To the Reader: If a walk-in or online Christian bookstore is found to be purposely advertising and promoting non-Christian authors and books, as a suggestion, provide them with the following Christian Bookstore Disclaimer, and ask them to display it in the front window of their store and on their website, and make copies of it to hand-out to customers. If they refuse, suggest that they remove the word “Christian” from their bookstore sign and website, and insert the word “Compromising.” A bookstore, whether walk-in or online, should not claim to be Christian and promote non-Christian authors and books at the same time. God’s word says don’t do it (see below).

CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE DISCLAIMER ON NON-CHRISTIAN BOOKS

For the sake of religious diversity and tolerance of all world religions, it is the policy of this Christian Bookstore to completely bypass and disregard the commands of Scripture to Test all things and Beware of false prophets, and advertise, promote, and offer for sale non-Christian books to our customers.

It is our desire to please everyone, offend no one, and make money at the expense of our customer’s lack of discernment–regardless of how deceptive and misleading the non-Christian author’s books may be.

Our main concern is for the financial bottom-line, the appearance and upkeep of our bookstore, and maintaining a good harmonic relationship with our book distributors, publishers, retailers, bookstore affiliates, sales-humans and vendors. Besides, the management and staff are not responsible for the non-Christian content and heretical doctrines expressed in the reading and listening materials of this Christian bookstore.

To maintain our bookstore business, we choose to cater to all beliefs and religions, regardless of their doctrines and teachings. Please remember that what you say is ”cultic” and “heretical,” we may consider perfectly acceptable. Thus, if what we offer to our customers disturbs you, then please feel free to shop elsewhere. It’s your choice.        

While our customers are free for the time being to express their concerns, complaints and opinions about our policy and the non-Christian books we advertise, promote and sell, frankly, we could care less about their concerns, complaints, opinions, spiritual welfare, or the Biblical commands to Guard the flock and Defend the faith.

Your own indifference, liberalism, compromise of the Scriptures, open-mindedness, compliance, tranquility, understanding, lack of Biblical  knowledge and, most of all, silence, will be greatly appreciated.

Please, whatever you do, don’t confuse us with the facts, our minds are made up.  

Therefore, during your visit, please leave your minds, common sense, and Biblical discernment at the entrance of our Christian bookstore. Then, join together with us in the spirit of oneness, unity and full acceptance of our policy and compromise of the Bible, as we walk together hand-in-hand through an endless universe of tulips singing, Kum Ba Yah and All You Need Is Love…

Thank you, 

The Management

SCRIPTURAL COMMANDS AND WARNINGS

And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing (Acts 19:19-20). 

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears (Acts 20:27- 31). 

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (Jude 1:3-4)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). 

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting (Romans 16:17-18).

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8).

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it (Titus 1:9).

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ (Galatians 1:6-10).

But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but expose them (Ephesians 5:11)

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds (2 John 1:9-10).

But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you (Galatians 2:4-5)

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

Your boasting is not good; do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? (1 Corinthians 5:6) 

And Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23).

Click HERE for further information on what to be aware of while shopping in Christian Bookstores.

Compiled by:

Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Back to the courts – here are two links that will put the court case in progress into perspective:

• Big bills for Amigos trial
• ‘Amigos’ moved to High Court

On our way back to the ‘Seed Sower’ vehicle, we encountered a lunch time crowd seated on the steps of the Master of the High Court. We could not pass up an opportunity to preach the Good News to a gathered audience. Here are some pics:

Since our last correspondence sent to you by the ministry, being the YEAR 2011 IN REVIEW (31^st December 2011), we give God all the glory that we are now able to confirm and advertise the following Gospel Tracts for sale to Church groups, missionaries, evangelists and street preachers alike here in Southern Africa.

These are exciting times and there are still other projects underway, which when completed we will notify you of their availability.

The following items are now available, and subject to print, and the prices listed exclude postage which will be calculated subject to the order:

YOUR LIFE: GOD’s SOLUTION TO YOUR RELIGION (English 001 – Blue cover) is a 16-page A7 Booklet that presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Scripture and diagram form. The springboard is from Psalm 115 dealing with idolatry before God Almighty. (IsiZulu translation also available shortly)

R18.00 (per pack of 10)

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CREATION vs EVOLUTION – DO NOT LET DARWIN MAKE A MONKEY OUT OF YOU is a 20-page A7 Booklet that deals extensively with quotes from renowned thinkers and Christian ministries (with accreditation and web-links) debunking the theory of evolution. It is ideal for outreaches into schools and universities.

R20.00 (per pack of 10)

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TEN GRAND money bill tract which asks the “Ten Grand Question” on the reverse side, and then presents the Law and the Gospel of Grace. This is a 360^th Anniversary: 1652 ~ 2012 edition that commemorates the landing of Jan Van Riebeeck at the Cape of Good Hope on 6^th April 1652.

R80.00 (per pack of 100)

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There is also a “One Million Pound” tract that is at the printers being finely tuned. We will also be working shortly on a “Your Day in Court” tract. Please also send us your suggestions as to what you would like to use when sharing the Gospel, and we will see how we can join you in bringing the ideas to fruition.

We sincerely hope you will partner with us in taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people groups of South Africa and beyond, and we also look forward to labour with you in our Lord’s harvest field for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Kindly do consider donating to this cause both prayerfully and financially to cover the initial costs of getting the first batch of tracts out there.

Until the nets are full, for the Glory of God and the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever more,

In Christ’s Service,

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Ministries

To order please E-mail your requests.

This article exposes the secret methods certain pastors use to get rich off God’s people. Have you ever wondered how some pastors start a church and then become wealthy living in flash houses and driving luxury cars? Well this article exposes how they do it, extracting money from their congregations to fund their lifestyles. Here are the secrets they definitely do not want you to know.

Important Note: As you read please remember that very few pastors use the techniques you are about to discover. The great majority of Christian pastors do not earn much money even though they work hard at their jobs. Most Christian pastors would find these techniques repugnant. Please do not make the mistake of tarring the many good pastors with the brush reserved for the spiritually corrupt few.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Multilevel Marketing Pattern
• Books
• DVDs
• Hyped Conferences
• The Christian Speaking Circuit
• Pastor Owned Businesses that Feed Off the Flock
• The Honor the Pastor Scam
• High Pressure Offerings
• Cathedral Building Wars
• Siphoning Cash into Property
• Excessive Wages
• Perks
• Nepotism
• Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine
• The Carrot and the Stick
• Summary

Why you should read this Article

You will discover the secret techniques that certain pastors use to transfer money out of your pocket and into theirs.

You will understand the overall pattern behind their tricks.

You will learn enough to protect your friends and family.

You could gain thousands of dollars (or pounds or euros), literally. Reading this article can set you free. Free to keep more of the money that you have worked hard for. Money you can take and invest in genuine works of God, or in toys for your kids, or perhaps something shiny for your spouse.

Finally, reading this article can help you please God more, since you will no longer be investing in ungodly works.

