₦airaland Forum

Apostles Paul's example as a true prophet and teacher of the faith conviniently ignored by most preachers today.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9:
6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8[b] We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.[/b] 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

Even though apostle states here that the flock as an obligation to support the ministry, he made it clear that as a good example for other preachers to follow, they worked to support themselves so they don't become a burden to the flock. Today our pastors are not only a burden but a big time liabilty to their congregation, there love for filthy lucre is just insatiable.

Colossians 2:18:
18[b]Let no one defraud [/b] you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,

Today chrisitans are not only being defruaded by their pastors but they are being routinely and systematically raped and abused whilst being made to feel good about it based on false hope obtained from twisted scriptures.

More warnings!!

Colossians 2:8:
8See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

A lot of brethen have been made captive by their so called men of god and they are following their intellectual crude prosperity teachings whilst des-regarding the teachings of christ the messiah which is chiefly to love your neighbour as your self and other selfless teachings.

timmy7:
So the so called pastor worshippers should learn from you the bible or is it Jesus worshipper

Na you know!!!!!!

Philippians 3:17-19:
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite[money], they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

Some times i wonder if some of these our so called pastors read the bible at all. They have conviniently left the life of humility they were called to live and now preach about things of this world[properity gospel]the even go on to brag about shamefull things such as "i cannot be poor" after shamelessly fleecing the same flock they are bragging to. A clear sign of a false prophet is one who constantly preaches prosperity, CEC plc, winners chapel, KICC, and other prosperity gospel church members please take note.

Ephesians 4:14:
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people[false prophets] try to trick us with lies so clever[tithes is a good example of clever lie] they sound like the truth.

The above scripture teaches why we must mature in the true faith and have a good understanidng of it. The best way to do this is to study the scriptures with an open mind hand hold fast to the undiluted truth found there, don't allow yourselves to be tossed and blown about your pastors who mostly preach based on their own biase, poor understanding and wrong doctrines that have been instituitionalized in christianity which we now falsely assume is a part of true christianity.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4:
3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different gospel[prosperity gospel] than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15:
13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

I hope all our pastor worshippers on this forum are reading and learning.

I came across this scripture on giving in the new testament, hope it blesses us all.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15:
Christian giving   
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

   3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers[b] in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

   6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

   8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

   9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

   10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say,

   “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
      and those who gathered only a little had enough.

@dwonder
Nice write up, May God bless you for upholding the truth of his word.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28:
27 No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

How does the above instruction compare with the madness going on in our pentecostal churches today all in the name of speaking in fake tongues? How many of them interprete? I wonder why they love maing a mockery of themselves in the delusion they are speaking to God.

Paul also warned strongly about divisions[denominations] in the church. But today new denominations are springing up every day, in fact it as now become the order of the day in the pentecostal movement[who are notorious for promoting confusion in chrisitianity] and they all claim that God "called" them to leave their existing churches and start their own ministry.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13:
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

Obviously one of the main reasons for divisions in the church today is the love for filthy lucre[money] which is mostly financed by the heretic teaching of tithes every pastor wants to be in charge of the church's treasury hence they find it convinient to ignore apostle paul's warnings.

Maybe Mazaje as repented and decided to embrace christianity again But on a more serious note mazaje and other atheists on this forum you guys honestly need to come to know christ and his true gospel, most of what is being preached out there is adulteratd and can at bbest be called doctrines of men I am quite certain if you know and understand what christ is all about you would find him faultless and desire to know him better. The only problem is that the truth as been corrupted by mere men for the sake of their own greed and ego.

1 Timothy 4:1-2:
Warnings against False Teachers
1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

The bible is truely a wonderful book and it is the selfless truth preached by christ and the apostles that renewed my conviction in the faith. You see Paul here calling false teachers demons they are nothing short of that with their demonic, selfish and oppressive teachings that is geared towards just lining their pockets. their judgement as already been passed. Today a lot of people assume they are christians but as paul predicted they have turned away from the true faith and are actually involved in marmon worship promoted by false prosperity doctrines that people enjoy hearing instead of truely seeking to do the will of God.

Mark 12:38-40:

38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

This reminds me of our so called men of God who pretend to be highly spiritual yet they idulge in taking advantage of the ignorant flock. Thy collect tithes even from the poor and give them false hope and promises instead of giving to them out of the church contributions.

