Paying For It

There are several passages in the bible that gave me reason to furrow my brow and ponder for great length. Some of the verses gave more freedom then thought was allowed while others caused fear making me even more aware of who God is. Yet for this particular entry, the verse about buying the truth and selling it not made for an interesting topic when I called an evangelist that was accepting questions for his radio program (Proverbs 23:23 AMP). He chuckled knowing that it was a stalling tactic he was using so his assistant could either pull the verse up on the computer or come up with a viable answer to my question.

You see he, as with many others from ministry, have received a variety of gifts from the Lord. These gifts are for the perfecting of the saints (Ephesians 4:11-13 AMP). We are to be strengthened so that we can continue with what we are called to do. So why have some of us used these gifts for our own livelihood (1 Corinthians 2:14 AMP)? When did God give approval for that seeing that He would not go back on His Word?

The evangelist chuckled again and tried to make me feel ridiculous for asking the question. His reasoning was that how I was stating the question wasn't plausible because there wouldn't be so many versions of the bible and other books from those in ministry - including his. What he was avoiding was his own accountability. Just because everyone is doing it doesn't make it right. Everyone used to sing and preach climbing up the rough side of a mountain until some of us decided to read the bible for ourselves and found that hymnal to be a fallacy (Mark 11:23 AMP). In all, there was a whole heap of words being said by him and my question wasn't sufficiently answered (Colossians 4:6 AMP).

Since then, I have heard a sermon preached about the poor widow with 1 son. She was going to make her last meal so she and her son could die. Elijah came to the woman's home and told her to make the food  for him. He ate and told her what to do in order for her to have the finances she needed for the both of them to not only to survive but thrive (1 Kings 17:8-24 AMP). The sermon answered my question, yet I wondered why the ministers didn't use that passage so not to go against what God gave them to do?

Notice when the church is in "the red", it becomes the congregation's problem. There has to be bake sales, dinner sales, car washes and the like so that the bills can be paid. My question is, what were the tithes and offerings used for? When the DVD's and CD's of the sermons were being sold, what was that money used for? Why when the members of the church have volunteered to do everything else, that there happens to be so much more to do? I know the answer to that is going to be made simple as if the pastor was supposed to receive an income from what was given. Then the ministers get their portion and the worker's that come throughout the week must also be paid; otherwise, why would they do it? Now what to do with the bills and everything else? This sort of reasoning has been going on for years and it answers why there are so many conventions, revivals, and various speakers asked from all over the country to come and speak. Does it revive the "spirit" or rejuvenate more income? Is the incentive to teach the Word to all of the land or the "love offering" after the TRUTH has been preached?

A pastor spoke to a room full of believers. He said that he was a guest speaker and had preached the Word about prospering in Christ. At the end, he saw the congregation come to give a love offering above and beyond their usual giving. Some tried to give the guest pastor the money in his hand but was intercepted by the ushers to put it in the basket along with everyone else. The baskets were gathered and were all overflowing with cash. The ushers took the baskets in the back for those who are assigned to count the monies. At the end of the service, the pastor was handed an envelope from one of the head ushers. He then made a grand gesture before the congregation and gave the envelope to the guest pastor that came all that way to speak. The guest pastor graciously received the envelope, as he told us, thanked the members of that ministry and returned to his seat. Off to the side, he looked in it to see $50.00. Those of us that were listening to him gasped including me but then I thought, which is worse? The pastor that was controlling the money to keep for whatever he chose or the guest pastor for telling us what he thought was as appalling. What is the incentive?

I thought about this when a minister said something that was so poignant. He said being a minister was something that he does because he believed God called him to ministry. But it is not how he makes his income. He then divulged what he does as a career. He said that his other colleagues have other jobs as well. This, I didn't know and had all the more respect for them because of it. However, as time rolled on, I later learned he sold his business and became a full time minister. He received a paycheck and soon many of the other ministers did as well (Ephesians 4:28 AMP). Was that God's intention or was there so much money it had to be shared rather then being used for the perfecting of the saints?