Introduction

Like Judas reaching into the money bag, the sad reality is that a small minority of Christian pastors steal from God’s people. As Christians we hate to face this truth, but I believe we must, because it is our duty to protect our less aware brothers and sisters – keeping them from these thieves.

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. – 2 Corinthians 2:17a

Here exposed are the secret techniques used to fleece money from God’s people. Don’t be naive thinking that these schemes have spread throughout the world by accident. These techniques are talked about and shared behind closed doors by the clique of pastors who employ them.

It’s big business. Some of them laugh at us like con-men laughing at their marks. Seriously, if you don’t believe that there are men like that, then watch the 1972 documentary Marjoe. You’ll soon realize that these wolfs in sheep’s clothing have been a blight on Christianity throughout its history.

I will start by outlining the primary pattern that underpins these modern schemes. Then I will drill down, listing each technique one by one, exposing how they work. Finally, at the end, I will outline the biggest monetary scam of all.

First let’s discover the primary pattern behind their methods…

The Multilevel Marketing Pattern

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” – John 2:13-16

We’ve all been approached at some time by a friend caught up in the hope of multilevel marketing. The business they are pushing is simple, sell toothpaste or web sites or whatever, and then recruit people under you doing the same, taking a cut from their sales. Soon you will be so rich that you can buy a flash European car and give stacks of money to Godly causes.

That is the dream. The proof the dream works is embodied in the wealth of the dream’s leaders. Do you see how rich our leaders are? They made all their money by following the dream, proving that you can too. Except, that it’s a lie.

Coming up is the key to the pattern, are you ready? These leaders did not become wealthy by following the dream, instead they became wealthy by building up a group of people who believe passionately in the dream, and then selling dream-promoting wares to this captive audience.

I will say it again, because you need to understand this pattern. They did not become rich by selling toothpaste; they became rich by hyping dream-promoting books, tapes, DVDs, and conferences to their own private market of dream believers.

This same pattern is practiced by some Christian leaders and their churches. The dream is the prosperity gospel. Their captive market is their congregation. The products are, well you guessed it: books, tapes, DVDs, and conferences, and t-shirts, and most ominously spiritual rewards and the prevention of spiritual punishments.

These leaders use their faked “success” to promote a distorted gospel which basically says: “tow the line obeying the leaders buying whatever we tell you to buy, and donate money whenever we tell you to donate, and then God will pour riches into your life.” They tell us that they became successful by following this dream, but in reality they became rich by sucking money out of those caught up in the buzzing environment where this distorted gospel seems real.

Let’s drill in and discuss some of the products and techniques they use to line their pockets with money that ought to have stayed with God’s people or gone to legitimate good works. You are about to discover how these spiritual vampires feed…

Tip: A clue that you are caught up in one of these churches is if you hear things like, “This is your spiritual home, you can’t go to another church. You must be loyal.” They are very jealous about protecting their market, and do not want to lose one of their paying customers to another church. Some even try to prevent their patrons leaving by making them sign contracts or “covenants”, like a mobile phone company locking you into a two year term. But the Bible does not teach that Christians are bound to their local church organization, this idea is foreign to Scripture.

Books

The first product is the leader’s book. Let’s be honest, many of these books are below par. Like bad business books they have one good idea, if that, and then are padded with motivational sayings and anecdotal stories of how the leader obeyed the dream and so God hosed him down with wealth. The theological content is basically non-existent. These books would tank on Amazon or in a real bookstore, but hyped to their captive market they sell like hot cakes.

Your Counter Strategy: Buy the book if it’s got good reviews or if your friends have read it and liked it. In other words treat it like you would any other book. Avoid buying it if the pastor or speaker has hyped it during his talk and especially if there is a lot of peer pressure from the group to buy. Be aware that conferences and seminars are designed to emotionally hype these products. If you’ve ever been to a high pressure time-share sales session, then you will know what it’s like. If you’re feeling the hype, then cool off for a few days, buying the book later if you still want to.

DVDs

Next comes the ever popular DVD. Most of which are videos of the leader preaching in his church on a certain topic. Let me ask you a question, is it ethical for a leader who has been paid by his church to prepare and deliver a sermon, to then take that performance and sell it back to his own church members for a healthy profit? I’m not talking here about paying for reproduction costs or the money going into church funds. I’m talking about DVDs being sold at the same cost as a movie DVD and the profit going into the leader’s own pocket.

And like the books most of these DVD’s are awful, not worth the money paid. Minimal content with gallons of fluff. Some are so bad that my friends and I have been in hysterics, like the preacher whose proofs for his latest invented doctrine is to slap the bible he’s carrying and say, “It’s bible, it’s bible!”.

But, these DVDs are hyped and hyped, and the captive audience buy stacks of them. In the worst money hungry churches you’re expected to buy them, and it is noticed if you don’t.

Your Counter Strategy: The same as for a hyped book. Is it good? Do you still want the DVD after the hype has dissipated? Then buy it, otherwise save your money.

Hyped Conferences

The hype for these conferences start months before hand. Other church members look at you strangely if you are thinking about not going. What, you can’t afford the huge entry fee? What’s wrong with you, don’t you love God? Don’t you want to be blessed? Don’t you want to be successful and wealthy? Don’t you want to be part of us? Because you won’t be, unless you go to THE CONFERENCE!

Each speaker is completely amazing. The next best thing to the second coming.

He’s built a church up from nothing to one with thousands of people. She’s the most Godly woman in the universe who is the best wife ever with the best kids and the best lifestyle, and she’s the pastor’s wife too. He’s from overseas. She’s a corporate CEO. Wow. It’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be triple awesome! It’s going to be mega massive triply awesomely awesome!

The spiritual reward for going is implied to be life changing. The conference fee is nothing, compared to the fire-fighting-bomber worth of blessings and wealth God will dump on your head from upon high.

And Jesus had conferences too, don’t forget, like the Sermon on the Mount, where He charged, oh, he didn’t charge anything for that spiritual teaching. In fact it was free wasn’t it? Hmmm. Well, often the first-movers can’t figure out how to monetize their success, we can’t blame Jesus for that, can we? Gosh, if only He had some books to sell at the back…

Understand, I’m not against conferences. I’m against overly expensive hyped conferences that deliver hardly any lasting value to their attendees; Conferences that are linked to your standing in your church, and supposedly what God thinks of your commitment to Him.

And why are they so expensive? Where does all that money go? Well, in the next section you’re going to find out…

Your Counter Strategy: Hire a hotel room, and sit there reading your Bible with a few Christian friends – trust me, spiritually you’ll get more out of it and it’ll cost less. Realize that you don’t need the sugar high of a conference to get closer to God. Deprogram yourself from the idea that conferences are like a spiritual hot-point you just have to be at. See the hype for what it is. Be led by the Spirit to conferences, not pulled by the fear of losing your church friends and God’s blessing.

The Christian Speaking Circuit

If you have a big market (congregation) and are willing to let others come and sell there, then your fellow pastors will invite you to come and sell into their markets (congregations) too. The bigger your own market, the larger the markets that will open their doors to you – as long as you are willing to reciprocate. Quid pro quo.

