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Reject the Fake News Church Gospel

When the scripture said there is nothing new under the sun its true. When I look out at the current moment the American Evangelical Church sits in, 1 Timothy 6 speaks so deeply to this moment. Where truth is lacking, the focus is protecting offering collections, Pastors viewing themselves as gods and refusing godly instruction. In this moment we are trading God's purpose for Money and Likes.

I have a fondness for the Message translation of the Bible since my time as a Youth Leader at my father's church because of how it interprets the Word. So that is the verison you will see here.

1 Timothy 6:2-10 goes as follows:

2-5 These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.

6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.

9-10 But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.

Doesn't that sound like our current reality of fake news and scandals? Cheating, backstabbing, focused more on keeping people happy so they will still send their tithes instead of speaking the TRUTH. The focus of godly instruction thrown to the waste side?

There is nothing wrong with having money. That's not what this passage is saying, before you come for my neck lol, but chasing money instead of God and a faith filled life... that is the problem. Churches need money to run but if you are doing the work of the Lord He will always provide. Did He not always make sure that Jesus had food to eat and a place to sleep? He'll do the same for us. He wants us to have abundance and to prosper but if the only reason we are preaching the Word of God is to enrich ourselves we will self-destruct be His Word is not in us.

How many pastors have we seen fall? How many have had to step down? How many have we lost respect for? God will not cover that which He has not ordained.

So what should our response be in this moment? Run for your life from this! 1 Timothy 6 continues,

11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.

17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

Overwhelming grace keep you!

Go after God! Pursue His righteousness. Seek Hi purpose. Preach His Gospel, not our own. God is a rich, loving God amd I think we have forgotten that. He is generous and if we are in alignment with Him we don't have to worry about the pursuit of money, fame, fortune or influence. He gives us those things freely. Reject this fake news church gospel. Run from it and run to God. Purse God with your whole heart. God is so good. Don't listen to talking heads. Listen to the voice of God. Trust His Word. It has never returned unto Him void. It is always true.

As Paul ended this letter to Timothy, I pray that OVERWHELMING grace keep you as you pursue our amazing, loving God. Guard the treasure of Heaven, Jesus, with you life. Ignore the rest.

The Unlikely Missionary
DHW
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