Terry had been driving through a town on Sunday morning on her way to a Monday morning business appointment. As she passed through the town, she saw people begin to gather for worship and she decided on the spur of the moment to stop and join them.
Once the service of worship had begun, Terry began to question the wisdom of her spontaneous decision. The opening hymn was one of those nineteenth century hymns that emphasized the “I” far more than it directed the singer’s attention to God and the congregational singing was dreadful. But then it got worse. The preacher was obviously out of step with his denomination on the place of women. Apparently a new woman clergy had recently come to the area and the pastor decided this Sunday was an opportunity to denounce what he saw as apostasy.
Terry was trying to decide whether it was better to make a display of leaving or to just try to slip quietly out of the service when it came time for the offering. “No way,” she thought, “am I going to support this man and his ministry with my money.” But as the ushers came forward a dialogue began to take place in her head, “What is the purpose of your offering? Is it to support a church program or to worship God? Why did you come here? Did you come to find a speaker with whom you agreed or to offer praise to God? Is the praise of God offered in the presence of a pagan of any less value than that offered in the midst of the righteous? Can you trust me to make use of your offering in a way that touches a life or do you only trust that which you control?” By the time the offering plate reached her, Terry was prepared to make her offering.
There are many bearing false messages and simply because they proclaim it in the name of the Lord doesn’t mean they are true and doesn’t mean they should be supported. If this pastor is proclaiming apostasy in the face of female clergy it seems he has lost his way. Faith in Christ is the way to heaven, not who is standing on your pulpit or whether your were sprinkled or dunked or even if baptized. At worst a female preaching is heresy – and to proclaim it apostasy gives the indication that this clergy is arrogant and considers himself bigger than the Word.
It is each Christian’s responsibility to examine what the lord puts in front of us (or we bring upon ourselves) and Terry’s motive to take advantage of an opportunity to praise the Lord was pure. The message terry heard was not and I think Terry’s in initial decision to withhold his financial support was good one. If terry wants to give to the lord .. terry could give that money to her church … or the red cross .. or give $20 bucks to a homeless guy who could then go buy some drugs … much like nicole did a couple weeks ago. He doesn’t need to give the money to someone who simple states he is doing gods work … I’m pretty sure that not everything (and everyone) the catholic priests have done should be considered God’s work.
For some reason, the story about the guy in the flood comes to mind. He got on the top of his roof to escape the flood. A rowboat came by to help, but the man declined a ride professing that God would come and save him. A helicopter came by and he declined again saying that God would save him. Finally a power boat came by, and alas the man declined again. He died in the flood and when he came face to face with God, the man asked why God didn’t save him. God replied that he had sent a rowboat, a helicopter, and a power boat…what else did he want?
I think this story comes to mind because God expects us to use our brain when we make decisions. He expects us to discern right from wrong, which includes being fiscally responsible. We can’t just throw our money out there, expecting God to always perform the miracle of turning water into wine. In my opinion, Terry has a responsibility to discern where her money would do the most good. I’m pretty sure the author never sent money to Jerry Fallwell or Jimmy Baker assuming a miracle would happen and his money would be put to use to glorify God instead of Jerry or Jimmy. So praise God. Praise him in the church. Praise him in the streets…but it’s ok to praise him responsibly!