LIES IN THE CHURCH

Even Benny Hinn now reluctantly admits that he has taken the preaching of the prosperity gospel to the extreme, when he said:

"We get attacked for preaching prosperity, well it's in the Bible, but I think some have gone to the extreme with it sadly, and it's not God's word what is taught, and I think I'm as guilty as others.”

Benny Hinn now realizes that some of the things he learned from preachers, when he was growing up, aren't biblical and the popular interpretation of the prosperity gospel — the teaching that believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith, and the "sowing of seeds" through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings — is one of those things.

Yes, Benny Hinn, you deceived millions of Christians all over the world and you took advantage of many of them!

The Bible teaches that we are free from the guilt and bondage of the Old Testament Law of Tithing! There has never been such requirement for the New Testament believer! The decision making in how we handle our giving should come from being led by what God tells us individually through the Holy Spirit. As believers in Jesus Christ, we ought to be controlled by His Spirit and God’s Word in regard to how much money we should give, and through His Word. No church or televangelist should ever make us feel guilty about the amount of money we give or try to control it!

The apostle Paul, who himself at one point was living according to the Old Testament law of tithing, now writes, after being born-again, in the New Testament: 

“You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.” 2. Corinthians 9:7-11 NLT  

In other words, whether you are able to give 5% of your income, or at other times you may be able to give 20, 30, or even 100%, the point is that you are giving the appropriate amount of money the Holy Spirit directs you to give and God will bless you for doing so.

This is how Paul instructed the Christians in Jerusalem to give each week: 

“On every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering.” 1. Corinthians 16:2 NLT  

When it comes to who to give money to, we
first and foremost, we need to take care of our own family, making sure they have food, clothing, and shelter. If we don’t, according to the Bible, we are “worse than an unbeliever.” (See 1. Timothy 5:8)

As a believer, we each have a duty to support the church we join, which pays for the pastor, the elders, evangelists, teachers and other ministry services.

“Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” 1. Timothy 5:17-18 NLT  

“Those who are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them.” Galatians 6:6 NLT  

We should also support missions financially as stated in Romans 15:25-27, and we need to be willing to help a brother or sister in need.

“Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” — but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” James 2:15-16 NLT

WHERE DO WE FIND SUCH A CHURCH NOWADAYS?

Every church that follows Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is supposed to model herself after the first church from the Bible book of Acts, where the believers “Shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” Acts 2:44-45 NLT

“They felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.” Acts 4:32, 34-35 NLT

It is no wonder that the apostle Paul taught the Corinthian Church this same example of giving and sharing, when he told them the following:

“Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.” 2. Corinthians 9:11-14 NLT

The rich were specifically being taught not to be proud and not to trust in their money. Their trust should be in God and they should use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others! (See 1. Timothy 6:17-18)  

DOES JESUS WANT YOU TO BE POOR?

Jesus said to a rich man: “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me.” Mark 10:21 NLT

In other words, Jesus was basically telling this young man, ‘become poor and then come and follow Me, be completely dependent on Me and you will experience how I will take care of all your needs!’

That is why Jesus taught: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

And the apostle Paul wrote this: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Jesus did not want any of His disciples to be self-sufficient, but for them to trust Him for their daily provision, as Jesus taught them to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 NKJV

CHURCH OBSESSION WITH GETTING RICH | Edwin Christiaan

 

The church is full of people who long to be rich. The prosperity preachers tell them that Jesus was rich while here on earth, and that God wants nothing more than to lavish His children with an abundance of material blessings! These preachers falsely teach that in order for you to get rich, you must tithe and sow large money seeds to them.

But what you see happening, is that the people despite of giving all their money, are not getting rich! Instead, as the Bible says, they fall into the temptation of gambling their money away, getting into debt and because of it, they are now being trapped by this foolish and harmful desire of getting rich, that plunge them into financial ruin and destruction (see 1. Timothy 6:9-10).

Jesus Christ was not rich while He was living on this earth! During His public ministry, Jesus and His disciples depended entirely on the hospitality of others as they ministered from town to town. He told His disciples:

“Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.” Matthew 10:9-10 NLT

And Jesus said about Himself,

“Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Luke 9:58 NLT

Jesus did not come to make you financially rich, but He will take care of your needs, as He said,

“For your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” Matthew 6:8 NLT

Therefore,

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need!” Matthew 6:33 NLT

That’s why the apostle Paul, a disciple of Jesus Christ, taught that,

“True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.  After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” 1. Timothy 6:6-8 NLT

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19 NLT

ITS HAPPENING JUST AS THE BIBLE PREDICTED! By Edwin Christiaan

The Bible speaks about the dangers of the last days, where, among other things, vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth! (See 2. Timothy 3:6-7)

How amazingly true this is! Over the years, we have seen many such women go from one prophetic meeting to another, without their lives changing for the good and them becoming godly!

Instead of following Biblical truth, these women no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They are being tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching, and they are easily influenced when people try to trick them with lies so clever, they sound like the truth!

These women follow their own desires, and they are only looking for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They reject the truth, and chase after myths!

Our modern-day myth include prophetic teachings, revelations about how to get into your promised land, when and how you will get your “Boaz” husband, big money blessings coming your way, promises of getting to live in big mansions, and how you will be attaining a prominent leadership position! (See 2. Timothy 4:3-4, Ephesians 4:14)  

HEY PASTOR! YOU ARE NOT A SHEPHERD! By Edwin Christiaan

A pastor is supposed to follow the example of Jesus Christ who is a good shepherd that sacrifices His life for the sheep! But instead, you are unfriendly and prideful, and you don’t really care for the people God has entrusted to you. It is all about what you can get out of them. You control every aspect of their lives, and you make sure that they all pay their tithes and much more to you. You love money, and you are well trained in greed! You use false doctrines and make up all sorts of clever lies to get hold of the people’s money.

To you, everybody that comes in your church represent dollar signs. You like to put up a show of godliness, but it is just a way for you to become wealthy. You commit adultery with your eyes, and your selfishness is never satisfied as you lure unstable people into sin!
You are not managing your own family well. Your wife, just like yourself, is manipulative and controlling. She loves gossip and slanders others. It is no wonder that you have rebellious children who don’t respect and obey you.
The Bible is clear about this: For if a pastor cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
Pastors are supposed to be remembered as leaders who taught you the Word of God and the good that comes from their lives and the example of their faith in Christ!!!

John 10:11, 1. Peter 5:1-4, 2. Peter 2:3+14, 1. Timothy 6:5, 1. Timothy 3:2-5, 11, Hebrews 13:7