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Pay a Pledge
I was listening to the news recently, and they were telling about a pharmacist who was convicted of a serious crime. This fellow was diluting cancer chemotherapy drugs, and pocketing the money from his dastardly deeds. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison and a huge fine was imposed upon him. The report said that he claimed he did these things in part, to APay a Pledge to his church. Now some passages comes to my mind in view of this claim.
First, in I Cor.16:1-2, ANow concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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.Notice the texts talks about we are to give as we have been prospered. That does not include doing things that are illegal, immoral and just flat out uncharitable; to have more money to Apledge to a church. Paul said, ALet him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Eph.4:28. Notice Paul said, to work in the thing that is good, not immoral criminal activity. Sure, he had no doubt more money to Apledge to his church, but who in their right mind, would want such filthy lucre? Then consider the text in 2 Cor.8:12, AFor if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. God only expects us to give based on what we have, not some crazy idea, that we Apledge some amount that causes us to commit immoral and illegal crime to fund our notions on the matter. Yes, I know that pharmacists make a very good wage for their labor and work, would not giving based on those wages be enough? Certainly the true and living God only requires us to give as we have been prospered, in a work or trade that is honorable, and to give based on what I have, not what I have not. It is a crying shame that these kinds of events take place in our world, for such will give religion in general a Ablack eye even though this guy has some terribly erroneous views about paying his Apledge to his church. Don't blame God for this man=s actions, blame the devil for his ungodly behavior. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not the author of such warped kind of thinking as we see from the passages cited. God has declared his will on the matter, I choose to believe God.
