Material Pursuits in Religion

Wealth Accumulation in Religious Institutions

When it comes to money, how much is enough? Especially when it comes to religions. Apparently, there is never enough, ever, so last week we heard some pretty astounding things in the news through social media. The first, of which many of you will not be aware, is a researcher from a Wiki suggests through some sound information, that the LDS church sits on over 30 Billion dollar investment portfolio. This does not include tangible assets. Thirty billion dollars in investible dollars. The daily interest on that if it was only 5% would be almost 5 MILLION DOLLARS. Five MILLION DOLLARS A DAY IN INTEREST ALONE… at a measly ROI of 5% annual interest. And yet they continue to place their every member under the false law of tithing. 10% minimum to be considered a temple attending member in good standing.

Then we have some yocal "name it and claim it" Christian who in the past has owned three planes, who comes out and tells his supporters that God wants him to have a 56 MILLION dollar jet! His reasoning? If Jesus were alive today he wouldn’t be riding a donkey. Which is one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard as a justification for what he is asking, but ask he did. Now, listen. Jesus said it plainly: "It is impossible to serve both God and money. You’ll love the one and hate the other."

Biblical Justifications for Wealth

I know, I know – I’ve heard it all before: "it takes money to do things in this world." "Even churches have gotta pay their bills." And "even Jesus and his apostles had a bag (a treasury) to keep their money in." And then there are the biblical justifications – Tithes were used in the Old Testament before the Law – so they are still in place. It is justified for a pastor to live off the carnal spoils of his flock. The widows mite (which is totally twisted in its application).

Let’s get down to iron tacks here, guys. I hope you can hear me on this. The Gospel is free. It requires no financial upkeep. If a pastor has built a material community around the gospel, that is NOT your responsibility to maintain IF all you are taking from the community is the Gospel. Which SHOULD be preached and taught and shared freely by every pastor on earth. In my estimation, the ONLY way we can stem the tide of material religionA fulfilled system of temples, rituals, and laws—replaced by direct spiritual relationship. is for all who are willing to refuse to pay a cent to a brick and mortar institution. Outright refuse.

"well what will they do? How will they survive?" They will deconstruct, and those who are in it because they love the Lord and others will remain. And those who are in it for the cash will abandon ship. Now, don’t get me wrong. If you personally are led by the Lord to help a pastor teach and reach and serve others, that is your business. I’m talking about refusing pastors and preachers who are asking, even demanding, that you give – and use words like tithes to get you to do it!

Faith and Financial Dependency

I have no problem when a pastor and church actually rely on the LORD to supply for their material needs and wants – and they look and trust Him to give it. That is what Pastors say and teach you, right? That you should trust in the Lord and He will provide, right? Well, that is what Pastors ought to be doing first, setting the example that they trust the workings of the Living God to provide for them and the needs of the church. And if he doesn’t, then He is sending a message that is loud and clear. Change – change something about what you think, do, or believe.

I know how frightening it is to not know how you are gonna pay your bills. But I also know that where God guides, God provides. That where God leads, God exceeds; that when people strive to attain things that they want, they have to strive to constantly maintain things through their flesh.

We need a revolution in the world that moves us away from the material focus on the faith. Deconstruction is the call of this age and one of the ways to get this going is for loving, caring, spirit-led people to hold back on giving to materially based churches and empire – and to let the leaders of those empires turn to God to sustain them. That is walking by faith – which all Christians are called to do.

The Authority of the Pastor

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the ageThe close of the old covenant era, fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not the end of the world..” Amen.