The Church of Hophni and Phinehas

Monday, August 17, 2009


Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way. Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.

The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt. - 1 Samuel 2:12-17, New Living Translation

What has happened to the worship aspect of the offering in the House of God?

What is this thing that has become the norm?

Scripture tells us plainly how to bring our offering.

Paul tells us to give cheerfully and not grudgingly and not out of necessity. (2 Cor. 9:6-8)

Jesus even tells us that when we do good deeds, we should do so in secret. (Matt. 6:1-4)

So what is this auction style, public display style of giving that has entered God’s house?

God says, “I see and I am not pleased.”

For those unaware of this event it occurs like this. A minister will finish ministering and lift an offering; it could be the second offering of the service.

The minister will ask for a specific seed offering and ask those who will stand with him in giving this amount to either stand or lineup in the aisles. I have seen ministers give prophetic word to people as they come and bring this seed which really sends up red flags and gives the appearance that one is somehow paying for a prophetic word which is no different from paying the psychic to tell one’s future. We are commanded to abstain from the very appearance of evil! (I Thess. 5:19-22)

I have seen people bring their offering to the minister; they look at the amount, cross it out, and write a different offering amount on their envelope and the giver was told to bring that amount next time.

Then there is the guilt offering; completely different from the one in the book of Leviticus. This offering has everything to do with making you feel guilty because you are not in the $200 seed offering line. I was at an event and I had x amount of dollars to give. Way below the asking price of the traveling minister but I truly wanted to give and it was all I had. The minister went on to say that the price of wearing a clergy collar in his church was $100 in any offering he was lifting. Never mind if this was the first, second, or third service in a conference or revival. If he called for a $100 seed offering, those ministers were expected be in line; check in hand. He went on to say that he wanted everybody to give no less than $20 in that offering. The whole while he was talking, Holy Spirit and I were having a tug a war with the check I had written. He said, “Put it [the check] back in your purse.” Again, I was so blessed and wanted to give and went for my puny check and Holy Spirit very adamantly said, “Leave it in your purse!” So I didn’t give in that offering. I wanted too, but sensed Holy Spirit was truly offended.

It never ceases to amaze me how we can have such an awesome move of God and then immediately experience Ichabod – the glory departed – when it is time for offering. Why? Because the Church of Hophni and Phinehas is open and ready for business.

These sons of Eli made the Lord’s offering detestable. They demanded how they wanted the offering and in some instances took the offering by force and the bible says these two men caused the people to sin.

I fear the people of God have become immune to this behavior and that it is not an offering unless you have been coerced into giving which again goes against scripture. This behavior has taught believers not to even seek God beforehand on what to give in these special services. The demands will be made upon you when you get there. The flip side is that if these demands are not placed the offerings suffer; the people usually do not give. Why? Because the people of God have not been taught how to truly give, how to seek God and hear Him about giving and receive the benefits of giving as the word of God has commanded. We have a habit in our house of discussing the offering before we even leave for a service and we allow Holy Spirit to direct us. As ministers we have to teach people how to give, how to seek Holy Spirit for direction in their giving.

If a ministry is hosting a conference or revival, be honest with the people and make them aware of the costs of hosting the event. Tell them their financial support will ensure the event’s success and don’t tie their giving into their breakthrough, next level or deliverance. It is deceitful to do so. If the funds are not there, maybe the event has to be scaled down or that local Body of Believers seeks God for the miraculous.

Holy Spirit is demanding change because judgment is sure to fall.

It is time to bring the worship aspect back to our giving. It’s time to restore a holy reverence to this part of our worship experience.

It is time for ministers to truly teach the people of God what it means to give.

It is time to close down the Church of Hophni and Phinehas once and for all.

8 comments:

Carole August 17, 2009 at 3:06 PM  

Our previous pastor di dnot teach congregational tithing. Since ournew pastor has arrived he is teaching tithing but also the holiness of giving. Trying to redirect the believers they are not giving to him but in accordance witht what the scriputres ddirect us to do. Thus far it has been amazing to see the growth it has made.

Pastor Tonya Jones August 17, 2009 at 4:26 PM  

Hallelujah! Someone has the strenght and faith to call out evil, wrong and sin!!!! Yes, we have been inundated with the worship of giving as a I had dream, I hear the Lord saying and the famous join me in giving this amount! Why are we so null to this? Because we are ignorant to the truth of the word of God! If we would only take the time to study his word for ourselves we would see Jesus never did any of this nonsence being done today. God is raising up ministries who know his word and are not afraid to preach and teach sound doctrine! Thanks for sharing...
Pastor Tonya Jones
www.godswordspoken.com

lesley,  August 17, 2009 at 10:10 PM  

i was inspired. thank you. I'm so happy for the true people of Christ who live and Hear God's voice.

Pastor Joyce,  August 17, 2009 at 11:26 PM  

Pastor Lisa, I'm so sorry this abomination is still in our churches. I personally hadn't seen the $20, $50, $100 offering lines in many years. Regrettably, it seems we've just changed the language ("seed") on old madness! The Holy Spirit is grieved and God ain't pleased!!! If folks don't repent and mend their ways, I'm a witness that the Death Angel will be dispatched to "clean house!"

Proophetess Roberta,  August 18, 2009 at 8:07 AM  

Pastor Lisa this blog is awesome because it exposes a hidden truth within the body of christ that there are still pimps in the pulpit! I have left service feeling condemned to hell, because I did not give my light bill money. I was told if it didn't meet the need, then it must be a seed. We have much to pray for in the body of Christ. Much to pray for!

Apostle Stacey Woods August 18, 2009 at 9:44 AM  

A MILLION THANK YOUS FOR THIS! I have many times wondered WHY we do this!!! PRAISE GOD.

Kim August 26, 2009 at 1:16 PM  

Pastor Lisa,

What of the practice of some that while the man or women of God is ministering to run up and throw money at his or her feet? Is this scriptural? If not, what is the best way to address this should it happen to me?

Do you know how it got started?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

Kim

Pastor Ayanna November 24, 2011 at 7:56 AM  

LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! If people stand up and speak against this foolishness maybe it will stop but at the very less new converts and others will KNOW this is NOT of God and GOD is not pleased! Bless you Pastor Lisa for your boldness.. Love ya much my sister..

Pastor Ayanna
www.the-tstation.com

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