Christians acting like they 'fell short' of their covenant
rights. Instead they counted it a privilege to suffer for his names sake [ACTS 5:41 ]. The entire flow of the N.T.
goes contrary to the 'picture painted' by unbalanced prosperity preaching. The
focus of the N.T. was Gods advancing kingdom throughout the nations! Their own
lives and the things they could get to make themselves more comfortable ran
100% contrary to the fulfilling of their mission [2 TIM. 4:10 , 1 JOHN 2:15 ]. A simple plain reading of the N.T. in context
teaches us that the character of N.T. Christianity is one of self-sacrificial
living, not a 'get all you can by faith' mentality.
CHAPTER 9 'SOWING INTO GOOD SOIL'
A simple reading of the
N.T. gives us a broad picture of the life of the believer, which includes
giving and receiving, Gods promises of funding the work of the ministry, the
Christian concept of charity, and a basic overall view of finances and the kingdom of God . One of the most basic reasons of
giving money in the N.T. is to share what we have with those who are less
fortunate [JAMES 2:15-16, 1 JOHN 3:17]. As a matter of fact Jesus rebuked the
religious leaders of his day for their willingness to tithe to the temple while
neglecting to use their finances to meet the needs of people in need [MARK
7:6-13]. One of the most recognized passages of scripture used to describe the
character of Christ is found in Luke 10:30-37, an example of someone
ministering to the needs of ‘the down and out’.
Even in the book of acts
the main focus on giving was to meet the needs of people [ACTS 2:44 -46, 4:32 -37, 6:1]. The very scripture that we use
to exhort saints to put in their offerings on ‘Sunday’, is really speaking
about a collection being taken to meet the needs of the ‘poor saints’ who lived
in Jerusalem
[1COR. 16:1-3].
This basic Christian
principle of charity is a well-established Christian doctrine that most people
would agree with, except for certain teachers in the prosperity movement! I
remember listening to a certain teacher actually teach that in order to receive
a good financial harvest, you must plant your seed [money] into good soil. He
then went on to teach that good soil meant ministries, or individuals, who taught
prosperity and were financially rich! He even implied that giving to prosperity
ministries would make you rich, while giving to ‘poverty mentality’ ministries
would make you poor [because you reap the same anointing from the ministries
you so into]. The problem with this is that the bible teaches that giving to
poor people [people with a poverty mentality] is good, and that the Lord will
reward you for it [PRVB. 22:9,16,19:17 ,28:27,
PSALMS 112:9].
While the N.T. does deal
with Gods provisions for ministry [PHIL. 4:14 -19,1COR.
9:1-14], this certainly in no way justifies perverting the gospel into a
mindset of giving into wealthy ministries in order to receive a financial
harvest!
Jesus, Paul and all the
other N.T. ministers did receive finances and provisions from God in order to
fulfill their callings, but at the same time they also warned the people
emphatically against materialism. They spoke out against covetousness/idolatry,
while at the same time believing God to meet their needs [LUKE 12:15, EPH. 5:3,
COL. 3:5, 1 THESS. 2:5, HEB. 13:5, 2 PETER 2:3]. Were they being hypocrites?
NO! They understood the difference between using the things of this world
without abusing them [1 COR. 7:31 ].
There is a big difference between believing God to meet our needs, and twisting
the entire character of N.T. Christianity into a money focused mentality! The
Christian should have a proper understanding of finances, as well as physical
exercise, balance in family life and relationships, dealing with the practical
concerns of life. But to exalt anyone of these areas of life and to make it the
message of Christianity, and then to reshape the entire image of Christianity
in order to make it fit our ‘peculiar’ style of belief would be wrong.
The very fact that there
are in existence today million dollar ministries [which in itself is not
wrong!], that teach people to give into their ministries with the promise of a
sure return, and even appeal to poor saints to give out of their lack [social
security checks, etc.], while all the while propagating a false gospel, is
wrong!