There is a Christian speaking circuit, just like there is a motivational speaking circuit. The circuit has no formal structure like say a football league, but rather is like an exclusive network or an old boys club.

Young speaking-cubs sweat blood to be allowed into the circuit. These wannabes practice hard and desperately seek in-circuit patrons because the financial rewards are significant. Revenue flows in four ways: from sales of products, from special “love offerings” taken for the speaker, from various perks, and from the formal payments (honorariums) for speaking.

Not all visiting church speakers are on the circuit, the difference is in the amount of money their visit extracts. There is nothing wrong with a speaker’s flights and accommodation being paid for, along with the speaker receiving a fair payment for his time. But if the amounts are excessive and the perks extravagant, then that is an unacceptable waste of the Lord’s money.

Some speaker’s egos are so ripe that they demand business or first class flights, expensive chauffeured cars, five star hotel accommodation, gourmet dining, and the right to bring a small entourage along with them (at the church’s expense). Their fees can be enough to buy a family car, and then they have the audacity to expect a special “love offering” to be made for them. The sales of their books and DVD’s are carefully planned, and the hosting pastors are expected to hype their products.

Of course the hosting pastor will then get the same treatment later at the visiting speaker’s church, including his own big fat love offering. If the visiting speaker does not have a church, then the hosting pastor will expect a cut from the speaker’s product sales.

These Sunday service speaking engagements are the bread and butter, to the glamour and super-liquidity of the hyped conferences. Only the true speaking-circuit superstars get to keynote at these hype-fests. The speakers at these conferences are like sharks in a feeding frenzy, seeking to boost their profit margins with the over inflated prices of their products. Their speaking fees and perks are why these conferences cost so much, and can sometimes even run at a, ahem, cough, “loss”.

It is unbelievable what some of these speakers expect from the Body of Christ. I would not like to be in their shoes when they finally meet our Lord, or for that matter anywhere within the blast radius.

Your Counter Strategy: Don’t go to these conferences. Demand transparent accounting to the whole church of all costs of visiting speakers, and for that matter transparency about any income your pastor is earning while speaking at other churches and conferences. No pastor earning reasonable fees from away engagements would have a problem with this, assuming of course he is on leave when he speaks and not double dipping.

Pastor Owned Businesses that Feed Off the Flock

Another way bad pastors extract money from their captive market is to set up a business, and then get their congregation to patronize their business.

Businesses like: bookshops, counseling, gyms, production firms, computer consulting, cinemas, business coaching services, supermarkets, building firms, music festivals, music studios, real-estate firms, and many more. The bookshop is the most common, often located inside the church itself.

Members in the church who show loyalty to their pastor’s businesses are rewarded, often with increased standing in the church. Members who refuse to use the pastor’s businesses are frowned upon.

Your Counter Strategy: Don’t frequent these types of businesses. Ask questions about who owns them, and where their customers are from, if eighty percent or more of the customers come from the pastor’s church then that indicates where its marketing is targeted.

The Honor The Pastor Scam

Money focused churches tend to be run on cultic patterns. One of these cultic patterns is the division of the church into exclusive rings: the all-powerful pastor perched at the center, the inner-ring of sycophants around him consisting of the pastor’s lieutenants and the church’s privileged class (the rich, the famous and the very pretty), and the outer-ring of the ordinary folk who would love to be in the inner-ring, but are not.

The power of those in the inner-ring is determined by the amount of favor the pastor bestows upon them.

To get more favor the inner-ring will employ many favor-currying measures, one of which is a scam called “Honoring the Pastor”. It works this way, the inner-ring will figure out what the pastor would like, say for his birthday. Then the inner-ringers will squeeze the outer-ringers for the money to buy this item.

Using this method pastors have been “given”: diamond rings for their wives, cash gifts, jet skis, luxury cruises, motorbikes, cars, holidays, boats, and a myriad of other expensive luxury items.

Are the pastors complicit in this game? Of course they are. They couldn’t demand the gift openly themselves, but seek plausible deniability by having their inner-ring lieutenants do the work. Of course they could refuse the gift when it is presented, and make it clear that they don’t want the Lord’s money spent on such things again, but they never do. These pastors exchange their favor, for cash from their congregation.

Your Counter Strategy: Unless it’s something reasonable like a bunch of flowers for the pastor’s wife, don’t give to this sort of fund raising.

High Pressure Offerings

Another way the pastor uses his inner-ring to extract cash, is via high pressure offering talks in the church services.

One of the church’s inner-ring will take the Sunday offering, which in these money focused churches can turn into a mini-sermon. These inner-ring members are competing against each other’s past high scores. At stake is their standing with the pastor and hence their standing in the church. If they rake in the cash then their position is secure, but if they score low then no matter what excuses they have they know the pastor will blame them.

In the extreme money focused churches it is made known who gave the most and who gave the least, and in these churches the giving will not be in secret but people will be expected to come up the front so that everyone can see how much they give. Or people will be watched to see if they put anything in the offering container as it is passed down the aisles.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Your Counter Strategy: If you feel you are being compelled to give then don’t give a penny, no matter how much pressure is applied.

Cathedral Building Wars

Like the cathedral building wars in the middle ages where cities and countries vied against each other to build the most impressive cathedral. The pastors of these money focused churches fight to own the most impressive church to top their rival pastors – their egos demand that they are the king of the heap.

The most impressive churches require the most magnificent buildings, the most professional entertainment in their services, the best church programs, and the best conferences, the best websites, the best radio and TV programs, and the most members. All this costs a lot of money.

And just like in the days of old these self anointed church kings seek to tax their subjects to fund their private war.

Understand that these cultic churches ultimately exist to serve their pastor’s insecure egos, and their congregation suffer under their madness. This type of church culture breeds a harsh environment where people are discarded as soon as they are no longer useful. This is a dysfunctional ethos entirely alien to that of Jesus’s teachings.

Your Counter Strategy: Don’t help fund these monuments to the pastor’s pride and prestige, these pet projects, these grandiose visions. Realize that these churches are not focused on Jesus, but are centered around the narcissistic pastor and what he desires most. Don’t be part of this game. Surely we are accountable to God to how we spend our money. Surely then it is our duty as Christians to give that money to true Godly works that bear real fruit for the Kingdom.

Siphoning Cash into Property

Is it ethical for the pastor (or his company or trust) to own property that the church is paying for? Of course not.

Another variation on this scam is the church trust being controlled by the pastor and his family, so they control both the church’s cash and property.

Some of these pastors are very clever in how they hide the money trail. But ultimately if church money is paying for an asset the pastor owns, except via his wages of course, then it is almost certainly wrong. Imagine the furor if a politician was caught siphoning off government money into property or assets owned by himself.

Your Counter Strategy: Check who owns your church’s property. If it is a trust or company then find out who owns and controls that entity. Then look at what your pastor owns directly or indirectly, and who is paying for those assets. Stop giving to that church until any unethical dealings like these are stopped and the money repaid.

