Why this article?
We respect men and women of God. But we oppose the way in which many (not all) of the popular evangelists (especially through the medium of television) ask for money.

A few things make us worried about this:

One, guilty feelings are created in many Christians because they can’t give the amounts asked for. The Bible says there are people who make others feel guilty with a word–Ref. Isaiah 29:21 NIV.

Second, though some people give money, blessings don’t come as expected or promised by the evangelists. Then they feel depressed. Remember, it is not God who promised these blessings, but these evangelists. Please also remember that God cannot bless you (finance included) if you live in sin and disobedience. These evangelists never ask you to repent of your sins and set your heart right with God. How can God bless a disobedient child? He cannot because He cannot violate the principles of obedience and blessing which He has taught in His Word (the Bible). Think about it. God promises blessings only IF you OBEY His commandments.

Third, there are at least some (not all) Christian organizations who don’t value the sacrificial giving of people. They sometimes don’t acknowledge the contribution given or spend it on some other cause than specified by the donor. We believe that donors have a right to know how their money has been utilized. It would be good if these organizations read what is written: “This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt” [author’s emphasis] (1 Samuel 2:17 NIV).

Fourth, many times instead of a “thank you” note for the contribution, what comes along with the receipt is a cover asking for more: “The leech has two daughters. `Give!’ `Give!’ they cry” (Proverbs 30:15 NIV).

Fifth, dear Christian readers, please know that money and wealth are not standards by which you can judge blessings in the life of a believer.

Think about Jesus and Paul: Going by the definition of these super-apostles on blessing and success, Jesus’ life was not blessed because he did not have a place to lay his head. And Jesus’ life was a miserable failure because he suffered and was crucified and therefore cannot be counted blessed. Again, by their definition of blessing and success, Paul, from whose writings they quote, was a miserable failure because he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, persecuted, felt the sentence of death within himself, had fears, in danger from many, gone without sleep often, had known hunger and thirst, was left cold and naked at times and put in prison for preaching the gospel! He also worked for a living and did not utilize the privilege of a servant of God to live out of the gospel! He also had a “thorn in the flesh” which God did not remove even after he prayed thrice.

Dear Readers, think about Jesus and Paul. How did they live? Just compare the lifestyles of today’s popular evangelists with them. Then you will come to some startling conclusions!

When someday all of us will stand before Christ, these “super-apostles” will have to answer many charges.

Did they preach the cross and the blood of Christ to lead people to salvation? If the cross is not preached, then the gospel they preach is some other gospel. Paul said: “But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23 NIV). Paul never preached a “popular” gospel. But today’s super-apostles preach a Christianity without a cross and keep asking for money all the time. Though there is nothing wrong with asking for money, the way many of them do it is manipulation (see point 3 below for more on manipulation).

These “super-apostles” never understand how much negatively the picture Jesus Christ and the Church through television to non-Christian audiences. Christians have no answer when non-Christians come and ask their opinion about what they hear and see on television. The Bible says: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV). Here, “make the most of every opportunity” means make use of every opportunity to proclaim the gospel. Others who are not Christians should never get the impression that “gospel” means “appeal for money.” Sadly, that is the impression that many Christian television programs have created in the minds of non-Christian audiences.

God will demand of these super-apostles an accounting of their manipulation.

Manipulation means to control or influence somebody in a dishonest way so that those who are influenced do not realize it.

Here there needs to be a clarification: It is not wrong to ask for money. But it is the WAY they ask that creates the problem. It is called manipulation. By inducing fear and guilt in the minds of Christians, by promising them blessings, health and wealth, the super-apostles of today raise money. We condemn these wrong ways of asking for money.

So, it is not wrong to ask for money. For God Himself appealed to His people to give. But then God had said: “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give”[author’s emphasis] (Exodus 25:2 NIV). See, there is no manipulation here.

What about Paul. He also said: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). Paul emphasized the freedom of a man to choose the amount he wanted to give (but today amounts are dictated by many television evangelists). He also emphasized that a person should not give reluctantly or under compulsion (but today we find evangelists compelling people to give).

Paul was also very practical. He said, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, [author’s emphasis] so that when I come no collections will have to be made” (1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV). He did not specify the amount. He said that the amount given should be according to each person’s (in today’s context, maybe family’s) income. He also added that it can be saved up to be of use in a greater need of the Church.

