MATTHEW FURAN BLOWING HIS TOP: a CLEAR example of his sick pride!!

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Earlier posts that lead to better learning about Matthew Furan:
 
Leadership in the Church (updated last on 10/31/10...

Revisionist's History, according to MATTHEW FURAN, of Calvary ...

"Jesus demands our worship in the form of a tithe!" as per Matthew ...

One has to bear in mind that, I was fooled by this man, just as everyone else is at Calvary Baptist Church of Niagara! I wanted desperately to do soul winning which he was to have taught me, but never did, putting monies into it I did not have but had to charge!

This liar never made the time to do any soul-winning!
"Shooting the breeze" is more his style, reason why he has to "recycle" sermons!

Yet, it was just this, the SHOW they put on when I first attended back on July 4, 2010, during the Vacation Bible Study week, going soul-winning every day, that had me decide to join this church!

After it was over, and there was no one else who could be a font of money to impress, THERE WAS NEVER ANY SOUL-WINNING DONE BY THE HIM, he having sent me, by myself, in a bad neighborhood. Not having found the lady home, I attempted to give him back the card that had been given him by Pastor Matthew Smith when visiting while Matthew was away on a trip to Alabama/Texas with the 15-seater church's van,... but he would not take it back!! I still have it! HE DID NOT CARE TO WIN THAT ONE SOUL, a soul that had filled out that card at a fair in Tri-City area for Pastor Matthew Smith, wanting to be contacted!!

After all, he gets monies from missions throughout, THROUGH HIS LYING, even about his wife having cancer, just to tug at heartstrings that keep him living HIGH ON THE HOG, and could care less to win souls in poor neighborhoods!!

I quit when on September 29, 2010, I heard of the "Missing Monies," and upon reading the finally-provided "Prayer List!"


I must preface this batch of emails by saying that by this time the Duplicator had sat UNUSED for four weeks! This was a STAND ALONE duplicator for which all I needed was an electric outlet, and whatever CDs were to be copied! I would do the whole thing! I just could not get his 'go ahead!' He was too busy "remodeling" the entryway!

FOUR WEEKS WE COULD HAVE BEEN SPREADING GOD'S WORD,
BUT HE MADE NOT THE TIME FOR IT!!

The ONLY reason I put my money into it was to duplicate Matthew Furan's sermons and with them go around soul-winning.

He ends his sermons quite abruptly, without even a word of goodbye in most instances. Thus, someone had the great idea of having him purposely ADD to the end of his sermons a brief message! No use soul-winning if the contacted person cannot reach anyone afterwards!

It was with this idea that I approached him, only to have a proudful and imbecilic response! The ignoramus, lacking the most elementary of language comprehension, decided he was being criticized! What a moron!

You see, by this time the list was growing of the discrepancies I saw take place with this fruitless ministry! The financial scandal and the "prayer list" were the clincher for me to not waste any more of my time associating with one such dishonest person, whom I have doubts be saved! He is a fake who will shed utterly crocodile tears reading a letter to a grandfather about whom he could have cared less!

¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

¹⁷Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

¹⁸A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

¹⁹Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

²⁰Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:15-20

Here I also helped him straighten out the order and the title of this series, which, by the way, he has discontinued to preach on the King James Bible, and eliminated them from "his" site! He absolutely lacks any kind of consistency in the titles, etc., yet, won't accept any help in the office! He has too much to hide, up there!

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On Sep 19, 2010, at 8:25 PM, Helga helhickm@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi, Pastor! I pray you have not forgotten your promise, to record that sermon on the King James Bible, for which Dave was not there! Also, I suppose last week's was the 4th part, and today's the 5th. KIng James Bible Series: The New Testament and Inspiration Part 4 King James Bible Series- Part 2 - Inspiration KIng James Bible Series- Part 1- Revelation So, it is Part 3 that is missing!! I hope to eventually put these on my blog, also! Thank you! God bless you! Helga

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--- On Sun, 9/19/10, Matthew Furan cbcofniagara@verizon.net> wrote:

From: Matthew Furan cbcofniagara@verizon.net

Subject: Re: Hello!
To: "Helga" helhickm@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010, 8:44 PM

Nooooooo, I have not forgotten!! :)

Sent from my iPhone

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On Sep 19, 2010, at 20:58, Helga helhickm@yahoo.com> wrote:

I am such a pest, aren't I ?! Oh! Well! Someone has to be!! Ha Ha Ha!
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--- On Sun, 9/19/10, MATTHEW FURAN cbcofniagara@verizon.net> wrote:


From: MATTHEW FURAN cbcofniagara@verizon.net
Subject: Re: Hello!
To: "Helga" helhickm@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010, 9:16 PM

Grrrr

Sincerely,

Pastor Matthew Furan

Sent from my iPhone

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On Sep 20, 2010, at 13:56, Helga helhickm@yahoo.com> wrote:

HA HA HA!! You don't mean that!!

Anyway, Pastor, I spoke to Phillip this morning! His grandmother is back at St. Mary's! Had a very rough night! I feel so very sorry for her,... and Phillip!

He has a great idea about your sermons, that I hope you will consider!

Ending them with a salvation message of sorts! A "signature" you could add to your sermons that will be heard by those outside Calvary Baptist. Like, and I hate to say this, Billy Crone does with his videos! Bryan also has done it with his video on the "Versions, Exposed!"

This will be particularly useful when we duplicate your sermons to distribute them when "soul-winning!"

You said this week we would have a meeting about helping around the office, etc.?????

Ah! See now, you make me be a pest!! Grrrrr...

May God bless you!!

Love in Christ,

Helga

--- On Mon, 9/20/10, MATTHEW FURAN cbcofniagara@verizon.net> wrote:

From: MATTHEW FURAN cbcofniagara@verizon.net
Subject: Re: Hello!
To: "Helga" helhickm@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, September 20, 2010, 7:02 PM

I have been and Lord willing, always prayerful as to how each message is presented, please do not compare me to another pastor. To compare ourselves with one another is not wise. I believe that the center of every message should be Christ centered and I believe that everyone that I have preached is. Whether the Gospel is presented in the beginning, middle or end of a sermon, it is the Holy Spirit's job to convict. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Pastor Matthew Furan

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 20, 2010, at 19:10, Helga helhickm@yahoo.com> wrote:

GOODNESS GRACIOUS! You have COMPLETELY misunderstood what I said!!

The thought was to let people know from where the sermon is coming, i.e., mentioning Calvary Baptist Church, giving out a phone number, and having whomever be able to reach someone for more information, so on and so forth!!

There was absolutely no "comparison" meant to be had! If I thought that apostate Crone was of any worth it would be there that one would find me!!

