Making increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. This is how the body is increased, by edifying itself. Like the living organism it is. It doesn’t need money. I understand it’s necessary uses and things like that, but money has become way to centralized in our manners and serivces at this point.
Edification; it’s how the body, the working organism is established to work. Not preaching for money to build churches and ministries gallore and making the gospel of Christ with charge, but allowing money to flow through the body like blood flows through our veins, working where there is a need. Not where needs are created.
Not just all the funds going to every ministry or minister under the sun. Not just all the funds going specifically to just the men in position. Not most of our money going abroad to men we don’t know, blindly casting our pearls before swine. I bet you have never thought of that phrase the other way? These sorts of things that we do today, they were never practiced in the NT! Why do we do it today?
Churches today take up thousands, most going abroad, about 80-20. I think it should be exactly opposite. The local body and their needs 80, the foreign field, 20. I know I know, "string em up! he is anti-missions..."
Ephesians 4:17-20
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Whatever doctrine of devils, or wind of doctrine that others who were unruly or walking disorderly were giving out in Ephesians was producing a false, vain religion that was leading to greediness (lucre), and lasciviousness. Lasciviousness is not always sexual - It can mean a Tendency to excite lust, and promote irregular indulgences, giving in to the flesh, or fleshly lust.
Men can lust for power. Men can lust for notoriety. Men can lust for a flock or a following. Men can have ambitions to be known among men. Men can piously act as if they are not tyrants while they are. Men can lust for position. Men can lust for monetary support. And they can receive all of these from Bible Believing Christians without twisting anyones arms. We are conditioned, and expected to give to further a commission, a commission that is found in the synoptic gospels.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Fleshly lust is not only sex, adultery, fornication and lasciviousness.
But ye have not so learned Christ, Paul said. There is no indication that the people Paul is speaking of in Ephesians are lost. They are walking in the vanity of their minds, alienated from THE life of God. They are ignorant and blind. They are like children. Their works are unclean and full of greed!
Uncleanness with greediness. How many men in positions do we fed, and support who are guilty of precisely that? Agree or not, this is how the world views Christians. Greedy. Money grubbing preachers make up our sad, pathetic landscape as the body of Christ today. Churches are few and far between that are true to God’s word. Most are clubs, camps, clicks, and clans. And you will only be welcomed in if you are IN with their private interpretations, traditional observances, and philosophies.
We are Laodicean!
We are the church that is so worried about our rights, or the rights of the people. Christians always looking for entitlement, or a free ride. Whether it is the missionaries always seeking discounts, at Motels, Restaurants, Mechanic Shops. Or it’s the pastors always seeking write-offs, asking for tithes and offering to support the cause, the Great Commission, and any underlined ministries under that banner. Or it’s the missionaries on deputation asking for support, the evangelist preaching the faith promise, and giving to the nobel causes of propagating commissions.
This is how we appear. This is our testimony to the world. Try to deny this. Try to deny some of our practices are simply asking for more money!
We toss around “Abstain from all appearances of evil” at our members and workers to keep them in check. How do we preachers, pastors, evangelist and moochinaries come off, and appear to the body of Christ we say we serve and minister to? Are you really feeding them or are they feeding you?
How does Missions appear to the lost? We don’t care, as long as some commission is being fulfilled. How do we appear to the unbelieving under the sound of our voice? This is the problem! We don’t care because we are “the called according to his purpose”! And “God speaks to us” and yada yada yada.
I knew a older woman in the faith who would always go to stores and attempt to return items to a retail chain without the receipt. When management explained they could not, she talked harshly with them for 10 minutes about how she is a Christian and she felt she was being accused of dishonesty. Or she somehow was entitled to special treatment because of her profession. We are Laodicean! Exactly as God said we would be in the end of the church age.
“The peoples rights”! There is a multitude of pastors who are the same way. To see the way our American churches sputter on about rights today. Rights. Entitlement. There is so much greediness and entitlement in our churches. Men take the fat pay checks from the body because they actually think they are entitled to it.