Today, when television evangelists compel people to give, they specify amounts which many Christians may find not compatible with their income. Thus these evangelists make people miserable. Again, when they use words like: “See, if you get a busy tone, keep trying. Don’t go away. Your blessing will come when you make the connection with the prayer partners here. When you get connected pledge this amount, … etc.” This is manipulation. And it is wrong.

The Right Way

Asking for money is fine as long as it is done in a godly and prayerful way. Our God is one who searches minds and hearts and motives. He will know with what intent money is being asked for. Your responsibility is to pray much before you give. You will have to be assured in your heart that the amount you give, and the person or ministry to which you give is exactly where God wants you to give at that point of time. Never give under compulsion. Never give when you feel manipulated.

A Word of Comfort

A word of comfort to all those who have given in the past and had bitter experiences: Please know that your God; He is the Lord of the harvest. He knows the honesty and integrity and motive of your heart with which you gave. He has seen your tears. And though the person or ministry to whom you gave has misused your money, your reward is with God. And someday He will set accounts straight.

Therefore, be encouraged, and continue to give to God prayerfully. Let not your past bitterness prevent you from being a blessing to others.

A Final Word

The truth is that God sent Jesus to this world not to bless you or me financially. The great purpose of God in sending Jesus to this world was to provide forgiveness of sins to people through His blood shed on the cross. Jesus Himself said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). When this focus is taken away, the entire power and purpose of the gospel is lost (Please note that Jesus rebuked Peter when he tried to take this focus away from Him–Ref. Matthew 16:23, Mark 8:33). Let Him bless or let Him not bless as far as money is concerned. That is not the real question at all as many television evangelists try to make you believe. Think about this: What good it is to have every blessing if you cannot enjoy God’s love or presence in your life?

Yes, the focus of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Remember, it is the blood of Jesus that has blessed you. Money can never do it for you. That is why Jesus asked: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25 NIV). So, do not wear yourself out to get rich (Ref. Proverbs 23:4,5). But focus your life on Jesus Christ. He is your true and everlasting wealth!

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the- synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.

Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.

This is only to say that we need to have the gifts of the Spirit restored again to the Church. And it is my belief that the one gift we need most now is the gift of prophecy.

“Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred” -1 Chr 12:32. A prophet is one who knows his times and what God is trying to say to the people of his times….

Today we need prophetic preachers; not preachers of prophecy merely, but preachers with a gift of prophecy. The word of wisdom is missing. We need the gift of discernment again in our pulpits. It is not ability to predict that we need, but the anointed eye, the power of spiritual penetration and interpretation, the ability to appraise the religious scene as viewed from God’s position, and to tell us what is actually going on….

Where is the man who can see through the ticker tape and confetti to discover which way the parade is headed, why it started in the first place and, particularly, who is riding up front in the seat of honor?…

What is needed desperately today is prophetic insight. Scholars can interpret the past; it takes prophets to interpret the present. Learning will enable a man to pass judgment on our yesterdays, but it requires a gift of clear seeing to pass sentence on our own day….

“Lord, I pray for that gift of prophetic insight. Move me beyond the knowledge You’ve enabled me to gain through education, reading, and study. I pray that I might lead as one ‘who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the throne.’ Amen.”

by A.W. Tozer.

The email began very simply: “I am so discouraged.” The day before her pastor had resigned. Twelve years ago she had been brought back to the Lord by a pastor who seemed to be a godly man. Later he left his wife to enter the homosexual lifestyle.

Then came a good pastor who was falsely accused of financial wrongdoing. Though found innocent, he left the church. Then came another pastor who wasn’t honest in his financial dealings. This led to a church split. Then there was yet another pastor with serious financial issues that he did not handle properly. Now he is gone. And the woman writing the letter is discouraged and depressed. Here is the heart of the matter:

Are these things typical of churches today? Are my expectations of having a loving church with a heterosexual, honest, committed, holiness-living-and-preaching pastor too high?