Is there a better way? You see in the complete passage, the Word says to "buy the truth and sell it not; not only that but also get discernment and judgment, instruction and understanding." So if this way was received of the Lord, then the church should never be in "the red" - right? It is written, "... never hath the righteous been forsaken nor his seed beg for bread (Psalm 37:25 KJV)." What if the tithes and offerings were used to pay for the building where the services are conducted and if any remainder to be used for giving to those that are without. Why not save money to purchase cars for those that really need them or pay off the tuition for a member or members that have been diligent in good works? Why not assist a few members in paying their household bills, or purchasing new appliances for those in need? Why aren't the ministers put on a schedule so that they can have jobs outside of the ministry and the rotation is for all of the ministers to use so that the congregation is given free time for their families? When it is done like this, there is no burn out and the people can be appreciated while the Word is going forth without anyone being stressed not having enough money to purchase it!

I never understood the purpose for the telethons on the Christian networks that broadcast the Word of God. Would not God provide for his Word? Is it necessary to pre-empt the regular programming for believers only to see their beloved ministers begging on the air for people to give even more then what they already have? When will the ministers decide that the money they receive belongs to God and they give it back to the church for the perfecting of the saints? A pastor said that he doesn't designate how much he should receive as a paycheck. There is a board that makes that determination. He then said that "the board" told him because of the offices he holds as a pastor, teacher, and administrator, that he should be paid for all of those positions. If he agreed to it, that's one thing. If he accepted the 3 paychecks for the one position as a pastor because its what a pastor does, that's another thing. But if he took those 3 paychecks and cashed them in for himself - that's something else! Is the love of God there?

This particular blog serves to answer the believer's question, "is this all there is?" or "why has my life turned out this way when I have been obedient?" For those in the ministry, I hope your question has been answered. Pastors, preachers, and evangelists should know better after all, they are teaching and feeding God's people - right? So why are they living in lavish homes and driving luxury vehicles when the ones they are preaching to, aren't? What happened to feeding God's sheep so that we are all on one accord (Ephesians 4:13-17 AMP)? What happened to the perfecting of the saints? Shouldn't we all be as mature as God has called us all to be? After all, we are all one body - right?

Its Not What I Expected!

This friend that was telling me what financial strain she was in. She said the Lord told her that she was supposed to be receiving some money from a certain couple that happened to be ministers. She waited patiently thinking that any day now it was supposed to happen. It never did and I never inquired about her thoughts on the matter. Personally, I figured she got her signals crossed and didn't do the test to see what voice was she listening to (1 John 4:1-3 AMP). After all, a person can be so desperate inviting insomnia to have place (Ephesians 4:27 KJV). Once there is an invitation, all sorts of voices could be heard and if it sounds good, he/she will claim its God hoping for this spectacular outcome. Not to say that God wouldn't work through our mess - just make that test an accurate one.

I prayed for this person, as we are all supposed to do when hearing a fellow believer in dire straits (James 5:16 KJV). Another thing to do, if you can, anonymously pay the bill. This way the believer doesn't think you are the source and can praise God for his/her prayers being answered. Is that giving the person a false sense of faith? Well, doesn't He live big on the inside of you (1 John 4:4 KJV)? Do you know what the Word says about giving a stone when your neighbor asks for a crust of bread (Matthew 7:8-11 AMP)? Then God used you as the servant to fill that request. The thing was, at the time, I was unemployed, and prayer was the extent of what I could do.

So now thinking of the matter on a larger scale, I was wondering, what do all of these pastors, preachers, and teachers that receive these huge offerings do with them? The congregants give because it is what they are called to do, but what happened to the giving of the ministry? I see ministers that have this calling to preach and the anointing is on them so strong and at the end of the message you can tell that they have fulfilled their assignment. Fast forward a few years later when the money has rolled in and their living conditions change. I am sure they rejoiced for the blessing of the Lord has made them rich...but would the blessing of the Lord make them wealthy? There is a difference and would a minister know what that difference is?