Positional greed is why some men won’t make necessary changes to their ministries, titles or positions. They know they will lose their weekly paychecks and the cushions that go along with the ministry. They would lose the secure support of the ministry! And they love the ministry, and count themselves so blessed for God to put them in it.
They will not leave it or do anything that would led them to leave it. Isn’t that where are faith can be practiced. We do serve him BY faith don’t we? I dare say some men have learned how to simply make a living off the ministry, instead of actually living a life as a believer should according to dictates of the Book.
...I Seek Not Mine Own Profit
...I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you!
... I was chargeable to no man
...I have preached to you the gospel of God freely.
...We would not be chargeable unto any of you.
...That I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
... And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man:
...Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me…
...my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Now, this was a big point with Paul. To not profit from the body of Christ by preaching Christ. He profited in the Jews religion as a pharisee of pharisee, why should he profit anymore as a preacher of the gospel?
Galatians 1:13-14
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
2 Corinthians 11:7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
This is not liberty, as in free course, this is about gaining lucre, possessions, material wealth involved in the ministering and preaching of the gospel. He was making a point that he did not take anything from them.
2 Corinthians 11:19
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
1 Thessalonians 2:8-9
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
Paul accepted offerings for his ministering, he accepted cheerful givings, but he never charged. If the offerings were not enough, he laboured and travailed, night and day, to not be chargeable to the brethren.
Men say that this was just Paul’s attitude to preach the gospel of Christ freely. Any reader of the NT sees many passages like this one above in 1 Thessalonians 2 with the use of we being used to show fellow laborers going the same way and adopting his standards of ministry. There is use of the words, “we” and “our” in Paul’s wording that indicates that others who were with Paul and laboured with Paul were following his example as well. He taught that his ways were in Christ, and he taught these ways in all the churches.
It was his life. He lived it. He believed the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine forth in believers. And it was important to Paul that he not charge man for preaching Christ. He preached the Gospel of Christ freely, taught cheerful giving, and that faith and godliness with contentment is great gain. He did without, accepting blessings and offerings, but never a similitude of a payment of service for administering the affairs of the temple.
Examine his manner! Christ revealed these things to him for a specific reason.
He was a man that wasted the church previously, and it was important for him to not ever do it again physically or monetarily, and to teach others the reasons behind it so they could follow as well. These ways are for the good of the church. And it still works today for the body, as it was designed to work!
Peter said they will behold your good works, and Paul placed emphasis on confirming and standing for defense of the gospel that he preached freely. There was a noticeable difference in the early church between the Temple workers and the Christian Apostles, disciples and Elders who were testifying of Christ. There was a giving away of possessions, food, money, and other necessary things within the body. Whether we like it or not, there was a equality and unity in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:15-21
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
He that winneth souls is wise. Paul had much wisdom, and he gained men!
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Ten thousand instructors can teach a lot of different things. And all these things can be with good intentions. However it is safe and orderly for Christians to stick with Paul’s instructions. Paul said to follow him! There were some that were puffed up in knowledge but not in power and they were turning and confusing the people. Some were trying to entangle the gospel of grace with the law.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Paul wasn’t looking for words, nor fruit or reports of souls added. He was looking for power that is only evident of growth in the body. He said in Ephesians 3:20 ...the power which worketh in us. Unexplainable power being manifested in early Christians lives. This is what manifested Jesus Christ to others. Others were clearly seeing the lives, not the preaching alone, but power of Christ working through the lives of the believers.
There was true, simple child-like faith. Men did not hold sway over offerings, keeping people in check of their Faith promises, continually mentioning other funds for other ministries citing the need and urgency of the Great Commissions call to “Go!” Men did not ask for offerings, oblations, sacrifices, mint, cummin, or any other tithe. Honest men filled honest offices and never reverted back to any likeness of the Temple.
