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Things that God Forbids us from Doing (2nd Part) |
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continuation...
But today, most of the pastors and ministers have grown rich. Where did they get their riches when, in the past, they did not have money to pay their monthly apartment rental? But look at them now, they have lots of money. Each of their sons has his own car. They have, at least, three rest houses. How did they acquire those? They simply capitalized on shamelessness and the Bible.
But will they become rich if they would just follow what Jesus said? No! Many preachers become rich because they solicit many collections – tithes, love offering, prayer request, regular offering, special offering, very special offering, etc. And why will they not become rich when they came up with so many collections without any biblical basis? Where in the Bible can you read that you have to give money for a prayer request? Can’t they pray without obliging you to give donations? It is not surprising that many pastors are angry with me because I divulge their irregularities. One of the laws taught us, through the Bible is that, Christ forbids the preachers from enriching themselves. They are prohibited from storing material riches. In fact, Paul’s admonition to Timothy in I Timothy 6:9 says—
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation . . .”
It means that the moment a minister desires to become rich, he has already fallen into temptation and snare. Let us continue I Timothy 6:9-11—
“. . . and 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 entered from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things . . .”
Paul didn’t want Timothy to be engrossed in making himself rich because he knew that it was against the will of God. That was why he admonished him to flee from it, because in desiring to make oneself rich would make a man fall into temptation as well as in many foolish and hurtful lusts because, “the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have entered from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things.” That explains why a minister of God must not enrich himself. But just take a look at how many pastors and ministers today have become very rich. They glitter with gold. They used to be dark skinned but now they have become fair skinned because they can now afford body bleaching. They now have the means to buy all sorts of beauty and skin care products. Personally, I do not have any insecurity about my physical appearance. I do not have to go through bleaching. What for? Actually, if only I could have my way, I would rather wear shorts and t-shirts. It is because I personally believe that expensive and elegant apparels are not the basis in rating a preacher. Let us read what I Samuel 16:7 says—
“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature . . .”
God said, we must neither look at a preacher’s countenance nor on the height of his stature. “… because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh in the heart.”
What is our proof that it is the preacher’s heart that considers? This is what I Thessalonians 2:3-4 says—
“For our exhortation was not a deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
Which is being examined by God in a preacher? It is his heart. Paul said, our exhortation is not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile. But as we were allowed of God to put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak. We should not please men, but God, who tries our hearts. God looks at the heart of a preacher. He is trying to find out if he is twisting His doctrines, or not. And God will never give wisdom to a preacher who misleads other people.
That is why many of them do not teach God’s pure doctrine. Most of their teachings are mere inventions. Aside from that, they employ a little acting. That is where they excel. They are very good actors. They just raise and wave their hands. Have you come across a preacher in the Bible who kept on waving his hand as if he were going to board an airplane? Is that actuation biblical? Of course, not! There is one particular pastor who asks his members to leap three times. And for each leap, they must gulp a fresh egg. So, you have to bring fresh eggs if you are going to attend their gathering. But where in the Bible can we read that you have jump three times, and for each jump you have to gulp fresh egg?
Unfortunately, in this world, whoever speaks of the truth is being harassed. But I strongly believe that they are employing harassment because their anomalies are being exposed. Have you ever heard before that a preacher is forbidden to store material riches? This is what Psalms 112:9 says—
“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever.”
What must a preacher do? Since God does not want him to store material riches, He wants him to spread, or share it with the poor. He should give his riches to the poor. It should not be stored for personal use only. “His righteousness will endure forever.” Who is being referred to in this verse? Let us read Paul’s explanation in II Corinthians 9:9—
“As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever.”
Whose righteousness endures forever? It is Him who shared his riches with the poor. But do the pastors today share their riches to the poor? No! Instead of sharing their riches, they are storing riches. And our proof to that is that they have amassed immense wealth. They have lots of money. In fact, their lifetime is not enough to spend all the money they have accumulated. Even until the day they day, they could not spend all their money. One group claims that they total to about 10 million. Therefore, if only these 10 million will give a peso each, how much will they be able to solicit during their Thursday gathering? Ten million pesos! But they also hold a gathering on a Sunday, so that means another 10 million. What if they are commemorating the holy supper, or the "Santa Cena"? Nobody gives a peso during a “Santa Cena”. On this occasion, their donations are placed in an envelope with their names. Most especially if they are celebrating their annual thanksgiving, for this occasion, their members begin saving as early as January until December. Whatever amount had been saved for 12 months serves as his thanksgiving offering. And this amount could still increase if their member receives a yearend bonus. A part of their bonus has to be added to the amount they had saved for their thanksgiving offering.
Is it still surprising why and how their leaders have become very rich? However, Christ said, “Lay not up for yourself treasures upon the earth.” I can prove that pastors who have capitalized on religion in making themselves rich are not of God. They are all anti-Christ because they defy what Christ had commanded.
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Bible
The
Way to Salvation
