Why Love Offerings Irritate Me

I can’t stand the term ‘love offering’. Let me be clear. I don’t mind giving money and supporting ministries or appeals that seem to me to be worthy of support. But the term ‘love offering’, apart from seeming twee, seems to obligate people to give. The term ‘love offering’ is emotive, and conveys an expectation that everyone will give since we are all to love one another. It can be a manipulative name for an offering. How can one say no to the ‘love’ offering? Perhaps the love offering becomes for some a ‘guilt’ offering. What does it imply if we do not give?

Why not just call it a free will offering? After all, that is how we are supposed to give – freely. There is no guilt attached if we think the teaching is off and can’t bring ourselves to support it financially. There is less implied expectation of people – they can give as they are able, or not at all. People won’t feel guilty of ‘loving’ any less by not giving.

Assuming that an offering is taken, if a less emotive term were used, visiting preachers may find they need to preach freely too, with the possibility of reward, but not the same expectation of it. Preaching may then become an expression of their love – freely given, regardless of reaction. The potential appearance of peddling the gospel is reduced.

Sometimes it is more loving not to give – not to support harmful teaching. How can it be loving to support the propogation of things which hurt people?

A free will offering won’t prevent people giving when they do desire from their heart to support a ministry or when they do want to express love to someone by donating money. For example, a member of the congregation being sent out may in fact be the recipient of money as a genuine token of affection and support from their brethren, or it may be a genuine token of compassion and support for another church experiencing hard times.

The term ‘love offering’ equates the giving of money with the giving of love. It may also equate the measurement of affection with the amount of money. The more money you give, the more you love. They may sometimes correlate, but there are many other ways of showing love that do not have to do with money at all.

Is it just me that finds the term ‘love offering’ a source of irritation?

The Line in the Sand

As the teachers of the Law threw the woman before Jesus’ feet to see what He’d do, I always imagined Jesus going back to the ground and drawing a line in front of himself, separating the pharisees from himself and the woman. Then I’d picture Him saying the classic one liner: “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

Essentially we were called to judge her actions.

Well. (Being creative), that fine line is still drawn today. When does the bride become the harlot? More importantly, how do we know when a church becomes the harlot through their continual error or sin? The recent events of the Brisbane Christian Fellowship raises concern for all of us in the body of Christ. Whether we like it or not, the article on Four Corners last night would have indeed tarnished peoples views that the church is all about power and corruption (I’m stereotyping I know!).
I would like to think that the church has an ear for those individuals who have been abused , but this is too often not the case anymore. It seems like individuals don’t have power to be heard by powers that abuse.

Is there something, we, as believers can accomplish what definitely defines a harlot church and what defines the bride church?

A few articles ago, we discovered that no one agreed that the covering doctrine was biblical. Is this a safe way to determine a church is harlot or bride through ONE doctrinal issue or error? I’m not sure. But one would then have to ask how many false doctrines must need be preached before a specific church switches from it’s bride status to harlot status. Some controversial doctrines include the word/faith doctrine, prosperity doctrine, ‘ye are gods’ doctrine, covering doctrine, anointing doctrine, oneness doctrine, baptismal doctrine, tithing doctrine, etc.

Thinking bigger than life, should the universal church call together a global or online church meeting to judge what makes a ‘church ministry’ harlot or bride?

What would you call the limit in labeling a ministry a harlot ministry? How many false doctrines does it take to label and separate a harlot church from the true church. And which minor false doctrines should be ignored, (if any)… And what bold ministry is brave enough to throw the first stone at another man’s ministry?

Consider the speck. Consider the plank.

