I am tired of TV Evangelists and online ministers

Heart2Soul said:

I am tired of seeking a teaching of God's Word through TV Evangelists and online ministers...TV evangelists give you about 5 minutes of the Word and the rest of the time asking for money or selling a book, or wanting you to become a faith partner. Well I gave up on TV and tried online...blah...same ole thing. I currently don't have transportation and can't drive to a church. But even when I do the sermons seem to be about raising money. Can't we just get back to the basics of preaching the Word of God?

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Not on a forum open to the whole world, no.

Not when false gospels outnumber the true gospel many many times over. The false gospels threads and posts keep growing and growing and growing..... everywhere on earth too - as prophecied by God in Scripture.....

The earth is under a death sentence. Only a few, not many, find the narrow road to life. (JESUS!)

In our jaded world, Mammon needs to have his cut. Church buildings need to be kept up, electricity bills paid, TV time bought or ratings accrued. Unfortunately some fundraising is an inevitable necessity, but it should not be allowed to become paramount. You cannot worship God and Mammon, but Jesus paid the Temple Tax and praised the Widow who gave her last mina.

Jesus says, "Freely you have received, freely give," in Matthew 10:8. So, we do not have to pay for God's ministry. The Holy Spirit is quite able to get people to give . . . especially if it is obvious the Holy Spirit is doing the ministering.

So, no I don't buy how a number of TV people are promoting their own ministries, even how certain ones, not all, ask for the "most generous gift" for their own ministry. It is wise not to covet money which is God's for someone else.

But I think it is not accurate to say that only five minutes of a program goes to ministry. They might put up distracting screen notes asking for money, and might have a number of times of financial promotion, but I often have seen more than five minutes of preaching and discussions in a half hour. But if we can be expected to have faith to believe God will prosper us, they should be able to have faith to confess and trust that the Holy Spirit is able to have people give what God really wants, without so much financial promoting.

And in case God really does want us to share with real other people, He is not going to bless less personal TV ministering to do things really right; because He provides real example pastors and others to feed us their example > 1 Timothy 3:1-10, 1 Peter 5:3, 1 Peter 3:4.

So, you can get good things from TV, but it can't do all we really need. May be, at least get a phone relationship going with someone who is for real, in your area.

Heart2Soul said:

I am tired of seeking a teaching of God's Word through TV Evangelists and online ministers...TV evangelists give you about 5 minutes of the Word and the rest of the time asking for money or selling a book, or wanting you to become a faith partner. Well I gave up on TV and tried online...blah...same ole thing. I currently don't have transportation and can't drive to a church. But even when I do the sermons seem to be about raising money. Can't we just get back to the basics of preaching the Word of God?

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Try looking up online C H Spurgeon resources; his Scriptural material is heartwarming; and since he died in 1892, he won't ask you for any money.

Heart2Soul said:

I am tired of seeking a teaching of God's Word through TV Evangelists and online ministers...TV evangelists give you about 5 minutes of the Word and the rest of the time asking for money or selling a book, or wanting you to become a faith partner. Well I gave up on TV and tried online...blah...same ole thing. I currently don't have transportation and can't drive to a church. But even when I do the sermons seem to be about raising money. Can't we just get back to the basics of preaching the Word of God?

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Doesn't the church you are aq member of have a rota for giving lifts to those without transport?
Does your church record services or sermons for the house bound?

Many churches put their sermons on line so they can be downloaded.
Otherwise try The Martyn Lloyd-Jones Trust

for a logical expounder of what the bible does say.

Heart2Soul said:

I do not have a church yet, so I have been searching, just can't seem to find the right "fit"...if you know what I mean....but yes some churches offer rides. I have even asked my neighbor if I could ride to church with her...that was over a month ago, she still hasn't got back with me on that ride.

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Acts 2.41-42 is a good guide for local churches. Transport is indeed an issue sometimes.

Heart2Soul said:

I am tired of seeking a teaching of God's Word through TV Evangelists and online ministers...TV evangelists give you about 5 minutes of the Word and the rest of the time asking for money or selling a book, or wanting you to become a faith partner. Well I gave up on TV and tried online...blah...same ole thing. I currently don't have transportation and can't drive to a church. But even when I do the sermons seem to be about raising money. Can't we just get back to the basics of preaching the Word of God?

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What sorts of churches and what sorts of preachers are you attending/listening to? Because this seems like the kind of thing that ultimately could be fixed by changing the kinds of churches you are involved with.

