PERVERTING THE MESSAGE OF ‘THE KINGDOM’Copyright 2012 Loren DavisHardly anything has been twisted and perverted more than the Bible’s teachings about ‘THE KINGDOM OF GOD’ AND ‘THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN’. This is done in the name of ‘KINGDOM’ teachings. This article covers an array of teachings that come under the umbrella of ‘the Kingdom of God’, ‘the Kingdom of heaven’ and shows how it is being misused. We hear about: KINGDOM BUSINESS, KINGDOM FAITH, KINGDOM AUTHORITY, KINGDOM CONNECTIONS, KINGDOM RELATIONSHIPS, KINGDOM MENTALITY, KINGDOM VALUES, KINGDOM EXPANSION, KINGDOM PRINCIPLES, KINGDOM SERVICE, KINGDOM PEOPLE, KINGDOM NOW, etc. The Bible does not refer to ‘THE KINGDOM’ in this manner. Most of these teachings about ‘the kingdom’ originates from teachings of the Faith Movement from the concept that believers should ‘subdue the earth’.
KINGDOM PREACHERS DEFINE ‘THE KINGDOM’ TO BE ON THE EARTH RIGHT NOW.
One of the favorite scriptures they use is… Most ‘kingdom’ preachers CALL THEMSELVES PROPHETS and many of them threaten curses if you don’t obey them, particularly in relationship to giving to them. They literally intimidate people to give to them and also promise lottery type returns that the Bible never promises. (For more information hear the Loren Davis Internet Radio: program: ‘Prosperity Preachers are Ruining Christianity’ www.combineharvesting.com; and the article: ‘The Gospel of Greed’).
The ‘Kingdom preachers emphasize that we as believers are KINGS AND PRIESTS. KINGDOM PREACHERS PERVERT THE SCRIPTURES THAT TALK ABOUT SALVATION TO TEACH ABOUT MONEY AND GETTING RICH.
Examples:
Here is what the scriptures actually say about this… There is more to ‘having life more abundantly’ than having a lot of money. Without health, a good marriage, family, peace, and being right with God is having ‘life…' all the money in the world is not going to give you ‘the good life’. Having ‘life more abundantly’ is being well and whole in every area of your life, particularly spiritually.
Although Jesus taught how He would help us in ‘this life’, His primary message was about spiritual and eternal things.
Most ‘Kingdom’ preachers seldom if ever preach about salvation; keeping God’s commandments or about heaven and where you will spend eternity. They are using the name of Jesus to stir up the spirit of greed which the Bible teaches against. These ‘kingdom’ preachers don’t preach about ‘taking up your cross and following Christ’, but stir up covetousness which the Bible teaches against, Exodus. 20:17 . The Bible warns against those who try to get rich quickly. This ‘get rich quick’ gospel makes God’s people vulnerable to con artists. The deadly thing about this is that it is done in the name of ‘faith’ and in the name of Jesus.
Lk 12:15 “Take heed and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a man’s life consisteth not in the ABUNDANCE of things which he
possesseth.”
B. I HAVE HEARD ‘KINGDOM’ PREACHERS SPIN MATTHEW 7:14. C. Perverting the Kingdom. John 3:3 says, “Except a man be born again he will not enter THE KINGDOM OF GOD”. The way the Word of God is being spun by the ‘kingdom’ preachers, in essence, would make being ‘born again’ to is literally the gateway to enter into the ‘abundant life’ or riches. The god of many ‘kingdom’ preachers is money. You know that is true because that is what they preach about the most. This scripture about ‘the kingdom of God’ here is talking about salvation and going to heaven. He is talking about His spiritual kingdom which He sets up in the hearts of men.
D. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH and THE ABUNDANT LIFE Many ‘Kingdom’ preachers say these scriptures do not mean that people who do these works of the flesh will not go to heaven, they imply that it means they will not enter into the ABUNDANT LIFE. If you will notice, the Kingdom preachers don’t preach against sin. They imply ‘eternal security’ whether they openly declare it or not.
E. THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
F. SEED FAITH
Galations 6:7-8 is a good example of this. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH,
THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.”
G. THE 100 FOLD RETURN *Malachi. 3:8-12 and Deuteronomy 28:18 are some of the accurate teachings about being blessed that are connected with giving)
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Luke 6:14 THE WORD IS CHOKED WITH CARES AND RICHES AND PLEASURES OF ‘THIS LIFE’.”
MOST ‘KINGDOM’ PREACHERS PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR BEING IN THE MINISTRY IS JUST FOR THE MONEY. But the Bible also says in Luke 20:46-21:1 “BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which DEVOUR WIDOWS' HOUSES, and for a shew make long prayers: THE SAME SHALL RECEIVE GREATER DAMNATION.” KJV FOR MOST KINGDOM PREACHERS, THE GOSPEL IS JUST A BUSINESS TO THEM. They are masters at manipulating the Word for their own benefit. These ‘kingdom’ preachers have learned to be crafty with the Word of God and learned how to pervert and misuse the scriptures to seduce the saints to get them to give them great sums of money by promising lottery type returns. They then use this money to make themselves rich and live opulent lives like kings. What is so seducing about this is that they are doing this in the name of Jesus and are misusing the Bible to con God’s people. These ‘kingdom’ preachers are literally the modern day ‘money changers’ that Jesus drove out of the Temple while He was on earth. This practice is corrupting God’s people by seducing them to give for the purpose of getting rich quick, instead of giving to win the world to Christ and teach godly living. This has diverted funds away from winning the lost and is causing multitudes to perish without Christ. This has motivated many who attend these ‘kingdom’ churches to go deeply into debt in order to put up a good ‘faith face’ to show their ‘faith peers’ that they are prosperous and ‘have big faith’. This is hypocrisy and has ruined many lives! The biggest kiss of death for those who attend ‘kingdom’ churches is to be poor, that is not living the ‘abundant life’; i.e.: wearing an inexpensive suit or dress; driving an older economy car; nor eating in the most expensive restaurants or not living in an upscale neighborhood.
H. KINGDOM FAITH
I. KINGDOM AUTHORITY They use this scripture also to go into their teach the ‘Abundant Life’ and that ‘man is a god’. (See the article ‘The teaching Man is a god’ www.combineharvesting.com) Some Kingdom preachers preach that Jesus’ teachings about THE SHEEPFOLD, Jn 10:1-8, is talking about MAN’S AUTHORITY ON EARTH, which translates into man’s power and riches. They say that it is illegal for God to do anything on earth without a man who was born on earth and is alive now to gives Him permission. Therefore, since Jesus is no longer on the earth, they teach that these scriptures ‘Sheepfold’ scriptures teach that God can do nothing on earth without man’s permission. This is a complete distortion of these scriptures. Look at what the scriptures actually say… John 10:7-9 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I AM THE DOOR of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, HE SHALL BE SAVED,” KJV The sheepfold teaching Jesus is giving, Jesus is clearly explaining that HE IS THE ONLY WAY FOR SALVATION. JESUS IS ‘THE DOOR’. Anyone who tries to enter heaven outside of him is a thief and a robber. This scripture is talking about salvation, not man’s authority.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT SEEKING TO LIVE THE OPULENT LIFE?
Some preachers have taken it so far as to be poor is a sin. If you are a Christian, you will be rich. They want you
to measure their faith by their riche.