S&P

The Pastor as Surrogate Conscience

Some ex-Brisbane Christian Fellowship members have put up their own blog to assist others in the cult experiencing or recovering from spiritual abuse. The following is an extract from a very clear post on their blog which captures one of the factors leading to spiritual abuse:

The premise of absolute submission is predicated on the hypothesis that the spiritual leaders are in effect (though most Discipleship teaching adherents would emphatically deny the attribution) “spiritual mediators” between God and their followers, who assume the role of hearing from God on the behalf of their followers. According to the premise, the followers are spiritually deficient and inferior to the leaders, and thus basically incapable of seeking and hearing from God for themselves and cultivating on-going communion and fellowship with God, so they need a “mediator,” someone who supposedly has a more elite status with God, to be a priestly “go-between” between them and God. The hypothesis is that the leaders are much more spiritual than the people, and therefore more capable of receiving from God what is best for their followers

[...]

…every knowledgeable believer should be thoroughly disgusted and totally outraged at such an idiotic, outlandish, and even blasphemous notion. The Bible explicitly says: “There is one God, and ONE mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all….” (1 Tim. 2:5). There is never, ever to be any “spiritual mediators” between God and men, except the Christ — Jesus Himself.

Read rest of article here.

When we are taught in our churches that we should ‘do what the pastor tells you even if you think it is wrong’ – and I have heard those words preached myself – warning bells should ring. Ultimately this instruction reflects the view of the pastor as mediator between you and God, even in matters of conscience. In this way, the pastor can even become a surrogate conscience.

In matters of church administration its probably not an issue – unless obeying would mean participating in mistreatment of another brother or sister in the congregation. In any other matter, they are stepping beyond the bounds of their authority if they demand such a thing. John Bevere’s popular teaching on submission would seem to fall in this category, as it encourages this sort of obedience.

Besides, if people constantly rely on leaders as their spiritual guides and surrogate consciences without any question, how will they ever mature in their personal relationship with God?

Another Abusive Cult Exposed

Since we’ve just been discussing ‘covering’ and related authority, I thought it was relevant to point out this article in the Brisbane Times regarding the Brisbane Christian Fellowship:

Ex Cult Members Speak Out

In this church, apparently elders made all the decisions right down to personal decisions affecting families. Husbands ruled their wives and children, and members were ex-communicated if they didn’t obey.

Horrible as it is, it is worth trying to understand the false teaching that leads to these things, so it can be recognised well before things go to that extreme. It sounded to me as though some of the teachings in the course wazza referred to could lead to elements of this type of situation.

I believe the bible teaches that Jesus gave us freedom, and submission is always willing, where a leader or elder shows a true maturity in Christ. It also goes both ways. After all, Jesus washed the disciples feet, and died for us – he rejected the kind of power that satan tempted Him with. So should we. Leadership does not require domination. We should not give up the freedom that Jesus died to give us to follow these kind of awful abusive men.

Being Supernatural Naturally

I suppose I’m writing this quick article in a bit of a dreary state. I’m writing this because I’ve been experiencing really weird inward movements in me. The supernatural is being stirred up in my life and I’ve witnessed some petty intense and amazing things this year. I feel priveleged and honoured, yet terrified with where God wants me to go with my life with Him. Yet the entire time I feel I’m progressing, the more obvious I see the dead works of men and women in the church combined with toxic heresies. There is a rage within me that mourns. I feel defeated that man is purposely squashing men and women who are on fire for God and I can’t do anything about it. It feels like I can no longer hide it, and it doesn’t feel like emotion. God wants me to be more active in my walk with Him.

Believe it or not, I think with my head. *gasps* And I live by the quote “Let passion drive you but let reason hold the reigns”. But I am not identifying these feelings being tied to emotion. Nor do I find it is my head getting in the way (I thought it was the latter). It is something much deeper within me. It is something that is indeed spiritual within me. God is indeed speaking to me.

I hate the very evil that Solomon sees and talks about in his own time in Ecclesiastes:

Ecc 10:5-7 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

If someone can prove me wrong in my accusations that I have against people who I perceive as false brethren, then I’d be more happy and be more then willing to repent of my actions. But only if proven wrong and have my mis-understanding corrected. But now that I’m kinda facilitating Signposts, I don’t feel afraid anymore to be more open in general to others. Let me shout it out:

BEING WRONG IS OK!!! It’s not an unforgivable sin. Dust yourself off, apologise and walk with greater understanding in your spirit. This is a church condition I am being healed from! And finally, it’s losing it’s grip on me. Am I now weak and considered useless because I am willing to learn that I can be wrong?

