Jesus Chases The Money Changers Out of The Temple:
Ok, so not all churches, “pastors” or Internet so-called “ministries” are as obvious as ole Leroy Thompson, Mike Murdock, or Cashflo Dollar. They’re more subtle on the Internet, where they can’t scream in your ear….but…they still have that little emotional appeal to Christians to “support” what they have designated as their “ministry”. The only thing is, you never know for sure whether you’re supporting the work of the Lord, or….their new 5,000 ft, 5 bedroom, 3 bath house, or whatever.
On the other hand, some of them use the old poverty ploy. This is a good one that deserves real credit for creative innovation. With this one, they tell their online groupies, or “fellowship”, they have given up all to serve the Lord and spread his gospel. That they barely have enough to live on, buy gas for their 20 yr old car, or pay the electric bill, etc etc. No, I’m not kidding. Actually, it doesn’t take a whole lot of searching to locate these money buzzards. So, what is a good tip off that you just might be dealing with an Internet Money changer? Very simple. It’s the all too familiar Pay Pal Donate button.
Some of these PayPal money changers even have TWO PLACES to donate on their site. Just to make sure you didn’t see the first one. Here’s an example of this:
““As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10
“This ministry work would be furthered in the hearts of men and blessed to have you assist us in any of the following ways (email button at bottom). We are all Christ’s disciples, servants, and friends (John 15). As blood-bought members of Jesus’ body, we are all just regular people – former sinners now saved by His glorious grace – who have His desire inside of us to help others grow in His grace and for lost souls to be saved/rescued before it’s too late (Luke 19:10; Mark 4:19). Each of us know inside that our time is short – we have a very limited window and must act now. Many who read these words desire and have even prayed for something to do for Jesus.”
Uh, you have to zing past the PayPal donate button to get to the aforesaid email location. There is also plenty of stuff he wants you to do to “spread the gospel”, namely send $$ and post stuff to link to his website, which of course will inevitably lead to the all too familiar Pay Pal donate button.
All of these guys, (and women too), have a gimmick to appeal to Christians. Some even claim to be “Watchmen on the Wall” to explain to Christians who, what and where the false churches, teachers, doctrines, etc; are that you’re too dumb to figure out for yourself. I’m asking you…as a Christian, really? Are you really so biblically and spiritually challenged that you haven’t figured out by now who to beware of or who to trust?
Maybe some of these guys, who you never see in person, by the way, are doing an Internet phishing scam. Kind of like tossing out a line, in the form of a Pay Pal “donate” button, to see if maybe the net will drag in a real haul, (of $$$).
Maybe, some of them DO actually work for a living, and tell you so. But how do you know for sure? Where are their elders to keep them accountable? Very likely you will NEVER see an actual accounting for either the amount of money they’re raking in, or where the money is actually going and for what purpose. I mean, couldn’t you find some area where to spend the “Lord’s Money” on ministry service? A little old lady having a hard time of making ends meet? Or a widow with a couple of grand-kids she’s raising? Or a disabled vet having a hard time finding work? And so on….
I suggest you do a little check up online and spend some time googling. I’m pretty sure you’ll see what I mean before very long. Please, in the interest of being a good steward, be very prayerfully selective of who you send money to. Again, please follow the leading of the Holy Spirit regarding this issue. Anytime you see that Pay Pal donate button, you may be dealing with an Internet Mystery Meat Ministry pimp who’s trying to grab his piece of the donation pie. He will never be there at your bedside to pray for you in person if you should fall sick. He will never be there graveside to minister to you or your family when a loved one dies. If you’ve never met this individual face to face, think twice about sending him money.
Online Discernment Ministries:
http://apprising.org/2009/03/08/is-there-a-cult-of-online-discernment-ministries/
Don’t Believe Everything You Read…On the Internet:
http://huntingheresyhunters.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/dont-believe-everything-you-readon-the-internet/
From this blog:
“I close these word of warning/caution with a quote taken from someone who, in my personal opinion (as a professional apologist for over 15 years), is one of the worst of the worst ODMs. This ODM has posted her attacks repeatedly against God’s people and encourages others to do likewise (very much like Jezebel encouraged false charges to be brought against God’s people, see 1 Kings 21:10). She stated the following in one of her recent posts:
“Technology affords so many opportunities now to communicate with others and the world that can be used for good. It also offers us many new snares and opportunities to sin. . . . [W]e need to be ready to examine ourselves and honestly look at our motives and behavior in light of God’s Word. If we can’t control the temptation a technology brings, we need to do rapid surgery and get rid of it so that Satan does not gain a foothold in our lives. If we can use a technology for God’s glory with a clear conscience, we need to carry on and thank God for the opportunity.”