As already stated, no one claimed to be “called” of God” to these places in far away lands and such. Every man Paul sent was exhorted by Paul himself to follow his own example, Timothy, Titus and others. Paul had very distinct traits in his dealings with the churches. They were sent by other elder men, within the body, to the lands abroad that had already received the word of the gospel and believed. They gladly went, worked, and ministered. When I say worked, I do not mean, worked in the ministry and received a salary. They had very distinct traits!
Their jobs and trade craft were considered a part of their ministry. Their gifts and talents were allowed use and functioning in the body of Christ. They were there to minister physically, and to give of their income cheerfully as God led them. There was an effectual working in the body. It was not a commission that they had that prompted the early church to work in the way it did.
The “knowing him “ and the power of HIS resurrection and it’s hope is what drove them. The love of Christ is what constrained them. The scriptures they had access to is where they rested. On the more sure word of prophecy as Peter said. The commission was not the reason for the body’s existence nor their assembly, it had to do with a Kingdom. It was Christ in them the hope of glory. The admonishing of Paul to be a witness and to unashamedly testify of their God and their salvation is what motivated them, not their desire to be heard in masked boldness.
They preached for edification on building, working, testifying, worship, being comforted, knitted, doing good works, and to have them established in the faith of the gospel and doctrine.
They were accepting offerings for necessary uses but they were not to requiring, or charging those around them for preaching of that gospel. That was entirely contrary tot he apostle Paul. The offerings were to be dispersed to the body, that is, the elders and preachers, the sick, the fatherless, the widows, the less fortunate, the poor, the afflicted, the needy, those in the ministry, and those not in the ministry.
There were no tithes as the Temple workers and those who had fallen away to Judaism again still practiced, but only a Pauline concept of cheerful giving that holds no requirements or regulations outside of ones conscience and faith with their Lord. Tithes and Faith promise are just other commandments of men wrapped up in the great commission to solicit funds. No tenths, but in some cases in Acts, they gave most or all of their possessions. But this is never focused on. They finds tithes int he gospels, read it into Acts 16, find find other gimmicks and things from Corinthians. They sue the scriptures in error. It’s misguided and based on traditions, law and pragmatism. There was cheerful giving, and it was not, in most cases, monetary giving.
Most Baptist read the Bible with a slant. When they see words like tithe or offerings, they think nickels, quarters, dollars and cents, but throughout the scope of the word, it just simply wasn’t the case.
The supply was simply used for supplying the body. It was to supply a need not to promise an offering. No man charged for the working of the ministry as the Temple workers still practiced, and as men do today. Even though the law was no more and the oblations and offering have ceased, will still hold people to things from it? This is why Paul made the distinction. This is also why Paul never mentioned tithes in a multitude of passages where he talked about offerings and giving! They admonished the people to give cheerfully, but they also preached the gospel of Christ without charge, and they often went without and suffered for it. This is where their faith was increased, and God received glory through it.
But who believes things should be done like this today when we have deputation, Faith Promise, gimmicks, commissions, mission boards, and our overall modern way of doing things.
The office was not their position, but their functionality. They accepted simply what they received. To demand any more from others was considered defrauding, and unnecessary. The point was power. The point was our faith being increased. It would have to work to increase. Applying OT standards, mans methods or any such like thing to God’s way is not His way! The body of Christ was designed to operate wholly different from OT Israel and their congregations.
Matthew 22:9
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:19
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In Him. In His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. There is power in the resurrection!
Phillipians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
What if we have been missing very important things concerning our faith and how we operate the ministry? Living by faith will bring power! We have the appearance of Godliness, but what if wee have always lacked the power? If our people feel forced to give to us to pay for everything we own, have, or hold dear in our life, how will the preachers’ faith be tested? If our salaries from the body of Christ are fulfilling all our needs, how does the preacher live by faith while encouraging others too when he never has to practice this? It’s amazing how spoiled we all have become in America!
No comments:
Post a Comment