MISS - SOLD OFFERINGS
Abuses and False Practices
Many Ministers have their congregations in a spell when it comes to offerings. There are "churches" that give up to three (occasionally more) opprtunities to give. Rev. David M. Owen recently told me of one Church that took an offering for Tithes, another offering for offerings and a further offering for "seed faith"!!!!!
Whilst it is important to understand that God most certainly demands a tithe to be handed over to the Church as well as obedience when it comes to o0ffering, God also does not resort to gimmics and miss-use of His Word and it is this area that we deal with here.
Before being promoted to glory Kenneth E. Hagin brought Ministers together to hear a Word from the Lord, a warning from a great Prophet who was just about to leave this earth to be with the Lord. This warning in in the book Midas Touch.
Hagin gave warning of gimmicks like the following:
* "Blessed Purse" that causes money to multiply
* Magic Pictures
* Prayer Carpet
* Holy Oil or Holy Water
* Cloths that change colour
* Blessed nails, pictures, sawdust (Angel walked on this!!!!!!!!)
* Barrel of water an angel has troubled
* Bottled demons
It is pointed out that the Reformation began with Luther making a mockery out of this kind of garbage, Hagin then going on to quote Donald Gee who he later describes as “The Apostle of Balance”.
But this revival can be greatly retarded if there is a continual auctioneering for money in the campaigns. There are some who are short-sighted enough to have destroyed their usefulness to the kingdom of God by an offensive handling of finances. Hagin K.E. Midas Touch p. 135
I Cor. 10: 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
The teaching that if a ministry is not blessed financially then it is not of God is exposed by Hagin as akin to the teaching that if a person is not healed then it is because the person lacks faith. I have heard so often the teaching that what God orders he pays for but what I find in the Bible are the called of God battling through situations even to the point of crying to the people to bring their tithes into the storehouse!
Hagin points out that if finance was a sign of God’s blessing, then what about “lucky winners” at Las Vegas and on the Lottery? The doctrine Hagin points out also makes drug dealers spiritual giants! Hagin gives scriptures to correctly prove his point there being a distinction in the blessings of God between material wealth and spiritual blessings.
Proverbs 10: 22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
James 1: 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 2: 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
I Tim. 6: 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. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before ChristJesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord JesusChrist: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Prov. 15: 16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Prov. 16: 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Prov. 28: 6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Another popular teaching of “giving to get” is exposed by Hagin as taking a basic truth and making it extreme. This practice commonly relates to situations where a car is given to get a better one or a suit is given with the same reasoning. Within this context Hagin refers to the offering plate becoming a vending machine with some folk giving away their car for a life of walking! What shall I get this time?????
The game of “Name Your Seed” is featured next, the game that uses the logic that a farmer names his corn to get corn!
Hagin recognises the logic in this but logic does not mean it is scriptural as Hagin seems to have failed to find a scriptural reference to this activity, although he does say that sowing is right;Deut. 28. Hagin described “naming seed” as a gimmick!
In his presentation, however, Hagin is not completely dismissing the practice of sowing. What he is addressing is the extreme and the motives in the extreme laying down the main priorities why a ministry should take an offering:
* To get people born again
* To get people Baptised in the Holy Ghost
* To get people healed
* To establish believers in faith
* To present Ministry for financial support
I have witnessed in my own ministry a lady responding to an offering with a £1000 cheque seemingly for the sole purpose of it being a seed to clear her mortgage off and it is this area Hagin next addresses stating the following as the correct motives for giving:
* Because I love God
* Because I want to obey God
* To support Great Commission & the Church
* See people blessed
* Planting seeds for own needs
Rev. Dave M. Owen continues on this theme with an excellent exposure of ministries abusing people through the practice of paying indulgences, the very practice Luther stood against at the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Available to download:
If a Minister has promised you a financial hundredfold or any other return that has not materialised by giving a Ministry Offering
THEN THIS IS ILLEGAL
A MISS-SALE
* Evidence of Offering (Bank Statement, Receipt, Credit/Debit Card Information)
* Evidence of Promise - Hundredfold, Give to Get etc.
* As much information as you have
