Ok FB family...here I go again. I just could not resist commenting on this. Personally I find this new show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Spiritual/Preachers of L.A., is in total opposition to what the TRUE church is supposed to be about. Its not so much that I have a problem with preachers reaping from what they have sown but more so of how the emphasis is being placed on material things. So...lets ask the BIG questions that this show is begging for an answer to: Are Preachers entitled to financial support from the church? Answer: In short...Yes. In the bible, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:9-19 1Cr 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 1Cr 9:10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 1Cr 9:11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 1Cr 9:12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Chris Agnew. 1Cr 9:13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 1Cr 9:14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 1Cr 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 1Cr 9:16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1Cr 9:17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 1Cr 9:18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. 1Cr 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. Now...the above scriptures absolutely grant preachers the right to material gains from their labor in the gospel. BUT...... The apostle Paul said that although he had the RIGHT to partake of this, he chose not to, for the sake of the gospel, in order to win more souls. Here is my view...As a preacher, your reaping of material wealth should be COMMENSURATE with the spiritual and material gains of the people!! (the sheep). In other words...the FOCUS should always be on the SHEEP in terms of making sure that THEY are the ones that are in...GREENER PASTURES!! But...if as a preacher, you are the only one reaping the material gains and the people (the sheep) are still poor, hungry, raggedy and out of doors, then you become nothing more than a PIMP IN THE PULPIT, sucking the life out of your people!! You are nothing more than a ... HIRELING ... meaning, you are only there for the MONEY!! Jesus says bible in Saint John 10: 11-14 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. See, its one thing to reap from the sheep, but the question is: Are you willing to lay down your life...FOR THE SHEEP?? This is why I feel this show is sending the wrong message!! It is COMMERCIALIZING the gospel and causing people to think that MATERIAL WEALTH = SALVATION!! WRONG!! Again...in the bible, the question is asked: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mathew 16:26, Mark 8: 36, and Luke 9: 25) Now...there are three (3) main scriptures that I see, that all PREACHERS should keep at the forefront of their minds at all times!! 1. Psalms 111:10…The “FEAR” of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 2. Mathew 10:28…And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear “HIM” which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Listen...whenever you stop fearing “GOD”… arrogance starts to sets in and you begin to feel that you are above “REPROACH” and somehow start seeing yourself as…equal to…or…above God himself!! Now this last one is specifically directed at…ALL…preachers!! 3. Jeremiah 23:1…Woe unto the “SHEPARDS” that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord. The word “WOE” here in this scripture means …WARNING!! God is “WARNING” those who claim to be preachers that there are SEVERE CONSEQUENCES for the abuse and destruction of His sheep!! The scripture says: Woe to the world because of offenses, for offenses must come, but… Woe to “THAT MAN” by whom the offense comes!! (Mathew 18:7) OK Yall...that was just my little 2 cents on the subject!! The doors of the church are now open!! (SMILE!!)
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 05:28:00 +0000
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