Sunday, October 12, 2014....Topic One: The Charismatic Falsehood
Message 4: EXTORTION IN GOD'S HOUSE (''MEN OF GOD'' MAKING THEMSELVES RICH IN THE NAME OF RELIGION THROUGH SALES OF ANOINTING OIL, HANDKERCHIEFS, WATER FROM ISRAEL OR BORE-HOLES, STICKERS, ETC)
By: Brother Samuel Kwasi Forkuo
''And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.'' (Matthew 21:12-13)
One of the most wide-spread charismatic falsehood in our generation is ''Making Money in the name of Religion,'' which I often refer to as ''Extortion.'' More often than not, you see or hear preachers lambaste Policemen for extorting money from drivers on our highways. Meanwhile, these preachers are doing same (if not worse) thing in the house of God.
In fact, many Churches, temples and prayer camps have been turned into Wall Streets, World Trade Centres and in fact Markets. Clearly, from the afore-referred Text (Matthew 21), this phenomenon didn't start with our generation, at least it dated back to our Lord Jesus' time. When He saw religious leaders making money in the name of religion in the House of God in Jerusalem, He was furious, drove them away and referred to what God had already prophesied through Isaiah in Chapter 56:7.
In our days, the number is astronomical; so many so-called prophets have resorted to selling to the Congregants/Church Members things such as ANOINTING OIL, WATERS FROM THEIR BORE-HOLES OR FROM ISRAEL, HANDKERCHIEFS & STICKERS WHICH HAVE PICTURES OF THESE PROPHETS.
When questioned about the Biblical background to their selling of these items, these so-called prophets would often misquote to you Acts 19:12 (When Paul's handkerchief/Apron was laid on the sick to get healed), James 5:14 (Where Church Leaders are to anoint and pray for a sick brother). They Misquote these scriptures because, although God can heal through anointing oil, handkerchief or any other medium, NOWHERE (AND WATCH IT, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE) ARE WE TOLD TO SELL these things to people. Nowhere did Paul Sell Handkerchiefs to anybody. Brother James also DID NOT tell the Church Leaders to Sell the anointing Oil to the sick. YET SO MANY FALSE PROPHETS IN OUR DAYS ARE SELLING TO THE CHURCH MEMBERS HANDKERCHIEFS, ANOINTING OILS, WATERS FROM ISRAEL OR FROM THEIR PERSONAL BORE-HOLES IN THEIR HOUSES AND EVEN STICKERS WHICH BEAR THEIR IMAGES/PHOTOS.
If a Pastor, Prophet or Church Leader makes money genuinely, there is nothing wrong. But for them to make themselves rich through the sales of these paraphernalia (oil, handkerchief, stickers, Water from bole-holes or from Israel, etc) is equivalent to a police man collecting bribe from drivers on the Highway. Both cases are EXTORTIONS and the one done by ''Men of God'' in the ''House of God'' is WORSE THAN the one done by Policemen on our Highways.
A pastor/prophet will buy anointing which cost, say GHC5 (US$1.56) or GHC10 (US$3.12), but sell it to the Congregants at GHC200 (US$62.50) or GHC400 (US$125) just because the pastor/prophet has ''BLESSED'' or ''PRAYED OVER'' it. Thus, the anointing oil or water now costs more because of the special blessing the pastor/prophet has imparted on it. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SCAM. Yet you see so many naive believers chase these items.
Note well: God's gift should never be sold. If you can heal or prophesy, know that it is GOD who is working through you. It is not by your power; it is a gift from God. He can take it back. DO NOT CHARGE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. DO NOT CHARGE WHEN PEOPLE COME TO YOU FOR COUNSELLING OR ADVISE. DO NOT ASK FOR ''CONSULTATION'' FEE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. DO NOT TURN THE HOUSE OF GOD INTO A DEN OF ROBBERS/THIEVES. HOW MANY PASTORS/PREACHERS/PROPHETS ARE RICH BY GENUINE MEANS/ HOW MANY OF THEM ARE RICH WITHOUT EXPLOITING THE POOR CONGREGANTS? HOW MANY OF THEM EXERCISE THE GIFT(S) OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHOUT CHARGING OR ASKING FOR MONETARY RETURNS? THE ANSWER IS ONLY FEW.
One thing I have seen is that, if you do the work of God genuinely, God will lead genuine people to give to you (your needs, not your wants) without you demanding from them. The little that God has blessed you with, is greater than the plenty that you have acquired through fraudulent means. If any of is a victim of ''Making Money in the name of RELIGION,'' let's bow down our heads in shame, confess, repent and return to God. He is ready to receive us.
May God grant us grace to remain faithful to Him, not moved by love for money. ''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.'' (1 Timothy 6:10)...IN JESUS' NAME HAVE WE PRAYED, AMEN!
