Giving Policy: The Apostles Did Not Sell The Gospel!

Personally, I do not want to commercialize the gospel or learning materials that pertain to the gospel, so I will not print a book and try to sell it, but for necessity's sake for greater learning some books must be acquired. The Bible teaches 'freely you received, freely give' (Mt. 10:8). That's the way I intend to do. However, when I started to learn the original Bible languages, since no one offered to give me a free self-learning book, I had to buy it. I don't believe that is a sin on my part. The apostles did not sell gospel material; they gave their lives for it. Having been convicted of the exemplary lives of the early church leaders, perhaps in the future people will be inspired to do the same. Today, however, even well intentioned preachers are selling their materials. Worse yet, on the other hand, there are those that are deceiving many, even if the least popular and influential one of those who extol and aid the promotion of their chief peers were to repent of their common deception he would be the greater. The Apostle Paul or Peter never spoke like you hear, for instance, the many irreligious bureaucratic parrots and seminary graduates bid for return money such as, “Return the order form today, or for fast delivery use your credit card!” Today's seductive preachers and teachers are not only selling a pernicious substitute for what they should be giving; they are also suggesting the worldly economic practice of credit and interest, which is another stumbling block that Christians should avoid (Dt. 15:1-11).

Gifts

Avoid the sins of Ahab and Jezebel