Leviticus 11:13
‘And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard’
Birds of prey. God does not want us eating birds that prey on the weak, dead, and dying. Birds like the eagle, who soar high above their prey waiting for the perfect opportunity to swoop down and make a kill. Majestic creatures who, at times, devour their prey while it is still alive, allowing it to suffer as their beaks and talons tear the flesh from its body. Scavenger birds, like the vulture, who circle above smelling the decay of rotting flesh in the air and then land to consume it. God does not want us to eat these animals.
Interestingly enough, some of these birds that God forbids are beautiful symbols of power and might, while others are hideously ugly creatures. Take the Bald Eagle, America’s bird; it sits at the top of the food chain adorned with beautiful markings and a white “crown” upon its head. But it’s a vicious predator with its beauty surpassed only by its amazing ability to hunt and devour prey! Then there is the vulture. From far off in the sky, as it soars above the rest of the world, the vulture appears beautiful. But up close it is a hideous creature, covered with parasites, the stench of rotten flesh, and the blood of animals.
God does not want us getting our nutrition from predators and scavengers like this, nor does He want us going to a church that acts or appears like these creatures, a church that preys on the weak, lost, and dying, or a church that manipulates the scripture and, in so doing, manipulates a congregation’s understanding of Jesus and His infinite grace.
We have these churches all over the world, professing that God demands your offerings, your gifts, and your sacrifices. We see a lot of them on the TV; their pastors telling you to give your “seed of faith”. They prey on a person’s desire to please God, and manipulate that through scripture to drain them of their finances and hope. “Sow your seed today and receive God’s double portion of blessings in your life. Give sacrificially, work hard, step out in faith in order to get the portion of God’s favor that He so longs to give you, IF you would just.....”
The church leaders that teach these lessons have great stories. They use words like “challenge” and “I dare you to try it” in order to lure the unsuspecting, undernourished, underfed believer into guilt giving. They use your guilt for the profit of the church in order that the new sanctuary can be built, that the new lights can be purchased, or that the new paid positions can be filled. By using your desire to see God fix your marriage, health, or finances and manipulating your heart, the church reaps the benefits.
Teaching like this is spiritually deadly to seekers and believers both. It drives people away from knowing the grace offered by Christ at the cross. It can turn their hearts away from Jesus because His message is lost in our perceived need to do works. (Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.) The Bible clearly states that all of our acts (even those done with righteous motives) are like trash before a holy and just God. Teaching that our giving, that our sacrifice will lead to greater blessings is contrary to scripture.
Jesus tells us that all we have to do is ask in His name and God the Father will give it to us. (John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.) There is nothing that we can give to God to get His blessings or love. There is no work or deed, sacrifice or monetary gift that we can offer to God that will cause Him to bless us double-fold. All of the laws of ‘giving to receive’ were fulfilled when Christ went to the cross. He alone tore the veil and cleared a path to the riches of heaven.
God wants us to eat grain-fed birds like chickens and quail. That’s why He provided quail to His people in the wilderness. That’s why He wants the church to be grain-fed, that is, nourished by the Bread of Life who is Jesus Christ. We need churches that are filled with Christ and the riches of His grace, not the riches of the people!
***Please note*** I am not advocating that you not give of time, talent, or financial resources. I am simply stating that it is important you are giving, and churches are receiving, with right motives. A church that manipulates Scripture or your emotions to get you to open your wallet is not one working in a right spirit and applying Scripture correctly. Give, give freely to churches that are teaching sound Scriptures; don’t give because a church promises blessings or because you are trying to earn favor. You are a child of God if you follow Jesus Christ; you already have His favor!
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