Excessive Wages

The Bible teaches that the spiritual worker deserves to be paid:

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” – 1 Timothy 5:17-18

I believe it is reasonable to assume that Paul the Apostle meant only fair wages, not excessive wages, and that Paul would have agreed with what Peter the Apostle wrote:

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:1-3

Obviously one of the ways greedy pastors can extract money from God’s people is via excessive wages. The amount of which they will often decide themselves, or have conferred on them by their sycophants (via the church board, or the church wages review committee, for example).

No honest pastor would have a problem with his congregation knowing how much their church pays him, or at least what range his wage fell in, like say “between $50,000 and $60,000″. This is normal. Openness regarding the pastor’s stipend has been a practice of the Christian church for hundreds of years, and continues today. Only those pastors who have an excessive wage would be reluctant to let the amount become public knowledge.

If your pastor refuses to be open about his wage then be very suspicious. It is likely he knows that the amount would be considered excessive. If it is excessive, then watch him dodge the issue like a sweaty politician.

Be even more suspicious whenever you hear a pastor’s wage being justified by comparing him to a CEO. If you hear this CEO nonsense then you can instantly know two things: first, the pastor’s wage is massive; second, you are being scammed. A pastor is not a CEO no matter how big his church empire is; a CEO runs a for monetary-profit organization, a pastors serves the people of God – they are not the same thing.

By the way, if the pastor claims to be a CEO, then you must be a shareholder. Shareholders have full rights to the accounts, including how much their “CEO” is earning.

Your Counter Strategy: Find out how much your pastor is paid. If he will not reveal the information then stop giving to that church until it is revealed. Especially stop if you hear any of this “CEO” rubbish.

Perks

Expensive leased cars, holidays, clothing allowances, spending money, restaurant meals, hotels, flights, and expense accounts, are some of the perks demanded by these luxury smitten pastors.

Some say that if they are preaching the “prosperity gospel”, then they have to appear prosperous to “walk their talk”. But of course that is a deception. They are using God’s money to misrepresent how wealthy they are, to help prove their false teaching works. Despicable.

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:2

What is worse, many of these churches make their members complicit in this deception. Members are instructed to wear expensive clothes and groom themselves in the manner expected of the rich. They are encouraged to buy (or lease) the most impressive car they can afford. Members are required to appear happy and successful. The excuse given is that the appearance of success breeds success, but this is nonsense, more likely it breeds significant debt. The real reason the leaders want their church members to appear successful is to trick others into thinking that the prosperity dream that they preach really works.

Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving money in protest, until the excessive perks are removed. Ignore any pressure to live beyond your means.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Nepotism

A church isn’t a family business you know; it is a family, but it’s not a business.

Are the pastor’s relatives high up in the church? Are they the ones with the most powerful positions? Then that is nepotism. A good church will choose the very best people for the job, while a bad church will reward those closest to the pastor with the lucrative positions of power.

If you see nepotism, then that is a sign that something is very wrong.

Your Counter Strategy: Yup, you guessed it – stop giving to that church until the pastor’s little family fiefdom is disassembled.

Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine

This is the big daddy. This is their sacred cow. This is the beating heart of their evil empire. The crown jewel. The Death Star. The one ring to bill them all. The pot of gold. Their matrix (into which they want to plug you). Their Wizard of Oz. Their magic spell. Their special power. Their secret recipe with the eleven herbs and spices. Their Golden Goose. The very air upon which they breathe!

Question this doctrine and watch these money hungry pastors bare their fangs. This is a teaching that they will bear no compromise on. Tithing, or at least their own version of tithing, is their one true love.

Here are some bullet points about tithing that these money hungry pastors don’t want you to know:

The New Testament Church did not tithe.

• The New Testament does not teach tithing for Christians.
• Their favorite Malachi verses cannot be used for Christians since Christians are not under the law of Moses.
• Abraham’s one off tithe of his war booty did not set up a precedent for Christians to regularly tithe their income.
• The version of tithing they teach cannot be found in Scripture (see below).
• The “Storehouse” in Malachi cannot be equated to your local church organization.
• There are plenty of rich (money wise) Christians who do not tithe. This would be impossible if their version of tithing was true.
• The New Testament teaching is that you decide how much to give, and there are no rules about where it goes. You cannot be compelled to give.

It may come as a surprise to learn that their tithing doctrine is a combination of twisted scriptures and wishful thinking, as opposed to solid Biblical exegesis reflecting a central thrust of New Testament teaching. Here is their tithing doctrine stated in a nutshell:

“Christians must give ten percent of their gross income only to their church organization. If they do, then God will bless them for any offerings they make to the church organization beyond this ten percent. But if they do not give ten percent gross, then they are stealing from God and God will curse them.”

There are variations of this teaching, and sometimes it is called a “principle”, but the above definition contains the core essence of this doctrine.

It is vital to grasp that tithing is not for Christians. Tithing was part of the old law (of Moses) which was fulfilled (completed) by Jesus. You know that Christians are not under the law of Moses don’t you?

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. – Romans 7:6

know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. – Galatians 2:16

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” – Galatians 3:10

New wine should not be put into old wine skins, nor should new unshrunk cloth be used to patch an old garment; if you think you need to obey the law of tithing then you need to obey the whole law (or you will be cursed, Galatians 3:10).

What is more, this tithing doctrine they teach isn’t found in either the New or Old Testament. Tithing in the old testament does not match what these pastors preach – this unique tithe teaching is of their own invention.

This is such an important subject that Cultwatch has a special website TithingDebate.com dedicated to setting Christians free from this fake doctrine. There are free books to download and articles to read. Make sure you read our article “Should you give? New Testament Giving Supported!”, because Cultwatch is not anti-giving. If you think tithing is for Christians today, then you need to read TithingDebate.com

Tip: If you are struggling to feed your family or buy them clothes, then understand that you do not need to give to the church. You can still do so if you choose, but you should not feel under compulsion since your family is more important. Also understand that if you are poor then that does not mean God is cursing you, or that you have done something wrong; this is an erroneous teaching these greedy men promote to guilt you into giving. Remember, your duty is to your family first. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. – 1 Timothy 5:8

Tip: Churches that push this erroneous tithing doctrine will often try to enforce tithing via written agreements (called covenants), and also by monitoring what people give (so they can compel them to give more if they are not meeting the ten percent target). First, grasp that these “covenants” are illegitimate and not worth the paper they are printed on, because they contain false doctrine (like tithing) and set up the pastors as a false authority over you. God would not be party to a covenant that contains falsehoods, therefore God was not party to the covenant you were pressured to sign, therefore you are free from this burden. It is as if you never signed it. Second, recording what you give and using that information to pressure you to give more is wrong, the Bible implies that our giving is best done in secret so that only we and God know what we gave. Don’t go to a church where they monitor what you give. (note: some churches voluntarily let you record what you have given via a numbered envelope system for tax purposes. Done correctly, no one in the church will know what you gave. There is nothing wrong with this kind of recording.)

Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving to that church until they change their ways. That doesn’t mean to stop giving to Godly works, we would encourage you to give as the Holy Spirit prompts you and as you decide. But it is valid to protest false doctrine by refusing to fund the system that promotes that false doctrine.

