God Doesn’t Want Your Money! – By Greg Gordon
Below is an article I found on Sermon Index written by Greg Gordon. In a time when ministries and pastors seem to preach that God needs your money, I found it very fitting. I liked it and thought I would share…
God Doesn’t Want Your Money!
by Greg Gordon
Never in the history of Christianity has there been so many sermons and preachers begging for money. Is God broke? God says “blessed are the poor” we say in our twisted days “blessed are the rich”. God says “godliness with contentment is great gain!” we say in our materialistic age “godliness is great financial gain!”. Right now as I am writing this article there are 1000’s of T.V. preachers begging for money. There are 10,000’s of people opening envelopes and emails as we speaking right now of ministries pleading for financial support. What a travesty that the first impression of the mind of unbelievers in North America is that Christianity is about money.
I admit personally in my life and ministry there were times where I asked for financial support and went against my conscience in that matter. I do believe there is reason and balance and it will vary from ministry to ministry of making some need known. But I do feel the best and most excellent way is to serve God and ask the Father in secret for your needs.
Judas was the money changer and it is surprising so many pastors want to follow in the steps of Judas rather then Jesus. Never has so little been done with so much money for the Gospel. The Gospel work of Jesus Christ requires little money but much men. It requires little financial begging but much knee work before God in prayer. If we were prevailing with God instead of pleading with men for our needs they would have been met overabundantly by this point.
Zac Poonen said this: “The early Christians were humble enough to acknowledge their lack of wisdom in such matters. That was why they gave their gifts to the apostles to be distributed to the poor. But those apostles never touched any of that money themselves.” Their are needs for money to be given for the poor, helpless, and to some workers of the gospel “the workman is worthy of his hire.” But what a contrast we see between these Apostles in the Scriptures and the modern day pastor.
This is a challenge to all Christians to stop giving to these ministries on T.V. who are fleecing the sheep and making themselves rich. Give to ministries that are humble, small, that don’t beg. Find modern day prophets to give to. Don’t give to the slick sleek pastor who just says “nice” things to comfort you.
I close with a very profitable list from Zac Poonen which he calls the “Ten Commandments” on money for Christian workers:
1. Never make your financial needs known to anyone but God (Phil.4:19).
2. Never accept money from unbelievers (3 John 7).
3. Never expect any gifts from anyone (Psa.62:5).
4. Never allow anyone to control you or influence your ministry by giving you money.
5. Never accept money from those who don’t receive your ministry.
6. Never accept money for your personal or family needs, from anyone poorer than you.
7. Never be dependent on any man for your financial needs.
8. Never handle God’s money in a way that would cause others to suspect mishandling (2 Cor.8:20,21).
9. Never be excited when you receive money.
10. Never be depressed when you lose money.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:12 am
That is a great line.
Thanks for posting this article, Craig.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
It’s funny, one of my last few visits to City.
I remember on a saturday night Pstr Judah,talking about giving. One thing that stuck out to me was that he said he wishes “people would want to give so much they would just put the money on the pulpit” then he painted a picture of just a pile of money on the pulpit.
He talked allot about people complaining on how much money the City church has, that night. Even to some people “wondering how much my bini costs.”
Pple thought it was funny of course, but I found it odd. anywho I don’t know if he has that sermon posted but it was on a “Young pofessionals” night on saturday in the belltown campus a few months ago.
That same sunday, I went to a main campus, and had GC class. The young cadre leaders were getting up to share their testimonies and about their cadres…one young man in particular came up and said “I believe that one day it is God’s will for me to be a millionaire, you can be a millionaire too!” All the kids cheered of course, then he gave scriptures to accompany his theory.
Anywho, I know it’s not just TCC that shared this “prosperity with a purpose” many modern churches do nowadays…this is just a recent experience I had.
Which is even more funny, because those few visits, I was actually gonna try to go back to TCC as my homechurch again.
But before I even found this site, those experiences alone made me think twice.
Any suggestions on a new home? I’d love to hear.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:45 am
So, one quick question….when you’re doing something like building cottages for foster children and amazingly enough, the land, lumber and other supplies aren’t being given to you for free, where does the money come from, to do that?
Fall from the sky?
I agree that God has enough money and doesn’t need our money himself, but how do we advance the ministry when it requires actual physical dollars to do so?
Really curious.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Mark,
Did you read the article? I think it is covered in there.
I don’t know anyone who would be opposed to someone asking for money to set up an orphanage…I think the article is directed to the money changers who are building mansions for themselves with the money given.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
So how do you know how much any of these pastors are getting paid? How do you know where the majority of their money comes from? Is there anything bad about a pastor being a real estate investor, stock market investor (not at the moment, of course), author…?
