It Isn't Right

Image by jbcurio via Flickr

And Jesus went into the Temple and sent out all who were trading there, overturning the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those trading in doves.
(Mat 21:12)

Recently I have read of many of the excesses; in the Charasmatic vein of Christianity in particular.  As a Spirit-filled Christian I am very disappointed in how some of these ministries seem to be chasing money more than they are chasing God.  Either that or they have a major failure of a sexual or relational matter.

I see the Charasmatic movement as uncovering a portion of Christianity that had been covered up and ignored for years.  From the raw faith of those that walked with Jesus to the early 19th century saw very little faith in most places and in most people.  There had been those that were absolutely corrupt to those that didn’t believe the Bible meant what it said. Here was a refreshing raw belief – that God meant what He said – that the Holy Spirit was still in operation today – healing, prophecy…..all the gifts of the Spirit were still in operation.

But there have been failings….

….and rather than try to explain them away we need be honest and truthful about what is happening.  If there is error it needs to be corrected, and we need to let the world know that what these people are doing is not what we believe, that what they are doing is not Christianity.

It isn’t right ….

….to spend an inordinate amount of time begging for money.  Maybe if you really minister, God will honor what you are doing and finance your ministry.

….to live like the CEO of a Fortune 500 company while taking the last dime from senior citizens.

….to claim that people buying your latest book, CD, video, DVD, song …that God will really bless that person because they bought your stuff.  As an author I hope that my book may be a blessing, but because of the content – not because they gave me some money.

….$50 and $100 prayer lines.  The blessings of God are not for sale.

…both of you getting divorced and going on in ministry like nothing has changed. It is either both or one of your fault and why I don’t believe you should be out of ministry forever – you should be out long enough to be restored.

If leaders in the movement will not act right then we need to confront them and “overturn their tables”.