Matthew 24:4-5:

4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

Obviously many people are already deceived today, the evidence abounds on nairaland.


Matthew 24:24:
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
This teachings/warnings were made by christ for our benefit, i wonder why we are not heeding that warning today and allowing mere men to lead us to the slaughter house.

Matthew 23:6-10:
6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’   8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’[Daddy G.O] for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.

The above reminds me of all our ego centric and pompous preachers who think they are God's representative on earth, see what Jesus had to say about them.

Matthew 23:15:

15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

Does the above passage sound familiar?? Today preachers win converts members and indoctrinate them with selfish and unchristlike doctrines.

Matthew 23:4:
4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

The above reminds me of tithes, seed sowing, first fruits, thanksgiving offerings, faith offerings e.t.c Als mercahndizing items like rapshody of unrealities, twisted books, handkerchiefs, annointing oil e.t.c

The prosperity preachers are the false prophets we were warned about in the bible, neither Jesus nor the aposltes ever preached about prosperity.

@jersamy
Please don't get me wrong, i am totally in support of giving to the ministry to suppport the gospel [ I don't use the term giving to God as it runs contrary to scripture Acts 17:24-25 and it is not possible to give to God]. I believe using the term "give to God is not only mis-leading but is insulting to the almighty] however we are supposed to give to support miniters of the gospel. My grouse however is that the emphasis of christian giving in the bible was the poor and the needy in other wards christian giving is more about supporting the less priviledge than than just the minitry becos taking care of the poor and needy is an intergral part of the gospel of christ. However this all important role we christians are supoosed to play in physically and financially assisting the less priviledge is being ignored and the same scriptures that teach us to give to the needy is being twisted by our church leaders to mean giving to them, this i believe is most immoral, greedy and unchrist like. Even going by he example of the apostles in Acts 4 we can see that even church collections were being used to take care of the needy [and not just the clergy] that is the example i beleive we should emulate as christians. The question that begs to be answered is this : how many churches actually use a large percentage of there collections to assist the needy as exemplified by the founding fathers of our faith?? What sets christianity apart is the selfless nature of the doctrines established by christ and the apsotles but today what we hear in churches is very self centred. If we really believe the gospel of christ then we should put it to practise as exemplified by the apostles.

@Post
After having realised that tithing is illegal and not directed at christians, you guys now go back to the drawing board and look for further ways to debase, distort the bible and turn scriptures on there head all in the cuase of justifying the evil marmon worship that has taken over most of your churches and also to defend your so called "men of God's" love for filthy lucre. Did you actually read all those scriptures you posted in trying to justify giving excesively to the church?? As jagoon as rightly pointed out how many of them actually address the issue of giving to the church when quoted in the proper context which it was written. Aren't you people tired of twisting the word of God what does it profit you? God asked us to help the poor amongst us yet you people gleefully twist those scriptures to mean giving to the church. Is that not robbing the poor?? Is that not sinful? The truth is that if the church and christians are keeping the mandate of giving to the poor and being our brothers keeper poverty in the land would be brought to a barest minimum and christianity would be a more meaningful religion as God intended. But instead our greedy preachers and their cohorts like you are now using those same scriptures to feed their greed. As the scriptures say in 2 peter 2:3 they have already judged them selves and their destroyer is awake waiting for them.

OLAADEGBU:
The likes of Kunleoshob/Jagoon and others come to mind.

@OLAADEGBU
Are you okay at all or how does this thread concern me I have been a consisitent advocate for the true gospel of our lord Jesus christ on this forum preaching that the church should return to true christianity as exemplified by the apostles in the bible instead of the man made religion widely practised today in the name of christianity that as been corrupted by your likes and other preachers greedy for filthy lucre and you start accusing me of being an atheist just becos i expose the faults in the heretic man made doctrines that have gained popularity in your churches today. You know it is the likes of olaadegbu that come to mind when i read what our lord Jesus christ said in this passage: 8 ‘These people[OLAADEGBU & likes] honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas[compulsary monetary tithes from income and other heresies] as commands from God.’Matthew 15:8-9 As i told you earlier you honestly need to repent from your false and evil ways, give your life to christ and serve in in truth and in faith and not just with your lips as christ stated above. It is people like you with your false and dogmatic version of christianity that actually drive people to atheism, if christianity had't been corrupted by deluded goons like you i am sure Mazaje would still be a christian today.

babaearly:
I get the message but whats the point of your topic title, that theres compulsory tithing and also there exist compulsory tithing.?

