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continuation...
Personally, I cannot afford to be burden to my impoverished members, most especially if I will ask from them my daily sustenance. I do not have the guts to do that. That is why before I eat, I try to find out first where the food came from. I do not go to the houses of my brethren just to dine. No. For all I know, the food that they might be serving me is all they have for their next meal. But there are pastors who have made religion their source of livelihood. They never stop from soliciting money. I do not deny that I have loans, because I’d rather borrow from banks and other lending institutions than rob my members of their money. That is why in II Thessalonians 3:7-9, St. Paul said, “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow; for we behaved not ourselves orderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought …”
St. Paul paid for what he ate. He did not abuse the kindness of the early Christians. However, today, many preachers are void of shame. They make their members their milking cows, and religion, a lucrative business. That is why, you will notice that in every move they make, they ask for contributions. During meetings of their young members, they solicit contributions; during the meeting of the elders, they collect contribution; even during ministerial classes, they also collect contribution. Can you imagine that? Even during ministerial classes! They are supposed to study the word of God there, but they still collect contributions. Practically, in everything they do, they collect money.
On the other hand, there are pastors who, every time you see them on television, they talk of nothing but tithes. That manifests how hungry they are of money. I used to wonder when these pastors would ever stop from asking for tithes. But God immediately supplied me with an answer in Isaiah 56:11, “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough; and they are shepherds that cannot understand:”
Therefore, they will never stop because they can never have enough. They find not satisfaction and contentment. Do you know the ploy that one pastor uses to motivate his members? In front of a television camera, he will show his members and the viewers how he places his offerings, which are four pieces of five hundred peso bills, inside the envelope. Insinuating that his members should do the same, and God will bless them. But that is not true. Why? The members remain poor, even poorer, in fact, because the 10 percent of the meager income they receive goes to the very rich pastor. For you, not to be deceived, find out whom was God talking to when He said that, He would give His blessings. Was He addressing you? For all you know, His pronouncement did not concern you because He was talking to the Israelites. You see, these pastors bank on Malachi 3:10 to entice their members. But what does the verse say?
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,”
God said “meat,” or food. The intent in Malachi 3:10 was, for them to have food in the house of God. Are the tithes that your pastors collect meant to feed? These pastors already have more than enough, and still, they keep on asking for more. One of them already even owns an airplane. Did God say that a pastor should have an airplane? What God said was, to have food in the house of God. Actually, aside from asking for tithes, they also have other collections termed as love offering, prayer request, special offering, very special offering, etc.
They have invented so many names for their collections, and they are all unbiblical. This is the reason why I keep on talking, hoping that, eventually, I would be able to enlighten the minds of my fellowmen, and also, for the wickedness of these pastors to stop. If they continually succeed in fooling other people to give him tithes, they would be able to fool many more. The more money these pastors have, the easier it will be, on their part, to buy airtime in radio and television networks. Many people would be able to listen to their lies, many will be brainwashed, and many will be deceived. Thank God that thru our program, “Ang Dating Daan,” these anomalies in religion is being exposed. There are, indeed, thieves in religion. They are able to rob people legally. Why did I say legally? Because the law enforcers let them do as they please. Instead of putting them behind bars, they are even welcomed with open arms and with a band of musicians. Despite their being thieves and robbers, the society even regard them highly. John 10:1 says, “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
They are the thieves and robbers in religion. Beware of them! They steal and rob in broad daylight. And mind you, they are very greedy.
Always bear in mind that, a pastor’s relationship with his members has been likened to a parent-child relationship. According to the Bible, it should be the parent, or the pastor, who should labor for the welfare and interests of his children, or members. Like a parent, the preacher, or the pastor, should sacrifice for his members, or his flock. And as a parent is selfless, the pastor should also be one. But if your pastor does not possess these traits, that means that he just cheating you. Do not establish relationship with him anymore!

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