I hear the teachings on Sunday morning TV from different pastors. All are entertaining in delivering their message. All use the Bible to back up their statements. To be honest though, some of the messages, I wonder about. I too want to be healthy, happy, and rich. I believe that through Christ everything is possible. But is my main purpose on earth to make money? If our purpose on earth is to serve God, do we accomplish that first of all by making money? I am a capitalist and I believe in making money but I have also learned to serve others. Some of the TV Sunday sermons stress Me, Me, Me. I don’t hear what the Church is doing for the poor, I don’t hear encouragement to help others who cannot help themselves. I don’t hear charity. What I do hear is, God wants you to think only of yourself and go out and make money. With God’s help, you can make money. I do believe that but I also believe that we as Christians have an obligation to reach out and to help others. This should happen in and out of our Church.
What does your Church do for others? Even if small, it can help by donating to a homeless shelter or to another local charitable organization. Does your Church tithe? Does your Church give 10% of its time, money and energy to help others? Or does it take its excess money and build an espresso bar? Does it help the local community? I once knew a Church that made baby blankets for hospitalized infants. This would have been good except that the hospital was located hundreds of miles away in Indiana and here in SE Michigan there are infants in surrounding areas such as Detroit and Flint that certainly could have used blankets and clothing for that matter.
I can’t a lot but I can do a little. This Sunday, I might listen to the TV ministers touting what God can do for me but I won’t stay home. I will go to the little Church down the street where we talk about what we can do for others.
Tags: Serving God or serving yourself. What you can do for others.
You are far from alone in the thoughts and feelings to which you give voice!
My wife and I are Presbyterian co-pastors in the Finger Lakes area of New York. Something I occasionally remind our people about is that being American and being Christian are not the same thing.
The TV ministers you mention are, in one way, very good Americans. The idea of focusing on self is part of the religion of America. We still struggle to distinguish between Christ and Caesar.