I used the term compulsary tithing beos that is what is preached in most churches that promote the twisted doctrine. they preach from malachi 3:10 based on the jewish law which makes it compulsary for jews and twist the scripture to mis-apply it to christianity.

[quote author=duality link=topic=315563.msg4446406#msg4446406 date=1251554059
It seems you don’t read those threads u create coz no matter all you say people still believe in tithing.
So save urself these stress and let God be the judge. Coz YOU ARE NOT GOD.
[quote][/quote]You would be shocked how many people have renounced tithing on nairaland alone since we start showing people biblical proofs that it is a scam. The truth can't be hidden for long, as the bible say "ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"

I beleive as christians we have a duty to fight against our faith being hijacked by scammers who are only interested in their bellies. The bible warned us about them.

OLAADEGBU:
I believe that there other threads dealing with your obsession about tithes, you don't have to spam this thread to make your point known. The fact that you don't believe in the deity of Christ, the infalliblity of the Word of God and the principle and practice of tithing does not mean that you have to harrass people into believing your heresies. Get to know the Person of Christ on a personal level and He will reveal Himself to you. But in the meantime, keep your doctrines to yourself.

Your cheap blackmail would not deter me from speaking out the truth as i don't need to convince anyone of my faith in christ and my conviction for spreading his true gospel contrary to the heretic gospel and marmon worship that is very popular amongst you pentecostal preachers today. Did the christ you claim to serve ever direct his apostles to preach or collect tithes Is money gospel with includes compulsary tithing, and prosperity teaching not part of the marmon worship the bible warned us against?? Honestly Olaadegbu you seriously need to repent and genuinely give your life to christ. Your attitude reminds me of those pretentious christians apostle Paul warned us about in the verse below:
Colossians 2:18:
18Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,

But why do people go into the business of beocimng false prophets even when they know they can icurr the wrath of God? To me i would answer that they are probably not God fearing but this is what the bible as to say about their motivation.

Jeremiah 8:8-10:
8 “‘How can you say, “We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,”
when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? 9 These wise teachers will fallinto the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all? 10 I will give their wives to others and their farms to strangers. From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even my prophets and priests are like that. They are all frauds.

Yes the above summarizes it all. These false prophets twist the word of God because heir lives are ruled by greed and they are fraudulent characters yet the pretend feigning false piety and assuming a spiritual moral high ground. What is the implication of this? Evidently this passage squarely addresses the proligacy of biblically unsound tithes, offerings, seed sowing, first fruits, thanks giving and other forms of clever lies employed by the clergy to extort money from the flock. The truth is in the bible but brethen would rather allow false prophets to read, interprete and twist the bible for them.

Jeremiah 23:16-32:
  16 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people:
  “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,
     filling you with futile hopes.
  They are making up everything they say.
     They do not speak for the Lord!
  17 They keep saying to those who despise my word,
     ‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’
  And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires,
     they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’ [this reminds me of the false promises prosperity and word of faith pastors are notorious for]  
  18 “Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence
     to hear what he is really saying?
     Has even one of them cared enough to listen?
  19 Look! The Lord’s anger bursts out like a storm,
     a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked.
  20 The anger of the Lord will not diminish
     until it has finished all he has planned.
  In the days to come
     you will understand all this very clearly.
  21[b] “I have not sent these prophets,
     yet they run around claiming to speak for me.
  I have given them no message,
     yet they go on prophesying.[/b] [does this remind you of Pentecostal pastors who are always prophesying what you want to hear to your ears?]
  22 If they had stood before me and listened to me,
     they would have spoken my words,
  and they would have turned my people
     from their evil ways and deeds.
  23 Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord.
     “No, I am far away at the same time.
  24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?
     Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”
     says the Lord.
  25[b] “I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name. 26 How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say.[/b] [ I hope my word of faith brethren are still reading] 27 By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal.
  28 “Let these false prophets tell their dreams,
     but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word.
     There is a difference between straw and grain!
  29 Does not my word burn like fire?”  [contrary to sweet prophesies of our modern day preachers
     says the Lord.
  “Is it not like a mighty hammer
     that smashes a rock to pieces?
  30 “Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me [regurgitated twisting of scriptures that is spread around churches in the name of God. The false doctrine of tithes popular in churches today is a brilliant example of this]. 31 I am against these smooth-tongued [Oyakhilome and Co] prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’ 32 I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin.[ this is serious] I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord have spoken!