But it’s this ‘natural’ feeling that is much deeper then my emotion that I want to talk about. I’ve noticed that it has carved my character and is literally turning me into a work of fiction (for the good). I’m feeling completely natural but living some how supernaturally. When some Christians live a few days ‘in the spirit’, I’ve heard some circles call the circumstance ’spirit-high’. This is what I’m feeling. And the other weekend I was waiting to come down again like previous times.

Then one day someone told me ‘Why do you expect that you’re going to come down?’. So I haven’t come down since. I’m delving into understanding the basics of the supernatural and am starting to see some things that now I refuse to try and figure out. They’re too bizarre. Odd salvations, healings, curses, spiritual rubbish and filth. Maybe God can teach me the significance of some of those things as I plod along.

However, the more outdoors and more involved with the community I am, the more my senses become alive in an odd way. Spiritually, I guess. Last night, I remember asking God completely where He was. I couldn’t see him in the park but I could definitely feel him. Next thing I know, bright silver wings burst out from behind a homeless man’s back. The wings lowered and embraced the homeless man completely. I smiled and hung out with the man for a few hours. Allot happened. God’s manifestation made my night.

So I’m finding I’m turning into someone I want to be but not, all at the same time. It’s like a Holy Spirit rollercoaster ride:

I’m dreading the climb and anticipation of the fall, but the same time excited by the adventure of it all.

I’ve known my rights as a Christian for a long time (you are a: son, righteous, holy, forgiven, etc), but it’s not that. It feels like I am now being aware of my natural being in Christ. The healings that God has used me for came from a place within me that seemed to say ‘that shoud not be’. It was a quickening. An impulse. An urgency or compassion. It was a natural response to something that was unnatural on my God-like brother. It’s from this natural place from within me, which would have to be the Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit, that makes me just act on impulse when God wants to heal. The point of all this topic is to reflect on Christianity as a whole. Do you naturally feel born again? When you do sin, do you hate the sin committed? Is the hatred of sin and sickness to you a natural response? Have you ever acted on your new spiritual instincts?

One thing that has really made me aware of my new nature in Christ has been in conversations I’ve had with Him. When you let it all out, whether it be tears, frustration, anger, paranoia, stress or boredom, he will speak. The more time you spend being real before your creator, the more evidently real He will be in your life. When you are being real before Him, you are behaving naturally like the human being he created you to be, dependent on Him. Jesus was dependent on His Father the same way we’re meant to be. He will affirm who He has made you and where He wants you to go.

When God does re-affirm your calling it is an incredible sacred feeling. It’s a place where only you can go with Him where no angel or other person will ever go. It’s a privilege that becomes alive; a blessed burden that will make people know that God is with us. And to ourselves, it will become a strong and sacred memory that will be a living testimony that will empower the generations after us. A memory that makes us thank God for being their every step of the way.

We all sense a call to do great things and we’re all afraid to act on it. Don’t be afraid to be wrong. Signposts has great things about it and some bad things about it. One of the bad things about it (which I noticed I have applied to my Christian walk by accident), is a fearful mentality of doing something wrong. I have been so critical of leadership that I think it’s not healthy for me to lead. This is because my views on what a leader HAS TO BE is unrealistic. Don’t forget that each and every one of us can be lead by the Spirit. Any day of the week, He can call you to look after the poor, heal the sick or teach to the lost Christian simpleton. You never know when he wants you to lead or bring together a team of Christians to do the work he has called you for. Be ready!

