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Death and Taxes
September 14, 2006

Greetings in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

I have actually heard A/G ministers say they will not speak out on certain subjects because they are afraid they’ll lose their tax exempt status. They are afraid that their givers will quit giving and the church will die. So, do we trust in our tax exemption rather than Jehovah Jireh? Are we sacrificing our calling to preach God’s Truth on the altar of Fear so that we can keep our influx of mammon? Brethren, this ought not to be so! Is this one reason our fellowship’s growth has gone flat in America? Because the salt has lost its savor?

In Mark 10:24, Jesus says to his disciples, “How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” And again, in I Tim 6:17 Paul instructs Timothy, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” God holds the pastor to a stricter standard than the congregation dear shepherds!

Again in Matthew 10:27-34 Jesus provides a rather stern outline of responsibilities to his disciples regarding the preaching of the Gospel, “What I [Jesus] tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Remember brethren, the context of this passage isn’t a message to the sheep (although it certainly applies there as well), it is to the shepherds! Are you being obedient to what God’s still small voice is whispering in your ear? Or are you in danger of being denied before Jesus’ Father?

You are the watchman for your sheep dear ones! In Israel, it was the shepherd who slept in the gate of the sheepfold to ensure that the wolf could never enter in. God holds the watchman to an exceptionally high standard as He says in Ezekiel 33:6, “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Pastors: God, the Great Shepherd knows the name of every single person that ever walks through the door to your church. Do you? Did you warn them that their sin would separate them eternally from God if they did not repent, change their wicked lifestyle and accept Jesus’ sacrificial death as payment for their sins? Even if they die in their own iniquity, this passage says that their blood will be required at your hand if you don’t warn them about God’s coming Judgment!!!

Finally, preaching the gospel, being called to the high calling and honor of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ really boils down to whether the one called really trusts in the God about Whom they preach. If you do not really trust in God, and are afraid of the tax man, then you’ll water down your sermons. Don’t be afraid shepherds! God will protect you from the wolf as you lay in the gate to protect the sheep! Be a true shepherd! Do not run when the wolf threatens as the hireling does! Be the watchman! Be willing to patrol the dark streets of Satan’s lies (that always sound so good [“you will not surely die.”]). Warn the inhabitants, safe in their houses, that a destroyer is near!

I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Are you tormented by fear that if you preach the truth, your congregation will walk out on you or that the government will take away your tax exempt status and you’ll lose your tithers and thus your salary? It ought not to be so! Do you love your Heavenly Father perfectly? If you do, then you won’t be afraid to preach what He commands you to preach.

Do we not realize that if we fail to speak, we will cause the death of the church spiritually? Then the church will lose its God-given influence on the world and they will vote that we lose our tax exemption anyway. But when preachers preach, Providence provides!

Your Humble Servant for the Gospel’s Sake,

Brother Mike

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