She ends her note with these words:

I know that I go to church to worship the Lord, not the pastor. I know that if I keep my eyes on people, I will usually be disappointed, and I must keep my eyes only on Christ. I know these things. It doesn’t make me feel better. I have heard it said that the Lord allows us to have problems in our life so that we will yearn for heaven. That is certainly true because I have thought that I wish the Lord would come and take us all away where we can worship the Lord together happily. And then I wonder, how is heaven going to be such a wonderful place, when it will be full of people? Any encouraging words would be very much appreciated.

I think she speaks for multitudes of churchgoers who have been disappointed with their spiritual leaders. Though the email arrived a few days ago, it has taken on new urgency in my mind in light of the revelations concerning Ted Haggard.

A few thoughts are in order:

1) We should not be totally surprised when our leaders fail us. We all fail to one degree or another, and some of us fail miserably and repeatedly. We all have feet of clay.

2) That said, we must continue to hold our leaders to the high standards set in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Paul summed it up when he said that a spiritual leader must be “above reproach.” The Greek word describes a garment without any folds. When applied to personal character, it means that leader must be free from any secret or hidden pockets of sin. Said another way, it means that a godly leader has nothing hidden because there is nothing to hide. The Living Bible uses the phrase “a good man whose life cannot be spoken against.” Knox says “one with whom no fault can be found.” It means that no charge could be brought against such a person that would withstand impartial examination. Leaders are often attacked, their motives questioned, their actions criticized. While such things do happen, a leader who is truly above reproach will weather the storm because there is nothing about him which a person could say, “Aha! I gotcha.” This means no questionable conduct, no secret sins, no deliberately unresolved conflicts.

3) John Calvin offers a helpful distinction between the “ordinary vices” that are found in all men, even in those of the highest character, and those sins that give a man a “disgraceful name” and stain his reputation. To be “above reproach” does not mean sinless perfection, but rather a life of honor and integrity.

4) It’s true that heaven will be full of people, but they will be redeemed people, changed and transformed, and all of us will be transformed by the grace and mercy of the Lord. That’s a good thing because it means the heartbreak we feel over leaders who disappoint us will not last forever.

5) “Are these things typical of churches today?” In my experience the answer is no. The vast majority of pastors I have known have been decent, honest, hard-working, faithful men of God. I have yet to meet a perfect pastor, and I’ve known a few with serious problems, but most of them were men of high moral character who took their calling seriously.

6) “Are my expectations of having a loving church with a heterosexual, honest, committed, holiness-living-and-preaching pastor too high?” Not at all. Most pastors I know fit this description.

7) I don’t know exactly what to say about the succession of pastors and the sexual and financial improprieties. On one hand, there are churches by the thousands where there is no difficulty for years, where pastors stay for a long time and leave under no cloud at all. And then there are cases where the church suffers through bad pastoral leadership for long periods. It does make one wonder if the church is not giving proper oversight to its pastors. This is a tricky area, but sometimes pastors get in trouble because they had no friends who were free to ask hard questions and hold them accountable for their answers.

8) On the larger point, we must not give up on the local church. There are times when we may need to find a new church. That’s not my recommendation, just a personal observation. When leaders have greatly disappointed us, we need time to heal. It is not wrong to grieve what has happened in your church or even to take a breather from any form of church leadership for a period of time. We all need a rest from leadership and a break in our service from time to time. As Vance Havner said, If we don’t come apart and rest for a while, we will simply come apart.

9) Times like these call for prayer and honest self-examination. I’m sure thousands of Christian leaders took a deep breath when they heard about Ted Haggard. What happened to him could happen to any of us. I cannot explain why he did what he did, but I am reminded of the English writer who remarked that there is no man who, if his thoughts were made public, would not deserve hanging a dozen times a day. To which I reply, only a dozen times? All we like sheep have gone astray, all have sinned and fallen short, and there but for the grace of God go I.

10) When Jesus said, “I will build My church,” He told us that the church itself is His creation. He is the General Superintendent of a building project that has been going on for 2000 years. Sometimes the Lord uses stones that under pressure crumble into dust. But the church goes on because it is built on the Rock that cannot be shaken.

11) We must not give in to despair. Let us join together and ask the Lord to raise up a generation of pastors who will lead with honesty, integrity, compassion, godly vision and Christlike character.

O Lord, give us pastors like that, and then give us churches to love and support them. Amen.