So the more I look at where SignPosts can go, the more excited I’m getting. I love peoples opinions. I love seeing how peoples character’s are continually formed through post after post. It’s a real privelege to share my heart and thoughts with your hearts and thoughts. I guarantee we will all come across touchy articles and biff with various views and doctrines. I suppose RavingPente left a mark on me.

This is what I believe the ‘natural’ church is to be:

Embracers of the new dawn of each day. Nomad’s that stir from deep, well-earned slumber. Traveling the lands, bumping into various tribes and peoples, exploring new smells, traditions, experiences- both good and bad. Yet always knowing that all these things were foreshadowing something greater when their time was up. Being free-agents all over the earth, they are the pagans that are now spiritually reborn as pure beings that have the authority to expel wickedness from lands, deliver the possessed, heal ancient rivers, restore sick wells, provide food for the starving, restore natural order, protect the land and move in the power of reconciliation and conservation. The roamers carry in their eyes the wisdom of their forefathers and the Father of their forefathers Spirit, their great Ancestor. They are at peace in their spirit and know when to be responsible and accountable and when to be free and joyful. Each individual nomad change like the wind to fit in with the landscape and cultural landscape to make others aware of the Great Ancestor who created them and all living things. Each nomad will bump into other nomads along the way temporarily sharing each others burdens, pains, confessions, tears and emotions. But essentially every wanderer will walk with all men and point and guide others to follow their Ancestor and their Ancestor alone.

God bless. Don’t know why I felt like writing this. If anything interesting has popped up out of anything I said, feel free to add or share some thing to confirm or to bless others with. I hope everyone on Signposts not only continues to exercise discernment and grow in the doctrines of God, but also grow naturally in their spiritual walk with God.

Before I go, I want to share this scripture I found by accident. I think it may have been God given as it was just above the above verse:

Ecc 10:4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.

That’s why we have SignPosts! Be on your guard. Guard your heart above all things!

Consider the speck. Consider the plank.

S&P

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Now this is a scam of such obvious greed and deception that not even FaceLift would attempt to defend it.  In fact this is a scam of the type that A Current Affair would be interested in exposing.   If they chose to do so, they would have plenty of evidence because this video is screening on Channel 9 at 4am each morning.

What is the difference between this presentation and other health and wealth preachers.  Is the difference one of kind or only one of degree?

Life in the Institution

Eugene Peterson’s ‘The Message’ Bible is a favourite translation of many people I know in Pentecostal and other churches. Its accessible text is great for seeker sensitive services, and it is a popular devotional translation. Many of the megachurches seem to regard most denominational churches as ‘dead’, or at least look down on them for their small numbers and lack of apparent ‘life’. Here is what Eugene Peterson says about ‘institutional’ churches. In this context, he has been describing traditional local churches, not megachurches, and the preceding example was a Norwegian Lutheran congregation.

What other church is there besides institutional? There’s nobody who doesn’t have problems with the church, because there’s sin in the church. But there’s no other place to be a Christian except the church. There’s sin in the local bank. There’s sin in the grocery stores. I really don’t understand this naïve criticism of the institution. I really don’t get it.

Frederick von Hugel said the institution of the church is like the bark on the tree. There’s no life in the bark. It’s dead wood. But it protects the life of the tree within. And the tree grows and grows and grows and grows. If you take the bark off, it’s prone to disease, dehydration, death.

So, yes, the church is dead but it protects something alive. And when you try to have a church without bark, it doesn’t last long. It disappears, gets sick, and it’s prone to all kinds of disease, heresy, and narcissism.

From Christianity Today, March 2005, in an article by Mark Galli.

So – is there life in the local, small church so frequently accused of being ‘dead’ by its bigger cousins?

Is there life in the bigger ‘institutional’ church (such as a mega church) – or is it an unscriptural ‘dead’ form itself?

Is Peterson right to suggest there is no church if not institutional, and that the institution is the ‘bark’ protecting the life within?

Footnote: Peterson’s opinion on the idea of relevance (from the same article):

I think relevance is a crock. I don’t think people care a whole lot about what kind of music you have or how you shape the service. They want a place where God is taken seriously, where they’re taken seriously, where there is no manipulation of their emotions or their consumer needs.

