Show Me the Money

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

I certainly understand what you are saying here. I am disgusted at what I see among the ministry in these days of oppulence. However, you may rest assured that God will surely judge the ministry (the house of the Levite) as certainly as he will the recalcitrant.

A worldly loving Preacher wallowing in his oppulence, even if he has no T.V. (which seems to be the standard) is going to meet up with Melchezidec and it will not be pretty. There will be a slaughter, but not of kings but of the Priest. The Priesthood has certain responsibilities with the money that comes into his hands far beyond and not primarily his OWN financial well being.

No wonder I sensed a change. The stock market is going through the clouds, the economy is flushed with money, but the priests and levites are deaf, dumb and blind and do not know it. I hear so much preaching that is preceeded with words such as, "I've heard from God and I am going to preach what He has laid on my heart." Not long into the preaching, it becomes quite evident that he has heard nothing but his own vain imaginations.

Then, I express a lamentation over the state of spiritual affairs. What then follows is more than a thousands responses on two different threads. Is the city completely empty? Did the destroyer come and take away EVERY SOUL into captivity to a strange land? I yell throughout once busy streets, now empty..."Hello out there...are there any left in the city...hello!!!!!!!!!! Answer me...anyone!

OK... again, 'nuff said.

Wow, Bro....you are going big time deep here....I need to read that one more time to capture it all in its profundity.

[J-Roc]

Some wish to ignore scriptures to secure their purses.

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

I certainly understand what you are saying here. I am disgusted at what I see among the ministry in these days of oppulence. However, you may rest assured that God will surely judge the ministry (the house of the Levite) as certainly as he will the recalcitrant.

A worldly loving Preacher wallowing in his oppulence, even if he has no T.V. (which seems to be the standard) is going to meet up with Melchezidec and it will not be pretty. There will be a slaughter, but not of kings but of the Priest. The Priesthood has certain responsibilities with the money that comes into his hands far beyond and not primarily his OWN financial well being.

No wonder I sensed a change. The stock market is going through the clouds, the economy is flushed with money, but the priests and levites are deaf, dumb and blind and do not know it. I hear so much preaching that is preceeded with words such as, "I've heard from God and I am going to preach what He has laid on my heart." Not long into the preaching, it becomes quite evident that he has heard nothing but his own vain imaginations.

Then, I express a lamentation over the state of spiritual affairs. What then follows is more than a thousands responses on two different threads. Is the city completely empty? Did the destroyer come and take away EVERY SOUL into captivity to a strange land? I yell throughout once busy streets, now empty..."Hello out there...are there any left in the city...hello!!!!!!!!!! Answer me...anyone!

OK... again, 'nuff said.

Huh?

Meet up with Melchezidec? muey loco

What is he, God's accountant?

[J-Roc]

I think revisiting the following is timely:

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Notice, the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul says, "many" not a few ministers are peddling God's word for profit from your "tithes and offerings"

• 2 Corinthians 2:17... "For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ."
  

Here again in Jude 1, the Scripture points us to those who "run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit". They live in mansions and very costly temples while claiming to serve God and His Christ Jesus. Many of you know these super ministers and their up and coming students of their greed (see Rev. 2:14).

• Jude 1:11... "Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah."

[Steve Epley]

If a man is a doctor no big deal, a lawyer no big deal, if he is a manager at McDonalds no big deal only the preacher. Remember God said ALL the silver and gold is mine YOU are also going to give an account for how you spend YOUR money! Now there is a thought. NOT just that ole money loving preacher but that money loving saint and LAY preacher is going to give an account. NOT one person is going to escape and TRUTHFULLY I imagine WE ALL are very lacking!!
I live better than I deserve - eat better than I deserve - drive better than I deserve hopefully I am a good steward however if I want something bad enough I find an excuse or reason to get it AND I imagine you good folks do the same.
Here is the answer DO NOT give money to men you do NOT trust nor have confidence.