The Carrot and the Stick

These pastors are not only money hungry, but often power hungry too. They commit the sin of the Pharisees and appoint themselves as middle men between God and you. They seek to replace the Holy Spirit in your life. They “lord it over” their flocks. Read Cultwatch’s articles on the “Super Apostles” here if you want to find out more.

Using the connection they claim to have with God they threaten you with the stick of spiritual curses if you disobey them, and dangle the carrot of spiritual blessings if you comply. They seek to dominate your life; often implying that they have say in where you work, where you fellowship, who you marry, and of course, when, where, and how much you should give.

This is a false spiritual authority not supported by Scripture. In fact I believe it to be quite devilish (the desire to control and dominate others).

In these pastor’s prosperity teaching, obeying the pastor and giving money are the two pillars necessary for a successful Christian life. If you sit back and think about it, you will quickly see what a con it is.

These men want to be at the head of everything, they want to dominate you, they want to be seen as the big man, and some even secretly desire adoration (almost worship). This is the opposite of true Christian leadership:

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. – Luke 22:24-27

I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. – 2 Corinthians 1:23-24

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. – Mark 10:42-44

Threatening people with curses if they do not obey or donate is spiritual extortion. It is contrary to the nature of grace and the person of Jesus.

Your Counter Strategy: Don’t be afraid of these men. Ignore their bluster. Grow a backbone and stand up to them. And if you give, then give to honor God and not out of fear of punishment or greed for financial gain. Memorize this verse: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Summary

I believe many church goers would be shocked if they could comprehend the real attitude their pastor has towards them. From my experience with both the cults and these money focused churches, it is my impression that instead of being looked upon with love, these pastors see their congregation as farm animals to be milked.

It is my prayer that this article will set you free from this kind of spiritual bondage. I hope now you will be able to spot this counterfeit Christian life and be able to transition into a closer walk with Jesus; a walk built on love, trust and grace, not fear.

To summarize what we have learnt about the methods money hungry pastors use to feed off their flock: We discovered the multilevel marketing pattern that these often ex-salesmen (not theologians) model their churches. We examined some of the products they sell into their captive market like books and DVDs. We unhyped the hyped conferences, and exposed the christian speaking circuit. Next we talked about how spiritually dishonest pastors set up their own businesses that their followers are expected to patronize. After that came the scam of “honoring the pastor” with gifts of luxury items. We delved into the high pressure offering mini-sermons that are designed to guilt people into giving. We examined how most of the money gained is used to build the pastor’s modern day cathedrals, projects that their fragile egos demand. We exposed the scam of siphoning the church’s cash into properties and assets owned by the pastor. We covered the obvious points of excessive wages and extravagant perks, and that was followed by the not so obvious problem of nepotism. Their big daddy came second to last – their fabricated tithing doctrine was exposed for what it is, a fraud. Finally we discussed the spiritual carrot and stick of the false authority that the pastors claim.

There are other methods these guys use to extract money from churches. Revisit this article regularly to discover these methods in future updates.

Realize that a number of churches follow the patterns that this article exposes. However there are many good churches who do not practice these methods. If you have been hurt by these practices then feel free to give up on these twisted money-focused environments, but please do not give up on Jesus.

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. – 2 Corinthians 2:17. Therefore, can we conclude that men who peddle the word of God for profit are not sent from God?

Feel free to think this one through for yourself.

Please link to this article, and email the link to your friends and family. Help us get the word out there.

CW Article Version 1.1

… and beyond. Taking the Great Commission seriously and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the world.

Here is confirmation of the flagship Repent and Believe South Africa website-blog being established. In future you can also visit the site by clicking the ministry’s logo to the left. Please visit. Be patient while it is still under construction.

If you are not seen here we will see you there …

Brief Introduction

Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In this year 2011 in review we give all our worship and the Glory to our Great God who worked wonders in and through His servants. It was a year where Gary Crous also stepped out in faith on 1^st April 2011, giving up his secular occupation as a paralegal estates’ administrator with a legal firm of attorneys in Pietermaritzburg in which he was employed during two periods of time spanning about 15 years, since starting there in October 1993. He was called into the evangelism ministry and without a pension or any monetary hand-out from this company, he committed himself into the Hands of God to lead him and provide for his needs and those of his family. God has been good and faithful in that at the time of Gary answering the call, this ministry took over from Brother Michael Rogers who headed up the Living Waters Africa gospel tracts and material branch of the Living Waters USA ministry, to go into full-time pastoring in northern Johannesburg. Gary also does a little attendance work at the High Court for a trust company in Durban whilst his loving wife Tammy is still in employment for a season and we are presently living on less than half of what was previously available. It certainly has its trials, but Praise God!

God’s Mercy and Grace is Sufficient

There have been many trials, tribulations and some persecution along the way, both in private and in public affairs, and with much prayer we continue seeking the Lord’s face and His will with many tears being shed along this path. Throughout, the journey has by the Mercies and Grace of God our Father been sufficient, sustaining us in this wonderful, fulfilling and learning experience, adventure and blessing. We can think of no other way to experience life than to do the will of God. It has not always been plain sailing, though, and there have been many times when we have stumbled and fallen, but God was there to lift us up, to carry us, correct us, chastise us, comfort us, provide for us, heal us, forgive us and truly love us – we could not do anything without God our Father. Praise is to God alone!

Gospel Tracts and Distribution of Scripture Materials

This is a Gospel booklet titled YOUR LIFE: GOD’s SOLUTION TO YOUR RELIGION. Created by this ministry

During this year, much of the work was taking the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the streets. As street evangelists, open-air proclaimers of the Good News, we have had the opportunity of distributing thousands upon thousands of Gospel tracts, booklets and other scriptural materials personally as a ministry and we have also been blessed to be a provider where materials have been purchased and posted, at times, to the corporate Body of believers who have laboured together in our Lord’s harvest fields, both locally and internationally. We have also sought the Lord in this regard through much prayer, and it has now come to pass that the stewardship of the provisions given to us have not always been used as wisely as it should be. The main reason for this has been an adverse Rand / Dollar exchange rate that has worked against this ministry in the latter months of 2011, in that it has – as at present – deteriorated from about R6.80 / R7.00 to a top heavy +R8.00 to the US Dollar. We have been ‘burdened’ at times with the freight postage costs from the US where the costs are sometimes double the cost of the actual materials purchased, especially where heavier items are ordered, like books and Bibles of which we have ordered a few hundred or so of the WOTM Basic Training Course Study Guides. Over and above this, manifest costs need to be paid by the ministry when the parcels arrive from the US to clear at our local postal office. With immediate effect, the ordering of Living Waters’ Gospel materials is being discontinued until further notice. All pending orders, will be refunded to the recipients who have made payment already and we request your banking details by e-mail. We apologise for any inconveniences this may have caused you. Further, we are blessed of God to advise that we have started designing our own South African version Gospel tracts and booklets and other Biblical literature will, Lord willing, follow. We have also printed the first batch of 250 of the 16-page A7 booklets titled: “Your Life: God’s Solution to Your Religion”