I find it absurd that you would even think that!

Thanks for your INconsideration!

I find you exemplar! Were it not so, I would not endeavor to have your sermons heard by as many as possible!!

You owe me an apology!

Monday, September 20, 2010 7:25 PM

From:

"MATTHEW FURAN"

View contact details

To:

"Helga"

Ok.. I misunderstood you, sorry! :)

Sincerely,

Pastor Matthew Furan

Sent from my iPhone

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Bishops and Deacons by Pastor Jessie Delewski of Bible Believers Fellowhip

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Here the rules by which
a WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
is sifted out!

This is an AWESOME BLUEPRINT to be followed by any who aim to be a true shepherd for the Lord! A true shepherd to be circumspect and aware of the needs of his flock, never giving reason for less-than-flattering talk about him! A Godly man!

Bishops and Deacons Part 1

Jessie Delewski Bible Believers Fellowship SUN 09/26/2010

What does the Bible say about the offices of a Bishop and a Deacon? What are the qualifications for men who desire to fill these positions among the body of Christ?

In this sermon, Pastor Jessie answers the above questions from God's word. You will see what God expects from leaders within the church!

Bishops and Deacons Part 2

Jessie Delewski Bible Believers Fellowship MON 08/30/2010

In this message, we look at what types of things a bishop and a deacon can expect to encounter in the ministry. We look at some key scriptures in the books of 1st and 2nd Timothy, as well as Titus, where Paul is giving instructions to younger men entering the ministry.


The following are items that jump to the surface about Matthew Furan upon hearing these sermons!

Matthew Furan is known to be a striker!!
He gave an example of it right on the pulpit!

Ask his incredibly meek children, meek for they live terrified of this man, I have no doubt! I have never seen such "lifeless" children! I feel so very sorry for them!

Eric Mattox is so very blessed to be away at school and not be traumatized by this man any further, a man who has never cared for him, not even to give him his name, he having had to explain all his life why he carries his mother's maiden name!!! Mind you, Eric is 19, Matthew Furan to have just celebrated his 18th wedding anniversary in Montana! It seems of time there was plenty to rectify this, especially for someone seeking the clergy! A further post will expound on this!

He doesn't list his $117,000.00 home in an upsacle neighborhood because it makes it obvious he is into "pastoring" for the FILTHY LUCRE it produces, the same he got out of being a MOOCHIONARY!

PROFIT is about what Matthew Furan's "ministry" is, RIPPING PEOPLE OFF, LYING RIGHT ON THE CHURCH'S SITE (HIS SITE!!), LYING RIGHT FROM THE PULPIT, TWISTING AND PERVERTING GOD'S WORD!!

Fancy car he has, that is kept parked in his double garage while he takes the church's van that seats 15 (quite a comfortable trip, eh, for a family of six?!) on CROSS-COUNTRY VACATIONS!! Thousands of miles added to the church's van, together with the wear and tear, drastically reducing its value!!

PRIDE!! Matthew Furan gave this word a new meaning, he to be so very "superior" to his own brother, at whom he points an eternal finger for past wrongdoings (what a laugh, eh?, after one reads about Eric); his mother, who is ailing, with whom HE WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO!! And lied about this too, and to me!! He claimed it was they who would have nothing to do with him because he was not Roman Catholic! A LIAR, considering his mother is Baptist!!

FEED THE FLOCK HE NEVER HAS!! ON THE CONTRARY! HE HID THE WORD OF GOD FROM IT, NEVER HAVING MENTIONED THE KING JAMES BIBLE while they lingered on perversions!

Ironically, now I see that the site mentions the King James Bible, but one could thumb through the ENTIRE CONSTITUTION of 41 pages and never see the words KING JAMES BIBLE ANYWHERE ON IT!! That is on hard-copy! He can't "erase" that!

Can anyone imagine that, a SO-CALLED INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH TO NOT MENTION THE KING JAMES BIBLE IN ITS ARTICLE OF FAITH IN ITS CONSTITUTION??

One would be hard-pressed to find such, and when one does, one can bet it has a WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING hovering over the flock, looking to devour the sheep!!

One could never tell Matthew Furan he is wrong without being marked by him!
HE IS NEVER WRONG ACCORDING TO HIM!!

I will post the email exchange I had with him that proved this to me: His sick pride!
He was utterly FURIOUS when he thought he was being corrected by me!!

BLAMELESS, MATTHEW FURAN IS NOT!!
HIS SOUL TO BE AS BLACK AS THE DEVIL!!

NEVER A MAN OF GOD!!

BUT A SURE MINION OF THE DEVIL!!

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The Authority of the Church by David J. Stewart

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Yesterday I listened to two sermons by Pastor Jessie Delewski of Bible Believers Fellowship, that have fueled an anger in me I find difficulty in venting! The enormity of instances and sickening examples to state to be so very many, one doesn't quite know where to begin!!

Indeed, the disgusting subject to infuse such revulsion in me would have to be Matthew "WOLF-IN-SHEEP'S-CLOTHING" Furan!

I thought a good night's sleep would do the trick to allow that I ponder the facts to disclose, yet, they all seem to have incredible relevance, and I do intend in stating them here, although I doubt I be able to finish this today, March 14, 2011.

The incredibly amazing fact remains that NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON OF WORTH HAS COME FORTH TO DEFEND THIS PIECE OF SLIME! NOT A ONE!! AMAZING!! Indeed, when I this mentioned before, I got a barrage of "anonymous" messages within a 36-hour period, the anonymous to be no other than the piece of slime in question!

I have gotten "into it" on my YouTube Christian channel and can always count on my brothers and sisters in Christ to come to my defense, WITHOUT MY ASKING! When one idiot announced that if I did not take down a response I had given regarding the worthlessness of the NIV on a video, he would post a request on his channel for people to harass me! Not only did none of his diminutive viewership contact me, but, as I had told him, my reputation preceded any imbecility anyone could ever attach to me, and a brother made a video further embarrassing the fool! I thank and praise God for such true brothers and sisters in Christ!

But, listening to Pastor Jessie Delewski's sermons, INCREDIBLY MONUMENTAL SERMONS, I have come to realize this fool could not have done and do what he does without help, help he gets from the two so-called deacons, elders! Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33 And Pastor Jessie's sermon fully well affirms the MOST UNETHICAL relationship that Matthew Furan has with these!

