Apostasy
The Biblical Pattern for Distribution of Funds [podcast]
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Gracious Gospel Giving (below)
Giving and Lordship (below)
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“I remember a lot of preaching on tithing, yet I have never found in scripture where that $ was to be put into building funds, light bills, or the pastor’s pocket? (Zech. 11:5) Should it not have been as prescribed in Mal. 3:10 or Neh. 8:10, to feed the poor of the flock: the widows and the orphans? I was thinking of the pastors (wolves of today) with their private jets and are discerned by their lavish lifestyle: luxury cars, luxury homes, luxury vacations all paid for by the poor of their flock. I’m thankful to God for the true under-shepherds like yourself and a few others that I know.” Jon
REPLY:
Great question brother …. yes several things. Had this conversation with another brother recently, yesterday actually. There was no money in the New Testament Scriptures collected to build a separate “church” building. The money went to the believers in need (poor), elders teaching sound doctrine, the poor, etc (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; Rom. 15:26; 1 Tim 5:17-18; 1 Cor 9:1-14, etc.). Also, we discussed that the highest paid elders are to be “they who labour in the word and doctrine.” (1 Timothy 5:17-18) They are a type of New Testament full times servants of the LORD and His people – such as were the Levites, the Levitical priesthood under the Old Testament who were set apart to seek God and serve His people.
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18
To your point, seems like from 1 Timothy 5:17-18 that the highest paid minister of God should be receiving about $80-90k yearly (“double honour” in our economy)….. not becoming a millionaire, right? “Double honour” means twice the average income in any given economy/timeframe of history.
Hireling wolves have trained their prey to bring them the money. But what do we see in Scripture?
- Do we see money used to pay for “church” buildings and the high maintenance thereof? No.
- Do we see 1 penny collected for a “church” building? No.
- Do we see rich elders/pastors, etc. No.
How were the funds distributed?
Do you know what the Bible teaches or are you giving blindly, possibly wasting what God gave you?
YES, all believers are commanded and given the privilege and opportunity to give – but to give to the causes of the kingdom of Christ and not to Christ’s enemies!
Collections? Yes! But “FOR” WHOOOOO?
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
WHO were the collections “FOR”? – “concerning the collection FOR THE SAINTS.”
Recently, a sister in Christ said: “When I became a widow, my church would not allow me to use their food pantry…it broke my heart!”
WHY do you still “give at the church” or really give to a circus operated by overpaid frauds – men who are not teaching people to learn God’s Word for themselves? | Making Merchandise of You
“And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Acts 2:44-45
“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Acts 4:34-35
EARLY CHURCH (above) vs MODERN CHURCH BUSINE$$ (most, not all):
This is where it stops: “laid them down at the apostles’ feet.”
What are they leaving out? Why won’t they read the very next line of the same verse?
“and distribution was made UNTO EVERY MAN man according as he had need.”
“Make merchandise of you” simply means you are a dollar sign to them.
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies (false doctrine will send you to hell), even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise ($) of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation (hell) slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
YES, all believers are commanded and given the privilege and opportunity to give – but to give to the causes of the kingdom of Christ and not to Christ’s enemies!
These greed-grubbers are the tool through which Satan is robbing the body of Christ. How should the wealth, collections be distributed? (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Here it is – “And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” (Acts 4:35) …. THIS is how the true body of Christ operates. Most building based “churches” today are set up in rebellion. This equitable distrubution of the funds isn’t happening due to being absobed in the large salaries and all the money it takes to run the modern church stage shows to entertain the goats.
THERE are children of God who are behind on bills. There are called-out men of God preaching Christ’s whole Gospel fearlessly, and grossly under-supported. And, you STILL support a multi-millionaire wolf who is making merchandise of the people to make himself even richer in this fleeting world? (2 Peter 2:1-3) God is calling you to repent. You are in darkness, a lost soul.
Misappropriation of funds is epidemic in today’s modern church world. Are you funding a fraud? Are you funding Christ’s enemies? God will judge.
Bill Wegener writes: “Most local churches are nothing more than a business: You have the CEO, teachers, and entertainers… collecting tens of thousands of dollars!”
Are we wasting the LORD’s resources by funding a modern church circus OR are you funding the preaching of the full counsel of God’s Word?
“I know TWO CHRISTIAN FAMILIES who were DESPERATE for food and rent money… they went to their mega multi-million dollar churches for help… the churches DIDN’T have money for them, so they had to turn to people for help.” A.
WOULD any true Gospel work be lacking if those who claim to serve Christ put Him first in their hearts and therefore finances? (Matthew 6:19-21; Proverbs 3:9-10)
Christ’s true “labourers” aren’t casually entertaining goats (counterfeit tares) on Sunday mornings in a so-called “church building” but rather diligently teaching them the pure Word of God daily (Matthew 9:35-38). A cursory observation of Christ’s life and ministry and that of His apostles clearly reveals that when He commanded for His sheep to be fed, He wasn’t referring to the modern Sunday morning entertainment hour we see in the apostate modern church world that is a fulfillment of the foretold great falling away (Matthew 24:10-13; John 21:15-17; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:2-4, etc.).
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