(http://www.4shared.com/document/Cit3UVQS/Luke_923_Evangelism_Your_Life_.html),

which did not last long before they were all given away upon the streets and in shops. Brother Lungisa Zondi has also kindly completed the isiZulu translation of the text which hopefully should be compiled by the printers and be printed in January 2012. Our Brother Sello Rasephei is also busy with the Sesotho and Xhosa translations of the aforementioned booklet tract. We also hope to have two other projects hit the printing presses in January 2012 which are the following: 

• “Creation vs. Evolution: Do Not Let Darwin Make a Monkey Out Of You” 20 page A7 Booklet. We hope to labour with Brothers Derrick King and Rory in using this particular booklet to reach out into schools and universities. Another project to be linked together with this one would be a booklet for “Abortions, Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Pornography”. Please commit this to prayer.
• “Ten Grand” money bill – the 360^th Anniversary: 1652 – 2012; any takers wish to answer why? Yes, on the 6^th of April 1652 Jan Van Riebeeck landed at the Cape of Good Hope with three ships: Reijer, Dromedaris, Goede Hoop. Two other ships later arrived, named Walvisch and Oliphant, after attending to 130 deaths at sea.

Labouring and Meeting with Brethren

We have had the privilege of God introducing us to our brothers and sisters in Christ from various walks, cultures, races, language groups and countries. This year we also had the privilege of meeting up with dear Brothers Jesse Boyd and

Jesse Boyd preaching while the evangelism team stand around ready to speak to souls passing by: Durban beachfront outside Joe Kool’s restaurant

Ricky Springer – of Full Proof Gospel Ministry (http://www.fpgm.org/) – as they sojourned through Southern Africa on their way to continue their evangelism ministry in Nepal. These American southern boys spent some time with dear family in the Lord, Grenville and Ruth Phillips and their family in Birchleigh, Gauteng province before joining us in KwaZulu-Natal for a week. During this time we ventured into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho taking the Gospel of Christ to the near villages of the Basotho peoples of Africa – our base being Sani Pass, into small surrounding Midland towns like Bulwer (on our way to Lesotho) and Howick, and we also met up with Brother Vincent Piater and his bride Sister Kelsey – a beautiful newly wed couple now residing in the United States of America. We also stayed at the home of Brother Peter and Sister Catherine McGregor, met Vincent’s brother, Brother Jeremy and also a lovely newly converted Indian family during a ‘house’ church meeting on a Friday evening. Later, the evangelism team of Jesse, Ricky, Vincent, Kelsey, Jeremy and Gary took to the streets over that weekend taking the blessed Gospel of God to the unsaved souls of the eastern sea board city of Durban.

Here is a video of encouragement compiled and produced by Brother Jesse: More from Africa

Street Evangelism and Open-air Preaching

During this year our Father has also blessed the coming together for the labouring in His Son Jesus’ harvest fields of KwaZulu-Natal and beyond, Brothers Lungisa Zondi and Gary Crous. During our great times together fellowshipping in the Lord, we have been far and wide in the “Seed Sower” – a Ford Bantam 1.6i van (GAL3V24 ZN) – and we have had the boldness to open our mouths and preach the only unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of mankind, to Sangoma witchdoctors selling their ‘muti’ wares (witchcraft medicines) upon the streets in downtown Pietermaritzburg, to Muslim’s outside a mosque during their month of ‘Ramadan’, in streets and homes in townships and informal settlements, outside the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court and the High Court’s buildings, outside (and inside a waiting room for a short season) the Master of the High Court – Pietermaritzburg offices on regular occasions (by the Mahatma Gandhi statue

Lungisa Zondi open-air preaching outside the Master of the High Court – Pietermaritzburg’s offices: Church Street

 – a good place to preach about false religions and idolatries). We also preached opposite the City Hall – the Mayor’s office – outside the Msunduzi Municipality A.S. Chetty offices and the Public Library, taxi ranks and upon the streets to every tribe and tongue of peoples passing by or groups sitting around. This has been a truly blessed time as we have had many persons engage us in conversation, and we have also had the opportunity, not of us, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit, of pointing some lost souls to Christ. We rejoice at the many who have heard the Word of God being proclaimed to them and having distributed Gospel literature into many of their hands.

2011 Ficksburg Cherry Festival

This year, as with last year in 2010, we were at the “Cherry Capital of the World” in the eastern Free State. So they say! We were there not to entertain our flesh, but to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Lord of all. This year Gary took his family along together with Lungisa and we stayed at our family’s home, Koos and Jan Kruger (Tammy’s sister) who showed hospitality towards us by opening their home to us and serving us. We met up with Brothers Sello Rasephei and Ndumiso Mndayi who travelled from Pretoria, Gauteng. It was a blessed time to have four tribes present to labour [L – R: Ndumiso (Xhosa), Lungisa (Zulu), Gary (Afrikaans – so says Sello .  I agree) and Sello (Sesotho)] come together, who have One Father God Almighty. We, soldiers of the Cross were there to preach one True Gospel of One Lord, One King and One Saviour Jesus Christ! We also met up with another Brother Gill Neves and his wife who also laboured and served us with love, making sure we were hydrated with refreshments and snacks (it was hot!) – a truly loving couple who loves our Lord. Oh, and he is from Portuguese descent! The Body of Christ is truly colourful! Praise Jesus!

Prayer Requests

In closing, we ask that you please join us in taking our petitions before the Throne of Grace and committing all that this ministry says, think or do to our Great God:

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. (2) All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. (3) Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ~ Proverbs 16:1-3

Some prayerful needs for 2012 and beyond are:

• That all our works are established by two or three witnesses and that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit;
• To supply sufficient funds and provisions for the printing of the Word of God – in Gospel tracts, booklets, Scripture portions and faithful translations of Bibles. To supply our travel costs and to maintain the ministry’s “Seed Sower” vehicle;
• To bring true and faithful brethren to join with us in the Lord’s harvest field. That we will be obedient to God to be discipled and to disciple with our faithful witness of Jesus Christ. In all matters, including the application of God’s Word that we will not compromise the teachings and proclamation of the written Word of God;
• To provide sufficient Gospel resources so that we can travel the length and the breadth of this nation South Africa and beyond its borders to make distribution and take the Gospel of Christ  to all who God leads us to;
• To bring forth fruit of our labours, that many souls will come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit;
• To enlighten our knowledge and understanding in designing Gospel material and letting God move us in bringing to pass the materials that He ordains; and
• To provide for our physical and spiritual needs to sustain the work of the Lord which He has prepared before us.

(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. ~ Jude 24, 25

Until the nets are full, for the Word of God and the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Crous Family and Lungisa

For your encouragement… CB

MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS

by Chip Brogden 

http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/my-mother-and-my-brothers.html

“While [Jesus] was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50 NKJV).

“One of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to [Jesus], ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.’ But He said, ‘On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it’ (Luke 11:27,28 NASB).

Those still debating about the organization of “church” have not yet seen the Ekklesia as a family. And so their emphasis is on the proper government of “church”: is it a single pastor, or a plurality of elders? What are the relationships between pastors, deacons, elders, and presbyters? What about the relationships between apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers? Or are they for today? What about the women – can they hold a position or not? Where are the lines of authority? Who are we supposed to submit to? Who is our covering? Do we need a covering? And so on.

