Li
Hui
Because
of some trouble at home, in 1997 I began to believe in the Lord
Jesus. Afterward, through practicing the Lord’s words, there
was no longer any arguing at home. The Lord saved my family, saved me
from my pain and gave me hope in life.
I
remember the first time I went to a meeting at a church. The pastor
read chapter 12, verses 1 to 8 from the Gospel of John, and he
preached about Mary anointing the Lord Jesus with perfumed oil, as
well as the offering made by the poor widow and, after I’d heard
these stories, I felt very moved. The pastor said to us: “Brothers
and sisters, in our belief in the Lord, we must be like Mary and the
poor widow, and we must make more offerings to the Lord. The poor
widow made an offering to the Lord of her money for food, and Mary
used a jar of very valuable nard to anoint the Lord. That is to say,
Mary took the best thing she possessed, the most valuable thing, and
offered it up to the Lord, and this kind of action is what the Lord
finds most acceptable and praiseworthy. Therefore, the more money we
offer, the more treasures we will accumulate in heaven. People who do
this are most blessed by the Lord, and only people like this can
receive a hundredfold in this life and gain eternal life in the world
to come….” After the meeting, I saw many brothers and sisters
walk over to the offering box and put money inside, and I thought:
“The Lord Jesus died nailed upon the cross so that mankind could be
redeemed, and He has now saved me from my pain, so I should make more
offerings to the Lord to repay His love. From now on, I’ll be like
the poor widow and Mary, and love the Lord by offering my money. By
doing this, the Lord will be gladdened and the pastor will like me
too.”
From
then on, I practiced in accordance with what the pastor had preached,
and I used the money I would ordinarily be saving especially as an
offering to the Lord.
I
remember, not long after I’d first started believing in the Lord,
it just so happened to be Christmas. On Christmas evening, I went to
church and made an offering of 500 yuan, which was all the money that
I’d managed to save on food and expenses. A pastor who had come
from another church saw me offering so much money and he happily
blessed me, and prayed to the Lord to bestow great blessings on me.
Seeing how delighted the pastor was at my offering, I thought: “Since
the pastor is so happy with my offering, the Lord will surely accept
it!” When I thought of the Lord accepting my offering, my heart
felt incomparable sweetness. In the days that followed, I was even
more active in offering money; as long as I had even a little money
on hand, I would offer it, and, without fail, I continued to make
offerings. The church’s pastor also lavished praise on me, and
often prayed for me to be blessed. During that time, I lived
constantly within my own conceptions and imaginings, believing that
as long as I offered lots of money, the pastor would be happy, the
Lord Jesus would surely praise me, and I would be someone who most
delighted the Lord.
Later,
however, the pastors and elders became jealous of each other, and
they argued and became divided in their struggle over position and
offerings, which resulted in the church being in total chaos, and I
couldn’t perceive any peace and joy of the
Holy Spirit’s presence. Witnessing this spectacle, I couldn’t
help but feel bitterly disappointed, and I left the Three-Self Church
and went to other denominations in search of the Lord’s footsteps.
I went to the Justification by Faith Church, the Local Churches, and
other denominations, but no matter which church I went to, I saw that
their circumstances were all pretty much the same. Furthermore, I
always heard the pastors preach the doctrine of making offerings,
appealing to believers to make more offerings so that they could
attain more of the Lord’s blessings, and so I always made offerings
to the churches without fail. I saw that the pastors and elders
always liked people who made offerings and were always willing to
pray for blessings upon those who made constant offerings, so I
believed that the pastors’ actions were correct.
