To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Ken – a Christian saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I read an article on the internet about Joel Gross – the president of Prayer Helpers, which intrigued me (here is a link to the article: http://goldismoney.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-431571.html), so I decided to access your website. Your organization will respond to this e-mail in either one or two ways: you will be convicted and repent through the strength of the Holy Spirit, or you will burn with anger toward me (actually, to God who is saying this through me) and say how dare I judge you. Please understand that I am saying this out of Christ-like love, not to be self-righteous, and because I care about you and don’t desire that you perish in the Lake of Fire.
First, let me share some Scripture with you:
“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” Matthew 21: 12-13
As a refresher, Jesus had entered the temple. People had turned the temple from a place of worship into a business, whose only aim was to make money. Their aim was not to bring glory to God but to make money for themselves.
As I’ve read through the Bible, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY instance of God commanding or condoning His followers to use prayer as a means of income. Prayer is one of the sacred, beautiful things God has granted to those who love Him and keep His commandments. God DOES NOT charge for prayer, nor does He command His followers to charge for prayer. He tells us simply to come and pray without laying down money. That’s how amazing a God He is – that He would invite sinners such as you and me to come, repent, believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and be saved from eternal suffering in hell. Then God grants to us adoption as children, where we can come to Him FREELY with our prayers and FREELY talk to Him!
By this time, you may already know where I am going with this, but I’m going to say it anyway. By offering to pray for people for a fee, instead of just praying for people out of the love of God, you are doing exactly what Jesus spoke against when he cleared out the temple. You are turning the gift of prayer into a business for your own profit, not God’s glory. Your business is a robber’s den. I know that sounds harsh, but that’s the only way to describe it. Prayer is about doing the work of the Lord – prayers of worship, prayers of petition (on behalf of yourself and others), prayers of thanksgiving, all kinds of prayers. The work of the Lord IS NOT about making money! It is NOT about collecting fees! You are trying to profit off the needs of others. What will you do if someone can’t pay? Refuse to pray for them? The soldiers of God do not look for compensation from the world for the time they give to pray; their reward is in Heaven! Did the apostles charge a fee for their time? Does any faithful minister in the body of Christ? DID JESUS HIMSELF DO THAT?!?!? Of course not!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” Matthew 23: 14
I ask of you, as a Christian who knows the God of the Bible, please stop! Don’t do this anymore! I ask you and God commands you to repent of your greed, repent of making the work of the Lord into a business, and truly believe in the name of Jesus Christ – not as a business tool (which is what you are reducing Him to) but as the Son of God, as your Lord and Savior! I pray that the Holy Spirit convicts you and brings you to repentance. God freely offers and freely gives salvation!
For His glory and not man’s profit,
Ken