You know things are upside down when a pastor, standing in front of his congregation, boldly declares: “Never give to the poor.”
Yep, you heard that right.
But before we get into that madness, let’s take a second to ask ourselves one question: Did Jesus ever say not to help the poor? Spoiler alert: No, He did not. In fact, He said the exact opposite.
So, what do we make of this pastor’s wild declaration? Let’s break it down – with a little humor, of course, because sometimes the best way to deal with nonsensical absurdity is to laugh at it. But don’t get me wrong, this is serious business.
The Pastor’s ‘Logic’ (If We Can Call It That)
Here’s how this reasoning goes: “When you’re rising in the Kingdom, you don’t focus on giving to the poor.” The belief is that “rising is not tied to giving to the poor.” Instead, “when you want to rise, you sow into an anointing higher than you to elevate your status.” It’s a big mistake that some of you are making right now. Are you getting what I’m saying? You never give to the poor and rise—no, sir! You sow into an anointing that can bring you into that level of reality.”
And guess what? His congregation, many of whom are struggling to get by, cheers him on and shouts, “Amen!”
How did we get here?
Let’s be clear: this pastor is doing some Olympic-level mental gymnastics to avoid the simple, clear teachings of Jesus. He’s basically saying, “Don’t help the poor because… well… reasons.” And those reasons just so happen to benefit him and not the people he’s supposed to be serving. Suspicious? You bet.
Jesus: The Original Advocate for the Poor
Now, back to Jesus. Remember that guy? You know, the one Christianity is supposed to be based on? He had quite a few things to say about helping the poor, and none of them involved making excuses.
Let’s start with one of His most famous teachings: Matthew 25:35-40. In this passage, Jesus says,
“I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.”
Then, He drops the mic by saying,
“As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Let’s pause for a second and unpack that.
Jesus didn’t just suggest helping the poor; He made it a requirement for anyone who wants to follow Him. He didn’t say,
“As you gave your money to the pastor, you did it to me.”
Nope. He said, “the least of these,” meaning the poor, the hungry, the struggling. You know, the people this pastor just told you to ignore.
Jesus didn’t say, “Sow into an anointing higher than you to elevate your status.”
In fact, His teachings often focused on humility, service, and love for others rather than on status or personal gain.
So, what’s with all this emphasis on “status,” “rising,” and “status elevation”? It seems we’ve strayed from the core message of compassion and community that Jesus preached. Instead of seeking personal elevation, shouldn’t we be striving to lift each other up?
This obsession with climbing the social or spiritual ladder can distort our understanding of faith and generosity. It fosters a culture where individuals measure their worth by their perceived status rather than by their character and actions. Jesus called us to serve others, not to focus on our own elevation. The true essence of faith lies in selflessness and uplifting those around us, especially those who are struggling. When we shift our focus from personal gain to collective well-being, we embody the very principles that Jesus exemplified.
Why Helping the Poor Matters (And Why the Pastor Is Wrong)
Helping the poor isn’t just about handing over cash. It’s about compassion, kindness, and recognizing that we’re all in this together. Jesus knew that poverty isn’t a result of laziness, and giving to the poor doesn’t enable bad behavior – it’s an act of love.
Let’s think about it for a minute.
If we all followed this pastor’s advice and stopped helping the poor, what would the world look like? I’ll tell you: it would be a complete disaster. Homelessness, hunger, and suffering would skyrocket. Meanwhile, the rich (like our good pastor friend) would get even richer, sitting pretty in their fancy mansions, telling you to keep giving to them so that you can be blessed. Sounds a little fishy, doesn’t it?
And the worst part? The people in the congregation are the ones footing the bill for his lavish lifestyle, giving the little they have while getting nothing in return but empty promises. It’s like a reverse Robin Hood situation – steal from the poor and give to the rich. Except instead of wearing tights, this guy is wearing a $2,000 suit.
Jesus vs. The Pastor: Who’s Right?
Now, I’m no theologian, but I’d wager my last penny that Jesus knows more about how we should treat the poor than this pastor does. Let’s face it: Jesus didn’t just talk the talk, He walked the walk. He lived among the poor, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and stood up for the marginalized.
Meanwhile, this pastor is standing on a stage, living the good life, and telling you to ignore the very people Jesus cared about the most.
It’s like if someone opened a bakery and said, “Don’t eat bread. Bread is bad for you.” But they’re stuffing their face with croissants in the back room. Hypocrisy, much?
The Sad Reality
So why do people cheer when the pastor says these things? Why do they shout “Amen” when they should be saying, “Wait a minute…”?
It’s simple: they’ve been misled.
They’ve been convinced that giving their last dime to this pastor will somehow unlock God’s blessings for them, while completely missing the point of Jesus’ teachings. It’s like being sold a ticket to a show that doesn’t exist.
But here’s the truth: God’s blessings aren’t for sale. Jesus didn’t ask for donations to make Himself rich. He asked us to love our neighbors, care for the poor, and lift each other up.
And if a pastor can’t get behind that, maybe it’s time to find a new pastor.
The Takeaway
At the end of the day, the real tragedy is that this pastor’s message doesn’t just hurt the poor – it hurts everyone. It twists the gospel into something selfish and corrupt, and it leaves people thinking that God only helps those who help Him (or, in this case, His representative with the nice car). But Jesus made it clear: God is with the poor, the struggling, and the needy. And if we’re following Him, that’s where we should be too.
So, the next time someone tells you not to help the poor, remember this: Jesus never said that. In fact, He said the exact opposite. And if anyone tries to convince you otherwise, they’re probably trying to sell you something – like, I don’t know, a bigger mansion for themselves.
Stay wise, stay compassionate, and don’t fall for the nonsense. Because when it comes to helping the poor, Jesus has already spoken.
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