But what about the newly formed Church of God written about in the Book of Acts? Did they not share all things with everyone in need? No. They shared their goods only with the poor BRETHREN IN THE LORD. Notice that they did not go outside the church to feed, clothe, shelter, etc. the community in general (Acts 4). Note also that they did not go looking for the sick, hungry, etc. Those people came to them–came to their “light” to received spiritual help. Any physical help a proselyte received was sec- ondary. The church took care of the church, which is God’s command for the Body of Christ today. This does not involve the Counterfeit Church which, being a man-directed entity, will continue to do what man determines should be done. God’s tiny remnant church will continue to obey Him by helping HIS BRETHREN–those who “… obey the will of My Father.” The hundreds of sects comprising the false church go all over the world with their false gospel, false god and false messiah trying to win people to their respective organizations. Finding their perverted, heathen-based gospel (Gal. 1:6-8) insufficient for the task, they resort to providing food, medicine, etc. in a vain attempt to win proselytes. This in spite of God’s command to “… preach (only) THE GOSPEL in season and out of season.” “Heal the sick, cast out demons.” “Freely ye have received (power to do the above), freely give (minister the gospel, heal, deliver, etc.). The “social gospel” and “revolution theology” are nothing more than man’s substitutes for obedience to God

Another question within professing Christendom involves to whom to give tithes and offerings. What exactly is the “storehouse” where saints are to give their financial gifts? God answers. The ox that treads out the grain must not be muzzled (1 Tim. 5:18), meaning that the one who feeds the saints spiritually must be supported by them materially. Also, where there is a large enough body to have the poor, orphans and widows in it, there must be set aside what is necessary to help them. Also, the body must pay for electricity, water, etc. relative to the meeting place. However, the vast majority of churches are so small they meet in the home of their leader.

God’s people know what to do with their resources, as is shown in Acts 11:27-30 where we find that a famine has engulfed the region of Judea. As a result, the disciples felt compelled to send relief to “THE BRETHREN” in that area by placing it in the hands of “THE ELDERS” of the churches. Note that there was no mention of relatives, friends and other citizens of Judea who were equally in need. Their help went only to “THE BRETHREN.” We are commanded by God to let the worldly help the worldly. We are to “Let the (spiritually) dead bury the (physically) dead” (Mat. 8:22). Here Jesus was telling His disciples that they were to “follow Me” and let those outside of His church take care of their own kind.

First Corinthians 16:1,2 is often used by Law-breakers to “prove” that the early church met on Sunday. The passage not only proves that not to be true, but also shows how the church handled gifts and offer- ings, when they were to be collected, where they were to be stored and to whom they were to be given. Let us “Study to show ourselves approved of God” in the matter of church giving and receiving. “Now 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 (SUNDAY) let every one of you LAY BY IN STORE, as God has prospered him, that there be NO GATHERINGS when I come (later).” To glean God’s Truth concerning this passage, several things must be pointed out.

Note that this passage speaks of a collection for the SAINTS, not for the minister of the church at Corinth to be used in the local ministry. Paul had given similar instructions to other churches. Note his instruc- tions to the church at Rome which concerned the Corinth church: “I go to JERUSALEM to minister to the SAINTS. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia (the area where the Corinthian church was located) to make certain CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE POOR SAINTS WHICH ARE AT JERUSA- LEM …. When therefore I have performed this, and have SEALED to (for) them (the Jerusalem saints) THIS FRUIT, I will come by you (where you are) unto (on my way to) Spain” (Rom. 15:25-28). Notice that it was not money Paul was asking the people to “GATHER,” but “FRUIT”–KARPOS–a Greek word that meant grain, wine, vegetables, nuts and fruit. Notice that the food had to be SEALED, a method of preserving food over time until it could be delivered to the POOR SAINTS IN JERUSALEM. Notice where they were to store it–“BESIDE YOU,” meaning where they lived, not in a central location. Notice that “EACH OF YOU” was to gather the fruit. And notice when they were to gather, seal and store it–on the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (Sunday-a common work day among the saints). Let us continue with Paul’s instructions: “And when I come (by Corinth on his way to Spain), whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, THEM (several men) will I send to bring (take) your LIBERALITY (much fruit) unto JERU- SALEM (to the poor saints there). And if it be meet (necessary) that I go with them, THEY (several men) shall go with me” (vss 3,4). It was going to require several men to carry the fruit to the saints in Jerusa- lem. So much so that, if necessary, Paul would help them carry it. In summary, the church at Corinth was to gather, seal and store foodstuffs on the first day of the week to be taken to the poor saints in Jerusalem where a famine was in progress. The seventh day of the week was a work day within the Body of Christ as it is today. And notice that NOTHING WAS SAID CONCERNING THE FEEDING OF OTHER PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM WHO WERE ENDURING THE SAME HARDSHIPS. God’s people help God’s people. If the worldly should come to “… the light of the glorious gospel” (2 Cor. 4:4), then they would be helped. If not, they were to take care of themselves.

“But this does not make sense,” is the usual response from churchites. No, it does not make sense to the carnal mind. But we are not dealing with the worldly mind, but rather the mind of God. The consensus within professing Christendom is that God is wrong in this matter, as well as many other matters. The Word of God speaks plainly as to who is right and who is wrong. The Counterfeit Church refuses to believe that Word. Therefore she will vainly go her own way until Judgment Day when the entire universe will learn who was telling the Truth.

A heated debate is now (December, 2014) taking place throughout professing Christendom concerning how the church should react to the thousands of people flooding across our southern border. A local resident wrote an article in the local newspaper in support of feeding, clothing, housing them using Matthew 19:13-15 as the excuse. In response I penned a Scripture-based reply. In this passage we find that some mothers had brought their children to Jesus to have Him “… put His hands on them and pray for them.” The disciples tried to stop them, prompting Jesus to say ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me ….” But notice that the mothers had not brought their children to have Jesus feed, clothe, house, medicate, educate, etc. them, but to PRAY FOR THEM. And notice in verse 15 that, upon praying for them, Jesus “… departed from there.” After feeding thousands of followers following a sermon, He did not tell them to gather the poor from the surrounding area and bring them to Him. To the contrary, He “… sent them away.” Let us desire Truth in the inward parts (the heart/mind)” (Ps. 51:6).

That the church is responsible for the care and feeding of the masses is only one of many errors which the Counterfeit Church embraces as God’s Truth. Let us be teachable; let us not look to man for truth, but to the Word of God which Jesus said was the only Truth, and by which we can be sanctified (Jn. 17:17). Have questions or comments? Contact me at LPJ4142@gmail.com or P.O. Box 2352 Athens, TX 75751 U.S.A. or (903) 677-5642. English only.