In
2012, a sister passed on to me the kingdom gospel of Almighty
God. Through seeking and investigating, I ascertained that Almighty
God was indeed the returned Lord Jesus, and so I began to live the
church life. I thought: “I’ve believed in the Lord all these
years and I’ve always made offerings. Now, at last, I welcome the
return of the Lord, and I want even more to make lots of offerings,
and thereby repay God’s love.” But I discovered that The
Church of Almighty God had no offering boxes, and I thought:
“Why do the pastors and elders in religion always preach the
doctrine of making offerings, when the people in charge in The Church
of Almighty God aren’t concerned with this matter?” Although I
had some ideas of my own, seeing the brothers and sisters all living
out a pious life, all dedicating and expending themselves in order to
spread the gospel and bear witness for God and preparing good deeds,
I felt very moved, and still I wanted to offer some money to prepare
good deeds.
One
time, I saw Sister Yang from the church exhausting herself by
spreading the gospel, so I took 300 yuan and gave it to her as an
expression of support for the gospel work, and I also made an
offering to God of the money I’d saved. Unexpectedly, Sister Yang
said to me very earnestly: “Sister Li, everything we do in The
Church of Almighty God has a principle behind it, including the
offering of money. I cannot just take your money.”
Hearing
her say this, I felt very puzzled, and thought: “Making offerings
to God is perfectly justified. Didn’t believers in the Lord always
make offerings in religion? What principles are needed?” And so I
said: “While I have believed in the Lord, I have been to meetings
at other churches, and the pastors there would often preach the
doctrine of making offerings, and would appeal to brothers and
sisters to offer their money. I also frequently made offerings. But
I’ve never heard any pastor preach about any principles concerning
offering money. Is there any difference between The Church of
Almighty God and other denominations when it comes to offering
money?”
Sister
Yang said amiably: “It’s fitting that we should make offerings to
God, and it is the duty that we, as created beings, should perform.
But there are principles to making offerings, and even more so there
are truths to be sought. Let’s first look at the church’s
principles for offering money: ‘All those who believe in God know
very clearly that God’s work requires the coordination of people,
and it requires leaders and workers from all levels of the church to
supply, water, and guide God’s chosen people in maintaining God’s
work. The expansion of God’s gospel of the kingdom requires God’s
chosen people to run around and expend themselves; in addition, the
various books of God’s
word and of communication of truths used by God’s chosen
people require printing and distributing. Therefore, God’s work of
salvation pays a price for each and every one of God’s chosen
people who receive God’s work, and all such expenses are supported
by the offerings that God’s chosen people make to God. As a result,
God has expectations for all God’s chosen people, and offering to
God is a duty and obligation of created beings, and expending
themselves for God is the responsibility that they should fulfill.
This is justified and obligatory. Everyone should offer up their
share for God’s work, regardless of how each person understands
this matter. Some insist on making an offering of ten percent, while
others contribute in different ways. As long as it is being offered
willingly, God will gladly accept it. God’s house only specifies
that those who have only believed in God for less than a year are
temporarily exempt from providing any offerings, while poor people
are not required to provide any offerings but can make offerings
according to their faith. The church will not accept offerings that
might lead to family disputes. Those making an offering of money must
pray several times, and only after they are sure they are completely
willing and are certain they will never have any regrets are they to
be allowed to make their offerings…. The principles for making
offerings are: You must know
God’s work, can see that you have come to a real understanding
of the truths through your faith in God, know how to live as a human,
walk the path of attaining salvation, feel that you are in debt to
God for His love, and that you must fulfill your duties as a man such
that your conscience will feel at ease. If you then make offerings at
this time, you shall be completely willing, while at the same time,
you will feel enjoyment and comfort because you have conscience and
reason. If someone has believed in God for many years, yet does not
feel that he is a pursuer of the truth and that he will attain
salvation, then he has no need to make any offerings, for he will not
be completely willing even if he should make any offerings…. The
church does not allow anyone to ask others to make offerings through
preaching or any other reason. All those who are keen to talk about
making offerings have ulterior motives. The matter of making
offerings depends on each individual’s conscience and reason, as
well as their understanding of truths’” (“Principles for
Establishing a Church and Managing Church Life” in Selected Annals
of the Work Arrangements of The Church of Almighty God).