You see, I recall before everything went digital, I was studying the Word and read a passage in Proverbs where it says to obtain the Word but sell it not (Proverbs 23:23 KJV). How can that happen? One must purchase a bible. How can this be done without someone selling it? What about those in the ministry that have become authors? The millions of books explaining various verses for the student to understand. Those products have been bought and sold. Were we wrong for doing this? Tapes, CD's, DVD's over the years of different messages where the pastor has encouraged those sales to pay for the utilities and other means within the building. Was that all wrong? When the networks went digital, I recall some of the Christian stations sending out a service announcement that the viewers should send a letter to congress for them to allow the Christian stations to remain local so the viewers shouldn't have to pay to see it. When things went digital, I didn't hear anymore service announcements. I didn't hear about how many letters were received. I didn't hear about anyone fighting for the Christian stations to stay local. It took a little time for all of the Christian channels to become digital, but it did happen. The cable company has them and the viewers have to pay to hear the Word? What is the matter with this picture?

The pastors of well known ministries are well known because of the people of God gave. The life style of those pastors have changed because of the people of God gave. So while all of those ministers have set aside all of those monies, why haven't they pooled those funds together and bought a network that can be localized for the people of God? Why do ministers think that money is for them to live better then the people of God that gave the money? Those tithes and offerings are for the betterment of the saints and not for the increase of the individual minister! How dare you tell any of the congregants that we all should be living in mansions and driving luxury vehicles when our assignments isn't for the up lifting of self (Matthew 18:4, Matthew 23:12, James 4:10, 1 Peter5:6 AMP)! Don't you remember Solomon? Its why people have not come to church as they should because the messages have been laced with self preservation rather then love, give, and doing the work. Oh, I have heard the messages but haven't seen the one preaching the message do what has been preached.

That friend waiting for that couple to do what she thought they were supposed to be doing for her, I personally believed she was losing it. But then I see what other ministers do and what they won't do. They don't testify about their struggles until they have been humbled to be delivered from them. Why haven't they figured out why they went through them in the first place? Why do ministers tell the congregants to sow a seed to meet every need but the ministers don't. Do they sow among themselves instead of the people of God that gave for the ministry to be what it is? Its kind of convoluted, isn't it? Who would be the author of that (1 Corinthians 14:33 AMP)?

Marriage: The Mirror Image

The common quote that is said amongst the Christian circles is, those that are single wish to be married and those that are married wish to be single again. Instead of tongue and cheeking it, why not look into the reason why anyone would say such a thing. First, was the person saying it as being married or single? Did he/she believe that to be true? If so, what is the plan for the rest of his/her life?

It has to be the eternity thing that has people saying the strangest things having nothing to do with Christianity. The Word tells us to be content in whatever state you are in (Philippians 4:11 KJV). Is speaking about the opposite of your marital status being content? It doesn't sound like it to the listener.

I was talking to a man who looked to be in his late 30's to early 40's. He is a married man and says that he is a Christian yet how he thinks is baffling. He told me that the internet has saved many marriages though, at the time, he didn't wish to be specific. I knew what he meant but really needed him to say it. eventually, he did so with guilt and shame. His salvation of marriage claim is porn. His reasoning comes from believing the 3 things most important to women and the 3 things most important to men. According to him, for women the 3 things are: security, family, and maybe sex. For men, according to him: sex, money, and if needing a third thing it would be children. I continued to listen to him as he made sweeping generalizations of what he believes women are thinking as opposed to men. I asked him if he and his wife had different perspectives why did he marry her? He used the analogy of starvation and sex to answer my question. This, I have heard before and is still no less comical to think of, especially from those calling themselves Christian. Nevertheless, when deciding to act on passions created without discipline, clarity is what is being sacrificed. The fog lifts when marital habits are put in place. Differences that should have been seen while dating are clearly defined in a marriage (1 Corinthians 7:28-36 AMP). Matters easily resolved by continuing the dating process are now much more difficult with vows professed in the presence of God, family, and friends. Because of these opposing matters, his resolve is pornography. With the admission of weakness, pornography only exacerbates any underlying unresolved issues. In other words, giving the enemy a place to do what he does (Ephesians 4:27 KJV). The enemy has only one job and is only terminated from it when the true believer gains new information from the Word (John 10:10 KJV).