These same ministries
use the funds collected by false pretense and then preach the gospel of money,
instead of a clear presentation of the gospel of Christ! Many of these
ministries sincerely believe that it is a witness for Christ to have
extravagant salaries, wear Rolex watches, drive a Cadillac and be a
millionaire. They actually justify this by their own belief in the message they
preach. They do not see it as wrong in the sight of God to finance this type of
lifestyle/ministry from the offerings sent in by poor saints and widows! Many
of their supporters are average, or struggling financially, and they give out
of a sincere desire to better their own lives while at the same time furthering
the work of God.
I know some of these
precious believers who are struggling financially while sending in their
‘widow’s mite’ with hope and faith that things will turn around for them. No
where in the N.T. do you find rich preachers appealing to poor saints to give
into their ministries in order to receive a harvest! This is 100% against the
character of N.T. Christianity. The bible actually condemns the idea of
‘shepherds’ taking advantage of their flocks for personal/financial gain
[EZEKIEL 34, MATT. 23:14 ,
1 PETER 5:1-2].
The very fact
that we have poor Christians sending in sacrificial offerings to millionaire
ministries, often times because the preacher is appealing by the ‘word of the
Lord’ to them, is wrong! Many of these ministries are using these funds to
propagate a false view of Christianity to the world. They are preaching an
unbalanced gospel while they themselves are bringing in large amounts of money.
I appeal to the church at large to finance worthy ministries who are actually
meeting the real needs of people around the world [good soil!], and to stop
financing a false gospel!
CHAPTER 10 ‘IS THERE HOPE FOR FALSE PROPHETS?’
Why write this book? Over the years of struggling with
these issues I would often come across an article, book or some type of
testimonial that would expose many of the errors that are dealt with in this
book. Some of the books I read seemed to
leave little or no room for repentance and restoration of the ‘prosperity
preachers’. I not only believe that Gods ultimate purpose in exposing sin is
for the restoration of the individual, but there are examples of former
prosperity preachers who have seen some of these gross errors and have returned
to a balanced presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What constitutes a false prophet? While there are many
characteristics that we can mention, I would like to deal with one specific
area relevant to our study. That area is motivation. In 2 Peter chapter 2, the
apostle deals with covetousness as a motive for teaching heresy [2 PETER
2:1-3]. He states that Balaam was a false prophet who ‘loved the wages of
unrighteousness’ [2 PETER 2:14 -16].
Although balaam's gift was legitimate, it was his motivation [the love of
money] that caused him to use his gift in a wrong way. So you can have a true
prophetic gift, and yet be a false prophet because of a covetous motivation
[JUDE 11]. The early church even went so far as to brand someone a false
prophet if they hung around more than a few days and charged for their
ministry! [Read the Didache].
As mentioned earlier, Paul and Peter warned against
being in ministry for financial gain [1 TIM.6, 2 PETER 5:2, TITUS 1:11 ]. Jesus himself laid down a
strong warning against the hireling mentality [JOHN 10:12 -13].
It is clear from these warnings [and the many others in
the N.T.], that the early Christians were very aware of the dangers of the love
of money. I have heard it taught that this ‘fear ‘ or ‘scared’ attitude towards
money is just a ‘religious mindset’ that has no foundation in the word of God.
This just isn’t true! The bible contains many warnings against materialistic
living and covetousness that were the foundation of the ‘healthy fear’ that the
early church had towards money.
Now the scripture teaches that there will be a time when
certain teachers [false prophets] who are motivated by money, will teach false
doctrines [Jesus and the disciples being rich, etc.] and that these teachers
would connect faith and money [gain and godliness], as going hand in hand. Now
if the current abuses of the prosperity movement do not fall into this
category, then who does? We just can’t deny all the evidence pointing to this
movement as one of the fulfillments of the ‘false prophets’ who teach that gain
is godliness! We as a church must see this before there can be any true
restoration of those involved, or more importantly a preventing of this false
gospel from being taught to a whole new generation of believers!
The scripture says to rebuke false prophets sharply so
THEY MAY BE SOUND IN THE FAITH [TITUS 1:13 ].
Even the false shepherds of Ezekiels day were promised restoration and
usefulness in their latter years [EZEKIEL 44:10-14].
