It is the dizzy height of gross, sheer, rank
inanity for the world to label Christians who choose to give their money to the
church as stupid. Like Jesus took a whip and charged on the detractors of the
faith; in this article, I am going after what is no doubt the crass ignorance
and gargantuan hypocrisy of the world. Let it be known that Christians are not
some toothless beings that people can always pick on and trample on their feelings
with impunity and devoid of a dram of effrontery.
Every now and again, someone needs to hold a
large mirror to the world, and suffuse with sense, a stubborn existence of
vacuous reasoning. Indeed, there is a time for everything. There is "a
time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7 KJV). Thus,
the perpetual silence that allows curdling ignorance to actually solidify and
crystallise is not a correct application of Scripture.
On occasion, I have heard, read, and felt the
nauseating influence of withering judgement and stinging condescension of
labels given to people who, in view of their commendable concern and fragrant
desire for church growth decide to pump their money into its work. In fact,
that untrained thought and crude conclusion that these people are somewhat
delusional or gullible has got to stop.
When people prattle on, their ignorance
blares out. It is obvious that they have not read the Bible, or they have read
a part of the Bible and feel qualified to pass judgement on broad issues.
'Not part of the national budget'
Let's get this poignant truth: the money of
Christians is not meant to fix world problems. The Great Commission is not to
go out and end world poverty. It is the established duty of governments who
collect taxes to fix the problems in their respective countries.
Indeed, the Great Commission has a focus on
spiritual growth and preparation for a new life. "And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned"
(Mark 16:15-16 KJV).
The classic test in Scripture where some
disciples thought the money of a giver should be used for the poor, was
dismissed by Jesus Himself (see John 12:1-8).
If a responsible government does what it is
supposed and mandated to do, there will be no need for a church to take care of
the economic situation of a community. That is the correct use of taxes. The
Church's tithes and offerings are not part of the national budget.
Thus, the argument that a church must use its
money to do what government should do, is a porous and misleading argument.
Yes, every church must exercise its choice to do as it pleases with its own
money. And if it chooses to give to the poor, that is its prerogative—it is not
an imposition. Moreover, it is not the duty of any church to solve world
hunger, period. After all, the church is neither the IMF nor the World Bank.
Right here, the world should give us a break!
Is it not rather strange that those who
expect churches to help also disdain its members for giving to the church? How
will the church feed the poor, help the homeless, improve education, or do
other things when it is barely able to survive financially?
Perhaps, we should ask: If you are poor,
surviving on food stamps, other subsidies, or welfare or benefits; is it the
church's fault that you are poor? Is the church supposed to eradicate your
poverty? Is it not your government you should be taking to task?
No, the world loves the work churches do, but
it despises its teachings. Let the church stand by its biblical truths and the
world is in an uproar, but let it shoulder the responsibilities of failed
government and corrupt states, and they will applaud.
Moreover, when one reads stories online
regarding the church, it is increasingly obvious that many comments appear to
be from unbelievers who feel they must comment on a religion they delight in
mocking. Why are these people so concerned about the same church givers they
very much despise anyway? Likewise, the same press that holds the church in
derision also appears to act as though concerned about the members of the same
organisation. Are they genuine? Are they truly concerned?
'Fools for giving to Jesus' ministry?'
The hypocrisy of people in the world who
criticise the choice of members to give to churches must stop. After all,
people in the world use their money for whatever they choose and it suffices,
but when the church chooses to spend its money on what it deems fit, the world,
yes, the secular media in particular, goes berserk.
The idea that people giving to the church are
some stupid people is a weak argument. In truth, Jesus had people giving
to His ministry and He never called them stupid or irresponsible. In fact,
listed supporters (or financiers) of His ministry were actually women. Luke
8:2-3 records, "And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and
Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who
provided for Him from their substance" (NKJV).
It is worth enquiring: Were Mary Magdalene,
Joanna, Susanna, and many others fools for giving to Jesus' ministry?
It is a sign of unnecessary indolence if
people can't afford to know the full truth, but will pick Scriptures to support
their subjective views. Jesus, the example, usually reference by these
people, gladly accepted the giving that He received. Should a church not accept
the donations of its members?
Apostle Paul equally had repeated support for
his ministry. He declared, "Now you Philippians know also that in the
beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with
me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you
sent aid once and again for my necessities" (Philippians 4:15-16 NKJV).
'Insane greed'
This article is neither a treatise nor
apology for insane greed and senseless desire for filthy lucre that leads to
massive exploitation of church members. As with all things in life, there are
those who go overboard. Of course, I know some people have been pressurised to
give—think about countless programmes organised simply to collect money. Yes,
this "seed" and that "seed" till the giving time stamps a
perpetual scowl and visible consternation on some members' faces.
However, the presumption of a synecdoche must
be flung aside. A part cannot always be described as the whole. And in a vast
number of cases, in my opinion, members are given a choice to donate, and they
make their own informed decision. The minority that employ duress, if we may
refer to it as such, and pile on subtle or brazen pressure on members while
using credible Scriptural truths as well as twisted texts to facilitate their
agenda for personal enrichment at the expense of the flock, should not stain
this impressive act and lead to church giving being referred to as a
stupid act practised by gullible people.
