"Avoiding Scams- The 'Church' Version"

 

It is not strange on any given day to hear about a new SCAM.  Whether is deals with someone pretending to be sick in order to get donations, someone getting donations and never distributing them properly, or phone calls demanding payment for things not owed to the caller.  We also hear often about 'homeless' people who leave the roadside and go back to homes and nice cars. It is so common place that the thought of being fooled by a scam drives us!  None of us wants to be a victim, but there are so many out there who prey on innocent, unsuspecting people.

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you ahead of time. "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.”  Matt 24:23-26

CHURCH SCAMS

Of all the scams, it is sad to hear that some happen in churches.  Most true Christians are not fooled into thinking that everything is perfect in the church. We are aware that there are not just false prophets, but there are people who do church for personal gain, and some go as far as to fake miracles to get a following.  This is not new to us, and it is not a shock to God.  The bible talks about men who wanted to sell spiritual gifts, false prophets who lied to the people about what God has said and we have been warned about running towards ‘miracles’.  You may think that somehow that should not happen in the REAL church, but real churches have REAL people- from all walks of life.  Every person has a choice of how and if we will obey God, much like every child in a family can be raised in a loving home, but something goes wrong with them.  So the problem is not the church as a whole, it is the decisions of some people in the church family. The thing we have to keep in mind is that God as Father is aware of His wayward children, and He will deal with us at the appropriate time. 

AVOIDING SCAMS

So when talking about scams- we know they happen, but how do we avoid them?  If we listened to law enforcement, they would tell you to double check your sources.  Understand the process that your bank or debt collector uses to collect funds.  They would tell you to either NOT give to those on the streets or only use reputable organizations… (But sometimes those organizations are not trustworthy!)  Overall, I would agree with what they said, but I would add this to it.

Learn how to hear from God not your emotions.  Understand that the “Urgent is Seldom Important”.  Meaning take the time you need to check your sources.  Find ways that work for you to contribute to causes you love, understand that sowing in ‘good’ ground is better than just throwing seed.  Also if you are someone who loves to give, don’t be bribed by others that say... “But I thought you said you were a Christian?”  That  guilt trip is old now!  We have to be secure in knowing that we are not moved by the requests of people, but by the spirit of God.  As a believer you never know who God has in a difficult place for the purpose of drawing them to Himself.  Giving to someone when God is getting their attention puts their attention on you, and off of Him.  Again, pray about how you do your benevolent work!  Don’t be pressured and check the ground you are sowing in.

   

THE BIGGEST SCAM ALERT!

Aside from trying to avoid scams, we need to understand what the biggest scam of all is!

The biggest scam that works most of the time is not a fake ‘Go Fund Me” page, it is not donations taken and used for personal pleasures… The greatest scam of all is pulled on people who have kind hearts and generous souls.  The enemy causes us to see so many scams, that it stops us from caring, from reaching out and from helping others.  The greatest scam is supposed to cause mankind to not be kind; to always be suspect to the point that the normal giving heart that we have is prohibited from caring because of so many who abuse it. 

  

PLAN TO BE A BLESSING

Be encouraged to make plans to be a blessing.  If your heart is moved by people on the side of the road and you can’t NOT see them, plan for them.  If you want to work with an organization, choose wisely and be part of it so you are aware of the hearts of those in charge.  If that is more than you can do, plan to keep small bags with snacks, personal items, or even a little cash in each one to give out at a stop light.  That way you choose how you will bless others instead of others reeling you into doing things their way.   Overall, be the blessing you are meant to be.  Don’t allow the enemy to fool you into losing that part of yourself that keeps you feeling alive and loving others- that part that is connected to God.

And in conclusion… as much as we can try to avoid being caught up in a scam, sometimes our giving heart overrules our reasoning.  In those instances,  learn and understand that  though they think they have tricked you, your heart still has a benefit of receiving the promises of God.  They will be judged by God for their actions, but their mindset and evil intention does not hinder the blessing of God towards your giving heart!

#stillbeablessing