A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

Hey if you haven’t reached New Jersey you should leave what you are doing and head there now! It doesnt matter if you are a Muslim, Atheist, Christian, Agnostic or Sikh in a very humble and anonymous  very very public show of charity apparently….

Calling it a “spiritual stimulus,” leaders of a New Jersey church say they will be giving away $30,000 in cash during church services on Sept. 25 to everyone in attendance.

In a press release widely circulated on the Internet, Liquid Church says that instead of giving during the Sunday collection congregants can expect to receive – envelopes marked “God Trusts You!” stuffed with $10, $20, and $50 bills.

“Washington is broke, people are broke, and folks have lost faith that government can provide a lasting solution to economic issues,” said Tim Lucas, Lead Pastor of the 2,000-member church.

Lucas will be encouraging recipients of the “reverse offering” to invest the money in meaningful ways, such as putting the money into the community to help others in need, which is why the envelopes will be marked “God Trusts You.”

[Apparently] Lucas, who has been preaching a sermon series called “Broke,” says, “Jesus talked more about the topic of money than Heaven & Hell combined.”

[Besides] … With the “reverse offering” and donations to community programs combined, Liquid Church will be giving away $90,000.

Not that I do not support giving to the poor or giving to charity but isn’t there a verse about making a public show of your good deeds?

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matt 6:1-4″

But just wait a minute you say. Look at how many people will be coming to church to hear the gospel of how Christ died for their sins about the latest in financial debt breaking principles and have their faith restored in God Pastor Lucas when he cracks open the doors of his church. Amen! Kerching!

There goes one solid bible preaching purpose driven liquid pastor!