Ah! These sermons are a real "How to be a decent God-fearing pastor (bishop) and deacon!" It left me breathless for the ample teaching that the word of God does regarding this, yet, LYING, FILTHY, CONNIVING THIEF that Matthew Furan is, HE HAS TWISTED GOD'S TEACHING TO FIT HIS EVIL AND DIABOLICAL FILTHY LUCRE DESIGNS, through the most disgusting aid given him by these two, Charlie Slack (the one who promised to call me back and never did, on Sept. 29, 2010), and Harry Allen! SHAME ON THESE TWO! I WANT TO THROW UP just remembering the times that Matthew Furan has, FROM THE PULPIT, stated while smacking his lying lips to have sumptuous dinners at the Allen's house! THIS TO BE CONTRARY to guidelines provided right in the word of God for any in such a position!

Ironically, it is no different in civilian or political life, where the APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY is to be curbed at all cost! (A good example of this is the AFL-CIO Head Boasting of Multiple Visits to the Barack Obama's White House!) Fools cannot contain themselves, and gloat of their improprieties; Matthew Furan to embody the most ignorant of these! One only need give him rope and he will hang himself quite quickly! His words the most damnable evidence against him... unless one gets to see the financial records of the Calvary Baptist Church of Niagara! Then, I have no doubt, there be so many fingerprints of more than one thief to be found!

After listening to Pastor Delewski's sermons, I was boiling! I thought I'd sleep on it, and today I researched further in the Jesus-is-Savior.com site which I use, extensively! An amazing thing is that, when the word of God is followed to a "t," seldom is there a discrepancy to be had between the Fundamental King James Bible believers! This is a truly amazing statistic!

A couple of weeks ago I had already read a sermon by Jack Hyles I had meant to post but never got around to it! Oh! He never fails to come right down to the point, either!

After listening to Pastor Delewski's sermons, I went into this fool's site and found it revamped, again! He is consistently wiping out sermons which he will be preaching again,... and again,... and again!! too lazy to come up with new material!!

I immediately saw this one, which, I am sure, is about to be gone, so, download and listen to it just for the sake of comparison! I was only too sickened by it!

Here, you reader, compare it with just what the Jesus-is-Savior site has! Tomorrow I will post Pastor Jessie Delewski's sermons! These, you will see, are in full agreement with what Jesus-is-Savior.com states, a veritable blueprint for pastors and deacons!

Authority, Where Does It Come From? by Matthew Furan	14.02.2010

He likes to show that he has been in the military and is simply unable to facilitate a civilian's search for a sermon by putting up the date in civilized fashion! The above date is quite obvious, but, for those who are not used to it, it gets confusing when the day is earlier than 13.

The Authority of the Church

By David J. Stewart

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples [examples] to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." —1st Peter 5:2-4

The Authority of the New Testament Church is the Word of God. Jesus is called THE WORD OF GOD in Revelation 19:13. Jesus is the FOUNDATION of the New Testament Church... "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1st Corinthians 3:11). Jesus is the Authority of the New Testament Church.

Jesus is the Living Word of God and the Bible is the Written Word of God... "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:1,2,14). Jesus is the Word of God incarnate.

The Bible is the believers FINAL AUTHORITY on all matters. This is the insurmountable difference between Christianity and all other religious beliefs, teachings, dogmas and philosophies. People frequently ask me why I think my beliefs are correct over other people's beliefs. I readily explain to them that everything I believe is based upon the premise that the Bible is God's Word. That's why I believe the way I do. My entire perception of everything I believe is from a strict Biblical perspective. The King James Bible is God's inspired, inerrant, preserved Word. I am as narrow-minded as the King James Bible!

The Church is Not a State Licensed Organization

The Church is a group of "called out believers" who assemble in Jesus' name (Matthew 18:20). Anytime a group of born-again believers assemble together, a local New Testament Church has formed. [THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE!!] The idea of a universal (i.e., Catholic) Church is not taught in the Scriptures. Certainly, every believer is a part of the overall Body of Christ; but a distinction must be made between the Body of Christ and the local New Testament Church which Jesus began in His earthly ministry. There is NO universal church today. All believers throughout history will be gathered together for the first time at the Rapture (1st Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1st Corinthians 15:51-54). The Rapture could happen at any moment. Even so come Lord Jesus! The Bible teaches a local New Testament church based upon the early church in the book of Acts and the Epistles. God has given us an example to follow in the Scriptures.

Philemon 1:2 speaks of having a church in one's home... " [Another very important detail!!] And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the CHURCH IN THY HOUSE." Again we read in Colossians 4:15... "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and THE CHURCH WHICH IS IN HIS HOUSE." You don't need a government license to Biblically start a church in your home. You don't need a big building with chandeliers, padding carpeting, a pulpit, a choir, pews and an altar. Your home can be a church if it's a gathering place for Christians who desire to study the Word of God, win the community to Christ, contend for the Christian faith, stand against the evils of society, help the fatherless and widows, and fellowship with other likeminded believers. But remember, to be a church the Final Authority must be the Word of God.

501C3 State Licensing Brought Evil Into Our Nation—Silencing Our Pastors About Blatant Government Crimes, tyranny and Housing Theft.

Churches in America are by law required to obtain a 501C3 State License to operate legally. This is unbiblical. [YET, Calvary Baptist Church is a 501c3 church and HAPPY TO BE THERE!! Matthew Furan was quick to tell me that when I brought the CD/DVD Duplicator in "You should have told me, and I would have given you a number and you would not have dad to pay any taxes!"] It is not the government's place to approve or disapprove the existence of a church. The true agenda behind the 501C3 program was to cripple and silence America's preachers against government crimes, tyranny and massive theft of taxpayer dollars.

By applying for a license, permission is being sought to start a church. We don't need the government's permission to form a church. The Church is not a business organization, although it may legally function as one, with elected or appointed officials who manage it. But the state licensed organization is NOT the New Testament Church. A New Testament Church is a group of local believers in the community who gather together in Jesus' name for the work of soulwinning (Acts 20:20), helping the fatherless and widows (James 1:27) and edifying one another in the Lord (1st Thessalonians 5:11).

So any state recognized religious organization that is not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT a Biblical church; and any religious group that is not composed of born-again believers is NOT a church in any sense of the term. America is saturated with licensed religious organizations, so-called "churches," that aren't even operated by Christians. Consider the Mormon Church, which is NO church at all. They are unbelievers who openly deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Just because the state gives them a license doesn't make them a church in God's eyes. Mormonism is a sex-cult, founded by sexual-degenerate Joseph Smith in 1830. The Church is NOT an organization.

Man Has NO Authority in the Church

Sadly, the authority in many churches today is an arrogant board of directors, a greedy pastor, a pompous pulpit committee or some other power-hungry governing body. Anytime men are in charge instead of the Word of God; you don't have a church, you have a cult.

