APOSTASY AND PROSPERITY - “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth. They are confident that God would bless them materially because they had the trappings of religion - the common denominator is greed. The Bible teaches no such thing. Their desire for personal prosperity led them to a prostitution of the true worship of God - whenever religion is used to justify the “love of money,” it suffers degradation - “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” - One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth. The Bible teaches no such thing. Chapters 17 and 18 of the Book of Judges describe a period of rampant apostasy and confusion, an itinerant Levite, the tribe of Dan, and a man named Micah. First, we see that Micah steals 1,100 shekels of silver from his mother, who then places a curse on the unknown thief. Micah, fearing the curse, confesses the crime. His mother tries to lessen the curse by dedicating all the money to the Lord and converts 200 shekels into an idol. Micah places the idol with his others and consecrates his son as priest, even though they are of the tribe of Ephraim.

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Apostasy and Prosperity

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“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth. They are confident that God would bless them materially because they had the trappings of religion - the common denominator is greed. The Bible teaches no such thing. Their desire for personal prosperity led them to a prostitution of the true worship of God - whenever religion is used to justify the “love of money,” it suffers degradation

BY JOHN D. MORRIS, PH.D.

 

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” - (2 Corinthians 9:8)

One of the most tragic movements in Christendom today teaches that God promises to make each Christian prosper in material wealth.

Suffice it to say, the Bible teaches no such thing, as seen in our text and elsewhere, but this false teaching is not new and is associated with apostasy.

Consider chapters 17 and 18 of the Book of Judges, which describe a period of rampant apostasy and confusion.

The chapters provide character sketches of an itinerant Levite, the tribe of Dan, and a man named Micah.

First, we see that Micah steals 1,100 shekels of silver from his mother, who then places a curse on the unknown thief.

Micah, fearing the curse, confesses the crime.

His mother tries to lessen the curse by dedicating all the money to the Lord and converts 200 shekels into an idol.

Micah places the idol with his others and consecrates his son as priest, even though they are of the tribe of Ephraim.

Later, he hires the Levite to be his priest and exclaims, “Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest” (Judges 17:13).

In the next chapter, spies of the Danites go to the priest for God’s blessing on their efforts to find land that they can conquer.

When the marauders return, they recruit the Levite to a more prosperous position.

He joins them, having stolen Micah’s idols, and establishes the tribal priesthood.

Each one in this story was confident that God would bless them materially because they had the trappings of religion.

The common denominator was greed. Their desire for personal prosperity led them to a prostitution of the true worship of God.

But whenever religion is “used” to justify the “love of money,” it suffers degradation.

“Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) wants people to know that God’s Word can be trusted in everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

After 50 years of ministry, ICR remains a leader in scientific research within the context of biblical creation. Founded by Dr. Henry Morris in 1970, ICR exists to conduct scientific research within the realms of origins and Earth history, and then to educate the public both formally and informally through professional training programs, through conferences and seminars around the country, and through books, magazines, and media presentations.

https://www.icr.org/article/11774/

 

TOP TEN RICHEST AND MOST POWERFUL LEADERS IN THE PHILIPPINES - The Philippine government is run not just by the politicians, but by influential religious groups lobbying around boasting their leverage especially in the coming presidential elections.

Top from left to right: Glicerio “Jun” Santos Jr., Eliseo Soriano, Luis Antonio Tagle, Eddie Villanueva. Bottom left to right: Eduardo Manalo, Mike Velarde, Apollo Quiboloy, Bo Sanchez

Top Ten Richest and Most Powerful Religious Leaders in the Philippines 

 Top Lists  February 10, 2016

The business of religion always comes with power, influence, and a lot of money.

The Philippine government is run not just by the politicians, but by influential religious groups lobbying around boasting their leverage especially in the coming presidential elections.

Philippine politicians are nothing but puppets of these religious leaders and their organizations. No wonder why crimes committed by some of these leaders are often overlooked by the government. Their influence is more than the politicians’ power.

Let’s take a look at the top ten richest and most influential religious leaders in the Philippines.

1. Glicerio  “Jun” Santos Jr. Many Filipinos do not know who this person is, but unknown to them, Jun Santos is the most powerful religious figure in the Philippines. He is the general auditor of the controversial and Guinness-obsessed Iglesia Ni Cristo, and president of more than a dozen Felix Y. Manalo Foundations. His wealth is more than anyone can imagine. His influence in the Philippine government is second to none. Abuloy pa more!

2. Mariano “Mike” Velarde The leader of El Shaddai comes in second. Although Mike Velarde is not media-friendly, his wealth speaks who he is. Mike has an estimated net worth of more than 200 million pesos.

3. Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva Eddie Villanueva might have failed to become a Philippine president, but his influence remains strong and his wealth remains big. Villanueva has an estimated net worth of more than 200 million pesos.

4. Eliseo Soriano Soriano might be in exile, but he is the most popular and controversial person in this list. Soriano is a known critic of the Iglesia Ni Cristo and has more than 100 million pesos in his bank account.

5. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle Everyone knows who Cardinal Tagle is. He is the most powerful Catholic leader in the country. It is hard to estimate his wealth, but his influence precedes him.

6. Eduardo V. Manalo The embattled leader of the Iglesia Ni Cristo is still a powerful person despite being overshadowed by Jun Santos in terms of wealth and influence. INC members believe that Eduardo is still their leader, but the current situation says otherwise. Manalo is responsible for the near demise of a 100-year legacy.

7. Apollo Quiboloy Quiboloy is a televangelist and the founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ. He is the richest religious leader in Southern Philippines with an estimated net worth of 100 million. He is a friend of Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

8. Eugenio “Bo” Sanchez Bo Sanchez is a religious leader and bestselling author. His influence through print and broadcast media is hard to surpass. He has an estimated net worth of 30 million pesos.

9. Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio The former priest and former governor of Pampanga is still one of the most powerful people in the North. Ed may have not enough money to make on this list, but his name speaks otherwise when it comes to influence.

10. Daniel Razon Most people would think Daniel Razon is just a reporter, but no. He is a deputy leader of Ang Dating Daan, second to his uncle Eliseo Soriano. Although he is still seen on TV, Daniel is a secret millionaire with an estimated net worth of more than 20 million pesos. To those people who want to become rich and powerful, you have two options. Either you become a politician or build your own religion. /Jake Nepomuceno – Makati City/

http://okd2.com/ten-richest-and-most-powerful-religious-leaders-in-the-philippines/