My mother was a financial officer for a local pastor of a “mega” church. Without mentioning names, let’s just say it may be the biggest church in the region in terms of memberships.
While the pastor was consistently criticized for his “wealth” or “hording” of church finances for his own gain, what people failed to realize was that he actually put 90% of his pastoral “income” back into the church and outreach ministries as a tithe/offering, and made the majority of his very healthy income from book sales and real estate/land investments, and oh by the way…he gave over 50% of THAT income back to the church and other ministries as a tithe/offering, too.
I’m going to have a hard time calling that guy greedy or accusing him of building mansions with the money given by church members. In fact, he’s more of a giver than I.
The outflow way outnumbers the inflow.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Mark, that is all fine and dandy but maybe the congregants saw something else that your mother didn’t see. We don’t know the condition of a person’s heart except by their fruits but maybe he showed a side of himself that he didn’t know he was showing.
It’s not all about money. A person can tithe until they are blue in the face and still be in eternal danger.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:19 am
Interesting…it’s not “All about money” as you say, until a pastor has more than makes you comfortable…then interestingly enough, these conversations turn straight to money.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:20 am
Not to mention that the whole “Fruit” argument doesn’t seem to weigh in my direction when I’m the one telling people to stop looking at the money and possessions, and start focusing on the fruit of the person and their ministry.
What a double-standard infested place this site can be.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:23 am
By the way…these weren’t “Congregants” Sharon. These were people who don’t attend, much like those on this site.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:27 am
Mark,
This conversation is about money because the preachers ask for MONEY all day long in unbiblical ways.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:34 am
Uh…I did attend the church. Mark, what is the fruit you are talking about? Is it the same fruit Mormons can boast about (converts)? What about the fruit of faithfulness to the scriptures?
July 31st, 2009 at 9:18 am
I said “Don’t” attend.
For someone who talks so much about the redeeming blood of Christ and forgiveness of sins, there’s sure a lot of focus on the past here.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:20 am
Oh…did they stop teaching the prosperity garbage? Awesome!
July 31st, 2009 at 9:34 am
Well, they didn’t start teaching that God wants us broke (sorry to disappoint). And you certainly won’t be invited to speak at any Poverty conference anytime soon, but they sure don’t preach what you all claim they do.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:37 am
Funny Mark.
So they don’t teach that if you tithe to them God will bless you by giving it back to you? Isn’t that the main thrust of their messages on giving?
July 31st, 2009 at 10:26 am
No. With regard to giving in general, they teach Luke 6:38. That verse is very specific about giving and receiving and the measure thereof.
As far as Tithing, they teach that God takes care of his people, period. Therefore, in tithing, we should not see it as a “loss.” God takes care of his people and tithing won’t change that. Never do they teach that you need to tithe so that you receive a material reward.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:37 am
Boy Mark. Things must really have changed since I started the blog. They no longer have you hold up your offering and claim a 100 fold return on it? They don’t quote Malachi 3 and talk about how if you tithe to the church God will protect your finances? They no longer talk about how your finances are cursed of you don’t tithe? They don’t take the tithers back under the covenant with Abraham and talk about how the material blessings of Abraham are on those who tithe by faith? All those things were taught while I was there.
If they have stopped misusing the bible to gain wealth, then it is a miracle and praise to God!
July 31st, 2009 at 11:10 am
“They no longer have you hold up your offering and claim a 100 fold return on it?” Yes.
“They don’t quote Malachi 3 and talk about how if you tithe to the church God will protect your finances?” No.
“They no longer talk about how your finances are cursed of you don’t tithe?” Definitely No.
“They don’t take the tithers back under the covenant with Abraham and talk about how the material blessings of Abraham are on those who tithe by faith?” No. We’re heirs whether we Tithe or not.
Hope that helps.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Mark, from experience TCC doesn’t like to be challenged on many of these issues. Questioning their teachings lead to making you out to be a nay sayer with hidden motives and sin issues (which Biblically we all have until we die), rather then the possibility of being one who rejoices in the truth.
You say that these things are no longer emphasized by TCC, yet it very well may be the case then that this blog has brought awareness to many who have left there when they still did teach these things, or even awreness (directly or inadvertently) to those who still attend there or even are on staff there.
Also, we have been in a near/actual recession in the U.S. for the last year or so, thus much prosperity type of teaching is probably going to take more of a backseat because now is more of a time of strengthening our faith and being content, just as Paul said in Phil 4:12-13.