How are churches going to be run, if members
do not support? Will churches be given free accommodation, water, electricity
etc. just because they are churches?
Moreover, for those who labour in the field,
are they not to be rewarded for their services? Did Paul not write, saying,
"Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered
doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those
who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You
shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The
laborer is worthy of his hire" (1 Timothy 5:17-18 Amplified Bible)?
Following this truth, if part of the giving
of the people is used to reward faithful ministers, what crime is committed?
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should
live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14 KJV). To suggest that members
who initially gave were operating from some weak state of mind, and did not do
so after thinking it through, is uncharitable at best and ludicrously puerile,
if not infinitely infantile, at worst.
In one unreasoned and ill-thought out article
I read, the writer actually said, "It's time for people to wake up and
stop being stupid." Where being stupid means giving money to a church. By
this illogical yardstick, how stupid is the whole world then, considering the
many things we all do with our money?
'As they please'
Perhaps, those who think poverty is
fashionable, and it is what those who labour in the Lord's vineyard should be
blessed or cursed with, should go and preach it to the greedy CEOs on fat
salaries who can afford to spend in a day what the average person cannot earn
in a year. Or they should carry their message to CEOs of secular charities who
rake in huge sums of money from donations.
We must leave these church givers to also do
with their own money as they please. It is disingenuous, in fact, downright
callous and palpably tyrannical to question a person's choice simply because
you don't feel giving money to a church is a right or sound thing to do. Did
they not earn their own money?
And why does the secular world, particularly
the press feel they must criticise what Christians do with their money? Now,
these same "keepers" of a fake morality are the same people who cheer
when acts that are naturally abhorrent are being perpetrated by people who
claim their right to do as they please. Yes, acts that the senses protest as
flagrant are the very same things that these people in the media in particular
hail and celebrate as some sort of advancement or progress—perhaps, progress in
madness. For, in the mindless spirit of the age, let someone rise up and do
some crazy thing, and the world defends their right, but not the church?
'Stop donating to churches'
Giving is an aromatic act that many choose to
practise. It does not make us stupid, and neither do we do it because we are
stupid. It is a selfless sacrifice, and dropping $50 into the offering bowl
instead of a night out drinking one's head off puts matters into perspective.
And assuming people do not give their money
to the church; will they necessarily give it to the poor, or the tramp on the
street?
In one comment, I happen to read, someone
called for people to actually stop donating to churches. He called the pastors
"fools". It is evident he forgot the amount that we give to
governments, and what they do with it in some countries. In fact, it may very
well be that this charge has definitely been misplaced. Perhaps, the secular
press should focus more on how taxpayers are defrauded, and their dollars
wasted by clueless politicians driven by selfish gain.
Yet, it must also be pointed out that not all
the critics are outside the church walls. In truth, most of our critics are
right within our walls.
Is it not amusing, or even hypocritical that
some people (Christians) who ask believers not to give to one church—and
most of these bunch are supposedly "error catchers" and "false
prophet pointers"—while denouncing giving to other churches equally have
"donate" buttons on their websites soliciting for money from the
general public? Yes, they also want your precious dollars. A chuckle and a
sideways nod are appropriate!
'Good stewardship'
Using phrases like "a fool and his money
are soon parted" to describe church givers, can only stem from unsound
reasoning. It is an unfair charge. Shall we also say, a fool and his money are
soon parted watching crazy movies; a fool and his money are soon parted taking
unnecessary vacations; a fool and his money are soon parted buying ludicrous
and grotesque paintings called art; or, a fool and his money are soon parted
doing just about everything requiring money? Is that what it comes to? Can't
you see this reasoning dies the death of a thousand qualifications?
If church giving and acquisitions made from
such donations are generally termed as scams, then what shall we say of real
world examples like Enron and Herbalife to name a few? Shall we touch a sore and
sensitive chord by referring to the masses buying false hope on the internet?
It goes without saying that good stewardship
must be practised by all Christians, but it is not the world that will teach us
how we should spend our money. And the unfair picking on Christians, amid these
same people's fear of other religions should stop. In truth, asking the
devotees to a religion to donate is an enshrined aspect of virtually all
religions. For example, Muslims pay zakat, and Jewish synagogues have membership
dues. Moreover, doesn't the secular world give to causes they respect? Don't
atheists give to support their passions and pursuits? Should Christians not
feel free to also give their own money to their church?
Church givers—very sensible people—must
remain faithful in their giving to God. He is the true rewarder of our actions.
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9 KJV). For further reading, please see Luke
6:38; Proverbs 11:24-25; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Matthew 6:1-4;
Hebrews 13:16; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Deuteronomy 16:17; Deuteronomy 15:10; 1
Chronicles 29:9; Mark 12:41-44; Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:10-15; Hebrews
11:4; Galatians 6:6.
I shall return with my talking drums in
"Tithing is our Choice".
Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.blogspot.com or Facebook page.
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