He went on to testify of his apostleship concerning the church in Corinth and
donations.
ìTruly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all
patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it
wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I
myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not
be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the
children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for
the children.î 2 Corinthians 12:12-14 (emphasis mine)
Unlike the modern prosperity preachers, the Apostle Paul did not use the Law
to frighten the church into giving.
ìEvery man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him
give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: (to fulfill the Law) for God
loveth a cheerful giver.î 2 Corinthians 9:7 (emphasis mine)
The Modern Day Sale of Indulgences
One of the fathers of the Reformation, Martin Luther was pushed to the point of
separation from the Roman Catholic Church by witnessing the sale of
indulgences from the representatives of Rome. Indulgences were gifts that were
bought from the papacy that would excuse a person from purgatory.
ìIn 1515, Pope Leo X authorized Archbishop Albrecht of
Mainz to sell indulgences, in part to raise money for the
building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Albrecht's
indulgence seller, Johann Tetzel, told potential buyers that
an indulgence freed them from punishment for confessed
sins and could even release souls from purgatory. In October
1517, Luther sent a letter to Albrecht denouncing Tetzel's
tactics. He enclosed with the letter a list, known as the
Ninety-Five Theses (articles for academic debate), that
criticized indulgences. According to tradition, Luther also
posted the Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg
Castle Church, which acted as the university's bulletinboard.î 19
In our day, the modern ecumenists copy Johann Tetzel and sell the blessings
of the Lord Jesus Christ ó for a price.
Do you need a healing? Donate money to Benny Hinn. Do you need money to
get out of debt? Give that sacrificial offering to Paul Crouch and TBN.