The Church Just Wants My Money

What American with cable tv and a remote control has not had that skeptical thought run through their head? And rightfully so. "Televangelism" is a bane of the American church and an affront to the very heart of the gospel. Truth be told, all of church history is littered with liars, thieves, and charlatans who sought to manipulate the gospel for their own financial gain. This practice is a sin that is condemned throughout Scripture, one that the church must own up to and fight hard against it. But it's no reason for any of us to avoid participating in and, yes, even giving generously to the work of the gospel through the local church. Jesus warned us: "You cannot love God and money. It's one or the other." Another way to say that is, "If Jesus is our greatest treasure, money isn't, and we'll give like crazy." And so when the church calls us to give, it's not because God needs our money, but because we need to be free from the love of it.