By Apostle Cedric Moss
I no longer defend the accusation, "preachers love money." The reason is that many of us ﾗ not all of us, but enough of us ﾗ have given and continue to give good evidence for this allegation to be made.
A Common Practice
Some time ago I attended a church service where a "special offering" (one above and beyond the earlier offering) was being received. Those who gave money were personally prayed for after they had given. Those who did not give simply sat and watched. They received no prayer because they gave no money. Perhaps if they went for prayer without giving they would have been prayed for. We will never know because only those who gave money received prayer. This is buying and selling in the church.
Recently I attended a church conference where another "special offering" was being received. The preacher made a promise to all who would give: a "financial harvest" on the seed given within seven days. The preacher went on to give stories about how he was so "blessed" financially and passionately encouraged everyone to give. Some who had no money were encouraged to borrow from others who had and they did so.
I considered the preacher's promise and stories manipulative. Therefore, I did not give. Many others gave though, and I was deeply concerned for them. Surely many could really not afford to give again, having given earlier that night. But the promise was sweet. No doubt, many gave with the hope of receiving the promise that was so convincingly made by the preacher. This is buying and selling in the church.
Only In America?
You might be wondering which American church service and conference I was attending. Well, here is my answer: None. I had both experiences here in The Bahamas. Here in New Providence, to be exact. Sounds strange? Not really. The foregoing examples are merely representative of the many similar incidences of "buying and selling" that are common in our churches.
We no longer have to watch a televangelist from abroad tell his audience to sow a seed if they have a lost loved one who they want to be saved. Sadly, we can now see similar acts locally, live and in person.
Why Jesus Got Angry
One of the few times our Lord lost His cool was when people were buying and selling in the Temple. In Matthew 21:12-13, He chased the buyers and sellers out of the temple and accused them of making the Father's House a "den of robbers". I have no doubt Jesus would clear many "commercial temples" today if He showed up on the scene. He would rebuke church leaders who tell people to "sow a seed" for healing or getting "favour" from God. He would also rebuke church members who do not embrace their responsibility to give and support their churches financially, other than when they are manipulated or "promised" something from God in return. Why? Simply because these practices are "buying and selling" in the church, and the Lord still hates it.
The Kingdom Way
Church leaders, let's repent from and discontinue manipulative, un-Biblical offering requests and practices. Stop the multiple special offerings with lottery like promises. In addition to teaching on sowing and reaping, teach people to sacrifice financially without the expectation of receiving as their primary motivation to give. Let's teach what the Word of God says about money and allow people to respond. Many in our churches will be relieved. More importantly, the Lord Jesus will be pleased.
If you are a church member or you attend regularly, you too have a responsibility to help discontinue buying and selling in the church. An important step is to read the Bible for yourself and obey what it says regarding your financial responsibility to your local church. You should also refuse to cooperate with any form of financial manipulation. Discernment is the mark of maturity and it enables you to see through most of the manipulative financial appeals dressed up in out of context Bible verses.
May the Lord help us to "clear our churches" from buying and selling and bring reform that will glorify Him.
Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Comments and feedback may be directed to him via e-mail to:
apostle@kingdom-life.org
