Live of the Gospel

Many church leaders have used the scriptures below coupled with the law (tithes and offerings) to justify their entrepreneurship and their covetousness.

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:7-14)

Indeed, the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel; however, he did not ordain covetousness. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3). Church leaders hold annual "Pastor's Appreciation" events in which they invite other pastors to come and adjure the members to "give double honor" to the elder that rules well. This is over and above other "love offerings" elicited throughout the year and the tithes that these church leaders obligate their members to pay. "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock" (Ezekiel 34:1-3; see also Isaiah 56:11; Ezekiel 34:10). What's more, "through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (2 Peter 2:3). Moreover, they tell their members that "sowing into their pastor" will produce blessings in their lives. As we emphatically stated earlier in the "In the Name—The Harry Potter Christianity" section, you cannot buy the anointing of the Holy Ghost or the power of God. Of course, the truth of the matter is that willingly sowing into anyone that has a need will "increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2 Corinthians 9:10). Thus, give freely to those in need, and encourage the elders that are rich or that desire to be rich "that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God" and that "they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute" (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

Church leaders that are more focused on feeding themselves than feeding God's flock, invariably cause their flock to feel obligated to give. Hence, their ability to give "not grudgingly, or of necessity" (2 Corinthians 9:7) is impaired. Obligation is of the law and "the law worketh wrath" (Romans 4:15); however, "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). And, "they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:9-10). If the minister of the gospel of Christ falls into temptation and a snare, what will be the state of his flock? Scripture tell us that the unjust, "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray" (2 Peter 2:14-15). "My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace" (Jeremiah 50:6). To "them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled" (Titus 1:15). What's more, when these ministers "sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ" (1 Corinthians 8:12). Living of the gospel does not advocate church leaders living luxuriously while their congregation lives sparingly nor living sumptuously while their congregation begs for bread. A church leader focused on money is like a medical doctor addicted to drugs. "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live" (Proverbs 15:27). And, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:17). Ministers of the gospel and other church leaders are to be more focused on the needs of the church than on their own desires or worse, covetousness. Paul establishes precedence for temperance in ministers of Jesus Christ:

What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:18)

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. (2 Corinthians 11:9)

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (2 Corinthians 12:14-15)

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Temperance—self-restraint, self-denial, moderation—then, is a key characteristic for a minister of the gospel of Christ: any who do not possess this characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit should be examined. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:18-20). "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). Therefore, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand" (Philippians 4:5): while living of the gospel is lawful, living extravagantly is not expedient. After all, we should be all seeking to benefit others not ourselves (Galatians 5:14). "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth" (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).

When we examine the financial condition of the first Christian church, we do NOT see the apostles living above the means of the other members. We do NOT see Peter, analogously, earning millions of dollars a year while many of the other members earn less than thirty-five thousand dollars a year. Rather, everyone had their needs fulfilled. Those that were rich in the world gave "exceeding abundantly" to meet the needs of the body. "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (Acts 4:34-35).

One side note before we end this section, protocol (the Word of God) dictates that a collection for the saints be gathered before a visiting minister fulfills his mission. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:2). "No gatherings" include the popular practice in many churches of giving during the sermon: monies laid on the "altar." Remember, we want to "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22) lest someone unlearned or unbelieving becomes convinced that the "gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20). Notice the pattern in the scriptures below:

And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go. Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. (1 Samuel 9:6-8)

And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? (2 Kings 8:8-9)

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. (2 Kings 5:14-16)

Gifts are given before the minister performs the work of God; and if gifts are presented after the work, the gift is rejected: "I will receive none." In addition, many falsely believe that if they give to a "prophet" they will receive a "prophet's reward"; that reward being monetary of course.

He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:40-42)

Giving to get, however, as we have already discussed in the "Giving" chapter, breeds covetousness not financial prosperity. A prophet's reward—a Christian's reward—is reserved in heaven and it is not money; it is even better. "We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And ... that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great" (Revelation 11:17-18). For Jesus says, "behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12). "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24).

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (Luke 6:22-24)

On the flip side of this, the popular practice of ministers requiring a minimum amount (honorarium) to be paid to them is also not in line with scriptures. "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 45:5). The Word of God and the gifts of God are not for sale. "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding" (Proverbs 23:23). "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).

Notwithstanding, it is incumbent on the local church to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ ... As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:2, 10). "For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God" (2 Corinthians 9:12). God "will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:6-7). And "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:31-34).

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