BUSY! I’m so busy my head is spinning… Like a whirlpool it never ends…

While I don’t agree with all the things said in this youtube video, it’s underlying message is very important. I think my major addiction in being distracted in Christendom is my thirst for doctrinal knowledge. This is reading blogs, forums, threads, articles, etc, online and getting caught up with all my reading materal next to my bed. I might call a week fast from the computer side of it all.

I encourage you to find what is the greatest distraction you accidentally get caught up in Christendom and suggest fasting from it. Last night I decided to take the dog for a walk and I talked with God about guarding my heart. He gave me a vision of what my heart was already and that my heart is ready to endure things to come. It’s amazing when you choose to be bored and make space to have nothing distract you how God chooses to spend time with you. Your weeks do become supernatural in a more natural way that you never think is possible.

After this month, I may pass my church position for a few weeks and enjoy fellowshiping on Sunday mornings at a local cafe. I might even decide to mingle at a pub on a Sunday night with some mates to know more locals. I’m always questioning if I play ‘Keeping Up Appearance’ games.

So what’s God telling you to do right now so you may not get caught up with Christian distractions?

When will you have a peacful, clear fellowship time with God where you will find little distraction?

BTW. In this youtube video, I also don’t agree with worship being a distraction. It can be to some because some Christians worship the art form. Others may glorify themselves through it rather then seeing it as a tool to meet God personally (me, me, me, I, I, I…). As I always say (and I’m proud to say I came up with this- or maybe God did *grumbles*): Worship is prayer in melody.

I pray this blesses you and furthers your personal relationships with God.

Consider the speck. Consider the plank.

S&P

Does ‘Covering’ Matter?

Many Pentecostal and charismatic churches today promote the need for ‘Apostolic Covering’, as part of the restoration of the “five-fold ministry”. If you do not attend a church with recognised apostolic covering, you are not ‘covered’, and therefore considered to lack credibility and be out of God’s will for our lives. If you left a church and did not find another with ‘covering’, you are rebellious. The teaching includes that everyone must be ‘covered’ and be able to trace that covering back to an apostle.

The teaching of ‘covering’ is not equivalent to being in relationship with a group of fellow believers, or even to being ‘accountable’ to an agreed group of believers.

John Bevere has released a book called, ‘Under Cover’, stressing the importance of covering in the life of an individual believer. From the back cover:

There is a secret place under the shadow of the Almighty, where there is liberty, provision, and protection. Yet, too many believers do not enjoy this hidden place. Instead, they seek freedom and security outside of it in a realm where the very opposite exists. They are tricked into believing true and lasting freedom can be found away from Divine authority.

Under Cover exposes the subtle yet rampant tactics the enemy uses against believers–the failure to recognize and properly relate to Divine authority. With practical, personal examples and strong, biblical foundation, this book reminds us the kingdom of God is just that–a kingdom, ruled by a King, where there is order and authority.

You may wonder about harsh or corrupt leaders. How could protection possibly be found under them? Learn to by-pass the immediate authority you see and tap into God’s. His promises supersede the laws of men, and in Him we can trust.

(It looks like there may be more to worry about in the ’subtle yet rampant tactics’ of the enemy for those who don’t have covering than in the subtle yet rampant tactics of a corrupt apostle or authority within the church. Does God help people affected by the latter, but not the former?)

Covering typically seems to come back to a recognised apostle ministry. For example, Phil Pringle is the recognised apostle for the CCC movement. I’m not sure who/what fills this role in the Hillsong movement. Ps Pringle is just a convenient local example.

If we are all theoretically supposed to be part of a church that has apostolic covering, what then is an apostle? There are so many definitions! No one ever seems to be able to totally agree.

Strong’s simply translates the word for apostle as ’sent one’.

