Should We Mimic Christ?

Theology
1

Can you imagine Jesus getting angry? Or using a whip to drive people away? Scripture does not imply the whip struck flesh but it was used to help cleanse the Temple- cleanse it of merchants and money changers…

I think we can all agree that there are times in Scripture when Christ seemed annoyed… At least by His disciples… But to chase people out of the Temple? One would think this was important to Him.

I believe Christ said, the Temple of the Lord will not be made into a den of thieves. But I could be wrong.

Because of this, should we be more careful with how we tie our Faith to those who are looking to save a buck (slang for dollar)?

Should we have book stores and gift shops in our Mega-mart Churches?

Should we treat the Church like a Business? With a focus on Profit? (Instead of prophets…)

Should we bind our Faith in God, our Identity in Christ to the movements of policy/law makers who focus their time and energy on saving as many wayward Dollars as they can …?

…rather than having a focus on good works such as helping the poor, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, looking after the widow, the orphan, and the eldely, and safe guarding the foreignor in our lands (because we too were once foreignors in this land, as Scripture reasons)?

What is the relationship of god’s church to the Almighty Dollar?

And should we adapt a permissive view of the world?

Such as allowing Cheaters to prosper in Politics…? (Because all that truly matters is Winning, no matter the cost…Right?)

And allowing our Representatives of choice to get away with some incredibly morally bankrupt decisions?

Decisions that will cost the church it’s reputation? Decisions that will destroy lives, literally killing people…

…ALL so that the church can have More Power Over Others… Power over what people can and cannot do?

What is All That Power worth to you, church? How much would you give? How much would you give up? Can you taste it? All that Control? Power is a seductive thing that way, isn’t it?

What is a Dollar worth to the church?
What is a soul worth to the Dollar?

Let us discuss.

2

Tillman

I read, and re-read your recent post, and I am trying to understand, best I can, your intentions. I counted twenty-one question marks, but many of the sentences they are attached to don’t really seem to be questions; I guess some are rhetorical questions. I tried counting my “Yes” responses and my “No” responses until I came to this question: “What is the relationship of god’s church to the Almighty Dollar?” I sense most of your post is actually centered around your personal point of view about how various assemblies view and use money. I suspect your personal point of view about this subject comes from some experience; maybe you have suffered some damage, or been wronged, or you have witnessed first-hand some financial maleficence by some Christian organizations. Maybe you just think some Christian organizations manage their money poorly. Only you know.

If I step back, and view your post from 20,000 feet, most of what you say about Christian money mismanagement is, of course, not difficult to observe in our culture. In fact, I would agree with you that it is notably epidemic. The subject is difficult to address comprehensively because it is impossible for us to tell who are true disciples of Jesus and who are hypocrites (Jesus’s words, not mine):
“Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ " (Matthew 15:7-9)
Jesus also told us that there would be “many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”. (Matthew 24:11-12)
Likewise, the apostle John warns us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1).
Likewise, the apostle Peter warns us: “… there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Peter 2:1-2 )

I doubt there is any subject in the New Testament that has more ink devoted to it than the subject of money; there is much admonition about its proper use and much warning abut its destructive tendencies. So, I suppose we can accept that there are many false leaders (and organizations), who call themselves followers of Jesus, but don’t actually follow in any way. There are also many who call themselves followers of Jesus, but even though they struggle against the deceptive philosophies of the world, they are actually growing in their devotion and severance of the “old Man”. And there are followers of Jesus who yield themselves in everyway possible to the leading and teaching of The Holy Spirit. Although we have not been given the responsibility to sort these three groups out (because we are incapable of seeing men’s hearts) we HAVE been given the responsibility to live testimonial lives; lives that demonstrate by thought, word, and deed the principles and doctrines of Heaven. As far as I can see, you are calling out a pervasive injustice, in your own way, and for that, I commend you.

What is a Dollar worth to the church? If by “Church” you mean the true followers of Jesus, disciples who feel the same way about money that Jesus does, I’d have to say, not much.

What is a soul worth to the Dollar?. If you mean can a soul of a man be measured in dollars, of course it cannot.

“For what profit is it to a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 )

3

Umm… I have to be misreading this…

It reminds me of that story about the little boy in Sunday school:

*A pastor was giving the children’s message during church. For this part of the service, he would gather all the children around him and give a brief lesson before dismissing them for children’s church.

On this particular Sunday, he started out by saying, “I’m going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is.” The children nodded eagerly.

“This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)…” No hands went up. “And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)…” The children were looking at each other, but still no hands raised. “And it jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it’s excited (pause)…”

Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand. The pastor breathed a sigh of relief and called on him. “Well…,” said the boy, “I know the answer must be Jesus…but it sure sounds like a squirrel!”

My point is,

I do actually think the New Teastament uses more ink on a subject other than money.

Unless, of course, the Bible is talking about Money every time it talks about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Salvation, Repentance, Forgiveness, Right Behavior, or the Kingdom of Heaven.

But then again, could be a Squirrel!

Interesting interpretations.

Anyone else?

BTW…I did a google search on this… Apparently the phrase or idea that appears potentially most often throughout the whole Bible is, “Do not be afraid (for God is with us.)” Food for thought.

4

Tillman
OK. Understood. I stand corrected. I guess I was saying money is a common subject. I appreciate you calling me out on that hyperbole.
KP

5

Of course.
You are welcome
Just trying to help.
Pay it forward.

Anyone else?.