Years ago, I remember sitting in a local Starbucks across from a ministry leader, receiving tips and instructions on how to advance my ministry. This leader had offered to do this of his own volition, and prior to that meeting, I was excited yet not fully understanding what this conversation would entail. As we sat at that table, he began to explain the importance of consistent personal branding. He suggested that I offer paid e-courses on how to start a blog successfully, utilizing one of the individuals in his network to do so. He gave me the name of an individual who could help me obtain a specific number of social media followers. Of course, that service required a financial investment starting in the hundreds of dollars range. I left the meeting that day feeling somewhat disappointed, conflicted, and not implementing the things that seemed to point more toward a business than ministry. It was one of those moments in my ignorance and deception that I acknowledged a red flag in my periphery so to speak, but I did not heed the warning. The warning was being a part of an enterprise unto man rather than a ministry unto the Lord.

Let me say that not every individual or every ministry entity has ulterior motives in treating ministry as a business or in growing a personal empire in the name of ministry. I do not want to discourage valuable resources for personal growth in Bible study and spiritual maturity. There are wonderful books, conferences, and Bible study references aiding in these areas so that we may understand Scripture more and in doing so, glorify Jesus Christ. Where there seems to be a cause for concern and further evaluation is when services are recommended that contradict Scripture, elevate man/woman, and charge an exorbitant amount of money for said services. Promises and claims are made when offering these products and courses. It is in these instances that the warning from Peter soberly rings, “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle and their destruction is not asleep.” (2 Peter2:3)

With the digital age has come the advancement of these things in a prolific way. It can be quite easy to build a digital kingdom, both secular and religious. There are many ministry examples available, ranging from certification in the prophetic to online courses concerning deliverance ministry. There is a service where individuals can pay $2,000 for a personal prophetic report, and companies can as well. There are even professing ministers who offer consulting services for social media and business. These can range from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.

This extends into growing substantial social media followings and providing viral video strategies to do so while stating that it is all for the advancement of the gospel. Again, these require a financial investment, many times in the thousands. Then, there are those who offer physical items on ministry sites. This goes beyond books and helpful resources. One such example is found on a well-known minister’s site where a prayer shawl kit is sold for $133. In this kit, one receives a prayer shawl that has been anointed, consecrated, and taken through a process in order to guarantee that the anointing on this minister’s life is deposited into the prayer shawl. Other items included in this kit are a water bottle, anointing oil, and a handkerchief alluding to Acts 19:12.

Though it may seem extreme to bring up such examples, there are massive followings associated with many of these individuals and ministries. Massive followings leave great room for massive deception and manipulation so that individuals profit from those who are naive or seeking the supernatural. Utilizing anointed objects leads others to place their trust in a man or woman potentially as a mediator rather than trusting in Christ and the sufficiency found in Him. The desire for “prophetic ministry” and deliverance is, sad to say, a lucrative business. Anytime there is a focus on increasing public exposure and popularity in the name of Jesus, there should be introspection and testing of motives. It is understandable that we want to do all things to the glory of God, and this should remain at the forefront of all we do. But even the sincerest of motives can be sincerely wrong if it is not properly rooted in the Word of God.

There is concern that the pursuit of wealth will bring compromise to the proclamation of the gospel when the gospel takes a back seat to financial gain. Other things such as prophetic certification peddles something that is not instructed in Scripture or is even necessary today. We have the written Word of God, the more sure Word of prophecy. We have no need for prophetic schools and deliverance e-courses. Anointed prayer shawls costing triple digits are unnecessary.

The solution to questions concerning spiritual matters lies within the confines of the Word of God rightly divided. 2 Peter 1:3 helps us to see that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” By the leading of the Holy Spirit, Peter goes on to encourage fellow believers in the qualities to which they should walk, telling them that the possession and increase of these qualities prevents unfruitfulness in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4-9). He encourages other believers in God’s eternal kingdom what lies ahead for those who are in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:11). May we find contentment in His kingdom that cannot be shaken, and may we be mindful of not trying to build our own for personal gain and fortune.

Listen to this discussion with a former member of an online mentorship group that focused on growing platforms using the gospel: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: Marketing the Gospel to Build a Digital Kingdom on Apple Podcasts