God's Business

I am about halfway through Acts at this time and I am starting to understand how brilliantly the foundations for the Church had been laid. Most of this book is about travel from place to place, re-hashing the same old message of god to different people. Underlying that, however, there is a brilliant business plan that had been established by Jesus.

It turns out that the Christ was no fiscal dummy. Among his apostles were businessmen and tax preparers. It's stated numerous times that he dined with such individuals as well. He had plainly laid out his financial plans, intermingled with God's message when preaching to the wealthy: Surrender all your possessions, for a wealthy man has as much chance of getting into heaven as a camel has to pass through the eye of a needle.

The formula is this: Convert a wealthy man, who must then sell his possessions. The apostlehood contained the money wise individuals required to manage the now liquid funds. The money was managed and used to ensure that every member of the disciples were cared for in a socialist fashion. The new convert would in turn seek out others and convince them to repent, renewing the cycle. It's an economic model that required constantly seeking new disciples, so as more money was brought in, more people would be turned to the righteous path (and vice versa).

Its a viral model, and a very successful one, as in the first half of Acts, it's spread all around the eastern side of the Mediterranean, from Jerusalem to Greece. This path made possible by the existence of the massive Roman Empire.

Of note was Simon the Sorcerer. He held a similar business model, I imagine. Though instead of God as the focus of his followers, he held himself "at the head of the congregation," as Lucifer would. (Isiah 14) I pondered this week about why he would be denied from the faith, and slain for attempting to buy his way to heaven. Didn't any rich man who sold his possessions and entered the Church do this? Simon would enter, not only with vast wealth, but a huge following of his own people who could be made converts.

The answer, if you think it through is this: He would enter the Church as an infection. Even if not an official apostle, his followers in the Church would ensure that he would hold a similar level of power. He would enter, and tear focus away from God, and onto himself and collapse the Church from within for his own benefit, during its delicate infancy. He held the business plan perfectly, but it lacked God.

Peter, with the power granted from God, could apparently not only see the future, but the future of actions. He could see what would happen, as Jesus and God could, if Simon were allowed into the Church. He struck the sorcerer down on the spot, and the future that Peter saw was prevented from existing.

This tells me that, according to the Bible, the future is not set as a single path. It's course can be altered by actions in the present, and the potential for all things that may or may not happen is always there.

Another lesson from this: Beware the cult of Simon. Consider that one in this age is cautioned against cults. The difference between cult and church, as the cautious would tell you, is that a cult will instruct you to surrender all your possessions to join. However, the line is not so clear, as Jesus would have you surrender your possessions. Todays cult of Simon would bring this point to the forefront. Even established Churches this day may have lost their way, lacking Peter's divine vision. A sorcerer may have erroneously been allowed to lead. How does one tell the difference between a church and a cult then?

I say this: arm yourself first with Truth and Righteousness. Sharpen your wit, don't let your mind grow dull. Be firm in YOUR understanding of the Lord. Be ready to question the motives of the heads of congregations. Learn to manage your own wealth and see that it is divided among the truly needy. Be active under the Lord. Do not merely visit a Church on the sabbath and go through the motions, repeating the words and blindly following the leaders. Be a leader.

Always be aware, you have greater wealth to give than material. You have your heart, your head, and your efforts. Believe in God with all you have, and be ever suspicious of Man.

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!
-Acts 20