Nr. 160: Modern indulgences

Nr. 160:

Modern indulgences

The connection of money and God's grace creates nothing but contempt for the church.
"God has spoken to me that he will release a special blessing for many here tonight! Want it? "

The question rang out over the packed courtroom, and people raised her hand.
Of course it would. As a Christian, you will have the blessings. That's what it all ultimately is all about - to set up so that one can be blessed.
The message was repeated. God had spoken strongly to the preacher that those who gave thousands of dollars just this evening to receive a special blessing. More precisely, what blessing would consist of was a little unclear, but it was clear that there were strong cases.
God had, after all, literally! For those who did not would necessarily be different. They could at least not this night expect to "increase the blessing" of his life.

They were of course still be regarded as Christians and saved, but they would unfortunately miss the blessing as a thousand note to redeem the others.

The Middle Ages.
In the Middle Ages, trade with indulgence letters a widespread practice in the church. A proverb that is still alive is this which says that "when the coin box blades, when the soul from purgatory springs."
The reason for the indulgence trade was to provide people an easier way to salvation than do the various mortifications church had defined were required to make up for their sins. One could, in other words pay out of a demanding botsvei and thus achieve an easier way to salvation if they paid a sufficient amount.
Grace and blessing might therefore be purchased. Indulgences trade was that said widespread and should prove to be one of the most effective tools the church had to raise finances for their gradiose church building projects.
A doctrine was thus established, by paying enough to the church would have the grace and blessing come to the one who paid.

Reactions.
Luther's 95 theses were largely a reaction to the trade happened with indulgences, and in 1517 he refutes the then most prominent preacher indulgences, Johann Tetzel, in its written "Sermon von Ablass und Gnade" (sermon on indulgences and grace).
The problem was so obvious to Luther was the source that triggered the grace of God had been moved from being Christ alone to be a speculative and manipulative scheme with purchase and sale of indulgences.

It was also the crux of the church through the indulgence trade took a position in which it served as a door opener or door clamps relative to the individual's ability to receive God's grace, blessing and favor.
The almost blessed the church by paying indulgences, were blessed return of a gracious God.
Following the debate on indulgences took the church a settlement with themselves and by 1550 was in practice the trade in indulgences abolished. The idea of ​​paying to God's blessing, when denblir unmasked formulated, something most people will take away from such as Peter did when Simon Magus wanted to pay for part of the spiritual gifts (Acts 8.18-20).
We believe that the grace and blessing are free and are received without either wallet or credit card must be presented.

In spite of this abound, however, the contemporary stories about the message that connects payment and God's blessing.
It may be that the person seeking healing is first asked to "such funds" so as "to release the healing," or that you first have to "give in this service" before the private economy can be blessed by God. In the modern rhetoric is no indulgences that apply, but often prophetic there, and then promises - that something like that "God is saying right now that you should give to ... that ... to happen. "

Poorer reputation. Small, God and the church worse reputation than a preaching that is exploitative, speculative and manipulative about money.
The connection of money and God's grace seldom anything but contempt for a church that appears and egotistical. That the word of God's principles for economic growth and management is one thing, but this is not about to pay off either to salvation, healing and financial miracles.
That miracles happen, it is of course no doubt, but they are not the result of a type of modern indulgences practice, but of undeserved grace given us in Christ alone. Magnar Karlsen.