Title: Wrong chaebol vows
Judges (31) Wrong chaebol vows prayer (Judges 11:29-31)
< Beware of legalism >
One day, the son of a member in his twenties fell seriously ill and went to the prayer center to pray earnestly. In a hurry, he promised to donate by selling the house to the prayer center. Then he thought that God would look good and save his son's life. However, the house did not sell, so he could not donate, and his son passed away.
From then on, I kept asking him why he didn't give the promised offering at the prayer center. I couldn't donate because the house wasn't sold, but when I was asked to donate, I didn't want to donate, and I thought that I should donate because my son had already died. Then they blackmailed me at the prayer hall. “If you do not keep your promises to God, you will be punished! My son can't go to heaven!" Even though I knew that blackmail was the wrong word, I was terrified.
If you are faced with such a similar situation, don't be too afraid. There are parents who sell their house and give it to their children, but there are no parents who will curse if they do not sell their children's house and give it to them. Humans don't do that, but would a loving God do that? Of course, the attitude of donating on condition was an act of testing God, but you need to truly repent of that problem. God is not a God who promises to donate in an emergency and punishes them for not doing so.
In urgent situations, they are drawn to legalism, ups and downs, and the atmosphere of the field, and sometimes make a vow to donate what they will do. How wrong is the logic that if you sell your house and donate, you will be blessed and if you don't, you will be punished?
Taking advantage of the fragile human psychology, legalistic leaders arrogantly say that if they do not listen to their words, bad things will happen, making them more wealthy and plundering materials. Such legalistic and superstitious beliefs are the evil means by which humans are bound. A true shepherd removes fear even if he rebukes him, covers him, and prays for blessing. But legalists and shamans take full advantage of their intimidating words. After all, legalism, ups and downs, and superstition are one common thing.
< The wrong chaebol vows >
One day, at a prayer center, I had a <chaebol vow prayer>. If you put your name on the prayer list and pray and tithe upside down, you will become a tycoon. In other words, if you earn 100 million won, you don't pay 10 million won as a tithe, but if you make a vow first and pay 10 million won as a tithe, you become a chaebol earning 100 million won. How nonsense are you talking about? It is said that there were quite a few people who heard the vain words and prayed to the chaebol. Eventually, a chaebol emerged, but it was the director of the prayer center.
You have to teach straight and believe straight. Ceremony because of the grace of the parents gives great joy to the parents, but ceremonies for the purpose of money do not bring much joy to the parents. If you give and share with God's heart like that, God is pleased with you, but if you give and share this much, God will give you more! Computational beliefs of ups and downs, legalism, and superstition are, after all, a common thing.
False vow prayers, such as Jephthah's vow prayers in the text, are also deeply related to reliefism. In fact, how many prayers are wrong among the prayers of the saints? It is wrong to try to bargain and make a deal with God while making a vow. The vow of a saint is a promise with God. Therefore, do not make rash vows by focusing too much on answering prayers, but have a sincere attitude to gain trust in God, so that prayers will become truly powerful prayers.