The Bible gives us basic instructions concerning what church leadership is supposed to be like...

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." —1st Peter 5:2-4

Here are FOUR Biblical principles on church leadership:

1. Pastors are to Feed the Flock. Titus 1:3 states: "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." It is the preaching of the Word of God that changes men's lives, brings sinners to Jesus Christ for salvation and causes a community to repent.
   
   The average so-called "church" nowadays is a big joke, more resemblant of a Las Vegas entertainment club than a church. Rock music has no place in the church. The average churchgoer is woefully ignorant of the Scriptures because of a lazy, scoundrel pastor who preys upon the flock; rather than feeding and nurturing the flock with the Word of God. [Such as Matthew Furan, who NEVER even exposed the King James Bible - and this a "fundamental" Baptist church! What a joke!] The Bible is Truth and any preaching that avoids the Truth is NOT Biblically preaching!
   
   Tragically, most churches today are woefully lacking a genuine man of God who faithfully teaches the Word of God. [Especially the ones that are "sent" having previously been a MOOCHIONARY!] This is why so many churches are merely social clubs were elderly people gather to sing a few hymns and then have coffee after the service while they gossip. A pastor can only preach what he is, and that's the big problem in America. [THIS ONE TO BE A THIEF!] Preachers are dime-a-dozen; but where are the men of God, who walk with God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, and having a burning insatiable desire to preach the Truth?
   
2. Pastors Must be Sincere in their Calling. No pastor should enter the ministry who is merely looking for an easier way to make a living, i.e., filthy lucre. I know a pastor who used to be a used car salesman. He decided to enter the ministry as a pastor so he wouldn't have to get his hands dirty anymore working on cars. He's a bum! He doesn't belong in the ministry. He doesn't have a pastor's heart; sadly, he pastors his church the same shifty and dishonest way that he sold used cars.
   
   The Bible teaches that a man of God who desires to pastor should do so—not as a means to escape working a secular job, nor as a means to bilk people out of their money—but rather, from a good and honest heart that loves THE TRUTH and desires to reach people for Jesus Christ. Honestly, I think it would be a wonderful thing if 100% of all the churches in America lost their tax-exemption today. It would force pastors to become more honest. The church is not about owning millions of dollars in property and buildings. [And "pastor" Furan wanted to buy the house next to the church which was selling for some $40,000.00 for an assistant pastor, of a congregation that is dwindling and counts to no more than 20 families at the moment! How funny!! It is OK for an assistant pastor to live around the urban church, but Matthew Furan, the "pastor" sought an upper-scale house, 4 miles away, costing three times as much, for $117,000.00]. That is an organization. The church reaches beyond earthly religious kingdoms built by men.
   
   I am not against owning property and buildings; but that is NOT what the Church is about. [Really! But the well-versed visiting pastor we had gave a sermon on ways to donate a house upon a member's death! These certainly are from the same crooked school!] No pastor should live "high-on-the-hog" at the expense of his congregation. [Ah! But Matthew Furan has a maid to clean his mansion!] I am leery of church leaders who make frequent trips to places like the Holy Land and Hawaii at the expense of their members (most of whom could never afford such a vacation) [such as the Furan family, which avails themselves of the church's van for their cross-country trips to Alabama and Texas!]. If anyone needs a vacation, it's the poor guy stuck in a factory 48-hours a week, working with a bunch of God-hating heathens. Why should ministry leaders live so good? It's selfish.
   
3. Pastors are NOT to Lead as if They Own the Church. I once heard a pastor get angry and exclaim, "This is my church!" [Ha Ha! "We all know the pastor is to rule the church, Amen?" The fool in a sermon after I left, if I am not mistaken. I know it wasn't during my brief but painful stint there!] Well it must have been because it certainly wasn't God's. In his own self-righteous eyes he was the big honcho, the big man on campus, Mr. Big Stuff. In reality, he was a very little man with an big ego, a short fuse and a serious spiritual draught in his life. [Gee! Just described Matthew Furan!] The Bible didn't matter to him, which is why he regularly critiqued my stand for the King James Bible.
   
   Now please don't misunderstand me, I'm 100% for hellfire and damnation preaching from the pulpit. I don't have a problem with a preacher who calls sin by name, yells from the pulpit, and gets mad about evil (In fact, I have a problem with a preacher who doesn't do that). I'm all for Billy Sunday style rip-snort and hollering preaching against sin that uplifts Jesus Christ, exposes sin by name, and gets the Devil on the run. But the Final Authority of the church is God's Word and NOT what the pastor thinks or does.
   
   Catholics have woefully perverted the Scriptures to teach that their priests have extensive powers to forgive sin, fabricate their own doctrines and even require sexual-favors from innocent children and nuns. Though not official dogma, the preponderance of over 12,000 sex-abuse claims against the Catholic Church since 1950 is irrefutable evidence of their sick abuse of priestly power. This is what happens when men take control of the church. Ministers are not supposed to take advantage of their congregation in any way.
   
   I have a problem with is any ministry leader that directs his people away from the plain teachings of the Bible. [Well, it happens when continually these are lied by being told "It is biblical!" when it is not!] For example: Thousands of preachers all across the U.S. and Canada idolize John MacArthur, who teaches the damnable heresy of Lordship Salvation. Consequently, the heresy of Lordship Salvation has woefully infiltrated many of America's churches because of his heretical influence. If ministers would follow the Word of God instead of John MacArthur, then they would know that salvation does not require one to forsake their sins to be saved... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
   
4. Pastors are to Lead by Example. Ministers should be Christlike examples for their congregations to follow. The pastor is to be the greatest servant of the people... "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matthew 23:11). In most churches today, ministry leaders help themselves more than anyone else. The little bit of pocket-change that Pat Robertson gives to the poor is peanuts compared to the money they're raking in at The 700 Club. Perhaps that's why he refuses to disclose where the money's going to the Better Business Bureau... "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you... And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (2nd Peter 2:1,3).
   
   I know a pastor who continually pressures his congregation to give more money, [Indeed! To tithe! And to TITHE means giving it ALL to the church! Other giving is not to be counted in the tithing to the church! This is SPECIFICALLY TOLD in a sermon by Matthew Furan! Ha Ha Ha! How fitting!] even at one point pressuring them to cash-in their children's college savings. That's just unchristian. It doesn't reflect our faith in God very well when we make money AN ISSUE. Pastors who insatiably want to build more buildings and start new projects, at the expense of placing heavy financial burdens upon his church membership is wrong. We're experiencing an economic recession in America at this time; but the average pastor is still living high-on-the-hog at the expense of his church. This is not Christian. There's nothing worse than a money-grabbing pastor. A genuine man of God won't bilk his people for money, [nor ask for EXTRA SACRIFICIALLY GIVING after they are caught with their hand in the till!] or teach strange doctrines to lure them into giving more.
   
