Did God not call you to work?
The apostle Paul labored throughout his ministry until he went to prison as a tentmaker. Paul, from what we read in scripture, owned a small business. Why did Paul do this? Because he desired, he would not take from those who were already suffering economically. Paul worked with his own hands to earn what was needed to pay for his ministry. We also have a small glimpse into Paul's economic costs as Paul had to offset the costs for paper, personal expenses, and paying someone to carry the same letters he would write to the churches; those were economic costs that he alone paid for. Why? Because Paul did not want to become a burden on the churches. That's not to suggest that Paul never took gifts from the local body, but he never desired it either. Again, because Paul understood the principles of work.
Sadly, that is a far cry from today's religious capitalism run amuck today in our church culture.
Recently, I watched a well-known "preacher" who called her people, and those who were watching, to sow a seed of 3,000 dollars. If you did the math, just 100 people alone from an audience of over a million would generate $300,000 in income, tax-free. That's just 100 people! Imagine if the number of people hoodwinked to give the same amount was 35,000? That's a lot of money. Sadly still, that's a lot of foolish people.
This is the problem with people today who have taken ministry as the "get rich" road to economic freedom, but it comes at the cost of those who never truly find God's blessing.
Only the well-dressed, charismatic scripture-quoting or social media influencer gets wealthy. Ask those YouTube and TikTok influencers if they trusted God enough to demonetize their channel; they won't because greed is good.
In over 35 countries where Ruth and I have traveled, I have seen the influence of the greed gospel slowly infiltrate into poorer, developing countries because someone learned the tricks of the trade to manipulate the people into giving to get.
In Africa alone, the American church has given over 4 trillion dollars in aid to the large continent, and what do we have to show for it? More economic disparity. Same with India, Pakistan, and other nations trying to sustain their people through genuine economic growth and development. But what is the continued hindrance in many of these nations? The church and its message of greed.
This notion of not having to work for a living has ruined many small churches because the pastor (in America) doesn't want to hold a secular job. And who suffers for it? The church itself.
Most, if not all, of these well-known television mega ministries have done a disservice to young men and women today because they have projected an idea that says the ministry is better than service. Yes, some people will do very well financially in their gimmick, but it comes at a price, like winning the lotto. Because to sustain their wealth, they must keep doing bigger gimmicks and preach in churches large and small to keep the money flowing.
Yes, pastoring is hard. The struggle to build is equally harder, but it should not come at the cost of the people who will earnestly give their last dollar because they truly love God and his work. They will be blessed, but the preacher who took it under false pretenses will suffer the greater loss. Guaranteed. Get a job.
[Christopher Gregory]
Acts 20:28-29 ... Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Matthew 16:11-12 ... How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
2 Peter 3:17 ... Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. ❤
