b'BODY OF CHRIST NEWS MAGAZINEGreed: Beware of These Who Peach for Financial Gain By the Late Michael FortiOne of the main issues that Jesus wanted to settle before He was crucified was to cleanse the temple. Over a period of time, the temple worship had become polluted with the exchange of goods and money. Jesus realized that this was the main reason why His own people did not recognize Him as their long awaited Savior. Insead of worshipping God in the temple, His people were selling cattle, sheep and doves. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He said, My house will be called a house of prayer. Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Fathers house into a market (Matt 21:13). As many years went by after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the New Testament apostles had to continuously deal with the same problem that Jesus dealt with. The money started to become more important than the fervent teaching and preaching of Jesus. Many in pastoral leadership who claimed to be Gods anointed leaders began to use the gospel to become financially wealthy. The New Testament is full of examples of the geerd and unfaithfulness that took place.In 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6, the apostle Paul warned the church by saying, For the appeal we make does not spring from error or IMPURE MOTIVES, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to PLEASE men, but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up GreedGod is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.Another time,Paul warned Pastor Timothy in Ephesus to be aware of the greedy false teachers that were trying to creep in. If anyone teaches FALSE DOCTRINES and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicion and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been ROBBED of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to FINANCIAL GAIN.From such, withdraw yourself (1Tim 6:35 NIV, KJV). vs 910 continue on by saying, People who want to get rich fall into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the LOVE of MONEY is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have WANDERED from the TRUTH and pierced themselves with many griefs(1 Tim 6:*910). Peter also observed the same thing and ended up contending for the faith against the money preachers, who claimed to know Jesus as their Lord. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies even DENYING (contradicting and changing the truth) the sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction upon themselves. MANY will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their GREED these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up(2 Pet. 2:13).Sad, but true, the apostles not only had to deal with the money preachers 2000 years ago; the church is also dealing with the same problem today. Yes, many will gather around and approve of these 7 BOCNEWS.COM Continued on Pg 15'