I am so weary of when a stranger sees me wearing a cross they don’t ask me about Christ, but beg for change. Instead of the Gospel, people want gold in the form of currency. How totally ironic, that we get singled out by strangers who want money from us because we are Christians, when Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24). When people see us Christians they see cash signs and want a donation. The church has become so associated with hand outs rather than making disciples, even though that was the Great Commission!, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..” (Matthew 28:19). The apostles did not go handing out change, no, they preached, “Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6). Churches have become mini-banks full of funds for the ‘needy’ and selling their brand of ministry or minster. I believe Jesus would clear the tables, “My father’s house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves, a place of trade!” (Matthew 21:13, paraphrased). How many of our church buildings would Christ our Lord come and say those same words to and at same time unfurl a whip?
The Church was suppose to be identified as the disciples of Jesus Christ and keepers and spreaders of the Evangelion, the Gospel, the Good News. Now they look like banks and brand companies like Nikki and Apple. Worse the world has demoted its interest in us to dollar signs, what gold they can get from us, when our slogan was suppose to be “Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6). There was a time when worldly people (Rome especially) were asked about us Christians and they said, “O those people, they follow that Jesus of Nazareth, they have love feasts and will not burn incense to other gods.” Now they say, “you can raise good money in churches, and write it off on taxes.” Woe, woe! Instead of known for our beliefs, we are known as easy money, gullible, and easy to fleece. Becoming a pastor use to be an arduous affair and hard life, now it promises six to nine figure salaries! The cash sign is becoming as popular as the cross in churches, and when people see our crosses they often only see cash signs. For instance, when I pass a donation fund raising person, they see my cross and expect an offering, even though I live in a car. While giving generously is good, I am dismayed that giving money is predominately what we are being labelled as, giver rather than God fearer and Christ follower.
Obligatory giving is not scriptural, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion [in response to pressure], for God loves a cheerful giver,” (1 Corinthians 9:7) and “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12) While yes Jesus did say “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back,” (Luke 6:30), however Jesus does qualify it, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31). The idea is not we get fleeced and reap nothing, it is suppose to be cheerful giving and we should receive help one day too. Jesus was perturbed that people wanted bread from Him, not eternal life, “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”” (John 6:36-27). Scripture shows us a balance, we should give to those who ask, but we should also discern and decide what we should give not under compulsion, and remember our duty is to preach eternal life, not filled people’s coffers.
For lest we forget, Satan invented trade and money (Ezekiel 28:11-16), which is an earthly bondage. Christ has given us eternal life through Himself (John 10:27-28). While certainly we should care for widows and orphans (James 1:27), and the needy, starting with our brothers and sisters first not pagans, “ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.” (). Anyone can replicate what we are doing by giving money, the unbelievers can give alms. We are suppose fo offer s better cup, a water that never makes you thirsty again (John 4:1-18). We are suppose to be preaching the gospel and sharing Christ, even when we give. Rather than just five a coin or bank note to someone who asks, stop them and say, “before I give this to you, I want you to know that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to did for your sins and if you believe in Jesus as your Lord you shall not perish but have eternal life.”
My qualm is not with charity, or giving, it is that it has overshadowed what the church is and made us just another humanitarian organization when we are the Kingdom of Heaven and we are to preach the gospel and make disciples. Jesus did mot come to start a GoFundMe movement, He came to die for our sins and make disciples. We have lost control of the message in the West. Helping others with money is good and I am not condemning it, but when giving becomes what we are known for as the Church instead of the Gospel and our Lord Jesus Christ, then we are in big trouble; our churches then have become a den of thieves, when it ought to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” (Matthew 21:13). It is time to reform, go take back the reins and make the message not about money but our Messiah Jesus and His eternal life extended to all who will but believe in Him! It is time to reclaim to the gospel! To make disciples rather than dividends! To preach redemption rather than haggle over revenue. It is time to go pit and make disciples, not dollars. Amen.
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