Here is Frank Viola’s (a supporter of the organic house church movement) definition of Apostle:

Apostles. Apostles were extra-local, traveling, itinerant church planters. They were highly gifted individuals who were sent by the Lord and by a particular church to plant and equip new churches. Apostles enabled the church by giving it birth, raising it from the ground up. They also helped it walk on its own two feet. Apostles grew up in an organic expression of church life as nonleaders before they were sent out to plant churches of the same kind. And they always left the churches they planted on their own without administration or ritual.

Read entire article here

This would seem to work well in the house church movement, yet typically the house church movement is looked down upon or not recognised by many of the megachurches as valid. Despite the assistance of ‘apostles’.

There are many organisations available for apostolic covering if a church fears it lacks such. Typically, there seems to be an agreed code of conduct, and naturally, financial support to the apostolic covering ministry.

So how important is it to be under ‘apostolic covering’? Is the house church form the same as that recognised in megachurches (probably not)? Though it may be helpful, is apostolic covering even necessary – after all the term is fairly modern, and not specifically described in scripture.

If it is important, then how do we recognise false apostles? For of all doctrines this one is potentially open to extreme abuse, given the overarching authority given to the designated apostle. If we recognise one ‘over’ our church as false, do we just pray about it and submit to their ultimate authority anyway – expecting that God will look after us?

Are those gathering outside recognised apostolic covering lacking in all credibility?

What do you do if your town has no apostle covered gathering?

Or could it be that we need no man’s authority between us and God – although much counsel can be very helpful?

How can we earn what we already have?

This is the second half of the parable of the prodigal son. I believe it illustrates one of the ways prosperity doctrine misleads people.

Luke 15:25-31
25″Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

26″And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

27″And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

28″But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

29″But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your (K)wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

31″And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

(NASB)

Most evangelical and Pentecostal churches are agreed on the doctrine of salvation through Jesus by faith alone. They both typically preach that salvation is by faith in Jesus, and is unmeritted, coming to us as a result of God’s grace. Not at all by any works we might do.

In the area of earthly rewards after salvation, though, prosperity doctrine teachers seem to tell us that we are rewarded now by God according to our works here and now – give now, and you will receive back materially 10 or 100-fold (eventually); or behave this way, and the heavens will be open to you. Even faith becomes a work – if you don’t have enough you don’t receive, so its somehow your fault you don’t have whatever it is you are praying for yet. People may even have trouble loving a God who they are taught makes it challenging to earn his blessing, or who takes 25 years to hear them, despite their giving so much.

Fortunately many individuals seem to filter out some of the extremes of this teaching, but nonetheless it is strongly promoted, particularly in the area of financial blessing.

It seems to me that the Bible teaches that God will look after us and we don’t have to ‘earn’ His favour or blessing – look at the parable of the prodigal son for example. The father loved his wayward son enough to accept him back after he’d squandered and wasted his inheritance, but the other son had not realised that he also had an inheritance. The second son, who stayed home, had thought he had to work to deserve his inheritance. But it was his already – he just had not realised it, or the extent of His father’s love for Him. He could have had that young goat if he’d wanted it – it was already his – but he’d mistakenly thought he needed to earn it from his father. Likewise we don’t need to try to earn what we cannot possibly earn and which we already have – through Christ alone.

If a works mentality is taught towards earning God’s blessing, there is also a risk for creating a climate for resentment like that of the older son, when someone who has done a lot less to ‘earn’ favour seems to be blessed beyond those who have spent years doing all the right things.

So to me, apart from taking advantage of the vulnerable by teaching that the key to solving their financial problems is to give their money to the church, prosperity doctrine teaches a works mentality not required of us. It can blind people to the realisation that God already loves them enough to bless them and look after them – they do not have to give money or vast amounts of time to ’sacred’ activities in order earn anything. They will do these things anyway if in their relationship with God, they feel they are called to do so or want to. Giving whatever it is then springs from their heart, as they already know God loves them and cares for them, and out of that they care for others too.