Many false preachers of “Christianity” teach their followers that it is the will of God that they should prosper financially, and in order to harness this benefit, they are required to first sow “seeds” of faith by giving to the “Church”. Toward this end, many have parted with significant sums under the guise of “advancing the work of God”, “sowing seeds”, or “bringing tithes into the Lord’s store house” with the hope and false promise of reaping a significant future financial benefit or blessing from God for their fealty.
Additionally, these charlatans line their coffers with an inordinate amount of “collections” and “offerings” with the stated aim of carrying out a litany of “Church” projects sanctioned by God. Along with these already burdensome financial requirements are an ever burgeoning list of “guest speakers” who make the circuit among their “sister” congregations in order to collect, in many instances, the very generous parting gifts referred to by some as “love offerings”.
Today’s “Christianity” exists in a parallel dimension with that of the secular world. The “modern Christian” disciple is encouraged to buy products that are sanctioned by the “Church” and which supports “Christian” enterprises and businesses. There are countless “Christian” books and study aides, and they all espouse the stated purpose of providing either keys or steps to assist the believer with achieving success by advancing upward and into higher levels of an almost video-game-like spiritual ethos. “Christian” branding segregates the “heavenly” and “holy” from the terrestrial in education, entertainment, healthcare products, vacations, etc.
Consequently, these men and women reap bountiful fiscal rewards from their chicanery, and they unashamedly gorge themselves with all the gains of their deceit while making copious displays of the spoils acquired from their deceived and hapless flock. However, so blinded are their followers by their own desire for earthly riches, they dismiss the admonition of the scriptures which warn of such individuals and their erroneous teachings.
Labour not to be rich… (Proverbs 23:4)
1 Timothy 6:3-10
(3) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
(4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
(5) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
(6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.
(7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
(8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
(9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
(10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre (gain/money), but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2)
[The mouths of these false teachers] must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. (Titus 1:11)
Yet, despite all the above scriptures, and many more, which teach the opposite of this accepted doctrine of “Promised Prosperity to the Christian”, it is still taught by countless preachers and teachers who claim to be declaring God’s word to his flock. Therefore, by rejecting the commandment of God, they fulfil what the Lord said of them:
The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to [fiction]. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)