Many in the modern Church are scared of offending those who feed their belly, whether it be their employer, or those who donate money to them, such as in the case of campus ministry workers who rely on donations given by those they minister to. They are also scared of offending those in their respective local churches who have money, those who are able to contribute much money to their church's activities.
The modern Church is full of such people, full of fear of people, not just an ordinary fear, but a controlling fear, fearful of making even an unsaved person think they are unpleasant. The fear people for all kinds of reasons, one of the main reasons being that they cannot offend those who feed their belly. That is exactly what is means to be under the spirit of mammon. Even many pastors, true pastors, who are orthodox, evangelical and conservative are fearful of offending those in their church who contribute much money, for that is how they are paid. They just can't offend those who feed their bellies, don't they, like many of you.
Jesus said:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34).
This literally means to not even think about obtaining such needs, for God will provide. Thinking about such things is itself anxiety. This command from Jesus does not only apply to oneself as an individual in having a peace of mind by trusting in God, and totally shunning all thought of seeking such things. It applies in any context for the true follower of Christ, whether it be for one's needs, for provision of the needs of one's family or for the funding of church activities.
God will provide the true follower of Christ with what he truly needs, and not what he thinks he needs, or what he wants. What you think you need is not necessarily what you truly need. This indeed is a concept many in the modern Church do not understand as they seek to tell God to give them what they want because they need it, when it is actually only a mere want.
The modern Church is full of such people, full of fear of people, not just an ordinary fear, but a controlling fear, fearful of making even an unsaved person think they are unpleasant. The fear people for all kinds of reasons, one of the main reasons being that they cannot offend those who feed their belly. That is exactly what is means to be under the spirit of mammon. Even many pastors, true pastors, who are orthodox, evangelical and conservative are fearful of offending those in their church who contribute much money, for that is how they are paid. They just can't offend those who feed their bellies, don't they, like many of you.
Jesus said:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34).
This literally means to not even think about obtaining such needs, for God will provide. Thinking about such things is itself anxiety. This command from Jesus does not only apply to oneself as an individual in having a peace of mind by trusting in God, and totally shunning all thought of seeking such things. It applies in any context for the true follower of Christ, whether it be for one's needs, for provision of the needs of one's family or for the funding of church activities.
God will provide the true follower of Christ with what he truly needs, and not what he thinks he needs, or what he wants. What you think you need is not necessarily what you truly need. This indeed is a concept many in the modern Church do not understand as they seek to tell God to give them what they want because they need it, when it is actually only a mere want.
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