UNDERSTANDING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND GIVING: CAN GOD BE BRIBED? PART ONE Deut 10:17 “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:” – KJV Deut 10:17 “For the LORD your God is the God of all gods, the LORD of all lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show favoritism or take bribes.” – ISV Deu 10:17 כי יהוה אלהיכם הוא אלהי האלהים ואדני האדנים האל הגדל הגבר והנורא אשׁר לא־ישׂא פנים ולא יקח שׁחד׃ Hebrew Old Testament (Tanach) This is a burning issue in Christendom because of how many “new age” ministries seem to be selling God and departing from the doctrine established by Jesus and emphasized by Paul. The commercialization of God in Christianity is not a new phenomenon. During the time of Martin Luther, the Roman Catholic Church was notorious for its widespread practice of selling indulgences. The people were taught to believe that by giving to the church, they could obtain Gods favor, thereby enabling their dead relatives to be released from purgatory. Today we laugh at such a concept and wonder to ourselves how the people could fall for such false teaching. But during that time the common people were denied access to the Word of God, so they believed anything they were told, especially by the priests. Despite the fact that we now have the Word of God readily available to us, many still believe what the priests today tell them. Take, for example, the latest twist on the seed faith teaching. It is based around Moses instruction to Israel about their three annual feasts. The key phrase ministers emphasize is, You shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed (see Ex. 23:14-15; Deut. 16:15-17). The teaching goes like this: In order to gain Gods favor you have to bring Him an offering, and the larger the offering, the greater will be His favor toward you. NO OFFERING, NO FAVORS. The favors include angelic protection, the defeat of ones enemies, financial prosperity, healing and so on. According to this teaching, to appear before the Lord empty-handed is to sign your own death warrant, Hence the popularity of this false message. What the teachers of this false doctrine dont tell you is the full context of the verse they are quoting. Moses actually tells the people, The Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.” Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the [Feasts] … and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you (Deut. 16:15-17, NKJV, emphasis added). Gods blessing was not conditional upon their giving to Him but upon His having already given to them. They were not blessed because they gave; they gave because they were blessed. (It is also important to understand that these requirements are no longer valid under the New Covenant.) Every spiritual first-grader knows that we cannot merit Gods favor. God is not for sale to the highest bidder nor can we earn His favor by our own effort or works. When Paul addressed the Stoic philosophers on Mars Hill and sought to describe the difference between the true God and their many idols, he told them this about God: He gives to all life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25). Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Ministers who teach this give-to-get doctrine and TV hosts who invite them on their telethons need to heed the warning of the apostle James, Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (James 3:1). IT IS UTTER BLASPHEMY TO SUGGEST GOD CAN BE BRIBED TO FAVOR US BY OUR GIVING TO HIM! Proverbs 15:27 “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” – ESV James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” – ESV Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – ESV PSALM 127:1 “A SONG OF DEGREES FOR SOLOMON. EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOUR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT: EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP THE CITY, THE WATCHMAN WAKETH BUT IN VAIN.” To be Continued:
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:57:16 +0000
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