To see more of these notes: Ron's Thoughts 

How much does a great ministry matter?  Why do some great Christian leaders feel that God will overlook their sin?  Can great works counterbalance the wrong for those who speak against truth?

“If your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, then you will go to heaven,” at least that’s what I was taught in Sunday school.  I still remember my teacher, who was the pastor’s wife, comparing eternal judgment to a balance.  On one side, she explained would be all the good things we had done and on the other side would be all our sins.

We tend to put our works, both good and bad, on a scale.  Whichever way it tips determines the level of our acceptance.  I call this way of thinking "Balance-Based Theology."

Balance-Based Theology

The idea of Balance-Based Theology is everywhere in Christianity.  Once again, this is a social behavior that has made its way into Christianity and has become a “pseudo-spiritual” principle.  What I mean by a social behavior is this: favorable acts bring about favorable results.  In other words, if I want someone to like me, I just need to do some good things for him.  For this reason, a man will sometimes bring flowers or other presents in order to win the heart of his girl.  An old adage points out that “the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.”  Children are encouraged to bring apples for their teachers in order to get into their good graces.   It is a fact of life that doing something favorable brings about favorable results.  But does this principle work in gaining God's favor?  Not when it comes to excusing sin.  No amount of good works can excuse the most trivial sin.

Matthew 7:22-23 KJV

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Here we find Jesus setting the record straight concerning great works and ministry.   Many expect that, because they “prophesied (used spiritual gifts),” “cast out devils (had a great and authoritative ministry),” and “done many wonderful works (made many acts of generosity),” these things will provide counter-balance for their sin.  However, when it comes to sin (“ye that work iniquity”), none of these things matter.  Jesus very succinctly explains that there is nothing that can excuse or dismiss sin.

Multi-level Marketing, Network Marketing, and Pyramid Schemes

It is sometimes referred to as "a con."  It goes by many names and has come in different shapes and sizes, but underneath it is all the same.  The idea is to have a business that sells a product, but the purpose of your business is not to sell the product but to sell distributorships.   The goal is to get multiple levels of people to join under you.  These people then sell the product and get others to join under them, and so on, and so on.  As more people join, multiple levels of distributorships are created.  This growth slowly pushes you higher and higher, creating a pyramid of support under you.  You receive residuals from the income of each person below you.  The problem is that only those at the top ever truly become rich before the business eventually collapses under its own overhead.

2 Sam 24:1-4, 9-10 KJV

1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Here we find what can be a very confusing event.  Seventy thousand people died in a plague as a result of David’s sin.  What was his sin?  David wanted to know the size of the kingdom he ruled.  He was at the top of a great pyramid, and because of this he had great power.  So why did this anger God?  God was angry because the kingdom and the people he numbered belonged to God, not to him.

Preachers find themselves in similar sin today, but few repent of their evil.  They judge the size of ‘their’ churches and the extent of ‘their’ ministries (magazines, books, telecasts, etc.) to directly translate into power and influence with God.  Consequently, many church leaders see their place in the church as similar to a pyramid scheme.  Their objective is to get as many others to join under them as possible (supporting them).  Like David, they are guilty of numbering God’s people.  Most church leaders don’t see their sin, and the reason is simple: Balance-Based Theology.

The higher up church leaders go in their “pseudo-spiritual" realm of ministry (number of people, size of church, scope of ministry, number of churches they influence, etc.), the more evident Balance-Based Theology becomes.  As their “greatness” increases on one side of the balance, they come to believe that more and more things can be overlooked on the other side of the balance.  They rationalize that their importance to God allows them to get away with things that they would never have dreamed of before they became so “great.”  Ever-higher salaries, lucrative expense accounts, and lavish properties begin to “balance” out the side opposite their spiritual accomplishments (ministry).  They see nothing wrong with spending $100,000 of “ministry” money on personal automobiles: after all, they have “earned” it.   How many of us know of famous Christian leaders with multiple mansions, yachts, and other expensive amenities paid for with ministry funds, money that came from God’s people giving to them, wrongfully believing that they are giving to God?  So the question remains: will God overlook these things?  And do great works for God allow men greater latitude for sin?  Not according to Matthew 7:23.

How Does God Measure Greatness?

Mark 12:41-44 KJV

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Here Jesus explains that the greatest is not the actual amount of riches that a person gives but whether they give it all.  Jesus dismissed all the wealth that the rich gave because they were only giving to God what they could afford.  The rest they kept for themselves.  From this we begin to understand that being great in God’s kingdom cannot be measured by the amount we do.   In fact, the more we have under our control, the greater our obligation to sacrifice.  We also see that famous preachers with great works and ministries who keep for themselves many expensive amenities are no better off than the rich men who gave out of their abundance.  Having great ministries does not give us license to have great indiscretions.

Contrary to this scripture passage, great preachers have come to believe that the greater their importance to God, the less He will require of them (or the more they can get away with).   How is it that preachers who embark on empire-building can see themselves as being as acceptable to God as this widow?  Because of Balance-Based Theology, many preachers dismiss these scriptures.  But their great deeds and mighty works will never win God’s approval like this poor widow.  And their works will never dismiss their sin.  These men have deceived themselves into believing that they are more important than they really are.

Famous Christian leaders who live lavishly off that which God's people are giving to God will someday be required to give account for how every penny is squandered!  Money given to God is not discretionary income to be spent as someone deems appropriate.  It is not theirs to consume for their personal use or to expand the scope and size of their ministry.  All of their great deeds will not save them in the end.  Their salvation and God's approval are no more guaranteed by the greatness of their ministry than the lowest of sinners.

Did Jesus Teach Balance-Based Theology?

There are famous preachers who condemn certain true biblical doctrines as demonic.  We tend to dismiss their blasphemy because of all the great things they do.  Additionally, many of us tend to overlook many of things our pastors do because of all the other good things they do.  Once again, this is Balance-Based Theology.

Luke 9:49-50 KJV

9 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

At first glance, it might appear that Jesus is endorsing Balance-Based Theology.  He is not.  Jesus said, “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”   He never said this man was right.  He never even said the man was saved.  He never said that this man’s sin would be overlooked or excused.  In short, Jesus gave NO indication that the good works of this man translated to anything spiritual.  All Jesus said was that this man is doing good so allow him to continue.  For this reason, all preachers, whether great or small, should be allowed to continue because they are doing good.  And like the man casting out devils, the good they do may have a positive impact on others.  However, in the end will this be said of them: “He saved others; himself he cannot save (Matthew 27:42).”

Conclusion

Daniel 12:13 KJV

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Great ministry and good deeds cannot excuse sin.  There is no spiritual balance when it comes to sin.  So is there any value in doing good deeds?  Of course.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

1 Tim 6:17-19

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The good we do will be given back to us in like kind in this world, but it will also have a spiritual reward in the world to come, providing that we do NOT allow the sin of our greatness to destroy us first.

How is it that our Christian leaders can build empires that exalt their ministries and live opulent lifestyles at the expense of God's people, yet see themselves as the servants of all, as worthy as the poor widow?   How, indeed?  This is the twisted perception of many Christian leaders.  The scriptures tell us that their judgment will come as a surprise to them.

Balance-Based Theology is one of the greatest delusions for any Christian leader.  It misconstrues the social conditioning of this world as a spiritual principle, thereby deceiving men into believing that greatness somehow translates into godliness.  But nothing is a replacement for true godliness.

1 John 1:7 KJV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin!