Meat or Money
Things offered to idols are not a big deal today, but 2000 years ago, this caused a lot of issues and divided congregations. We have other things to waste our time with, however. I was in an adult Sunday school class years ago, and the topic of money came up specifically ill-gotten gain.
The topic of a prostitute coming to church and putting money in the offering came up. Of all the silly topics,....! The general consensus of this group of saints was that the church shouldn't accept this kind of gift under any circumstance. This was when I asked a simple question, "What's the difference between good money and bad money, and is there a way to tell the difference between the two?"
Money gets passed around so much that the same bills that purchase food and medicine today can purchase crack tomorrow. How can we know the difference? Money is neither good nor bad; it's amoral, simply a tool.
Many people are troubled by these kinds of issues, but God isn't. He's not so concerned about what is going on as He is the heart behind it. That prostitute putting money in the offering may be desiring a walk with Jesus, while the church turns her away because she doesn't fit in.
Yesterday, it was meat, today it's money, and it will be something else tomorrow. Our job is to win the lost, not get hung up in matters that really don't matter.
By Rick “Papa” Wilson