Today’s post is a question that I think REALLY requires some discussion. As you know from my previous tweets and blog posts, my early Christian life was very much so rooted in the so-called “faith” camp. That time taught me some invaluable things that I’ll never let go of. But over the course of the last year I’ve REALLYbeen questioning what I believe and is it rooted in scripture.
The thing on my mind lately has been the whole “seed faith” thing that people preach. If you’re not familiar with it, allow me to summarize it for you. If you sow a seed (give money) God will give you what you’ve been believing for (more money, a new car, healing, salvation for a family member, a new house etc) Generally, for this to work, the seed must be planted in “good soil” – meaning people or ministries that are “blessed” (translation – people who already have it or places that are doing some really big stuff)
Giving money so that God will do something in return. Can someone explain to me the difference between this and the old (and now rejected) practice of Catholic indulgences?
13 Comments
Good question brother. And the answer is, there is no difference. Both are equally aberrant and are derived from a faulty (to be kind) view of Scriptures and the nature/character of God. Both are equally man centered and demote God to something like a favor-grantor instead of the Sovereign Creator. Selfish to the core, these doctrines teach that God MUST do something in response to our giving. First of all, God owes NO MAN ANYTHING. The Bible would agree with those who say this is a doctrine to be hated as it pushes man to store up treasure on earth where moth and rust corrupts it. As the Scripture speaks, where your treasure is, there will your heart be.
The concepts are similar. Seed faith tries to give you something you want while indulgences tend toward forgiveness of sin and the like.
Which one is more heretical? hhmmm…
Who says indulgences are now rejected? I.e. On Benedict XVI’s behalf, the Apostolic Penitentiary is granting a special plenary indulgence to those who pray before the remains of St. Celestine V during the year dedicated to him..
Mark, you make a great point. No all indulgences are rejected, but monetary ones are right?
Dejuan, great thoughts. Thanks for joining the convo!
I am in agreement with the comments thus far and would posit that the “seed faith” notion of giving can be equated with compulsory giving. Luke 6:38 is commonly used to entice believer’s to give because of this promise where it is almost always inferred that the blessing will be monetary or of composed of material possessions.
This goes against most of what the preceding passages teach and makes and contradicts that we should be cheerful givers and should give expecting nothing in return. Anyone who gives with a heart positioned to require God to pay them back would have a tremendous time jiving that with scripture without bringing the text into contradiction with itself. Indulgences are slightly different as Mark pointed out however I think the heart it produces is the same…
The soul who towards a faith preacher money flings , is a soul who from poverty springs.
heretical covetousness *smh*
Man that seed faith game ain’t nothing but, well, game. God’s not a freakin’ slot or vending machine. To be honest-and I stand to be corrected-but I just wrapped up reading the old testament and was madd surprised to notice how many scriptures that mandate giving to the poor vs giving directly to the priest. Whether knowingly or unknowingly I won’t judge, but there’s a loooot of scripture taken out of context and prostituted.
Juma in here commenting, oh snap! A nerve has been struck!! LOL
“seed faith” yea…. its the worst of the worst. i mean the people who are sending the seeds are sending government cheeze. my home boy who is under word of faith teaching, and his mom gets all kinds of “personal prophecy letters” and at the end it says sow a seed to meet your need whatever youre believing God for. they could of gave the electric company the $50 they sent the televangelist and they could have payed the light bill or at least saved it.
who is benefitting from the “seed faith gifts?” the dude telling everyone to do it.
i used to spend time defending these dudes, but i was so blinded!!!!
dejuan came from some bad teaching as well. alot of people did and now its like a new movement or something lol
dont loose heart mayne!
Wow, what an interesting analogy. I can say much on this subject as it was among many things I’ve wrestled with over the past few years. Overall, it has rooted in faulty hermeneutics and not understanding the faith that Jesus is referring to in context of his redemptive purposes and correlating the gospel passages that speak about seed and faith with the whole counsel of scripture. It was all about belief in him, not faith in faith to produce an outcome. Yes, that is similar to the sale of indulgences only I’d say the premise of indulgences is worse because it was about eternal destiny whereas “seed faith” is about earthly indulgences. In terms of the latter, I think I Timothy 6:3-11 pretty much refutes this kind of focus.
basically there is no difference….in fact most of what we do in church is pagan….that’s why we lack the power of the early church….maybe someday we will get back with truth
I believe we are to bring the Kingdom of God from Heaven to Earth. As a Ambassodor of the Kingdom of God, I believe it is my responsiblity to take 100 percent of what God has blessed me with to empower the Kingdom in some way shape form or fashion. As one that has been blessed of the Lord and one who meditates on his Word I have learned to be a good stewart of that which has blessed me with. Jesus provided salvation on the Earth after confession and belief in the death, burial and resurrection. I believe as one matures in Faith God will take individuals from Glory to GLory.. God says Love thy Good with all your heart, soul, and mind and the 2nd Command is LIKE UNTO THE FIRST To Love thy Neighbor as thyself. 2 Commands on which to hang all the Bible and its profits. If your sowing seeds with the foundations of Love for your GOD. I believe you would be able to hear his voice on what seeds to plant. I think to often we are focused on Blessing when the Blessings are the by products. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all the Blessings will come. Again your Faith is the Maturing Process of Transformation. The Begining of Knowledge is the Fear of the Lord. The Beginning of Wisdom is the Fear of the Lord. I think we need to be more focused on the Seed Reverence of the Lord That we are able to obtain Revelation of the Kingdom and our Responsibilities (Ministry). “The Greatest Injustice to God and Mankind is to Reject Relationship, Knowledge, Wisdom, Truth, and Power because of a Lack of Self Control.” David Davis
David, I am having some difficulty reconciling some things you have said with scripture. I think your response is negating who Jesus was and what he came to accomplish here on earth. His death, buriel and resurrection were required to fulfill the Law, which was previously needed for one to obtain right standing with God. The passage you cite above, Matthew 22:40 says “on these two commandments depend the whole Law and prophets.” The significance is that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the role of the prophets who spoke for God (Heb 1:1-2; Matt 5:17). When he speaks of sowing seeds, it is in reference to belief in him and what he came to accomplish, not the various happenings in our lives. Christ was the consummation of everything building up to that point (Eph 1:10).
The maturing process is growing in grace and the true knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18), following after the spirit and not the flesh (Gal 5:16-17); and accomplished through Godly discipline (Hebrews 12:3-11). Our representation of the kingdom as disciples of Christ is to bear his image and testimony individually and corporately through engagement with other believers (his body). Remember he said they will know we are disciples by the love we have for one another, not the gifts we bring or seeds sowed. We do have spiritual gifts for the purpose of edification, so the body can grow in him and testify to who he is as the Son of God, savior and redeemer.
Not negating anything that you said. But if you believe and if you are a representation of Christ in the earth than you should be producing fruit. I believe we get so caught up in money what I’m talking about is the full make up of who you are. If, like you said the maturing process is growing in grace and truth then we must know that we are truly here for GODS GLory and to Help One Another. In doing so seed is sown. When you Received salvation you agreed to uphold your end of the covenant which is to do the Word of God or to follow after the Supreme in Authority. In doing so seed produces fruit. “Cause and Effect” is all I am saying. Please don’t get what I am saying confused with just money, that is just one part of the full spectrum of what God has for US on Earth. Jesus definetely Fullfilled the Law but he also gave us authority to uphold that law and to prove what is the perfect will of the Father. I believe your second paragraph just bought confirmation to what it was I said.
Much Love.
Dave