Get the people in... indoctrinate them to our way of belief...
convince them with bribes, false promises, fear... whatever it takes...
Get large numbers for credibility... fame... PRESTIGE for "the anointed"
Get them to Tithe... money... WEALTH for "the anointed"
Grow in Position/Title... sell my personal vision... POWER for "the anointed"
Disassociate from the world around us (the poor, community, peace, justice)
Create our own world, within here... build our own, little kingdom... not God's
Basque in the Prestige and Power... Enjoy and Display the opulent wealth...
Convince people that it is from God and they, too can have it...
If they do what I say, how I say... show up, give tithes...
After all, see how God has blessed me? It is because of my faithfulness
as God's anointed (and the fact that I have duped you into giving me
your money)
Thousands of people among whom to be anonymous...
No expectations, other than presence on Sundays and Tithing...
Can show up, getcha praise on and go home...
Give God praise and worship, get blessings (or promises of them) and leave...
No sharing of gifts... the "anointed leaders" do that...
No living the Gospel if you don't want to... disassociate life from worship...
"Me and Jesus" means I do my Sunday church thang and it has nothing
to do with how I live everyday in the world around me...
it means it is all about my PERSONAL salvation, blessings, favor...
Just believe in Jesus... the way they tell you that you must...be baptized...
attend worship, give praise... and tithes... first fruits offerings... praise offerings...
And the Formula works for everyone involved... all are happy EXCEPT JESUS
Jesus called for people not to honor God with their lips only,
to serve "the least of these" and transform individual hearts and communities...
Jesus called for the servants/disciples/clergy to have what they NEED... daily bread...
"the laborer deserves his/her wages"... and serve out of love for God, the people...
Jesus said that the greatest was to be the most HUMBLE servant of all...
Jesus said that His disciples would not "lord their authority over others"...
WE make it about power, prestige and wealth in the church...
WE disassociate faith from our walk with Agape Love for Neighbor (even stranger and
enemy), and make it all about personal salvation, personal blessings and favor...
WE reflect the world instead of addressing it with Jesus' "more excellent way"...
WE ignore what Jesus taught and think that He is pleased that we only praise Him and
tithe...
What are WE doing? How much further could we get from Jesus' Gospel teachings
and example? Strike that... I don't want to know!
Pastor Jamie
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