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Storehouse or Crackhouse
It is offering time and the minister begins to quote the familiar
scripture Malachi 3:7-8. The congregation feels pressed to give.
They watch as the buckets are passed from row to row. Today the
buckets are collecting for offerings, tithes, building fund, first
fruit, pledges, overseas missionaries, pastor appreciation, and
other special request. The members struggle to contribute each time
the buckets come their way. Is this how God set up the early church?
Did He have to devise schemes to squeeze the precious resources
from the saints?
The Old Testament records that Jews were instructed to bring their
livestock and grain to the storehouse. They gave their “offerings”
to the Levite priest. This practice does not apply to our New Covenant.
Storehouse was an Old Testament practice that ceased after the sacrifice
of Jesus. Today Christians are encouraged to live under the New
Covenant of God, but in bondage to the Old Testament practices of
giving.
Preachers teach that the church is the storehouse, but it seems
more like the neighborhood crack house. Every Sunday weak members
return to church with a pure heart and their hard earned money.
They watch as the church institution squanders money away on meaningless
programs. The leaders claim it is for the furtherance of the Gospel,
however, members only see the church building and the pastors being
exalted.
When people are hooked on drugs they continually go back to their
supplier. The junkie returns to the crack house to get another fix
to hold them over until the next time. They become faithful to their
dealer to get what they need. They leave with a euphoric feeling
that last for a little while.
Likewise, members of a church keep on coming back to get their “fix”
from their church. Too many pastors are acting like the neighborhood
drug dealer. Members leave the church service with their spirits
half-full and their wallets empty. Pastors give their flock just
enough truth to have them come back next week for another “SPIRITUAL
HIT”. Members are trained to depend on the pastor to get a
word from God. Most Christians are never taught how to seek God
on their own and receive the answers they need. Members must learn
to go to God for themselves and eliminate the middle man or pastor.
Pastors are to point members to Christ, and not to them. Moses got
into trouble with God for taking some of His glory and operating
the wrong way in the duties of his office. Too many pastors are
guilty of the same thing. (Numbers 20:7-12) They have a role to
play in the development of God’s sheep. Their responsibility
is to teach God’s children to be used by Him anyway God desires.
Remember all we do is for the glory of God. We are His servants.
Pastors should simply do their job.
My brother or sister, do you feel like your innocence is being taken
advantage of in the Kingdom of God? Does it seem like pastor name
recognition and church building beautification are more important
than the members’ personal growth in Jesus? If you have become
a “Church Junkie” then you need to go through “Spiritual
Rehab”. This drug called “The Church” has held many
believers from being anointed movers and shakers in the Kingdom
of God. Most are turning into feeble-minded weak Christian that
are tired and broken down from serving their church with its pristine
building expansions and bogus visions.
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