There ae several warnings in the bible about false prophets and the danger of allowing them to influence us, however very little mention of these warnings are made in our churches today except when one pastor's doctrine is in conflict with another's. In all probability they are both false prophets. What i would try to do here is to show us from the bible who a false prophet is and to let us understand that there are a lot more false prophets out there than real ones. The method i would employ is quoting of scriptures in which i would insert commentaries in bracket to drive home the point or show us mordern day examples. I beleive it is very important for us as believers to be able to discern false prophets so they don't just rob us of our money but worse still our salvation. I would start with old testament scripture but the thread progresses i would delve more on new testament warnings which is more relevant to us.

Happy reading 

Why am i preaching this truth about the false and heretic doctrine of tithes? Because the bible demands it:

Titus 1:11:
11 They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.
When more and more people know the truth about the fallacy of tithing and other false teachings pastors would think twice before twisting gospel for the sake of making money.

Colossians 2:8:
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Today many christians have been captured with empty philosophies and high sounding nonsense such as tithes which comes from human greed rather than the grace of christ.
Titus 1:14:
14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.

A very good example of jewish myth is tithes and the elusive blessings that is supoosed to come from it.

Why am i preaching this truth about the false and heretic doctrine of tithes? Because the bible demands it:

Titus 1:11:
11 They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.
When more and more people know the truth about the fallacy of tithing and other false teachings pastors would think twice before twisting gospel for the sake of making money.

Colossians 2:8:
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Today many christians have been captured with empty philosophies and high sounding nonsense such as tithes which comes from human greed rather than the grace of christ.
Titus 1:14:
14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.

A very good example of jewish myth is tithes and the elusive blessings that is supoosed to come from it.

The purpose of the law
Galatians 3:21-26:
21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. 26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

I just though i'd post the above passage to help us understand the pupose of the law better and why it is now obsolete becos God as revealed a better way[ faith in christ] to be put right with him. The above scriptures makes it clear that if we are trying to keep the law [which includes mandatory tithing] we do not have faith in the grace of christ. As christians faith in christ is central to our faith and if we don't have this faith we are simply not christians. What does this mean?? Your salvation could be be in jeopardy just becos you are trying to be right with God by upholding the obsolete tithing law which was never a part of the christianity handed down to us by the apostles. It is note worthy to remember that the apsotles also warned that false teachers would come and introduce false doctrines[like compulsary tithing] which they never taught for the sole purpose of making money from them.

Even though some pro tithers having seen the fallacy of the tithing doctrine, they now resort to other forms of scriptural manipulation by asserting that tithes was before the law and they give the example of Abraham's one off voluntary tithes from war booty[not income] and Jacob's conditional promise to tithe. The question is is that any instruction in the bible to tithe based on Abraham's one off act or by Jacob's unfufilled conditional promise? But the ruth is that tithing in churches today is preached based on Malachi 3:8-10 which is based on the law and was compulsary. Now we know as christians we are not under obligation to up hold the obsolete jewish laws[which weren't directed us at us gentiles in the first instance]. The truth is that apart from the fact that we are not under obligation to keep the law it is actually very dangerous to attemp it as you would be placing your self under a curse by so doing;
Galatians 3:10-11:
10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

The bile also makes it clear that you are cutting yourself off the grace of christ by trying to be right with God through keeping of the law. Christ as fufilled the purpose of the law and fatih in him means no longer keeping faith in the law. If you keep your faith in the law then you don't have faith in christ's grace and you are cut off from him:
Galatians 5:4:
4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

Acts 20:29-30:
29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.

The false teachers like vicious wovles paul predicted abound today and have not only distorted the truth to draw a following but also to make money as paul expresses in verse 33 of the same passage which goes thus:
Acts 20:33-35:
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Need i say more the great apostle paul was working hard to help the needy, he was giving to his congregation from the sweat of his labour. he made it clear that he did not request any material needs from the flock. When you consider that apostle paul was probably the apostle that spread christianity the farthest[virtually the whole roman empire then] and yet he did not demand money to "spread the gospel" like some of these crooks who now need a private jet to spread the gospel. In the days of paul it was the preacher that did the giving but today it is the other way round.