In another entry on a different blog to Christian singles, I wrote about a co-worker coming into the realization of man being at fault for the state of the world. Men don't like to hear this, yet they know it is true. It wasn't unusual to hear men trying to defend their position and place blame on women or whomever else comes to mind; however, when I drive the conversation back to the Word, they almost look disappointed no matter the maturity level of faith what cannot be skirted is men was created first. He is the head of the house hold and the head of the woman. If he doesn't like what is going on - he can change it (Genesis 1:26 KJV). If he doesn't do anything about it, he can only blame himself (Mark 11:23 KJV).

With these things in mind, I asked this man who claims the salvation to marriage is porn, "why not tell your wife what you do?" His expression at that question was as if I asked it in Swahili. "I would never tell her that", he said. I didn't continue to ask him anything else about the matter. Whether he knew it or not, he just made drastic changes in his marriage. Its not only the pornography but the secrecy about it that will bring him a harvest he will definitely not like. God is not mocked; whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7 KJV). Seeing that he has sown this seed, what is his wife doing?

Who Gets You In Trouble?

I have listened to many ministers online, on television, on radio, and on tape (DVD and CD). I have been disappointed at some of the messages I have heard and have wondered why a minister that is supposed to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the scriptures, see the change in men because of the Word; and will still say things that have no reference to scripture. The truth as we know it is in the Word. Why would any pastor, preacher, minister, apostle, prophet, teacher, or evangelist speak anything different from what the Word tells us to do (John 17:17 AMP)? It makes no sense to me especially after the successful speaker has established a large following. That large following is there because of his/her initial belief in the truth. Any deviation from the Word will eliminate the large following. God is not mocked. God is good (Matthew 19:17 AMP).

This morning I turned the television on to listen to a pastor that I have heard time and time again. Usually most of the pastors that have had a television program like to use a by-line to grab the attention of the listener before he/she contemplates turning the channel. It is a marketing strategy that is used in most media. The thing is, the attention grabber has to be something that cannot be the same for the unbeliever that spotted the headlines of a newspaper. In the gospel media, no matter what the intent, the attention grabber has to be within the scope of the Word, otherwise it is deceptive. Deception is the definition of a lie. God has nothing to do with that (1 John 1:5 AMP). This morning the attention grabber was, "doing God's will doesn't mean you won't have trouble." He continued to expound on the trouble rather than God's will (1 John 2:16-17 AMP). Because of what I know in Christ, the speaker lost my attention. This was my second (or more) chance I gave to this speaker. A few days ago in trying to catch this speaker's program I heard a portion of the message: "the devil wants you to believe...." and then he expounded on the devil's wants rather than the will of God. Again, the speaker lost my attention and I either switched the channel or turned the television off disappointed with the lessons.

From that disappointment I thought about the listeners in the congregation, on the internet, and those that download messages to hear over and over again believing it to be the truth (James 5:19-20 AMP). There were, no doubt, steps to take to continue on in such denial of what the Lord says to do (Luke 6:46 AMP). First, when hearing something any clergy says, it must be positive and in the direction of the life that the Lord came to give us all (John 10:10 AMP). Listen to what is being emphasized. If it sounds more like the embers to a pity party rather than the supplies to an all day victory celebration, you must make the decision if it is in your best interest to stay in that ministry.