   

Soul-winning is Not a Method of Church Building; It is a Command

This is very interesting. God wants us to be active soul-winners (Proverb 11:30); not church planters. There are many people who go around the country starting churches, but God commanded us to go soul-winning (and never once to go start churches). There's nothing wrong with starting new churches; but what we must beware of is getting caught up into building ministries rather than publicly evangelizing the community with the Gospel, going door-to-door as the early Church did in Acts 20:20 (they had a 20/20 vision for the Lord). [An expensive donated by me and two other people CD/DVD Duplicator for the purpose of duplicating sermons with which to go soul-winning, SAT, UNUSED FOR ONE ENTIRE MONTH while this piece of slime was acquiring an unnecessary couch and pictures for the entry that was already beautiful with old historic pictures of the church's beginnings, which were dumped in some closet WITHOUT HIS ASKING NOR TELLING ANYONE! $334.84 of my own CHARGED monies went into it, which I was impatient to use, but he would not allow anyone to come near those offices! On September 29, 2010 I found out why! Too much hanky panky going on with the church books he could not afford to have anyone inadvertently view!]

The following excellent excerpt is taken from Dr. Jack Hyles masterpiece book, ENEMIES OF SOUL-WINNING, chapter 10...

1. Soul winning is not a method of church building. It is a command from our Commanding General. Occasionally someone will come to the Pastors' School at First Baptist Church of Hammond, spend a week hearing and seeing the soul-winning emphasis here, and go home to win souls and see his church grow. This growth may continue for several years, and then it may level off. Often this same pastor will then go to someone else's pastors' school to find other methods by which he can build his attendance. Soul winning is not a method; it is a command. We are supposed to go soul winning and do soul winning if our churches grow or if our churches decrease in attendance. An increase in church attendance is simply a delightful product of soul winning; but if such an increase does not occur, the command of the Great Commission is no less valid.

We are likewise commanded to baptize people upon their acceptance of Jesus Christ. If the church grows or not, the Great Commission is still valid. We are to win souls, baptize our converts, and train our converts to win souls.

2. Our command is not to build churches. I know of no place in the Bible where we are commanded to build churches. Matthew 16:18 tells us that it is Jesus' place to build the church. It is our job to obey His command. I am not in the church-building business; I am in the soul-winning business, and I'm doing my best to conserve the results and to build a spiritual hospital for the healing of wounded Christians and a dining hall for the feeding of God's people. It is easy for us in obeying the Great Commission to oft times enjoy church growth. Then our motives become wrong, as we decide to build churches rather than win souls. The motto of my ministry is, "I will not use my people to build my work; I will use my work to build my people."

3. Where are the converts? In Luke 17:12-19 we have the story of the cleansing of ten lepers. Only one returned to express gratitude, and our Saviour asked the question, "Where are the nine?" (Luke 17:17) The answer is found in the same verse, "Were there not ten cleansed?" Regardless of where the nine are, they were cleansed. This is the big thing. It was nice for the one to return to express gratitude; it would have been nicer for all ten to have returned, but the main thing about this story is that all of them were cleansed. Now, I'm not saying that all the people who walk the aisles in our churches to receive Christ are sincere; but I do believe that the percentage of people who are genuinely saved who walk the aisles in the churches under attack by our dear brother is just as great as the percentage of the churches who have lesser numbers profess faith in Christ.

SOURCE: http://www.soulwinning.info/books/jack_hyles/enemies_of_soulwinning/where_are_the_nine.htm

Amen and amen!

Jesus is the Foundation of the Church; Not Peter

Jesus Christ Himself is the Foundation of the Church. Peter is NOT the head of the church, and never was. Jesus Christ is the "Rock" (Greek, "Petra") upon which the New Testament Church is built. This is made abundantly clear by Peter himself, in 1st Peter 2:7 ...

"Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner."

Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone, the Foundation, upon which all Christianity is built. It is blasphemy to teach that a mere sinful man, such as Peter, could be the head of the Church. This is typical Catholic brainwashing. The name "Peter" in the Greek means "petros" (i.e., a small stone or rock); BUT, Jesus is referred to as "Petra" (a large rock or mountain) in Matthew 16:18. In the original Greek Jesus said, “Thou art petros [a little piece of rock], and upon this Petra [bedrock] I will build my church.” Clearly, Jesus was NOT speaking about Peter, because Peter was only a small stone.

Every believer is a member of the Body of Christ, and when two or more of those believers come together in Jesus' name, a church has formed. The Authority of that church is the Word of God, Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:28-29, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For HE TAUGHT THEM AS ONE HAVING AUTHORITY, and not as the scribes.” God is an authoritative God, Who raises up authoritative preachers, to preach from an authoritative Book.

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Amen! When we teach or preach the Word of God, we can do so with authority knowing that we have the PROMISES of God to back up everything we say. There is no controversy if you believe the Bible.

Conclusion

Men are NOT the authority of the Church. Although a pastor or deacon board may have authority over an organization; this is NOT the church. To qualify as a genuine New Testament church, then the Word of God must be the FINAL AUTHORITY.

Ye Must Be Born Again! |

You Need HIS Righteousness!

In the interest of not making this too long, I shall stop here, to continue tomorrow!

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What About Tithing? Is it REQUIRED? by Jessie Delewski of Bible Believers Fellowship

¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

¹⁷Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

¹⁸A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

¹⁹Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

²⁰Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:16-20 (King James Bible)

I went to bed last night listening to a sermon, as I have been making it a practice to do, lately. It has certainly beat the Fox News Cable watching at that hour!

After listening to this sermon I was dumbfounded! It is one thing to read it as the Jesus-is-Savior site presents! It is another to hear it!

Not surprisingly, I again have verification that Matthew Furan of Calvary Baptist Church of Niagara does no more than LIE RIGHT FROM THE PULPIT! INVARIABLY!! HE TO BE A COMPULSIVE LIAR TO BE SURE!!

Indeed, it was the scandal broken on September 29, 2010 that prompted I leave, the scandal of the "disappearing monies" earmarked for payment to a contractor for completed work, DONATED BY VARIOUS OTHER CHURCHES, AS THIS IS A MISSION CHURCH, UNLIKE WHAT THE "WEBSITE OF MATTHEW FURAN" CLAIMS, that this is a "self-supporting" church (A LIE!!); three months having passed without sending monies committed to missionaries;... while it was that Matthew Furan, THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING at Calvary Baptist Church of Niagara, never missed out on his scheduled trips to Lancaster (PA), Texas, Alabama using the Church's van, and later a "vacation" to Montana!! I was there not yet three months before all this came to the fore among much more, which made me sufficiently nauseated to leave!

