We live in a world that is dominated by money. From corperations to charity causes to churches there is a clamor for coins. While money is not evil, the Apostle Paul warns that, "The love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6:10). One of the issues I have had with the Church and Christian Causes these days is the merchandising. You walk into a church and often it feels like you stepped into a store. The room leading to the sanctuary is filled with CDs of sermons for $3-5 and if there is not table of books and etc. there is stations outside for selling. Is this not exactly what Jesus reacted to in the Temple?
It says in the Gospel of John that Jesus went to the Temple for Passover and found there the money changers selling doves, oxen, and other items. In response our Lord, "made a whip of cords, He drove out them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changer's money and overturned the tables. And he said to those who sold doves, "take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise (trade)!" (John 2:15-16). This moment demonstrates two important facts: God hates turning a place meant to lead people closer to Him into a business site and secondly God does get angry. There is tendency to want to portray Jesus as the perpetual pacifist, when this scene clearly demonstrates the righteous indignation of Christ!
There is another striking account at the temple mount. It says in the Scriptures that Peter and John went to the temple to pray and there they found a certain man lame from his mother's womb that would be carried to the temple gate to ask for alms. When Peter and John came to this man, Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6). The lame man rose and his bones in his feet gained strength and he went about leaping for joy and praising the Lord and followed the two disciples into the temple. (verses 7 and 8).
Often causes ask for money, but the great Apostle Peter offered something better! St. Paul said, "that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. " (2 Corinthians 5:19). This is what should be happening! We should be leading people to Jesus Christ, not asking for silver and gold! Granted to be missionary or to go out to people can cost and so I am not saying money is never part of the process, but we must keep it in perspective. Our message is not of gold and silver, but of God the Savior! This is my problem with the Prosperity Doctrine in America. It makes people believe that if you love God he will give you storehouses of endless blessings and money. This is false of two accounts: firstly Jesus said, "They persecuted me, they shall persecuted you." (see John 15:18-25). Being Christian means that we will "in this world have tribulation and trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33). Secondly, the Gospel of Prosperity lures people not into trusting Jesus Christ for salvation and repenting of their sins, but rather for storehouses of great wealth. It in effect is not the Gospel, but a Mammon (god of money) doctrine clothed in Christianity!
The Prosperity doctrine is what St. Paul said, "If anyone (even we) teaches you a different Gospel that what we've taught, if this different Gospel comes from angel, count them accursed and have nothing to do with them!" (Galatians 1:8). Paul never promised prosperity of material value, but prosperity of spirit and soul in Christ Jesus! Did Paul or any of the Apostles proper on the worldly level of wealth? No! They were all killed for their faith by the powers of the age! While it is not a crime to have money, we must remember that it is not the mark of being close to Christ or that you are true believer!
As believers we are not called to offer silver and gold, but the Savior and God who died for the sins of all people and reconcile people to Him through believing in that very Savior and God Jesus. This is the Great Commission, to "go out into the world, and preach the Gospel to all Creation." (Mark 16:15). Finally, we must not trust in silver or gold, for it says in those day (end times, "'They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin." (Ezekiel 7:19).
In those days silver and gold will not save people. Only the Savior Jesus Christ will protect people from the wrath of God! Silver and gold will cause many to stumble and put their trust in its worth, but it will not be able to buy God off and stop his coming wrath! Only the Blood of Jesus Christ will cover us from the judgment. It is time to decide where you are going to invest, in the metals of this world that will not save you, or in he Messiah (Jesus Christ) whose saving grace will help you in the times of trouble.
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