Peddling the Gospel for Profit

For this post, I will stand on a soapbox. Not to fear, it is a very short soapbox, as I am afraid of heights!

1 Peter 5:1-4 states; The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

This passage is an encouragement to those in leadership to examine how they lead. The current state of the body of Messiah has caused her to be extremely vulnerable to unscrupulous wolves practicing extortion. Virtually any "Christian" TV program you watch devotes as much time to self promotion and fund raising as to the so called 'proclamation of the Gospel'. "For your generous contribution and/or regular support, you can buy anything from special anointing oil, to Holy Land gifts, to Bibles with your favorite profiteers' commentary. You can purchase clothing, books, and CD's/DVD's to help 'support the cause. It is obvious that these hucksters do not even believe their own message because they don't think their cause will float on its own merit without offering some great prize for your contribution. Does this not sound dangerously close to the system of indulgences implemented by the Catholic church to build the Vatican during the dark ages? "For your contribution you can commit the sin of your choice (including murder and rape) without fear of judgement."

We are encouraged, in the book of Malachi, to bring tithes into the storehouse for the purpose of provision of food (Mal. 3:10). We have fallen into a trap. If there is food in the house, it is stale or spoiled. We have changed venues from a storehouse of food to a place of general merchandise. Because there is more profit in merchandise than food, it was not a difficult switch to make since our focus has become the bottom line. Our situation went from bad to worse when we moved from merchandise to entertainment. Every one knows the greatest profit is in the entertainment arena. We have gone from providing food to settling for dessert menus and spiritual cocktail parties! Is it any surprise that there is an analogy set forth in the Book of Revelation that the Harlot (representative of a man-made religious system) is drunk on the blood of the saints? (Rev. 17:6) What is the answer? REFORMATION NOW!

It is time for preachers to become prophets of the Most High instead of competing for the profits through the wallets of the saints. If you are called to proclaim the message of the Gospel, nothing will keep you from that calling, especially lack of funds. If Yehuweh owns the "cattle on a thousand hills" can't He provide a way to get His Word out. I speak from personal experience as I declare "It is tremendously more fulfilling to preach the Gospel without fear of offending someone that may withhold their tithes. Yeshua Himself said He had become a block of offence to the religious establishment. May we be more like Him!

Shalom