That last day I attended, it was a Wednesday evening service after which this despicable character called for an emergency meeting during which he did his best to point the finger at the treasurer, who conveniently was not present, and of whom we were not invited to ask any questions! By then it had become obvious that this filthy character ruled the church, as a subsequent sermon he gave stated quite well! I was asked to listen to it, it being so enlightening I had it downloaded. You see, he believes in "revising" history and removes sermons at will, thus, there is not an archive of these.

During this meeting he was quite forceful regarding the giving "a little extra" in the "collection plate!" Indeed, it is a COLLECTION PLATE PASSED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A WEEK, DURING EVERY SERVICE TO INCLUDE SUNDAY SCHOOL, he to mention TITHING more times than I can remember in that brief period!

Now, I am sure any who have kept up with this know very well how utterly disgusted I was when later coming to learn where he lives, when he bought the house, and just how much he paid for it.

Indeed, tithing was of the foremost urgency for he has this hefty mortgage to pay for that upscale abode far away from the urban inconveniences of Niagara Falls City proper, which cost more than TWICE any other similar or better house would have cost in the same.

Ah! But his "tithing" was biblical, was it not?? After all he never fails to cite chapter and verse, and who is checking!!

It is well to know that the diminutive congregation at Calvary Baptist of Niagara is comprised mostly of widows and cash-strapped people, like myself, who have to charge in order to buy the minimal extra! Ah! But don't I remember this thief stating how proud he was because he had no charge cards!! Indeed, he avails himself of the church's coffers, van, and only God knows what else, so, why would he have to have a charge card?! HE TAKES IT FROM THE CONGREGATION!!

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10 (King James Bible)

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:13 (King James Bible)


AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT MATTHEW FURAN
LOVES MORE THAN MONEY!!

Well, listen intently to this sermon, and verify for yourself if there is any tithing to be done in today's Christian body!! Mind you, this fits in perfectly well with what Jesus-is-Savior also preaches! There is absolutely no doctrinal chasms in the truly fundamental Christian body, Baptist or not!

Please click on the following link to hear the sermon.

What About Tithing?

Jessie Delewski | Is it REQUIRED?Bible Believers Fellowship SUN 08/01/2010

In this message we look at what the Bible has to say about the subject of giving 10% of your income (or tithing) to a local church. We look first at tithing in the Old Testament before the giving of the law, and then under the law.

Next we go to the New Testament and look at the scriptures for Christians that deal with the subject of giving.

By the end of this message you will see that there is NO support in the Bible for a FORCED, 10% of your income, weekly system of "offerings".

Paid ministry is scriptural, but Christians need to be careful as to who they support with their money!

==============================

Then, if you wish, compare it to the MANDATED TITHING of which Mathew Furan is fond to proclaim, this in the gospel of Matthew Furan, of course!

To Give Or Not To Give, There's No Question About It
by Matthew Furan, given on March 7, 2010,
well before I there first attended!

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The feast at Matthew Furan's table!

Through life I have had to take many difficult stands, and one would think my skin would have become thick enough to not "feel" so much,... but that is not the reality!

Today, as I enjoyed a most wonderful lunch with someone, the air was thick with just when would either broach the pending subject: Calvary Baptist Church's wolf in sheep's clothing, Matthew Furan!

My heart broke and brakes for the likes of one such trusting and loving lamb, who shed tears remembering how the church used to be with over 40 families, which has now dwindled to less than half since this wolf has taken over!

"It seems that rather than building the church up, Furan has been razing it down!"
- not my words!

I do not like to do things out of revenge, and it took me almost a month before I exposed him with that my first post on "Leadership...," but, while feeling so very sorry, I am at the same time, very happy to have exposed this vile character, about whom I have come to learn a lot more worse things just in this last week, which only bolsters my deed!

It seems there be those who did not even know he still owns the house in Oklahoma, which he rents out!! This I know for certain for it was Barbara who mentioned it, when the storms were such in Oklahoma this summer that they were worried about the tenants in it!

Yes, I can well see how these well-dressed "pastors," and Furan is one for certain, with patent leather shining shoes and expensive suits, (to include the family whose boys I have never seen in anything that was not a beautiful suit! And given their diverging sizes, hand-me-downs are simply not a possibility!) live on the backs of others, of the "sacrificially giving" of the poor and the needy who certainly will never have their life-style!

I remember that I had to take a factory job for the first time in my life, if it was that I was going to provide well for my only child. I also remember him being about 5 or 6 before I could afford a suit for him, and only one!


Related post:

Leadership in the Church (updated last on 10/31/10)

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Tithing is Not Taught in the New Testament by David J. Stewart

This was originally posted on December 7, 2010, but, given that I just yesterday heard the most egregious of unethical sermons by one who deems himself to be a "pastor," it bears being repeated!

I pray you REALLY read what David J. Stewart says regarding this subject! Then you will know to NEVER AGAIN give the likes of Matthew Furan a single dime!!


If I had a dollar for every time I have heard from the pulpit the admonition to TITHE, AND "SACRIFICIALLY!!" I'd be able to make several car payments, let there be no doubt!!

Actually, it was only during my stint with the Jehovah's Witnesses that I NEVER heard any requests for money! They had a box OUTSIDE the sanctuary area where anyone could deposit money. The reason for this was that they would not care to sully the sanctuary with money, nor would any talk of it be done there! I never checked to see if they kept a record of what is given by any who wished for a statement. I have never given anything but cash, in any church to which I have ever gone, only resorting to a check if I lacked cash, for I would never let the plate go by me without my giving something! I have never cared for statements! I don't believe in keeping such "records!"

"It was a teaching of the old rabbis that no one should make a thoroughfare of the temple, or enter it with dust upon his feet.

"Let me not enter the temple as a mere passage to something else. Let me not put on the garments of worship in order that I may readily fill my purse. Let me not make the sanctuary a shortcut to the bank!

"Let me wipe my feet. Let me sternly shake off some things -- all frivolity, indifference, the spirit of haste and self-seeking. Let me not defile the courts of the Lord."

-- John Henry Jowett

Tithing is Not Taught

in the New Testament

By David J. Stewart

The word "tithing" is only mentioned in the New Testament concerning the hypocritical Pharisees and then again in Hebrews concerning the Old Testament command for Israel to support the priestly tribe of Levi. There is NO command for the New Testament Church to tithe.

