Sheila R. Vitale,  Pastor, Teacher & Founder
LIVING EPISTLES MINISTRIES

PO Box 562, Pt Jeff Sta, NY 11776-0562, USA

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Hello xxxx

I am writing in this email to try to explain what, you may have perceived to be, my strange response to your generous offer of financial assistance.

The head of an organization which is supported by donations is in an awkward position. His predicament arises out of the paradoxical conflict between the spiritual principal of "right order of authority" and his need of finances to run the organization.

The principle of "right order of authority" states, more or less, that every communication between the head of a ministry [the giver of benefits] and someone who is benefiting [the receiver benefits] from the ministry, must reflect this order.

In our materialistic society, where money is power, most people think that they can choose whether or not to support a ministry, or a particular aspect of a ministry. This line of thinking leads to an unconscious "reversal" in the relationship between the head of the ministry and the donor, who might at some point be tempted to exercise the power that such a donation would bring in the world. But even more important, the spiritual reality of such a situation is that a hidden spirit of pride in the donor, "attempts to reverse," or "does reverse" the Godly relationship between the giver and the receiver of ministry benefits. If successful, pride makes the donor the giver of benefits, and the head of the ministry, the receiver of benefits.

No ministry that is truly in Christ can survive such a reversal. Although it is a paradox to the world, the head of the ministry must take the position that the Lord Jesus Christ has moved upon the donor to support the ministry, and therefore the donation is not a gift, either to the ministry or to himself, but an act of generous obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ to support His work. Jesus said it this way:

Mark 7:11-13

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 MAKING THE WORD OF GOD OF NONE EFFECT through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (KJV)

"To make the word of God of no effect," means that the motive of an act, giving money for example, can either cause you to reap the positive benefits which come from obedience, or the judgment for pride, which is destruction.

In your case, I believe that your intention was to bless the ministry and to bless me, but I could not accept your offer because of the spiritual terms upon which you made it. I understand that you didn't know that you were doing anything wrong, and were probably hurt by my response, but the spiritual warfare that Satan wages from under the cover of our unconscious mind is very real.

Had I accepted your offer as a gift [and your words presented it as a personal gift - would you like some extra money], I would have compromised my spiritual headship in Christ. This means that to receive your gift, I would have had to abandon by spiritual position as the giver of the benefits which the Lord Jesus Christ supplies to you through me, and become the receiver of benefits from the carnal mind through you. Such an error on my part, would not only cause me to backslide, but would deprive everyone who receives wisdom from me through this ministry.

You have told me that you rarely hear from God. This may be true. I would be more inclined to believe, however, that he speaks to you often, but that you do not recognize His voice. For example, a desire to be generous could be Christ speaking to you.

The general rule is: the elder gives gifts to the younger out of the storehouse of Christ Jesus, and the younger honors the elder and the ministry that he runs, because it is the right, and a good, thing to do [obedience].

It is possible to be the elder in one relationship and the younger in another. You were the elder in the case of your recent gift to xxxxxx, for example. In the case of two disciples, that is, neither having authority over the other, the disciple through whom Christ Jesus gives the gift, has the authority over the other disciple in that transaction: you gave the gift [and are blessed for your generosity], and now there is a disciple in xxxx [and all of his friends] who have already blessed you, and will pray for you whenever you are in need, because Christ Jesus will lay you on their heart. Money can come from the giver of benefits or from the receiver of benefits, but authority and the spiritual "bestowing of gifts" is always in Christ Jesus. This means that spiritual authority is not necessarily in the one who actually hands over the cash, which is a radical concept to the world.

Jesus put it this way:

Matt 6:3-4

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

The left-hand is your carnal mind and the right hand is your Christ mind. You tried to do a good deed, and it may very well have been Christ motivating you, but your carnal mind rose up and stole the glory by causing you to present your offer as a gift. This is a perfect example of how understanding defeats Satan. When you internalize the spiritual principles that I have laid out in this email, you are not likely to make the same mistake again.

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (KJV)

This verse does not mean that you shouldn't put your name on your check. It means that all of your donations, prayers and helps, etc. as well as money, should be done humbly, as a sacrificial act of love, unspotted by the pride of your carnal mind.

Ideally, donations should be sent directly to the ministry, with no personal reference to the minister, or his "wanting or needing them." In this way, your reward comes from your Father in heaven, and not the mortal minister -- a much better deal according to the way I see it.

God bless you,

Love, Pastor Sheila