Second, if any speaker starts speaking about the devil, his antics on what he can do, and the fear that comes with those antics, please listen for the balance in that message. Know that the devil doesn't do anything that he isn't directed to do (Job 1:7-10 AMP). The devil cannot come unless there has been disobedience somewhere. The devil cannot disrupt the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The devil cannot infiltrate the anointing (Acts 10:38 AMP). The enemy is the enemy because of righteousness. The opposite of righteousness is unrighteousness. Confess your faults and righteousness is resumed (1 John 3:8 AMP). This is what must be stressed over and over again. Enough with the devil already (James 5:13-16 AMP)!

Finally, doing God's will maintains peace. He is a good god and would not have you to perish. He would that all men come into the knowledge of the truth. Why? Because it would be to the benefit of all men (2 Peter 3:9 AMP). If a speaker tells you that he/she will have trouble in listening to God, why then would anyone wish to be Christian? How would an unbeliever then wish to hear anymore that is being said? The truth is, if one experiences trouble when he/she is doing all that he/she knows how to do in Christ, the trouble experienced isn't trouble at all but the flesh trying to resurrect (John 6:63 AMP). If you recall in the Old Testament, Jonah was swallowed by a whale because he refused the will of God. Jonah wished do his own will. Another familiar book is with Sampson. He was blessed of God. When he stopped listening to the instruction of his parents, his troubles began. He found honey in a carcass and ate it also offered the honey to his parents. He then told the secret of his strength; as a result, he was held as prisoner and was made blind. With this same topic, we cannot forget Joseph. Joseph carried the blessing of God with him, how different or free from trouble would his life been if he kept the intimate details of what God gave him to himself? From being left for dead to being accused of rape, Joseph had trouble along with Jonah and Sampson. Was that because of God's will or their own will?

God gives us instruction to do what is good and acceptable in His sight. In being a man-pleaser, we open ourselves for trouble to come. Man might give that temporary praise but is the one who created man pleased? Will there be consequences for that action. The Word tells us that there is (Ephesians 5:6-17 AMP).

With sound instruction comes maturity. Maturity is a process as a baby learning how to walk. The baby falls now and again but never gets to the point of not wanting to continue. The bumps and falls along the way are necessary lessons learned even at that age into what not to do. The baby has a goal to stand upright and walk without falling. He/she wishes to hold his/her head up and be upright. Once the practice of walking is secure, the baby is no longer called a baby but a toddler. He/she doesn't wait to learn that walking is just the beginning. Running is the next level. Most toddlers are not satisfied until that level of running is met as well. These stages of natural development is also seen spiritually.

Spiritually, our baby steps are the 10 Commandments. We learn them and then tests come for us to apply what has been learned. God becomes real to us all when we pass the test (1 Thessalonians 2:4 AMP). Trouble comes when we resort to the natural skill we had before coming into the knowledge of the truth. From that trouble comes a trial (James 1:2-4 AMP). If the Word is still not used, then punishment is the result (James 1:13-16 AMP). Jesus is Lord and our defense (Psalm 94:22 KJV).

Keeping these things in mind and using them as a part of our daily living gives us all things that is described in the Word (Matthew 6:33 AMP). God's will is for us to live, to the full, and in abundance. The tests are good. Sometimes babies and toddlers fall. Trials come and they are good too. If we believe, we will receive and get back up, dust ourselves off, to maintain the faith. We have to get to the next level. Just like a natural baby or toddler, we seek what the next thing is for us to conquer. Once we have moved from the milk of the Word and can chew on the meat, we entire into liberty that Jesus spoke of. He said that the lambs can come in and out of the gate (John 10:1-9 AMP). This means we are so saturated in Christ, that no matter what we do, because of righteousness we will always be in Him. We cannot be influenced to be anything else but Christian (1 Corinthians 8:9 AMP). This by no way mean, once save always saved. God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7 AMP). If one believes that God will continue to see acts of disobedience as unrighteousness and confession is the cure - do not be fooled. God's tolerance of belligerence and disregard of the faith is documented over and over again. Ministers that preach otherwise - be warned (Matthew 7:21-23 AMP)!