Lastly, Mark, what if someone is unsure about the topics that Craig mentioned and they go to one of the pastors at TCC? Will they get an answer like what has been believed and taught for years by TCC pastors? Or will they say, “no, we once believed those things but now we do allow Hank Hanegraff books in our library, we do acknowledge a lot of the bad theology of WOF teaching, and we do understand that the covenant with Abraham was justification through faith, not material blessings as well”?
August 2nd, 2009 at 8:05 pm
That was really the most ignorant response anyone could have given. So much speculation and “what if” there, not even worth answering
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Mark,
I find it ignorant that you’re using superlatives in regard to my reply, which wasn’t nearly as harsh as Jesus’ or Paul’s rebuke to Peter. Also, just because my response isn’t worth answering to you, doesn’t mean it’s not potentially true (even in some parts). I’m just going to assume you’d rather take short pokes at my statements, then actually discuss them.
August 4th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Actually Cameron,
To put questions in there like “If you walked up to a pastor and asked them these questions, what would they say?” is irresponsible and I would be equally irresponsible if I tried to speak on their behalf. It assumes they all think exactly alike, and have no differing beliefs which I know not to be true.
It’s also a bit scary to me that you’re putting Hank Haangraft in such a light that in order for someone to truly denounce WOF, they have to in some way “confess” Hank as having some infallable doctrine.
And finally, the harshness of your reply has nothing to do with my response. There’s nothing harsh about your reply at all. You’re just asking a ridiculous question that is a pure hypothetical, and you’re guessing, without being around, that these teachings have backed down because of the recession. Garbage.
Nothing biblical about either of those two questions/statements, so I completely reject them and would never humor you or feed your obviously inflated ego just because you ask or tell me to.
Where’s Craig? I’d rather discuss these things with someone who is displaying wisdom and discernment than someone trying to match wits and prove to themself how smart they are.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Wisdom, discernment? Who me? I blush…
August 4th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I may be coming across harsh there, but the reason I say that Craig, is because it’s clear you actually want to know the truth, whether we agree or not (which we clearly don’t on everything).
There are others on this site who I feel are more concerned with whether they “win” or sound smarter than the other guy, and I wouldn’t think this is a place for that.
However, it is a blog and people can post freely, so I guess I have nothing to complain about. :)
August 6th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Mark, my point with asking them questions is not to sound “smarter” or “arogant”. I’m not sure where you got that, but I’ll take the “smarter” part as a compliment for what it’s worth. But again, that’s YOUR filter. I was making the point that just because certain topics are supposedly less emphasized from the pulpit at TCC, doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t believed.
I agree with Craig and hope and pray that they aren’t for the sake of worshiping God in truth.
And it’s not just a bit scary, but very scary that a pastor wouldn’t allow books in their library from someone who would expose their teachings. That cultic like actvity. Especially when the man is said to be a “false prophet” by Wendell, when he clearly is not. Yet, I never said he was infalible, but he certainly proclaims the fulness of the gospel in the face of angry so called believers and non-believers.
And I did listen to a City Church sermon lately. It was all about pushing kids to go to thier camp. If they don’t go then 1. they won’t meet lifelong freinds, 2. wont know GC’s purpose, 3. won’t know their life’s purpose, 4. won’t hear from God.
This is just wierd! So all of my critiques are not just speculative, and I’m not going to take the word from some guy named Mark who can’t have a respectful conversation when a church he loves is questioned.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Trust me, I’m not saying you sound smarter, so don’t take that as a compliment.
Again, God bless all, and I hope you’ll examine your hearts for the real reason you’re on here.
The fruit tells a pretty clear story, and the story it’s telling isn’t one of Glorifying God, unless Glorifying God is accomplished through bashing men of God.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Mark,
Then are you saying I’m trying to sound smarter? If so, I’m not trying to, so then why is the whole idea of being “smarter” on your conscious or subconscious as you are the one who mentioned it first?
I hope all believers always examine their hearts continually, even Wendel, Judah, you, and myself.
I would add that the fruit of faithfulness to God’s Word is important as well. Critiquing someone doesn’t reveal fruit, but WHY they do so may. The Apostles didn’t see it as “bashing” people when they sought for correction of doctrine for the sake of truth, so I’m not sure why that particular type of vocabulary has to be used. I can imagine why it would be used though if someone is uncomfortable with certain things being questioned that they are not prepared to have questioned. I don’t know if that is the case here, but I have definitely seen it before.