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Large ministries have a huge appetite for cash yet George Muller ran an orphanage on virtually nothing.

The consumer society mindset has infiltrated the church and the leadership is forever inventing new and elaborate ways to make donation appeals.

The subtle inference is that if you extend yourself in giving a significant offering you will find the perfect wife, get healed of cancer or buy the house of your dreams.

Christian marketing is a fine art with paid-up seminars (they used to be called crusades, retreats or outreaches in the past), regular worship CD releases and school of ministry for those who dream of being one day on the payroll.

If you really want to run a church like a business then let us have an AGM and see if it was a good investment. Unfortunately the financial statements are nowhere to be seen. What about the social balance sheet? How many people were provided jobs, accommodation, counselling, etc...? How many lonely folks were provided with caring friends and social activities? How many shaky marriages were saved from impending divorce? Do you think they would have a story to tell, bring in all their mates and the recruiting drive would be sorted out once and for all?

The few churches left who do welfare work receive grants from the government and are denied the right to present the gospel to those they care for.

This is quite a contrast to the way it works in Third World countries. NGOs don't send missionaries to stand on a soap box, preach an upbeat message and collect tithes. No, they meet people's needs by providing disaster relief, healthcare or housing projects. Then they have earned the right to tell folks about Jesus Christ.

Well enjoy the show while it lasts but remember that as a believer you too are accountable for this poor state of affairs. For starters you are supposed to uphold in prayer those in position of leadership. Also you cannot afford to let yourself be upset by what is going on. If you ask: "Lord whom can I bless today?" you will find you have the ability, the gift and the duty to brighten somebody else's world.

Then it will make all the difference to you and you will be empowered to do more.

Your enemy the devil is prowling like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. Taking offense at what goes on in the churches and falling out of fellowship with other believers is the best way to let him do just that. Don't let yourself be his next snack.

Christians are having a hard time in their witnessing efforts because their personal lives lack the power of living out the gospel. Good Samaritans are very rare indeed.

Yet this is the perfect atmosphere for a revival to take place - that no one could take credit for it - only the hand of God could achieve such a turnaround.

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