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A Preacher of God is Prohibited from Enriching
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continuation...
Peter and John were unlearned and ignorant, but they were never intimidated by anyone because they were with Jesus. I also did not finish any degree, and I am proud to tell you that I have no grand ambitions. From the time I began studying the Bible, I’ve lost my dream for a grandiose life. My only dream in life is that, before I die, I hope that all people from the different parts of the world would be able to hear me as I preach the Gospel of Christ. I believe that, nowadays, there are but a few preachers who are like me who speak with frankness. I have no intention of persuading people; I neither use enticing words. My only desire is to speak of the truth, regardless of whether you join our group or not. Take it or leave it. The decision is yours. I will not force you. I just want you to listen to what I am saying. Hopefully, after listening, you’ll learn something from me and you’ll be enlightened, and eventually, you’ll be able to share with others what you’ve learned from me. For instance, whenever you come across preachers who capitalize on religion in enriching themselves, read to them Matthew 6:16. Christ prohibits pastors from enriching themselves. And why did Christ give them this commandment? For Him to be sure that the ministers of God will not make business out of religion, because Christ knew that there is danger behind a person’s great desire to become rich. This is what I Timothy 6:9 say, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and snare …”
Those who are only after becoming rich fall into temptation and to wickedness. If a preacher wants to be rich, he teaches doctrines that are not of Christ. He’ll just teach his members anything. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drawn men in destruction and perdition.”
Why? In I 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.”
They that want to be rich fall into temptation, because the love of money is the root of all evil. There is no evil imaginable under the sun which is not caused by the love of money. A woman bares her body in front of a camera because of money. What her mother tried to keep for 19 years is being exposed to millions of people worldwide. What do you think is the reason why there are children who anticipate their parents’ death? Why are there parents who sell their children? Why are there people who sell illegal drugs despite the dangers they pose on the lives of many? And why are there preachers who have the guts teaching the Bible when they know nothing of the Bible? Why? It is all because of money! That is why our Lord Jesus was right. The love of money is the root of all evil. For this reason, Christ prohibited the ministers of God to love money because He didn’t want His ministers and preachers to love the root of all evil. And Christ would never allow the preachers to use religion for personal gains. Again, Matthew 6:16 says, “Lay not for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.”
I do not deny that our group has little properties, which would amount to quite a huge amount also. But our ministers have no personal riches. Our properties were acquired for the benefit of our members. Our first and foremost consideration is the welfare of our members. Although ours is a poor organization, we do not have any beggar member. Nobody among our members beg for alms in the streets just to have something to eat. If our members have nothing to eat, we feed them; if they do not have any home, we offer them shelter in our orphanages; if they could not afford to pay their hospital bills, our organization pays for it. If ever we have little acquisitions, they are not for myself but for the whole organization. We are not laying up for ourselves treasures on earth. We are laying up treasures for the benefit of our brethren in faith. Basically, our money is spent in saving souls … in searching for lost souls – souls that had been deceived and misled by wicked preachers.
But for you not to be deceived, always bear in mind what the Bible said. Preachers who capitalize on religion in enriching themselves are not of God. Christ did not establish religion to become an instrument for wealth acquisition. Religion was established so that the ministers and pastors would painstakingly exert every effort possible in leading all souls to salvation. And that is what our organization is doing. We abide by what the Bible says. We search for those who have gone astray, and we try to encourage them to change their ways and follow Christ’s doctrines instead.
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Bible
Apostleship
and the Rightful
