I just finished visiting a very interesting website regarding tithing and how most churches have not only embraced this doctrine, but totally shoved the poor right out of the door. Churches that teach tithing are in danger of falling into the realm of the Spiritual Abuse iceberg.
The post below was cut-n-pasted from the cre8d journal and I had to share it, especially since the “building” that requires my attendance is one of those mega-churches in Houston built in the “right” zip code. No, it’s is not Lakewood, that would be too obvious.
Are we selling Christianity as cool?
How cool do you think everyone thought Jesus was when he hung out with Samaritans? How cool was Jesus when he let his feet be washed at the dinner table by non other than a prostitute, in the presence of religious leaders? How cool was Jesus when he told the rich young ruler to go and sell everything he had and give it to the poor? Yes, what Jesus has done for us is cool, but what He asks of us is by no means cool! To follow Jesus requires sacrifice of everything. While others go and have fun, God may call you to lock yourself away in a cupboard for 3 weeks, to go without food, to lose all of your friends because of your beliefs. Is that cool? Sure, the rewards at the end may be cool but the process sure as heck isn’t sometimes. To sell Christianity as something that is ‘cool’ is one of the worst things that can be done to someone. For when the bad times come, as they most certainly will, their faith will simply disintegrate. Too many people are lost from the Church because they are sold the lie that it’s cool to be a Christian and everything is great when you are one.
Other than that, when Jesus said “Go”, I think He meant “Go”. To build shrines and expect people to come is not fulfilling the great commission. Going to where the people are and meeting them where they are at is what Jesus asked us to do.
As far as Hills is concerned, I’ve been there a few times. Their entire thing is professional. Top quality stuff. But I could get the hype and positive affirmation from any multi level marketing campaign meeting or at a Football game. I don’t ever recall Jesus hyping the crowds up into a Frenzy over how splendid the temple looked and suggesting that a multi-level stable be built. On the contrary, Jesus’ gentle words persuaded His followers to ponder greater feats of loving their neighbor and making sacrifices for the benefit of those in need. He then sent us out to preach His brand of love to the world.
We get so caught up in the ’saving people from Hell’ part of the Good News of the Gospel that the ‘loving your neighbor’ part is forgotten.
In most cases, I can’t see the poor, the homeless and the unloved coming along to expensive palaces to find God. In many cases, I know of such churches turning away such people as not to cause offense to those who sit up the front in their smart suits and write out hefty checks to make sure things run on budget. How sad it is when those Jesus cares so much about are turned away because they “don’t fit in”. After 2000 years, has that much changed? The temple is still an exclusive zone for the religious and those who need to hear remain outside the walls because we sit inside in our comfortable pews waiting for them to enter. And if they do, are we prepared to meet their needs, whatever they are? Whosoever they are??!
I got to thinking over the last week or so about this thing called “Pastor”…. why is it capitalized? What is a “senior” pastor? What is a “lay” pastor? What is an “executive” pastor? Where in the word of God are these titles… and why are people who serve as such demand to be called (titled) as such (example.. : Pastor Darren, Pastor Laura, ad nauseum)
Paul who served as an apostle never referred to himself as Apostle Paul… but rather as a ‘bond servant called to be an apostle’. Jesus, during his earthly time with his disciples warned about titles… call no man your father for you have but one Father, etc etc. (Matthew 23: 1-12)
But here we are, being trained (some as a condition of church membership) to refer to men who are pastors… as Pastor so and so.
In Matthew 23, Jesus talks about titles for those in the service of God.
From Matthew 23:8, do not call anyone your teacher, for One is your teacher. Want to guess who that one teacher is? John 14:26, Isaiah 54:13.
The word “Rabbi” in Hebrew is translated to the Greek in the New Testament to mean “My Master”. Is your master a man or is it the Lord? There is one thing to teach, which hopefully we all do at some manner.. but then there is being referred to as a teacher, or master. Here Jesus is saying that we have but One Teacher. Him!
If you get a chance, read Ezekiel 34:1-10. It speaks about false shephards and how they fleece the sheep that are under their care. Instead of feeding the sheep, they fed themselves and allowed the sheep to become open prey. In John 10:11-13, Jesus warned about hirelings who, when danger comes, will abandon the sheep. Many of todays professional clergy/pastors would rather live than lay down their life for the sheep under their care. Shooting the wounded and delivering them to the wolf all for the sake of a paycheck.
How much do you think the Lord is going to grieve on the day of judgment for these men, who loved the praise of men and have followed after the error of Balaam, for money. The Lord did not lay down his life in order to provide an income stream for these hirelings. Paul who served as an apostle worked hard with his own hands so as not to burden the church for support. His cause was that to NOT preach the good news was a “woe” to him. His example is mocked in the modern ministry. It should make a person, who is studying God’s word, line the Bible up against the things being taught and practiced in the body of Christ. Let’s get back to the things that the first century lived, breathed and was taught.
We need to return to the basics of the faith.
Just to be a Christian, again. Is all that I ask you to consider.
I have been told on numerous times that church leaders want informed believers, but not believers who know the truth that the bible teaches.
Why?
It’s because of control. If you control access to information, then you control the person or persons who do not have that information.
In my early Christian years (1977-80) I was part of the Church of Christ (Cambellite movement) which (like most denominations) have their little “proof-texts” to justify what they do and practice as a body of believers.
Larry Drake, who led me to Christ, encouraged me to study the bible on my own. Always warning me to accurately divide the Word.
One day I was asking him about the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha are those extra books that the Roman Catholics deem as scripture whereas the Jews and Protestants do not.
He said that knowing about them in useful, but not above knowing Jesus and what He has given us in the New Covenant, and that was only known by reading the Bible, especially the New Testament.
This was early in my walk with Christ (1977) and I have studied the bible on my own, pretty much, ever since.
I love the Word of God, I love talking about it and the one it speaks of. I love sharing what I have learned about the Lord Jesus Christ. I love teaching it. I love when other Christians love to read the Word as well. When I say “read” the Word, I mean…. dive into it. Wash in it. Let it challenge you to seek after the things of God.
And, here is the dangerous part….. knowing the Word will help build into your spirit a sort of “spiritual B. S. detector”. When you are hearing something that just doesn’t seem right or scriptural, you would tend to run to the scriptures, as a Berean, to see if what you were taught is so.
There are a lot of wacky teachings coming out of Christians that, if not put into check, could and may lead you to shipwreck your faith. Watch and pray, but do not be afraid. Many believers have lost their lives for standing up for the truth. Foxes “Book of Martyrs” are full of church history about how churches killed people who dared stand up against false teaching.
Today, you can be asked to leave the church if you stand up against some of their pet doctrines that they love more than the commandments of God. Traditions that were grown in the Old Covenant and laid on New Covenant believers such as circumcision, tithing, and things like that. Grace, all of grace.
Be not ignorant beloved. God’s people perish because of the lack of knowledge.
We are commanded to grown in grace and KNOWLEDGE. But also know that knowledge puffs up, whereas love edifies.
So learn to use your knowledge to love people. Help them come to the knowledge of the truth. Like Larry did for me, set me on a course, trusted me to the Holy Spirit, and now here I am, sharing all of this on a blog.
This week, I encourage you to get to know Jesus on your own. Let Him be the pastor of your heart. The shepherd of your soul. Let Him be all that He wants to be to you. If you do that, He will lead you to places that you may have never imagined.
Be not ignorant!