The Free-Flow of the Gospel to the Nations

The crew at mondaymorninginsight.com has linked to the Livechurch.tv blog, which recently asked the question “What if we asked…’How much can our church give away?’” instead of asking how our Church can raise more money.

It’s a great question, one that needs to be seriously considered by the contemporary Hyper-Capitalist Church of the 21st Century. Last year, T.D. Jakes and the Potter’s House announced that Jakes would be selling his teaching materials and sermons on Audible.com for $14.95 US a month.

In contrast to “The Bishop,” Christ instructed his followers in this manner: “Freely you received, freely give.” (Mt 10.8) Paul himself refused financial support from the Churches he visited, in order that he would never be accused of turning the Gospel into a commodity (1 Cor 9). He refused financial support!

To be blunt, if a Church charges money for “teaching material” instead of at least offering them as a free download also (provided of course that they do have the capacity for this), they are bankrupt and know nothing of the Gospel. Did not Peter rightly rebuke Simon the Sorcerer for trying to purchase the Spirit? Peter told him “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.” (Acts 8.22)

I found this quote of Johann Gutenberg at the e-sword website. Gutenberg wrote: “Religious truth is captive in a small number of little manuscripts, which guard the common treasures, instead of expanding them. Let us break the seal which binds these holy things; let us give wings to truth in order that it may fly with the word, no longer prepared at vast expense, but multitudes everlastingly by a machine which never wearies to every soul which enters life.”

The copying policy for the independent Apostolic ministry fireonthealtar.com is simple: “There isn’t one. accept [sic] for Matthew 10:8b”

Fireonthealtar.com sees this period in history as revolutiuonary for the spread of the Gospel, technologically speaking. If Gutenberg’s invention was revolutionary, then with the advent of the internet the implications have multipled a hundredfold.

Listen to what they write:

“For the first time in history we have technology that allows us to witness in a powerful new way. … On this web site there are over 60 compilation tracks from different authors and growing. Compilations are simply audio files that combine two powerful elements - worship and teaching. Remember the scripture “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17. There is something special about “hearing”. … Never before in the history of Christianity (life) has their been a medium like this available to us. With the cost of blank CD’s decreasing and personal CD-R burners for under $100. Many of us are in a position to begin sowing powerful and possibly life changing seeds here on earth. All of the compilations center around Jesus - some are geared more towards building up the Church but that’s okay. … Imagine the fruit!! What if students started leaving them around their school or employees at their work. What if someone were to take a road trip with 5,000 CDs and plant them all over the U.S. Can you imagine the impact? All of those seeds! planted at Bars, grocery stores, businesses, shopping malls, mardi gras!, college campuses, city hall etc.. What an opportunity we all have. How many souls could be reached? How many Christians could catch the fire?”

In contrast to their infective optimism and grassroots zeal to see the Gospel spread abroad, T.D. Jakes wrote in the news release last July: “We’re are [sic] very excited about our role in this 21st century offering, which will allow the spoken word to guide, enlighten, and comfort our listeners in their daily struggles and triumphs.” For $14.95 a month. Pathetic. I apologize for being so un-generous, but it is. It really is pathetic. There is no way you can convince me that a church with 28,000 members cannot afford to provide their sermons for free, when a church that is in the 200-ish-range like Fall River Chapel can provide them online without price.

The Gutenbergs of today are the practically anonymous believers who have a sincere passion for Christ’s fame and provide the Word and teaching materials freely and without cost, the free-flow of Gospel Truth to the nations. To this the prophet agrees, writing millenia ago: “Ho, every one that thirsts, come ye to the waters, and he that has no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
(Is 55.1)

~ by Tyler on February 23, 2007.