Sister
Yang went on to fellowship: “Sister Li, according to the principles
for making offerings, although offering our possessions is a duty and
an obligation that every one of us should perform, it must be
practiced according to whether or not we understand the truth and
whether or not we are willing to do it. This is because God doesn’t
want us to offer money externally, and it is not the case that God
blesses whoever offers the most. What God wants is our hearts, not
our momentary impulses or temporary enthusiasm. If, because we
understand His will and experience His salvation of us, we then want
to repay God’s love, pray and seek many times, and make offerings
willingly and gladly without the intention of gaining God’s
blessings, then this is the only kind of offering God will accept. If
we do not seek His will, but just offer a lot of money without really
being willing to do so, then we will one day come to regret it, and
God does not accept this kind of offering. God’s house therefore
requires that if people do not understand the truth and cannot bring
themselves to be willing to make offerings, then they must not make
offerings, for God does not compel people to do anything that is
against their will. Right now, you’ve only just entered the church
and you don’t yet understand many truths. You must focus on reading
God’s words diligently and, after you’ve understood the truth,
then you can make offerings according to the principles of the truth,
and only when we do things this way will God remember it. Moreover,
within The Church of Almighty God, no one, no matter who they are,
may use any excuse to appeal to people to make offerings. If they do,
then they are people who are harboring wrong intentions, and they
will be dealt with, disciplined and warned. Leaders and workers who
persist in appealing to people to make offerings will be replaced.
Furthermore, the money offered by brothers and sisters is an offering
made to God, not to any one person in particular, and no one may
privately accept an offering made by brothers and sisters or take the
liberty of using it themselves. If someone secretly steals any
offering, then they are a Judas, and in serious circumstances, they
will be expelled from the church.”
Amazed,
I said: “The Church of Almighty God is indeed different from
religion. In order to make an offering, one has to understand the
truth, and there are all these principles and stipulations. This is
something that can only be done by people who have God in their
hearts and who fear God, and it is something I have never seen in
religion. Thinking of the time I spent in religion, the pastors
simply didn’t care whether we were new believers or veteran
believers, or whether we understood the truth or not. They just kept
appealing to the brothers and sisters to make offerings, saying that
God took delight in people’s offerings, and that only those who
offered a lot were considered praiseworthy by God. The pastors
preaching to us in this way led us all astray, and made us think
wrongly that the more we offered, the greater the blessings we would
receive. So in order to get the pastors to like us and to earn God’s
praise, many brothers and sisters ended up offering their money, and
little did we realize that all our offered money would eventually be
grafted away in the name of all manner of things by the pastors and
elders. It was such a dirty trick for the pastors to do this—wasn’t
this just the same as when Judas stole offerings? The consequences of
doing this are so serious! Today, The Church of Almighty God does not
permit its members to appeal to people to make offerings, and there
are also principles for offering. The church first asks people to
understand the truth, and then it allows them to make offerings. If
anyone dares to privately misappropriate or squander offerings, then
a corresponding punishment is meted out to them according to the
situation. The Church of Almighty God truly is fair and just, and the
truth is in power! Sister Yang, I’m already certain that Almighty
God is the returned Lord
Jesus, and my offering is made most willingly, so please take
it!”
Sister
Yang spoke gently, saying: “Sister Li, if our offerings are made
sincerely, we still have to practice prayer several times in
accordance with principles, for only when we are sure not to regret
it and our actions are pure can the offering be acceptable. Moreover,
I cannot myself take your money, for there are also principles for
the taking of money. Let’s see what the principles say: ‘Any
leader, worker or evangelist of the church must not accept offerings
directly from brothers and sisters alone. There must be at least two
people to accept the offering together, and a receipt must be given
to the brother or sister who made the offering as proof that the
money has been transferred to God’s house. All transactions that
involve passing money to a senior level of the church must be done by
two people together. The money must not be carried by one person
alone…’ (‘Administrative Principles for Managing and Using the
Money of God’s House’ in Selected Annals of the Work Arrangements
of The Church of Almighty God). Sister Li, God knows us like the palm
of His hand. He knows that we have been corrupted so deeply by Satan
and that we all have greedy natures, and that our lust for money is
particularly strong. Therefore, the church stipulates that when an
offering of money is being taken, it must be handled by two people so
that they may supervise one another—this is God’s protecting us!
