A REVIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN MARKETPLACE
Neither Poor Nor Rich
Solomon was a wise, wise man. He was also stinkin' rich! But what does he actually feel about his wealth and the condition of his heart? Well, Proverbs 30 gives us a look into his soul. "Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me; lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is God?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." - Proverbs 30:8-9. Thankfully, the wisdom God had given him (because he asked for it and got the wealth thrown in) won out in the end. "Make me neither rich nor poor..."
Clear Warnings
Over the course of the next few months this section will deal with some of the more notable profiteers in the television evangelism industry. 30 Shekels will deliver hard facts and ask heavy questions. We will try our very best not to hurl fiery stones at anyone (though we admit this will be difficult for the passion it elicits). We also acknowledge that many of these organizations have contributed to the well-being of countless children in impoverished countries and we will not deny them that commendation when it is due. Charity is one the essences of the Gospel.
The Christian Retail Market has reached $5 Billion annually. This number is staggering for a religion that started with just a small circle of mostly poor guys. I have nothing against making a living by writing books and selling Bibles. It is expensive to have these things printed and distributed and the time and thought (and hopefully prayer) that it takes to complete these works should be rewarded. Now, in an ideal world, printers and publishers would step up to the plate once in a while and voluntarily produce some of these edifying books and take it on the chin for the sake of the Gospel. But in the world we live in - you know, the imperfect one - they would soon be out of business if it kept up for long. I once believed we should run anyone who profited monetarily from anything that smacks of the Gospel out of town. But I have since developed into something resembling a realist.
There are great churches who are writing and releasing books in PDF form for free. Good books! Mark Driscoll, John Piper and others have worked hard on some of these books and many have benefited from their encouragement and knowledge without spending a dime. These high-profile pastors seem to have heeded the warnings of Scripture (see side bar at right). Others, sadly, have not.
We turn now to television. Yes, those guys. Televangelists. What started as a very ingenious way to spread the Gospel has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry; and it wreaks of racketeering. Smarmy preachers selling (yes, selling) prayer cloths anointed with cheap oil and laced with deceit. Promising healing and prosperity in exchange for seeds of faith into a ministry that swindles God's people (mostly the older ones) out of tens of millions per year. I cannot, on paper, express the rage that boils to the surface of my heart when I see this happening. In short, these clowns are money-changers. Period.
There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. - 1 Tim 6:7-10 RSV
But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]...
For we are not, like so many,
[like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word
...but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence
of God. - 2 Cor 2:14-17 AMP
No one can judge the motives of another's heart. And it is in the heart that decisions about the spreading of the Gospel and the real financial cost of the means are made. I am simply asking that teachers, pastors, authors and publishers carefully weigh these costs and come up with a fair wage for your efforts. I believe a good litmus test is the amount of time one spends using a calculator versus the time one takes listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you come out a bit heavy on the calculator side, step back and ask God to try you heart. Let's remember that we are not like other businesses. And if you think we are, I believe you should get out of the Christian market and write a self-help book and leave the Gospel out of it.
Our goal is to gently remind those of us in professions which promote the Gospel and the Church that we have a divine Provider and that we should never forget Who it is that takes care of us. Also, we would do well to remember the passages of Scripture which warn us not to look to money as our only means of existence. Proceed with caution, teachers of the Gospel.