When most people think of a "church," they picture a big building with lush carpeting, stained-glass windows, padded pews, and other extravagances; however, God intended for the New Testament Church to be something very different. Jesus never founded a State licensed organization. Philemon 1:2 speaks of having a church in one's home... "And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the CHURCH IN THY HOUSE." Again we read in Colossians 4:15... "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and THE CHURCH WHICH IS IN HIS HOUSE." You don't need a government license to Biblically start a church in your home. You don't need a big building with chandeliers, padding carpeting, a pulpit, a choir, pews and an alter. What a waste of God's money! Your home can be a church if it's a gathering place for Christians who desire to study the Word of God, win the community to Christ, contend for the Christian faith, stand against the evils of society, help the fatherless and widows, and fellowship with other likeminded believers. But remember, to be a church the Final Authority must be the Word of God.

Sadly, in America the word "church" has become synonymous with greed and money. This is NOT the way God intended for it to be. But you ask, "Didn't the early believers sell their possessions and give the money to the Apostles?" Yes, many did; but there's nothing in the Bible indicating that the Apostles pressured the people to give anything. In Acts 4:34-35 we read that many believers voluntarily sold their lands and houses to give the money TO THE NEEDY... "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." A good Scripture to correctly interpret this passage is James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." The Bible teaches that the purity of the ministry is to HELP THE POOR IN THEIR AFFLICTION.

The believers in Acts gave what they freely wanted to give and could afford to give. This is quite different than the evil we see happening in America today, where televangelists and greedy pastors are continually begging for more money, twisting the Scriptures in order to exploit people, even asking parents to sell-out their children by donating their college funds to the church.

God won't bless you for giving money to a wealthy preacher; God said to give the money to THE NEEDY. If your church leaders are keeping back part of the money to take trips to the Holy Land, then they are misappropriating God's money as did Ananias and Sapphira. Argue as you may, you cannot show me any Scripture in the New Testament where a church took God's money and vacationed with it. There is MUCH abuse of church funds in America today. It is apostasy and thievery.

A Typical "Non-profit" Scenario in the U.S.

I personally knew an elderly minister in Chicago who's ministry received over $100,000 a year in charitable contributions. The minister himself was receiving Social Security payments because he was 63-years old. As far as his income taxes indicated, he was living in poverty; but in reality he was living the life of a fat-cat. The church funds were at his disposal to spend anyway he wanted, and he did. He bought himself a nice cottage in the remote suburbs of Illinois and charged all the costs to renovate it to the church, indicating that the lumber and materials were used on the church building. He used to collect grocery receipts that people tossed in the garbage at the supermarket or dropped on the ground, and then reimburse himself with church funds claiming that he had spent that money out-of-pocket. Pretty slick huh?

Since the minister was only receiving Social Security payments and a very small salary from the church, this qualified him for freebies everywhere he went. He was too cheap to buy medical insurance; but it worked out well for him because when he sustained several thousands-of-dollars in medical bills at St. Mary's hospital, they eliminated his bill as a tax write-off because they felt sorry for him. He wore his white minister's neck-collar everywhere he went, receiving free meals, free coffee, and special treatment everywhere he went. Sadly, people idolize ministers; but for all they know the guy might have bodies in his basement. We ought to idolize God alone. Thankfully, we know that God will never let us down in any way.

I could write a book on the cons and scams this guy pulled-off. He once paid a man $5 to lay in the garbage in back of the church. He used the photo in his next ministry bulletin to raise support, and it worked like a charm as the funds came flooding in from gullible contributors. He fabricated a fictitious name and claimed that the man had been reached through his ministry and was now serving the Lord. Tragically, many people don't question anything that a minister says. This is why hundreds-of-millions of Roman Catholics foolishly confess their sins to a human priest, who's saturated with sins himself, and can't forgive anybody for anything (1st Timothy 2:5).

A lot of souls are going to weep bitter tears of sorrow when they stand before God on Judgment Day, realizing that they donated tens-of-thousands of dollars to support some greedy minister who selfishly squandered the money. Others will weep that their children suffered needless financial hardships because they gave their children's college money to some minister instead. Biblically, charity starts at home... "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than AN INFIDEL" (1st Timothy 5:8).

It is God's Money; NOT the Churches

It is Biblically acceptable to donate money to a legitimate ministry that helps the needy; however, it is UNBIBLICAL for ministry executives to be paid outrageous salaries. According to Forbes the Salvation Army's top dog, Todd Bassett, took home $175,050 from the "CHARITABLE" organization's donations for the fiscal year ending in 2004. That's ridiculous! Just think what the other employees get paid! I wonder how many Santa Claus buckets need to be filled to pay Mr. Bassett extravagant salary? I wouldn't give a dime to the Salvation Army. People are so naive and gullible. The Apostle's didn't go out on a spending-spree with the money given to them, buying steak dinners, fancy clothes and vacationing in Hawaii. No, they distributed the money to the THE NEEDY AND AFFLICTED.

By the way, the Apostles DIDN'T receive a paycheck, they simply had their needs met. I think pastors shouldn't receive paychecks either. They ought to be given only what they need by the church and no more. Jesus never started a business. This would eliminate 95% of America's pastors overnight, because they'd be living a very simple life with no surplus, and would resign. I get upset when I hear about pastors and their staff taking expensive vacations to the Holy Land. That's not what God's money is for; it's supposed to go to the NEEDY. Sadly, religious people twist the Bible all sorts of ways to justify their misappropriation of God's money.

As you open your pockets for more charity, keep these facts in mind: Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross... salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses. Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits. Benny Hinn is much worse. The average person who donates money to such "charities" makes less than $30,000 a year. So why do people continue to give money to such "non-profit" organizations? It's because it makes them feel like a better person; but you're still the same old dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinner that Jesus needed to bail out at Calvary. Stop flattering yourself by giving money to the rich (who mislead you into thinking you're helping the poor). The 700 Club is really bad. Human psychology is actually a study course in human insanity, because mankind's history is a very sad tribute to our idiocy as human beings.

Where Should the Money Go?

1st Corinthians 16:2 states, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." This was money collected to support Paul's work in the Lord, as a Gospel preaching missionary. There is no record in the New Testament about money being collected to support the local church. All money collected was DISTRIBUTED as every man had need.

We read in Acts 5:1-4 about Ananias and Sapphira, but the Bible doesn't provide many details of the situation. All we know is that Ananias and Sapphira lied concerning a financial commitment they had made to the Apostles; but the Bible doesn't require anyone to make such financial commitments and I think pastors ought not pressure people to do so. Acts 5:4 even states that Ananias and Sapphira DIDN'T have to give anything... "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?..." Ananias and Sapphira DIDN'T have to give a penny to the Apostles; but they evidently made a financial commitment and then changed their mind afterwards.