If we begin to renounce our errors and return to the
Lord [repentance], there will be true renewal in the church. Jesus warned the
church to repent because she had within her those that held to the ‘doctrine of
balsam’ [REV. 2:14-16]. It is possible for those who have taught these errors
to repent and be restored to a pure gospel of Christ.
Jesus dealt with the ‘money changers’ of his day just
prior to the establishing of Gods kingdom.
MARK 11:15 -17 AND
THEY COME TO JERUSALEM :
AND JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE ,
AND BEGAN TO CAST OUT THEM THAT SOLD AND BOUGHT IN THE TEMPLE , AND
OVERTHREW THE TABLES OF THE MONEYCHANGERS, AND THE SEATS OF THEM THAT SOLD
DOVES; AND WOULD NOT SUFFER THAT ANY MAN SHOULD CARRY ANY VESSEL THROUGH
THE TEMPLE . AND
HE TAUGHT, SAYING UNTO THEM, IS IT NOT WRITTEN, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED OF ALL NATIONS THE HOUSE OF PRAYER? BUT YE HAVE MADE IT A DEN OF
THIEVES. The moneychangers served as a sort of currency exchange for anyone
wanting to bring any offerings or do any legitimate worship at Jerusalem , but needed to exchange their type
of currency for the official currency that was accepted at Jerusalem . I find this interesting, because
the function of the moneychangers themselves was a legitimate business
function. But their business itself brought a type of merchandising to the
temple that Jesus himself found highly offensive. I find a present day
application to the moneychanger mentality in the modern prosperity movement.
The movement teaches Christians to focus their attention on the return they
will get on their investment into the kingdom. It causes Christians to give
their offerings with the expectation of some type of return on their money.
While this in itself is not wrong, for we know that God does reward his
children [HEB. 11:6], the tendency of the prosperity message actually appeals
to the covetous nature of people in order to make disciples of Christ! Jesus
told people to forsake all to follow him, while the movement tells people if
you follow him he will make you rich! I have heard it taught that as you sow
your seed [money] into the offering basket that you need to 'picture' your
harvest of what you are believing for in your mind [whether healing, a new car or house, the
salvation of a loved one, etc.] and then your seed [money] will produce your
harvest! The very idea of exchanging your money [or changing it!] into the
visualized harvest of your own expectation is just as off base as the money
mentality of the first century moneychangers. This is the only recorded
incident in the N.T. where Jesus was visibly angry.
REVELATION 4:14-22 ‘AND UNTO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF
THE LAODICEANS WRITE; THESE THINGS SAYETH THE AMEN, THE FAITHFULL AND TRUE
WITNESS, THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD; I KNOW THY WORKS, THAT THOU ART
NEITHER COLD NOR HOT. SO THEN BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR
HOT, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH. BECAUSE
THOU SAYEST, I AM RICH AND INCREASED WITH GOODS, AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING; AND
KNOWEST NOT THAT THOU ART WRETCHED, AND MISERABLE, AND POOR, AND BLIND, AND
NAKED: I COUNSEL THEE TO BUY OF ME GOLD
TRIED IN THE FIRE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE RICH; AND WHITE RAIMENT, THAT THOU
MAYEST BE CLOTHED, AND THAT THE SHAME OF THY NAKEDNESS DO NOT APPEAR; AND
ANOINT THY EYES WITH EYESALVE, THAT THOU MAYEST SEE. AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT. BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND
KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME INTO HIM, AND
WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME. TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I GRANT TO SIT
WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, AND AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER
IN HIS THRONE. HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET
HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.
VERSES-
Ezekiel 46:1 Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court
that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the
sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Ezekiel 46:2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of
that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests
shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship
at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be
shut until the evening.
Ezekiel 46:21 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and
caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every
corner of the court there was a court.
Ezekiel 46:22 In the four corners of the court there were courts
joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one
measure.
Ezekiel 46:23 And there was a row of building round about in them,
round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round
about.
Timothy
6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.1Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1Timothy 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Timothy 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Timothy 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
1Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Timothy 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
1Timothy 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Cor. 5:21
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1Jn. 3:2
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filth
yrags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away.
Is. 64
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the
one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money.
Matt. 6:24
And again
I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matt. 19:24
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Is.42:9
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