When I speak against the reformed society, I am not referring to reformed theology, but to the people. This isn’t only about Reformed Baptists, but about everyone within the broader reformed circle, Reformed Baptists, Presbyterians, and others.
Reformed believers often carry an attitude that except them everyone else is wrong. God has removed the heart of stone and given a heart of flesh but it seems the mind remains as hard as stone. Many in the Reformed community don’t seem to understand humor either.
Even within the Reformed circle, there is no true unity. Reformed Baptists accuse Presbyterians of being wrong about infant baptism, and Presbyterians criticize Baptists for only baptizing adults. They highlight each other’s errors but when there is a big program or conference, they suddenly unite. Is this unity truly in Christ, or is it centered around financial donors?
There is no doubt the prosperity gospel is wrong. But what about the leaders who preach against it and claim to proclaim the “true gospel” how do they become wealthy so overnight? Isn’t that worth asking?
Hindus often accuse Christians of being “dollar-driven.” And ordinary Christians spend their whole lives saying, We have not taken any dollars, we are not dollar-driven.
But have people of other faiths called us dollar driven for no reason? Or is it because there really has been a lot of misuse of foreign money within the Christian circle?
It surely wasn’t said without cause. It is likely because some influential leaders got involved in questionable dealings with foreign funds. And when these leaders get caught in corruption, the blame falls on all Christians.
Isn’t it proof enough that massive, multi-million rupee church buildings have been built? That Bible colleges are operating like businesses? That pastors are buying new cars and motorbikes without visible hard labor? Can anyone truly say this was all built with local money? Or did it fall from heaven perhaps through angelic looking donors from abroad?
The Bible clearly says that giving and taking bribes is wrong. Yet, to register Christian organizations, it is often Christians who pay the highest bribes. The Bible says not to lie, yet when government officers come to inspect Bible colleges, students are told to carry guitars and pretend they are there just to learn music. Is that not lying? It seems the gospel comes second, protecting institutions and covering up wrongdoing comes first.
Church leaders well know that some foreigners especially Koreans inflate expenses to bring in more money from abroad while spending very little locally. Yet these leaders remain silent, fearing that if they speak up, they will lose their benefits. So they stay quiet and, meanwhile, harshly criticize the charismatic movement.
They say division is not good but also say that if a church splits over doctrine, it is acceptable. But why do people of the same doctrine still break off and start new churches? Is it because there are many Christs? No, it is because the donors are different. And if the same donor supports both churches, it becomes a problem, doesn’t it?
1 Timothy 6:10 says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” The verse doesn’t condemn money itself, but the love of money.
Then come the so-called “church planters” self-proclaimed agents of God. They raise money from America, Korea, in very professional ways, then arrive in Nepal and behave like kings. Meanwhile, local churches work hard to train their youth for ministry, only to see them pulled away by these church planters with the lure of money, starting new churches left and right. They open 20–25 churches in a single neighborhood. But these are not churches, they are shops. These people are not servants they are Thieves. There are many church buildings, but few people inside. These thieves simply build new buildings and fellowship with the air.
A true reformer understands that the foundation has already been laid. The churches have been planted. The building has been built. Now is the time to nurture, strengthen, and grow them, not to build personal kingdoms.
What I have said may sting the wrongdoers. But true Christians will recognize what is wrong and speak out, just as reformed pastors have criticized the confusion in the charismatic movement, it is time to raise voices against the corruption within reformed circles too.
Our spiritual eyes have been opened. If your eyes are truly opened, you will see. If you still don’t see, perhaps you are still blind. Or maybe your eyes are not closed by blindness but by dollars.
In Jesus’ time, He was nailed to a cross. Today, Jesus is nailed to hyper Doctrine and donors.
Matthew 21:13
He said to them, ‘It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.
