A few years ago I heard some of the most ungodly advice come from one of the Xtian elites. I say Xtian because I’m really tired of these people being connected to Jesus when their behavior is so anti-Jesus. I’ll get to the pathetic advice in a moment but consider this scripture about what it takes to be Christ-like:

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
Matthew 5:46-47

When Jesus compliments Nathanael he mentions that in him there is no “guile”. Some newer versions will translate this as deceit, but guile is the perfect word, and coming from Jesus an important lesson. Guile: To disguise or conceal. In this context the ability to hide one’s own motives and schemes would be guile, but Jesus praises Nathanael for lacking this. Ironically, and perhaps purposely, mentioning that he is in the line of Jacob (Israelite) who we know was very shrewd and full of guile. Irony, or not, Jesus is not known for sarcasm, when he says “in him there is no guile” he means it as a compliment. Jesus goes on to appear to Nathanael after he returns from the dead. This is a good guy.

So assuming that guile is a bad thing, and considering Matthew 5, now listen to this terrible advice: “You are an important person, and you will not have time for everyone who wants to spend time with you. Don’t feel guilty for avoiding people.” Now while there is some wisdom in this, “avoiding people” is thoroughly anti-Christ. In fact, this Xtian elite person notoriously shows up wherever the spotlight is shining and spends so much time chasing it that he doesn’t finish many of the “great ideas” that he gets so much attention for. I know, because the spotlight shined on me once upon a time, and this person showed up. It is guile, and it is anti-Christ.

When I was in college I played lacrosse, the best sport on the planet. One day of my senior year, I was proclaimed MVP and given the game ball. The only time that season that it had been awarded. I’m sure this had something to do with me usually being a mediocre (at best) player. However, what an important lesson! Suddenly I was surrounded with people and it lasted for quite some time. They were following the spotlight. Similarly, when we announced we would be going overseas to serve any way we could for some period of time, suddenly we’re surrounded with people, and the pretentious advice that flowed was exhausting. Within a few short months we discovered who “the few” sincere people were. Our pastor spoke a few weeks ago about how the Bible is clear that most people won’t get it, hence the “narrow road”. If you read Matthew 7 read slowly and consider what it’s saying.

So this terrible advice and these deceived people disciple their “sons of hell” (Matthew 23:15) and the pattern continues. A few years back we met a neat young couple from a very large church we used to attend. Had them over for my famous elk steaks and we had a good time sitting on the porch and talking about this or that. As it got late we moved back to the dining room for some desert. Then came the pitch… Quixtar (pronounced Quickstar), “like a big family”, “all our friends are entrepreneurs”, “you can get rich.” Human beings become dollar signs. If it isn’t political, or promotional capital, it is financial capital. That is the sin, and people full of guile are good at this stuff.

Human beings become just another “iron in their fire.” Another chance to succeed, it’s Biblical after all. Ecclesiastes 11:6 encourages us to have lots of irons in the fire. In fact I highly recommend it. Sowing seeds, building things, inanimate objects, earn a living after all. Or perhaps, let’s look at Matthew 13:8, of course chasing the spotlight makes sense, the spotlight is on the fertile soil. If by fertile soil Jesus meant the place where most people will notice you, if he meant the place that will make you more of a celebrity, then sure. However, if he meant the people who will most likely become “like Christ” then perhaps not. In fact God despises what the world loves which says a lot about spotlights (Luke 16:15).

I’ve seen some good people fall for this lie. Even missionaries are fooled into believing that 5000 Facebook friends, and carefully planning who they rub shoulders with, in some distorted way is God’s favor, but “don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?” (James 4:4) Of course it seems like we’re talking about something other than the world, these people go to church! However, when the church works like the world then friendship with the church means friendship with the world. Don’t be deceived, churches in the last days are not successful unless they work like the world (2 Tim 4:3).

Guile is not God’s blessing. Guile is deceit, and building anything on a lie is like a house built on sand. Jesus’ teachings run as contrary to religious leaders today as it did 2000 years ago, perhaps more so. In fact, one of the few times Jesus teaches us to do anything “sketchy” (Luke 16, the Shrewd Manager) He makes His point very clear at the end: “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” It could be assumed that the manager had only stolen from his master, but the fact that his master commended him, and the context, makes it seem much more likely that this man bought their debts down for them. In other words throw your money around. It’s a difficult thing for evil people to be generous except as a veil.

So put many irons in the fire, but be careful that your livelihood does not rely on those “irons” being human beings. Exploit things, but not people. It is not Christ-like. Jesus’ disciples had very little to offer Him, which is the example He wanted us to walk away with. This warning is especially strong for “professional ministers”. It is a conflict of interest, you can’t serve the world and God.