‘KINGDOM’ PREACHERS HAVE LEARNED TO PROFITEER FROM RELIGION USING THE SAME TACTICS THAT THE PAGAN RELIGIONS
USE. THE HINDUS of India have great TEMPLES TO THE GODS OF PROSPERITY where people flock to give small and great sums of money to get favor to get rich. THE ROMAN CHURCH takes advantage of grieving people who have lost loved ones and come to mass praying for them to get out of purgatory. They are told by the priests that the more money they give to the church, the quicker their loved ones will get out of purgatory. This is financially exploiting the grieving in the name of God. It is totally opposite everything the Bible teaches. 1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” KJV
Galations 1:14 …Before the Apostle Paul was saved… “PROFITED IN THE JEWS' RELIGION,”
F. THE HARVEST When Kingdom preachers talk about ‘the harvest’ they are not
talking about winning souls to Christ, but reaping a harvest of money and wealth. This has completed perverted
what Christ was saying about ‘the harvest’. He was talking about HARVESTING SOULS for salvation. This has
seduced so many of God’s people to just sow, give money, to get a financial harvest instead of giving to win the lost.
No wonder most of the world is going to hell.
Many preachers are USING THE GOSPEL TO RACKETEER by misusing the scriptures. One of the Ten Commandments is ‘THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.” Many preachers are taking God’s name in vain by fleecing His flock in Jesus’ name. WHAT IS THE TRUE BIBLICAL GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?Jesus said in THE LORD’S PRAYER, Matthew 6:10 “THY KINGDOM COME . THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” KJV
Some Kingdom teachers teach that THE LORD’S PRAYER is not applicable today. That it is under the old covenant, the
Old Testament. What blasphemy!
Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching THE GOSPEL OF THE
KINGDOM, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” This is opposite of the teaching of what these ‘kingdom’ preachers preach. Most of them preach a gospel of pride and arrogance. They are aloof from people, totally opposite of how Jesus was. Matthew 11:29 Jesus said, “… learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” KJV
They hardly ever mention heaven, and if they do they redefine it to refer to ‘this life’, heaven on earth. Mk 1:14-15
Jesus came preaching THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM…saying REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL” That is what the Gospel of
the Kingdom is!
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus came so everyone who believed on Him should be rich in this life, but
that they would not perish and have everlasting life? Jn 3:16
Matt 24:11-14 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And THIS GOSPEL OF
THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (He
is not talking about the pseudo ‘kingdom’ gospel that everyone should be rich. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be
preached some men can receive God’s gift of Eternal Life; praying for the sick and casting out devils. Matt 19:23-24 “Verily I say unto you, That A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (The kingdom of God here is referring to going to heaven, NOT getting rich.) 1 Tim 6:9-11 “But THEY THAT WILL BE RICH fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” KJV IT IS GOD’S DESIRE TO BLESS HIS PEOPLEDeut 8:18 “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth , that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” The unfortunate thing is that from my observation, is that most of God’s people who are blessed do no use their funds to spread the Gospel. God needs to greatly bless His people to spread the Gospel around the world, but most of the time when He blesses His people they don’t keep their end of the bargain, but instead horde it or use it for their own fleshly lusts. The story of the rich man and Lazarus graphically illustrates this. Most store up their wealth for themselves instead of using it to spread the Gospel to the world. They can never get enough.
Of course it is not a sin to be rich if one attains riches honestly and most definitely a rich man can go to heaven
if he trusts in God more than his riches, but riches are NOT the kingdom of God. Matt 6:19-21 “LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” KJV
Thank God there are some who God has blessed that have kept their end of the covenant and are using their wealth to
spread the Gospel, the New Covenant, to the ends of the earth.
Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness,
and cares of THIS LIFE, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
GOD PROMISES TO BLESS THOSE WHO SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST
PERVERTING THE BIBLE
John 18:36 “Jesus answered, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD:”
MOST ‘KINGDOM’ PREACHERS SELDOM PREACH TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR ETERNITY AND HEAVEN. Matt 16:26 Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world , and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” KJV (LOREN DAVIS INTERNET RADIO can be listened to on www.combineharvesting.com; Loren Davis’ book ‘The Paganization of Christianity’ is available as an e-book at www.lorendavis.com) |