Indeed. I couldn’t agree more with this individual. Now, let us all pray that such people will begin following their own words of counsel and in so doing, not only avoid hypocrisy, but also avert God’s judgment and God’s chastisement in their lives.”
Spiritual Abuse Sanctuary 
Conversely….if there is someone you’ve been in fellowship with on the Internet, who has NOT been asking for money, but that you have never met face to face, and you doubt his or her sincerity, ask yourself the following questions…
Has he or she INVESTED something of themselves into your life in the way of time, sharing of the pure milk or meat of the word of God in a scriptural way? In other words, have they labored, at the cost of their OWN time sacrificially, for your care?
Has he or she taken time to actually talk to you….personally? In a Christ centered manner?
Are you able to discern this person may in truth, care about you, your concerns, burdens, heartaches?
Has this person taken the time to PRAY with you, (and not just say they will pray FOR you..some little nebulous prayer, in the name of Jesus? When maybe they will or maybe they won’t?)
Do you have the feeling this person actually has the Love of Jesus in their hearts for you? As opposed to some that you know very well they lie in their teeth?
Then you may indeed have a friend in Jesus, not asking or desiring more than loving you in the Lord, and being in fellowship with you and others that love the Lord Jesus.
These are the kinds of Christian brothers and sisters that I want to develop relationships with on a more intimate basis, knowing that they will be the kind who will not judge how much fleece I have day by day, who will allow the love in their hearts to ignore my many imperfections, who will not judge me by how much money I have, or don’t have, or by the other criteria the world goes by. I think you get the idea.
Be blessed in and by His love,
Scarlett
Reblogged this on spiritualabusesanctuary.
The more godly websites, and blogs post godly material we enjoy reading and are edified by. However, there are all too many self appointed “mom and pop”, or “one man band” type operations that have proliferated since the advent of the Internet.
The sites I am describing seem to have sprung up on various Internet sites such as Facebook, Pal Talk, Blog Spot radio, etc; flying under the radar, who are accountable to no one but themselves.
These are the money changers who think godliness should be gain. Greed and the love of money motivates them to charge for what they do. And some, if not most of them are making a business out of it.
I believe that preaching the gospel is a calling, not a business. Isn’t this why Jesus was angered, made a scourge and ran the money changers out of the temple?
If Jesus and the disciples were walking the face of this world today, I can’t imagine them charging people to hear the gospel of the kingdom.
“The Word of God says, “Freely you have received, therefore, freely give.”
I for one, cringe when I see that PayPal donation button attached to so-called “Christian websites”, and these Balaam-spirited charlatans making merchandise of the Lord’s flock.
If any of the readers know of a suspected Internet Ministries scam, please list it here, with complete reasons why it, or they are suspected of being a donation scam. If it has any merit, I will post the link.
We do have to be careful of making fraudulent claims against legitimate ministries of course, and prefer to speak on principal rather than naming names. I do feel it’s a good idea to contact dubious “ministries” and ask outright if they are willing to post publically the financial accounting proof of the amount of donations received, and where the money is going and for what purpose.
I mean, if these online ministries are publically asking for money, then they shouldn’t feel offended to give a public and accurate accounting of the donation monies they receive. And if they’re not willing to, then why not? And I am not talking about them just telling donors verbally, but submitting some tangible evidence. I don’t see why this isn’t a fair request to make of anyone you or others are sending money to, especially to people you’ve never met face to face.
Your thoughts on this readers?
Scarlett
I am curious where are you finding these kinds of websites? The kinds of topics I like to hear about are usually things that not many people are writing about; hence, institutionalites usually do not like to make money off the topics I like to read about.