We ought to give as we are able to give. This is Biblical. God knows what we can or cannot give. Certainly, someone who is having financial difficulties should NOT give money to the church. 1st Corinthians 16:2 plainly states... "as God hath prospered him." Thus, giving money is Biblically to be based upon our financial situation, and that money is to be given directly to God's man (or men) for the work of God (and not to a religious State licensed organization).

Things are VERY different in today's society. There was NO welfare program in New Testament times to care for the poor. In America, anyone who is poor can apply for welfare benefits. Thus, no church should help anyone who is receiving welfare benefits from the State. From what I've seen of churches today, most of them help themselves. There are ministers and religious workers like Ananias and Sapphira all across America, who keep back part of donated foods and goods from State funded Food Depositories for themselves and their own families.

Acts 20:35 states, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Biblically we are to give our money TO THE WEAK. Sadly, most people give their hard-earned money to THE STRONG, i.e., to some finely dressed, well-to-do, extravagant preacher who lives high-on-the-hog. Yes, I'm probably talking about your pastor. I wouldn't give a dime to any preacher who lives at the same financial level as the richest people in his church. Something is wrong with that. The pastor of a New Testament Biblically based church ought to live as the common man.

Say what you will, there is NOTHING in the Bible about donating money to pay for the extravagancies that MANY pastors and church ministers in America enjoy today, especially within larger churches. I think a good rule of thumb is to compare the lifestyle of your pastor and his staff and their families in comparison to the way you and your family are living. If they're living the life of Riley, then you're a sucker to give them a dime.

Covetous Ministers

You can't name one Charismatic televangelist today who doesn't center his ministry around filthy lucre... money, money, money. Sadly, this lust of greed has carried over into most Baptist churches today as well. Nothing is more repulsive than hearing a preacher of the Gospel continually ask for more money. This is unwise and unethical. To give your money to these greedy charlatans is to cast your hard-earned dollars to a bunch of greedy pigs.

People have this insane idea that anything that give to a church is going to God. No it's not! Read the following Scripture carefully... "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again" (Proverb 19:17). The Bible talks about giving money TO THE POOR; not some wealthy minister. All we see nowadays on TV are these wealthy type, fancy-pants, greedy televangelists, milking innocent naive victims out of their money. Don't you expect a reward from God if you give money to those buzzards! You'll get back what you deserve... NOTHING! The 700 Club is one of the worst offenders, promising money and blessing in return for donations to THEIR MINISTRY. Remember, a fool and his money are soon parted! So don't be a fool! Give your money directly to the poor, or to a local organization where you can see firsthand exactly where your money is going. Ask for an itemized list of expenditures from the organization. It's your money and you have a right to know! Ask your pastor who paid for those recent trips they took to the Holy Land? Then ask him what category it falls under in the churches' financial report.

The believers in Acts DIDN'T have a church building; they met in someone's home, in an upper room (Acts 1:13). The entire idea of what a "church" is supposed to be has been mutated, warped and turned into an ugly monster. Biblically, a church is simply a group of believers gathered in Jesus' name. Just because a certain pastor decides that he wants build several buildings and grow his ministry is fine; but not when he resorts to high-pressure tactics, unscriptural teachings and asking parents to give their children's inheritance to the church. This is a violation of 1st Timothy 5:8 and Proverb 13:22.

Please understand, I am not saying that believers shouldn't support their local church if it's patterned after the New Testament Church in the Book of Acts; but the church in Acts made the local community ANGRY because they were offending people with the truth. If your church is well-liked within the community—and homosexuals, witches and abortionists in your town are ok with your church—then it's NOT a Biblical church. What are the churches in Salem, Massachusetts doing to expose the wickedness of witchcraft? What are the churches in Trinidad, Colorado (dubbed the "Sex Change Capital of the World"), doing to expose such wickedness? What about the churches in "sin city" Las Vegas? What is wrong with Christians today? Why aren't more churches taking a stand for righteousness in their local community for God?

Conclusion

The Bible DOES teach that we should give to the poor, and to our enemies if they thirst or hunger, and to the man of God who is faithfully preaching the Gospel, and to our children and their children; but we are no where commanded in God's Word to give our child's inheritance to a covetous pastor who is gung ho about growing "his" ministry.

Tithing was for Old Testament Israel. If tithing were for today's believer, then it would have been reiterated in the New Testament; but it was not. The remaining 11-Tribes were obligated to support the priestly tribe of Levi. In sharp contrast, there is NO such obligation today for believers to tithe 10% or give offerings to a church (which in America is basically a conglomerate of arbitrary ministries ranging from legitimate to criminal front organizations). It's a sin to teach people that God commands believers to support any particular church or ministry. The Bible clearly teaches that we ought to give to the poor, which is what the Apostles did with the money given to them by the believers in Acts 4:34-37. Sadly, most of the money donated to churches today goes for spending on themselves.

I heard one preacher misquote Romans 15:4 in an attempt to pressure his congregation to tithe... "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning." He alleged that the required 10% tithe in the Old Testament was a divine standard by which today's Christians are also obligated to tithe 10%. Nonsense!!! Only by wrestling the Scriptures can you come to such a conclusion.

Furthermore, the Bible states in Acts 4:34-37 that many believers sold their possessions, some even homes and lands. It would seem logical that no one with a family to raise would sell their home, causing their children to live in the streets with no place to live. I could understand an elderly person, with no children, donating their home to the needy. I could understand a wealthy person selling excess homes or lands to give money to charity. However, only an idiot would interpret these Scriptures to mean that those early believers sold their homes to put their children into the streets. Any serious Bible student must not abandon common sense when interpreting the Scriptures. 1st Timothy 5:8 teaches that a man who doesn't care for his family is worse than an infidel. Obviously, the people who sold their homes and lands were in a position to do so without jeopardizing the safety and well-being of their families.

I am not discouraging Christians from giving. I am simply hoping to redirect your giving to legitimate ministries that actually preach the Gospel, win lost sinners to Christ, help the needy, contend for the Christian faith, stand against the evils of our time, and uplift the precious Lamb of God—Jesus Christ. Most so-called "churches" today are a big joke!

It's a shame that America's churches have turned into a den of thieves, where pastors are continually begging for more money, twisting the Scriptures to seduce people into giving until it hurts, writing unscriptural books on tithing to manipulate people, and then enjoying frequent trips to Hawaii, the Holy Land, et cetera (compliments of the church).

"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." —Proverb 22:9

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