Last Sunday morning, I was the guest preacher in Shadi. I preached Mark 10:17-31, about the rich young ruler. There were two statements that Jesus makes that I spent a fair amount of time explaining, because false teachers here often twist them out of context.
The first statement is, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God" (v. 27). Prosperty gospel preachers use this phrase as a kind of slogan or mantra that should be repeated over and over again, telling people to claim their riches by faith. But Jesus is answering a question of the disciples, for they were shocked to hear of the difficulty of the rich to enter the kingdom of God and asked, "Who can be saved?" This statement, "All things are possible with God," is not a promise that we will get whatever we want if we add God to our lives. It is a statement that God is able to save anyone.
The second statement is, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age . . ." (v. 29,30). This statement is used by false teachers to claim that whatever we give to God, we will get back 100 times more, and they always stress "in the present age." I have heard them preach from this text, "Give your 10,000 shillings today, and you will receive your 1,000,000 tomorrow!"
I brought up the fact that, first, you never hear these preachers read beyond to see that Jesus says, "He shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions"! They don't like to preach about persecution, because that contradicts their prosperity teaching. Second, they never explain what Jesus means that we will receive 100 more mothers if we leave our mother. It becomes clear here that our Lord is using metaphorical language to describe the real blessings that God provides for those who leave what they have for his sake. I told the congregation that I have found this passage to be so true. I have left my family in America to come to for the gospel, only to find a spiritual family in Tanzania! I left my house in America, and although I didn't get 100 new houses when I came to Tanzania, I can go one hundred different places here and be received like I have come home. Jesus' word is true! This statement is not a way to make a quick return for worldly gain, but a promise that to serve the Lord and his gospel is no sacrifice.
Pray that these false teachers would be hindered in spreading their lies and deceiving God's people. Pray that God's word would correct and confront error.
And, in case you were wondering, the title of this post is "False Teachers and Thanksgiving Food," because after we finished the service, we drove to visit some American missionary friends about two hours drive away to have a Thanksgiving meal. Good food and fellowship.
Nicely done. Great application for the second text!
Posted by: joseph | 04 December 2011 at 09:46 AM