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

If a man is a doctor no big deal, a lawyer no big deal, if he is a manager at McDonalds no big deal only the preacher. Remember God said ALL the silver and gold is mine YOU are also going to give an account for how you spend YOUR money! Now there is a thought. NOT just that ole money loving preacher but that money loving saint and LAY preacher is going to give an account. NOT one person is going to escape and TRUTHFULLY I imagine WE ALL are very lacking!!
I live better than I deserve - eat better than I deserve - drive better than I deserve hopefully I am a good steward however if I want something bad enough I find an excuse or reason to get it AND I imagine you good folks do the same.
Here is the answer DO NOT give money to men you do NOT trust nor have confidence.

Spare us the platitude....you got scripture?

Originally Posted by J-Roc

I think revisiting the following is timely:

It is always timely to be warned of the Balaams among us who are nothing by cheap hucksters of "uncommon seed for an uncommon harvest" for the purposes of enriching themselves even at the expense of the curse of God upon His spiritual nation.

You wanna be saved? Forget Acts 2:38 for the moment, be first obedient to the rudiments. You can't get to Acts before you pass through the 4 posts of the tabernacle, being Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Too many want to skip over into Acts and the Epistles before passing through the 4 posts. Look at this scripture:

Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Aaaaah, let's forget all that cross bearing and self denying stuff, especially all that fasting and praying. Let's just skip over that and jump into Acts, get the Holy Ghost then eat like hogs, and live for this life with our own brand of ecclesiastical worldliness and then go skipping into heaven without a care with the sounds of "Well done thou good and faithful servant" ringing in our ears as we head off to go visit with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and grandma too.

How do you spell "NOT?"

[RandyWayne]

Aaaaah, let's forget all that cross bearing and self denying stuff, especially all that fasting and praying. Let's just skip over that and jump into Acts, get the Holy Ghost then eat like hogs, and live for this life with our own brand of ecclesiastical worldliness and then go skipping into heaven without a care with the sounds of "Well done thou good and faithful servant" ringing in our ears as we head off to go visit with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and grandma too.

How do you spell "NOT?"

Very true.

You wanna be saved? Forget Acts 2:38 for the moment, be first obedient to the rudiments. You can't get to Acts before you pass through the 4 posts of the tabernacle, being Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Too many want to skip over into Acts and the Epistles before passing through the 4 posts. Look at this scripture:

Also very true. Churches have become "Acts 2:38" churches in the same way that the 7th Day Adventists have based their whole religion on keeping Saturday holy. One church has sacrificed a perfectly good day of the week and another is all wet (without understanding WHY they are wet).

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

If a man is a doctor no big deal, a lawyer no big deal, if he is a manager at McDonalds no big deal only the preacher. Remember God said ALL the silver and gold is mine YOU are also going to give an account for how you spend YOUR money! Now there is a thought. NOT just that ole money loving preacher but that money loving saint and LAY preacher is going to give an account. NOT one person is going to escape and TRUTHFULLY I imagine WE ALL are very lacking!!
I live better than I deserve - eat better than I deserve - drive better than I deserve hopefully I am a good steward however if I want something bad enough I find an excuse or reason to get it AND I imagine you good folks do the same.
Here is the answer DO NOT give money to men you do NOT trust nor have confidence.

Bro. Epley, I understand your stance on the man of God getting all the tithe. But if we did that, we would be making almost a million per year, and I just don't think God intended for us to have that much money from the church we pastor. That's why we are on salary; we get paid well, but not nearly all the tithe. I don't even think I would want to be responsible for that much money from the church. TOO MUCH STRESS!!!

No stress at all Sheri...

Too many starving, self-sacrificing missionaries to support. Besides, you should have some spiritual sons to support on the field until they become self sufficient. There are too many of the ministry that stand in need. Tithing is for the ministry. It is the IDIOT pastor that thinks it is ALL for him alone. I do not believe that Elder Epley thinks that it is all his alone.