As many in the Charlotte area and beyond have heard, Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church is building an enormous mansion (16,000 square feet) in the Waxhaw area. To provide you some perspective on just how big Furtick's house is reflect on this. It's larger than James Goodnight's home (wealthiest person in North Carolina) and its equal in size to the largest house in West Virginia, my home state. Let me first say this post is not about judging Furtick or being overly critical of him, I've never met him or been to an Elevation service, but I did hear him say in a recent sermon that his house "is not that great of a house." This is a concerning statement for one very important reason, Furtick has influence over thousands of people. As in my own life, I make plenty of mistakes and need others to use the word of God to correct me and rebuke me. I'm I disappointed that Frutick is building a mansion? Absolutely. Paul told Timothy that "all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, and for correcting..." The Bible has also provided plenty of instruction of wealth and its use, so let me rebuke Furtick as gently as I can about his desire for fame and fortune. First, God is not interested in Furtick fulfilling his dream for his life, He is interested in Furtick fulfilling His dream. This is true for all followers of Christ. Second, we are commanded to not store up treasures on earth where thieves can break in and steal (Matthew 6:19:21) but in heaven. A mansion is certainly an excessive treasure. Furtick has been blessed so he can bless others for the kingdom of God. Third, half of Jesus parables are about possessions and one out of every six verses in the Gospel is about material possessions. Fourth, Furtick, along with all Christians are commanded to not be of the world. The world seeks to build themselves mansions and their own kingdoms, Christian's are called to build up the Kingdom of God. John wrote in 1 John 2:16 that "Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle, is not from the Father, but is from the world."
In summary let me say this. Steven Furtick is a Southern Baptist like myself. I'm grateful so many people are attending Elevation. But as a brother in Christ, I would encourage him this way; put your eyes back on Christ and put to death what belongs to your worldly nature, "to include greed, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5). David Platt, a pastor and author I really enjoy and about Furtick's age wrote in his book Radical that Christianity doesn't revolve around catering to ourselves, the central message of Christianity is about abandoning ourselves. Jesus Christ calls all His followers to abandon themselves, not to a life of luxury homes and luxury cars. Christians are to die daily and to deny themselves things the world considers essential. No matter what profit Frutick made from his book, he still doesn't own that money, it belongs to God and is to be spent wisely and primarily for the Kingdom.
Consider the lifestyle of Billy Graham. He could have built a few mansions for his five children and wife Ruth, but he decided to honor God and abandon worldly desires.
In summary let me say this. Steven Furtick is a Southern Baptist like myself. I'm grateful so many people are attending Elevation. But as a brother in Christ, I would encourage him this way; put your eyes back on Christ and put to death what belongs to your worldly nature, "to include greed, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5). David Platt, a pastor and author I really enjoy and about Furtick's age wrote in his book Radical that Christianity doesn't revolve around catering to ourselves, the central message of Christianity is about abandoning ourselves. Jesus Christ calls all His followers to abandon themselves, not to a life of luxury homes and luxury cars. Christians are to die daily and to deny themselves things the world considers essential. No matter what profit Frutick made from his book, he still doesn't own that money, it belongs to God and is to be spent wisely and primarily for the Kingdom.
Consider the lifestyle of Billy Graham. He could have built a few mansions for his five children and wife Ruth, but he decided to honor God and abandon worldly desires.
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