Right now, I am on my own, and this does not conform to the principle
of taking an offering. In a few days, I and the person in charge will
come back together to take it—only practicing in accordance with
principles earns God’s praise.”
Hearing
the sister speak, I said: “That’s fine. I never realized that The
Church of Almighty God would have so many strict principles and
requirements about just offering some money. It really is so
different from the world of religion, and so different from any
department or organization found in society! I see that the
requirements of God’s house are all there to protect people, and
that the truth is indeed in power within The Church of Almighty God.”
Sister
Yang was much moved, and said: “That’s right! Almighty God has
come in the last days to work and He expresses millions of words. All
these words are the truth, they tell people all the truths they need
in order to attain salvation, and they allow people to have the
principles of the truth in their every action and deed and to live
out a true human likeness. Almighty God says: ‘First,
for the sake of your fate, you ought to seek to be approved by God.
That is to say, since you acknowledge that you are numbered among the
house of God, you ought then to bring peace of mind to God and
satisfy Him in all things. In other words, you must be principled in
your actions and conform to the truth in them. If this lies beyond
your ability, then you shall be detested and rejected by God and
spurned by every man. Once you have fallen into such a predicament,
you cannot then be counted among the house of God. This is what it is
meant by not being approved by God’
(‘Three Admonitions’ in The Word Appears in the Flesh). From
God’s words, we realize that we must seek the truth in all matters
and handle them with principle in our belief in God, and this is the
condition for meeting with God’s approval. We must hold to all of
the requirements God has for us, for only in this way will we
win God’s
protection. Therefore, God requires that we must accept the truth
and practice the truth in our belief in Him, and handle all matters
according to the principles of the truth, for only by doing this will
we conform to His will and earn His praise. Otherwise, we will be
detested and rejected by God and spurned by all other people. Sister
Li, all the truths expressed by Almighty God are what we need, and as
long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will come to
understand even more principles of the truth.”
After
listening to Sister Yang’s fellowship, I thought again of the time
I’d spent believing in the Lord in religion. Every church had its
own offering box, and the pastors often preached sermons to make
people offer their money, and whoever offered the most was held in
high esteem by the pastors. When offering money, we would just place
it in the offering box; there were simply no principles to making
offerings, much less did we ask for any receipt, and so most of the
offered money ended up being pocketed by the pastors and the elders.
But The Church of Almighty God is different. Regardless of whether
someone is making an offering or receiving money, there are
principles to follow, and this really widened my knowledge and
broadened my horizons. When I heard Sister Yang refuse my offering, I
didn’t understand. But now having read the principles of offering
money and heard her fellowship about God’s words, I understand that
Sister Yang was acting in accordance with the principles of the
truth, and was acting entirely in accordance with God’s will. The
whole world has now been so corrupted by Satan that it is at its
zenith of darkness and evil; the saying “Everyone for himself and
the devil take the hindmost” has become people’s motto for their
lives, everyone worships money, and everywhere has become saturated
with the exchange of money and power. Every group thinks of ways to
make money, and even relief funds donated to areas struck with
disaster are embezzled by greedy officials abusing their authority.
But now I see that only The Church of Almighty God is a pure land.
Almighty God Himself expresses the truth to provide for people, so
that they may seek and understand the truth in the course of
performing their duties, act in accordance with the principles of the
truth, and thereby gain the truth, obtain life and live out a true
human likeness—this really is the work of the true God! I wish to
earnestly follow this path of faith in God and pursue the truth, so
that I may handle matters with principle, and attain the salvation of
Almighty God.