Many disputes arise as to how “church” should be organized and who should submit to whom. Millions of people have been killed over these disputes, and millions more have been abused – spiritually and emotionally, if not physically. These disputes have been with us for two millennia and have never been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

The only way to resolve a dispute along the lines of organization is to let go of the earthly altogether and embrace the spiritual reality. But for many (particularly those in leadership) this is simply too much to give up. Some will say, “But there is organization in the Bible.” And I would respond that there is a Spirit-and-Truth order in the Bible, but not organization along the lines of a corporate hierarchy, bureaucracy, or benevolent dictatorship. Those are all carnal expressions of carnal men. They are not for the Ekklesia.

If we really saw the Ekklesia we would no longer debate these issues at all. In fact, if we could really see the Ekklesia for what it is – a family – then we will immediately know Who the Head of the family is, who the elders are, what they are supposed to do, who has authority, and who does not. We would no longer be concerned with a corporate structure, but we would simply relate to one another as members of the same family.

The Ekklesia that Jesus is building is a spiritual house of living stones. This Ekklesia is a family, and “of [Jesus] the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15). Which family? The family of believers. Some of the family is in heaven, while some of the family is on earth. In this family, God is Father, and Jesus is the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters (cf. Romans 8:29). When we become a disciple of Jesus we become members of a family, not members of an organization. This is one of the key differences between a living Ekklesia and a dead “church”.

That is what Jesus conveys to the people in the two instances illustrated from the Gospels. In the first case His mother and brothers were prevented from approaching Him because of the crowd. The Scriptures say that Jesus was still speaking to the multitudes when someone interrupted His teaching to tell Him that His mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak to Him. An ordinary person may have become angry over the interruption, or would have excused themselves from the crowd to go to say hello to his relatives. But Jesus is no ordinary person; He is the Son of the Most High God.

What He demonstrates to them (in word and in deed) is that everyone who does the will of God is His brother, sister, and mother; that is to say, all the members of His family are on equal ground before Him. In this family He plays no favorites, He gives no preferential treatment. He does not have special brothers and special sisters; all are equally precious, all are equally valuable in His sight. Others may argue over who will be the greatest and seek the recognition and praise from man with their title, degree, position, or gifting, but Jesus said, “It must not be so among you” (Matthew 20:26ff). If He makes no distinction among brothers and sisters then we dare not do so.

In the second case, as in the first, Jesus is teaching when someone interrupts Him. A woman calls out from the crowd and blesses Mary, the mother of Jesus. Again, an ordinary person may have been disturbed over this interruption, or might have started talking about how much they loved their mother. But once again, we see the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus, and we touch upon the depth of His wisdom and character.

Certainly Jesus loved His earthly mother. At the same time, with His keen discernment, Jesus perceived that this outburst of emotion was mere sentimentality. Though it was intended as a compliment, it came from the flesh, added nothing to His teaching, and only served to distract the people from Himself. With the benefit of 2,000 years of church history behind us, we can see how this kind of fleshly adulation over the mother of Jesus is, in and of itself, a tremendous distraction from Jesus Himself.

And so, for the benefit of the crowd (as well as for our benefit), Jesus speaks a gentle word of correction, one that honors His mother without idolizing her: “Yea rather…” the King James Version says; that is to say, “True enough, but get your eyes off of the earthly and onto the heavenly. There is a greater blessing to be had, and this blessing is not restricted to one woman, but this blessing is open and available to all who will have it.”

How is this blessing obtained? According to Jesus, those who hear the Word of God and obey it are blessed. And this is not surprising, since everything Jesus ever taught makes a plain distinction between people who merely listen to His teaching and those who actually put His teachings into practice. Blessed are they who hear it and keep it; while those who hear it, and do not practice it, are building on a sandy foundation that will collapse the moment they are challenged.

The principle thing in both cases is: what constitutes someone as a true brother or sister? And in both cases the answer is the same: doing the will of the Father; hearing the Word of God and keeping it. Doing the will of the Father is the same thing as hearing and keeping the Word of God. Simple obedience. Doing what the Father wants. Not hearing only, but hearing and doing.

Now the “church” is full of hearers. If we could qualify someone as a brother or sister merely on the basis of hearing then just about everyone would be included. It is common in many circles to address others as “Brother So-and-So” or “Sister So-and-So.” Presumably this means that we are all in the same family and we have the same Father. Yet these same “brothers” and “sisters” will never fellowship with anyone outside their little group. Their criteria is narrow – attend the same group as we do, or join the same denomination, and we will be brothers and sisters. This is a good example of hearing what Jesus says, even preaching what Jesus says, and then failing to put into practice the very truth they have just claimed to believe.

Bear in mind that what makes someone a part of this Family is not hearing, or accepting, or believing, or teaching the will of God – it is doing the will of God. Jesus did not call every religious person, “Brother” or “Sister”. This was a term of endearment for his true disciples. True disciples take it to heart and put it into practice. “IF you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed” (John 8:31b). IF, IF, IF. What if you do not continue in His Word? Then you are not My disciples, and you are not My brother, or sister, or mother. To be in My Family you have to do the Will of My Father.

What about the others? Jesus would not acknowledge them as brothers and sisters. Why not? Because they did not have the same father. “You are of YOUR father the devil, and the desires of YOUR father you want to do” (John 8:44a). They heard the Word of God. They listened to the law and the prophets every Sabbath day. But they did not do the will of God. In fact, they did not desire the will of God at all; they lusted after the same things their father lusted after, and that did the devil’s bidding, not the Father’s.

On top of all the other trials and tribulations Paul endured, he mentioned being “in perils among false brethren” (II Corinthians 11:26b), and blamed part of his troubles on “false brethren secretly brought in, who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage” (Galatians 2:4). False brothers! It is a strong word. But this is how false Christs, false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers make their beginning – as false brothers.

So the question that Jesus asked bears repeating today: Who is my brother? Who is my sister? Who is my mother? Certainly not everyone who says, “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In similar manner, not everyone who says, “Brother! Brother!” is really a brother. Yet learning how to be a good brother or a good sister is the first thing Jesus wants to teach us. When we are born into this Family that is all we are – a brother or a sister. Every apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, or teaching ministry must have, as its foundation, the spiritual depth and maturity of knowing how to “just” be a brother or sister. We skip this necessary preparation at our own peril, and the Family of God suffers as a result.

Jesus says, “I will declare Your Name to My brothers, in the midst of the Ekklesia will I sing praise to You!” (Hebrews 2:12). Nothing brings more pleasure to the Father’s heart, and gives our Lord Jesus more reason to rejoice, than to be with His brothers and sisters in the midst of the Ekklesia that He is building. If He is in the midst of the Ekklesia then that is where I want to be. May the Lord confirm this word to our heart. May His Will be done. Amen.

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden

http://theschoolofchrist.org/

THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find out more about us, click here. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

1. Either the brethren will hold to their liberty in Christ and will continue as in the past, holding to their traditions; or
2. The brethren will read the Scriptures and articles and put it away because they have not been convicted by the Holy Spirit.

