Condemnation of the rich churches by Christ!
Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, I condemn all the rich churches of the world, for it is difficult for the rich popes, priests, clergymen to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, and the poor only. Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. These churches in men who are lovers of money. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The foundations of a church that is filled with the wealth of this world shall descend into the lake of fire with all its inhabitants, where there is gnashing and grinding of teeth, where they shall be branded with the riches they used to hoard. Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Truly i tell you, whoever follows these rich churches that are sinful and corrupt, who are wolves in sheep's clothing, devils in disguise, they shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Beware of false churches, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. As for the rich churches, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
And the Lord said: “Because these churches draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by me. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the churches and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the churches and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our heavenly Father, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." Then saith Jesus, "There was a rich pope who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich pope also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Come now, you rich churches, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." Then saith Jesus to the churches, "If you believe in me, then sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe unto the churches that deceiveth my believers, for you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Cursed are the rich that deceiveth the masses for their worldly gain. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven." For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Again i tell you, those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich church fade away in the midst of its pursuits. And Jesus said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Come now, you rich churches, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you!" Amen.
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