I’ll tell you where you can “Sow Your Seed”…

Okay—total transparency coming up, so buckle your seatbelt.

This evening, I was watching a certain Christian TV network (that shall remain nameless), and what “message” was being proclaimed from their “pulpit” that broadcasts into the households of billions across the earth? Sow Your Seed and God will… (fill in the materialistic blank)

This heretical load of garbage has become sadly synonymous with the Spirit-filled, charismatic church—a movement that, though flawed, is near and dear to my heart as in its pure, Scripture-rooted form, it is truly a revelation of renewal in an age desperate for a true touch from heaven.

A few Biblical blurbs:

1) Financial “Seed Sowing” (as it is defined today) is not Scriptural. Literally, it’s not in the Bible… except for one isolated passage (2 Cor 9:10), and in a moment, we’ll briefly examine the context (2 Cor 9:6-15). Otherwise, there is no verse, passage, or account throughout the halls of Scripture where the phraseology, “Sowing Seed” is paralleled with giving money—in particular, giving money to manipulative ministries or corrupt churches.

2) Defining “Sowing Your Seed.” When presented in the Bible, “Sowing” is discussed in the context of farming and agriculture (Gen 47:23), preserving the soil’s sanctity (Lev 11:37), and intermixing of planting (Lev 19:19, Deut 22:9). When paralleled with anything—New Testament-speaking—“Seed” could be observed as a type for the Word of God or the Gospel (Matt 13:4) and, in one singular instance, yes, “sowing seed” is symbolic for investing in the work of preaching the Gospel (2 Cor 9:10).

3) The Balance:

2 Corinthians 9:5—The believers were urged to give a gift “not as an extortion [wrung out of you]…” but as “generous and willing.” (AMP)

I don’t need to tell you, but most instances where the “sowing your seed” malarkey is proclaimed, extortion is right there, smiling, singing, and swindling. Is tithing and giving wrong? Absolutely not. We give because God said so and we love Him. However, what’s happening in many evangelical circles today is not giving; it’s Christianized thievery and believers are willingly paying the robbers!

Paul warned young Timothy about charlatans who will come in with a Christian “look and feel,” but would ultimately pervert the Gospel for fiscal gain:

1 Timothy 6:3-5—“If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.” (MESSAGE)

The agenda?

Wrangle Together the Innocent and Ungrounded—They target people who are not grounded in solid, Biblical doctrine. In these “Sow Your Seed” environments, anyone who is a proponent of being theologically sound is considered a Pharisee, an intellectualized legalist and one who is against the “flow of the Spirit.” Church, the “spirit” flowing in many atmospheres today is not the Holy Spirit of God, but rather, a combination of fleshy frenzy and demonic divination. Be Word-grounded and Spirit-sensitive. Yes, they can peacefully coexist, for it’s the Word that exhorts us to quench not the Spirit.

Work Em’ Up with Worship—This is where the fleshy frenzy begins, and it irks me to no end. I am all for emotionally encountering God. I believe, in all honesty, that God is in the process of raising up an Enoch generation who walks with Him, so powerfully, so intimately, so tangibly, that the world and all it offers become so secondary and un-alluring because of their powerful engagement with the Holy One. Manifestations. Signs. Wonders. Healings. Miracles. I believe God is unleashing those into the earth like never before. Problematically, they are presently few and far between for the church at large is not mature enough to steward such blessings. We possess the propensity to worship the wonder or seek the sign. Oh, glory’s coming folks, but I believe we are in the final phases of Jesus restoring order to His body. The Gospel—Jesus as our Savior from sin—must be the magnificent obsession again. I’ve been in these aforementioned “worship atmospheres” and they are, quite frankly, intoxicating. The worship appears extravagant, the praise glorious, the atmosphere rich with “the presence,” and then, whammo, things get crazy… in this case, craziness is the “offering” message (more like the offering m-a-ssage).

Wave the Wand. Charm the Church. Pick up the Proceeds. Finally, after everyone’s brains are brought to mush and emotions are elated through the “worship experience” the deal can close. Putty in the hands of a suit-donning, mic-holding, hooping and hollering Bible-toting wolf in sheep’s clothing. Now, be mindful, not every preacher who is preaching or endorsing those who proclaim this message are certifiable apostates. Some are people I actually respect, and who I believe regularly bring a Word from God’s heart to the body of Christ. That’s what breaks my heart. I don’t know what to do about it, for it is a perverse message.

I’m just so sick of it, and I pray that someone would have the audacity to rise up and blow a trumpet in Zion about this rubbish. I’m upset that because of this prosperity perversion, the enemy has strategically divided the church concerning the reality of God as Provider—either we believe God wants us poor (which is unbiblical), or we expect Him to dish out the Cadillac, yacht, and million dollar mansion (likewise, unbiblical). I just needed to issue this caveat before the stones start flying. Yes, I believe in Prosperity. I believe in God’s Provision and His More than Enough supply. I DON’T and CAN’T, however, endorse the whole “Give to Get” bologna. That’s just me.

Oh, but there is a Seed Sown that will be eternally celebrated and cherished, and His Name is Jesus Christ! I’ll discuss this in my following post.