Little Commands Eternal Consequences

Jesus warned of requiring the title of Rabbi or “Teacher” upon church leaders. 

Matthew 23:8 (NKJV)

But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’ (meaning teacher); for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

We know that Teachers existed in the New Testament; however, they   were instructed by Jesus not to make a required title out of it.

Ephesians 4:11 (NKJV)

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

I don’t fully understand the magnitude and reasons of what Jesus commanded in Matthew 23:8; however, it is important to me because of Matthew 5:19.

  

Matthew 5:19 (NKJV)

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

To intentionally break even a little command of our Lord and teach it has eternal consequences.

Romans 14:11-13 (NKJV)

For it is written:

“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore,

but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

In the Scripture above, each one of us will have to give an account of himself to God.  We are warned to not judge each other.  We will each have our day before our Judge in court.

M. H. Dennis

Cherry Picking Preachers

There are a lot of strange doctrines out there bouncing throughout the Church because the teachers are cherry picking Scriptures out of context. Some 

Prosperity teachers say that it is God's will for all believers to be rich, and they use Paul's own words to support their position. After all, didn't Paul say in 2 Cor. 9:8 (NIV) 

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 

Therefore, they teach that it is God's will is for us to be well off. Yes, it does appear from that one verse that we're suppose to have plenty of stuff to take care of ourselves and others.

On the other hand, Paul also taught in Romans 8:35 (NIV) 

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" 

In that passage, Paul taught that we as Christians might sometimes go hungry, naked, and even might be murdered. 

Therefore, those who preach a poverty Gospel say that it's God will for us to be poor. However, which of the two positions is right?

It is a teachers responsibility to teach the whole truth, and not just one aspect of it. If he or she doesn't, they are wandering off from the truth into error. Let me take a moment and attempt to balance out these two truths. 

Jesus said in Matthew (NIV) 25:42 

"For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." 

Here we see both aspects of prosperity and poverty truth.

Jesus taught that there would be some believers among us without food, clothes, SICK, without housing, and even in prison. In other words, there will be needy believers. At the same time, there will be believers among us who have plenty of food, clothes, health, housing, and are out of prison. 

In other words, there will be well-to-do believers, too. It is the responsibility of those who are experiencing prosperity to help others who are experiencing lack. If they don't, they will be exposed as not being true believers in the judgment.

It is the leader's responsibility to quote verses consistent with the Bible context, and the learners responsibility to verify they do. The leaders should teach us to be self feeders, and not to be lead astray by those with hidden agendas. 

After all, Paul said in Philipians (NIV) 4:12 

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength." 

Paul himself said that he personally had experienced both Biblical prosperity and poverty truths. As for me, I'll stand with Paul.