Let us now consider this, that we do not neglect remembering and celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we truly do rejoice in our eternal God manifesting Himself and taking on the form of man (John 1:1, 14) to come on a mission to suffer and die upon a cross purchasing our justification and salvation. More importantly, He was resurrected and is alive on high, reigning in Heaven. What we must understand is that God had to take on flesh to enter in to fulfil all prophesies and Scriptures that were before revealed and written about Him as Saviour coming to save His people. We do not contest that the supernatural birth of Jesus Christ – conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin named Mary – in Bethlehem did take place. No argument. In fact we have fulfilment of prophesies in the Scriptures and we can read of Immanuel – God with us (Matthew 1:23) – fulfilling His earthly ministry. The birth was truly a miraculous and supernatural event in history, but from the good news accounts recorded of the birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we do not have any other Scriptural precedents of when and how the birth of Jesus was celebrated. In actual fact Jesus gives no commandment to celebrate His birth, His disciples and apostles give no instruction to celebrate His birth, and in fact there are no commandments or instructions for even His disciples, the followers of Jesus Christ to celebrate their own births in modern time. Now please stay with me on this issue, and then you can give me Scriptural validation to support your answers. Please, don’t go away dispelling this before hearing what is said.

We know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was without sin (Hebrews 4:15) and He lived a perfect life upon the earth, and no where are we told of Him celebrating His birthday. Yet Christ came to this world to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He enters into this world, lives a miracle performing ministry that confirms His deity – “… manifested forth his glory; … (John 3:11) – and “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:14) He goes the way of the cross – crucifixion, suffering and ultimately experiencing the cursed death upon a tree (Galatians 3:13). We too are called to die to self, to lose our lives as we read, as it is written, Jesus speaking:

(39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. ~ Matthew 10:39

(25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. ~ Matthew 16:25

(35) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. ~ Mark 8:35

(24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. ~ Luke 9:24

(33) Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. ~ Luke 17:33

(25) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ~ John 12:25

We also know that Jesus said that unless you are born again you “cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We read further:

(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ~ John 3:5-7

That which is born of flesh is flesh. And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jesus says that we must be born of the Holy Spirit. We must be born of God. God must give us the power to become sons of God, as we read:

(12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ~ John 1:12, 13 (my emphasis added)

We are also told that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Jesus had to die and to be raised in newness of life for victory over sin and death:

(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ~ Romans 8:2

(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ~ Romans 6:4

(12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ~ Colossians 2:12

In our newness of life – in my case, I rejoice that the old man who was born on 31^st December 1964 is dead and a new man came into existence, a new birth came about when I called upon the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and believed in faith on 26^th December 2004, for we read:

(17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Now if I am born again of the Spirit why should I want to celebrate the old man (flesh) who died – “old things are passed away”? The new birth is what brings life. Why would I want to live, be reminded of and celebrate a dead person’s birthdate? The new birth is far more profitable. We also read:

(20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (24) Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. ~ Philippians 1:20-24

In celebrating my old birth, it is not profitable or needful. Why would I want to heap or want to receive praises on a “dead man’s” birthday? Why would I want to receive gifts and store up treasure here on earth, when my treasure is being stored in heaven? Why would I want gifts that I would not possibly ever use? Why should I have a huge celebration when the day is yet just another day? This is yet another day that should be used for reaching the lost – that is needful, showing the love of Christ to others – that is needful, and not thinking and living for me – that is needful. If you receive a “birthday” message from me on Facebook or any other time, it would most probably read: 

“Another year passed, be all praise and glory to God Almighty. He has shown you mercy and grace.”

Too often we see messages that take the praises and glory off God and is either put on, or directed to, the birthday celebrator. Senseless messages, like – and these even appear in community media like Facebook amongst Christians – “Have a blast!”, “Hope you are spoilt rotten by … (sometimes a girlfriend or boyfriend’s name is included)”, “Have a beer on me”, “Party hard like we know you can”, “Lucky you!” – What happened to the providence of God – luck? Etc., etc. The messages speak volumes when praises are heaped on the individual and actions encouraged which go against Scriptural observances. It often looks just like the world, sounds like the world, and is the world!

You see, our Great King Jesus Christ said a very important thing in John 14:19 – “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” This statement was made in reference to Him being raised to life. Here is the full text when He was speaking to His disciples:

(17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (19) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (20) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (22) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. ~ John 14:17-24

The world (unbelievers) cannot understand this as they are still dead in their trespasses and part of the first birth (born of the flesh is flesh), but you will understand these things because you are born of the Spirit which is spirit. You see, where life truly begins is from being born again and that is after one’s death. To be born again the old must pass away first. Hence, Christ gave us the command to remember His death till He returns:

(23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Are you following God’s words, sayings and commandments? Remember, death must precede new birth!

Much is spoken about being under grace and having freedom in Jesus Christ. What has happened? Has the true ekklesia really changed over the past 1,900+ years from the first century ekklesia?

Are the ‘believers’ going through the motions of churchianity and forgotten the fear of the LORD? What has happened to the fear of the believers?

The fear of the Lord is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety*:

(7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ~ Proverbs 1:7

(28) And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. ~ Job 28:28

(9) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. ~ Psalm 19:9

It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. Now compare the preceding Scriptures with Deuteronomy 32:6; Hosea 11:1; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8.*

God is called “the Fear of Isaac” (Genesis 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared.*

A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence:

(28) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ~ Matthew 10:28 

(43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. ~ Acts 2:43

(5) And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. ~ Acts 5:5

(11) And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. ~ Acts 5:11

(31) Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. ~ Acts 9:31

(17) And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ~ Acts 19:17

(18) There is no fear of God before their eyes. ~ Romans 3:18

(3) And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:3

(11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:11

(1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:1

(21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. ~ Ephesians 5:21

(12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. ~ Philippians 2:12, 13

(28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire. ~ Hebrews 12:28, 29

(17) And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: ~ 1 Peter 1:17

(15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: ~ 1 Peter 3:15

If God changes not, for “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8) and the prophets and kings of old fell upon their faces, lying prostrate before the LORD, renting their clothes and putting on sackcloth and ashes, praying fervently, why are Christians today so blasé in their worship and service to God Almighty? And why are Christians careless in the doctrine of Jesus Christ?

We know the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; then we should all evade our lame excuses and repent of our lacklustre worship of our Sovereign God. Why do you think the ekklesia of the first century turned this world upside down for Christ Jesus? They had a healthy fear of God and were filled and moved by the Holy Spirit!

Quit your lame excuses by playing gymnastics with the Holy Scriptures to fit with your ‘acrobatic’ lifestyles. It just doesn’t work. In fact – that is idolatry, moulding a religion and forming a god in your own image and expectations. That just will not do if you are a Christian. Stop blaspheming Christ’s name.

God commands obedience (Romans 6:16), holiness (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16) and perfection (Matthew 5:48). And these requirements come with a genuine fear of God!

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• E-Sword: “Fear of the Lord”