In all the years since I've been a Lutheran I have never once encountered a sermon about raising money or giving money to the church; we have food drives and a dedicated group of quilters who make blankets which are donated to the poor and homeless, but even mention of those things are in the announcements before or after the service.

That's not me saying you should be a Lutheran, my point is that there's obviously churches out there that don't do what you're talking about. Most mainstream churches in fact.

-CryptoLutheran

I think all TV preachers etc are false. Think of how many there are around the world but especially in America! All money mad. All full of promises and false teachings.

God will guide you. Stay away from TV and online preachers. Yes, do research online but try and visit a few denominations.

I don't like happy clappy churches. I like my church as it is full of the Gospel, prayer and Eucharist.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

Heart2Soul said:

Let me clarify....Not all TV ministries are that bad but almost all have books for sale, invites to join as a partner of their ministry to help spread the Gospel, and then there are the ones that Say "The Holy Spirit told them that there are 1000 people listening who are suppose to plant $1000 dollar seed into their harvest that God wants to give them and it is to be multiplied back 100 fold." OH BOY.... and people fall for this? I understand it takes money to do these things but seriously???? Tithes and offerings belong to the church that you are a member of. Gift giving is totally up to you but be careful where you are planting seeds of faith for a harvest.

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Mainstream Christian teaching doesn't really include "tithing" as such. We have collection plates or boxes for those that want to give, but there's no obligation to give or to give a certain amount. I believe that we should support our community, and as such that means bills need to get paid. But giving to the church isn't about a "tithe", it's about generously giving of what you have to support others. In the past it was often less about money, but rather people brought goods to give--bakers brought their baked goods, farmers brought crops, tailors brought clothing, etc and these would then be redistributed through the church to those who needed food, clothing, etc. That's what giving to the church entails--providing for the needs of others.

If a church or preacher says "God told me you need to give a thousand dollars to my ministry" then I say run. Run like Lot and never look back. Those are toxic centers of heresy, apostasy, and con-artistry. They are seeking to sell their snake oil in the name of God, and should be exposed for the miscreants they are.

-CryptoLutheran

Heart2Soul said:

Thanks I agree, but honestly that is what I have been taught since I can remember and now I feel like the reason God isn't pouring blessings out upon me right now is because I haven't planted any seed, (tithes and offerings) in a long time. Ugh....Lord help me see clearly!

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The language of "blessing" is a troublesome as used by some. I'd say if you want to know the Christian understanding of blessing then one should go to the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets." - Luke 20:20-23

"Blessing" is not material comfort, or even emotional comfort. The blessing we have and seek is the blessing of having Christ as our Savior, that our sins are forgiven, that we have God as our Father. That we are being saved and have hope for everlasting life in the Age to Come when God makes all things new.

Christ says, "Take up your cross, and follow Me." That is quite opposite of the promise of having goods and comforts in this life, Christ has told us that this life is a cross which we bear as we follow Him, to live our lives in love for others. Our true good in this life is the grace which we have received from God in Jesus, which has reckoned us sinners as righteous on Christ's account, and thus we have been made children of the Father, heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, having received the Holy Spirit as the guarantor and promise of hope and everlasting life--"If the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells also in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies." (Romans 8:11).

This life is not where justice and peace dwell, we look forward to that life when the Lord returns, and God sets all things right, on that Day when this is true: "let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24) when the wolf shall lay down with the lamb, and the lion eats straw like an ox (Isaiah 65:25).

In this life we hold firm to the faith we have been given in the Gospel. That is our blessing, that is our good. We have Christ, and can confidently trust Him to keep and hold us.

-CryptoLutheran

Heart2Soul said:

Thanks I agree, but honestly that is what I have been taught since I can remember and now I feel like the reason God isn't pouring blessings out upon me right now is because I haven't planted any seed, (tithes and offerings) in a long time. Ugh....Lord help me see clearly!

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Blessings in Christ Jesus. All that I have is His. All that I am is His. When He says give, than give. Also give to all that ask of you. When He says help, then help. And when He says speak, then speak. It does't take 4 walls to be a Blessing to all we meet. When we walk in His Love (in Him) the rest will take of itself, just as promised. Give to all that are thirsty that you find on your way and when you least expect it your cup will be filled to overflowing.Thus is the way of our God, and our Savior, for He is The Faithful Servant.