Peddlers of the Gospel, not a new phenomenon

2 Corinthians 2:17

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

The word ‘corrupt’ in the KJV can be taken in the wrong context and unfortunately it is one of those words which could have been interpreted a little better. The Word actually means hawking, peddling, selling, vending or merchandising so you can see ‘corrupt’ may be the outcome but it is not the true interpretation of the word.

The New American Standard Version seems to have got it right.

17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

This is a good reason why you should always read more than one version of the Bible when studying and also look to the original Greek when looking at specific words.

Even at the dawn of Christianity when God was moving and people were being saved there were people out there who saw it as an opportunity to make money, things haven’t changed much have they? The Bible calls these people false apostles, Satan’s servants and their fate will be sure. 2 Corinthians 10:12 and 11:13-15

12 Oh, don’t worry; I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!

13 These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers. In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

The true apostles spoke with the authority of God and their purpose was for God not themselves. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5

3 So you can see that we were not preaching with any deceit or impure purposes or trickery.
4 For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.
5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you very well know. And God is our witness that we were not just pretending to be your friends so you would give us money!

How bad are these false apostles, surely if they are preaching the gospel and people are getting saved then this is good. Does it matter who says the words as long as the words are spoken. Yes, it does matter because the false teachers do not speak with God’s authority and there fore they do not talk to the heart they talk to the emotions. They tickle the ears of the people and tell them what they want to hear to get the money from them. This is not being saved.

We read in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 that people react differently to the saving words of Christ, this is no good for someone who wants you for your money. With this in mind the false teacher has to replace the power of God with the power of persuasion.

14 But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.
15 Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing.
16 To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

Salvation is what it is, salvation. It is no better or worse if you accept it from the top TV evangelist or a new pastor starting his first church. You do not get extra merits from God by attending large rallies to get saved. Personalities do not come in to God’s free gift of salvation. This is not true salvation, it is a sham a pale copy based on the mans words and not born in God’s will. Because of this the false teachers are not doing God’s will. Matthew 12:30

30 Anyone who isn’t helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

Sombre words for all those out there who are ‘making a living’ from God. The prosperity preachers, the positive thinkers and all those who have an angle on God. We are not in the gospel business we are not here to sell the gospel or Christ to the unsaved, it is a free gift as was our salvation and if you think you can make a profit whilst still doing God’s work then you are sadly mistaken. People mistakenly think that they wouldn’t be making all their wealth if God didn’t want them to have it. The fact is God isn’t paying them, they are on someone else’s payroll, doing someone else’s work.

We all have a free will and a brain and in the Bible a simple direction we must take. If you choose to ignore that then your master is not God but Satan and he, Satan may well choose to make you benefit for doing his work. But remember the words of 2 Corinthians 11:15.

15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.