About paying for Christian conferences (II)

Discrimination and Elitism
 

Bishops and pastors are fathers in their churches and ministries. In Western Africa, church members usually address their leaders as ‘Papa’ or ‘Mama’, and it is in line with the Holy Scriptures. Indeed, speaking to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul tells them: ‘‘For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.’’ (1Corinthians 4:15) 

Now, what loving and worthy father would discriminate among his children? What responsible father would tell them: ‘‘Kids, God has just given me some powerful revelations about marriage, debts cancelling and success but, I won’t talk about it here at home. I promise to tell you all about it for $20 at Hotel A, between the 10^th and the 15^th of this month. You know I love you and I really want you to succeed, don’t you? You really need to hear these revelations. Don’t miss it, be there. After all, what is $20 compared to your salvation?’’ 

And this is unfortunately what is happening nowadays with these conferences. They are very discriminating. Let’s go back to the example above: That man of God, that father, has a congregation of 15.000 to 20.000 members whose vast majority cannot afford to go on holiday. They have some daily or hourly paid jobs and any day-off pits the wallet very hard. There are not many of them who can attend such conferences when they take place in another State in the US, and even fewer can afford the luxury of a USA – South Africa trip. For those who will eventually travel, only the ‘elect’ who can make the additional sacrifice of staying longer, will have the ‘grace’ to sit at the “Man of God’s” table, eat with him, laugh with him, share their worries, pray with him and who knows, be rewarded of extra revelations that were hidden to others. Do you see how far the selection can go? And when you know that in these mega-churches, some members spend years without even being able to say hello to their pastor, you can imagine how they feel –these children – when they realize that once again, they won’t be granted the privilege to come close to him because they are guilty to be poor and not being able to pay… 

Anyway, as I was saying earlier, this is a very abusive and cruel discrimination: it is discriminating by money. The richer you are, the more you get all the attention. Who with a true father’s heart, will treat his own children this way? 

This elitism is totally different from that of Jesus. The Master used to spot among His disciples, those who were more spiritually advanced, those who were more likely to understand what He was doing, those to whom the torch would be handed down first after His departure and He would invest Himself in them. He would give them the meaning of parables, would allow them to witness firsthand some of the miracles and key events of His life (resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, transfiguration, Gethsemane…) However, never, never ever did they have to pay for the right for that intimacy. If paying had been mandatory, anyone could have done it and precious pearls would have fallen in the midst of swines. 

How different things are today! The financial bar is increasingly higher and only those who can pay are entitled to the "grace." It doesn’t matter whether they are Christians or not, mature or not. Do you have problems? Do you want a breakthrough? Do you want a powerful move of God in your life? Give…I mean…Pay! Because God’s favours are bought nowadays. They all have a price. There is nothing for nothing and money answers all… It seems as though God had become so materialistic that He is no longer capable of doing anything without us giving Him money first. Some bibles no longer have “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force,” but “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the rich takes it by force.” They no longer read, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God,” they read: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a poor person to enter the kingdom of God.” The Lord is not in this trade fair elitism. 

“When they came to Jerusalem, he went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple. He overturned the moneychangers' tables and the chairs of those who sold doves. He wouldn't even let anyone carry a vessel through the temple. Then he began to teach them, saying, "It is written, is it not, 'My house is to be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have turned it into a hideout for bandits!"” (Mark 11:15-17, ISV) 

The House of God has ceased to be a House of prayer to become a trading place. And I am not referring to those who sell a few treats at the end of the service but, to all those who are selling the Word of God in the Temple: Jesus only rebuked the dealers. In those days, the pilgrims who lived far away from Jerusalem and who could not carry their tithes along or the animals they wished to sacrifice, would go to the Temple to buy what they needed there; but the moneychangers and the merchants would take advantage of them and use usurer rates. A wonderful business, even for the scribes and the Pharisees. 

I know that many justify themselves by saying that these fees are only collected to cover the costs of logistics, the rental of the hall and the speakers’ fees. But when God sends, He also provides: if there are no means to support these charges, why take people into such an adventure? 

“In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we should help the weak and remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"” (Acts 20:35, ISV) 

In fact, I am not at all against doing Christian programs in hotels or any other location which would be more convenient to a certain social group that must also hear the Gospel. However, I do think the entrance should be free. The Church that wants to start this form of evangelization has to budget for it. The members who are well-off and all those who have the gift of liberality can take care of that but, participants should never pay an entry fee. NEVER. They should be free to respond to what they have received, as they feel. If the meal was good, guests will eagerly come to enquire when they can have some more. Some might even want to give their financial support; but even if that was not the case, it shouldn’t stop us from pursuing the vision…if it was really from God. 

The Church is not out there to make money. It is out there to be the Lord’s arms, feet, heart and mouth and to continue providing a solution to all sorts of human misery, in His Spirit.

The Church is not a Firm managed by a C.E.O; it is a spiritual venture with Christ Jesus at its Head. 

 

What do we have that we have not received (from God)? And when we received it, did we pay for it? Let us show the world that the love of God has really been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given to us and that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving! 

God bless you!