The Rented Veil: The High Cost of Worship

About the Title

 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.
--Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45.

The title of this book is based on descriptions of the crucifixion of Christ. It is said that, when he died while hanging on the cross, the veil that separated the priest and the congregation from the holiest of holy place in the temple ripped open from top to bottom. Behind the veil were the sacraments and purification vessels that only the priest could handle. This area was so holy and so set apart that, in case the priest had sinned and had not repented or did something unpleasing to God while behind the veil, a rope was tied around the priest in order to pull him out in case he dropped dead as punishment from God.

Christ’s death on the cross, in effect, ended the intermediary of the past. No longer did the faithful need the priest; Christ had opened the door for direct access to God.

Regrettably, a veil has been hanged again across the divide. But in this modern Christian era, the separation occurs in an area that many find very uncomfortable and that is in the subject of money. Why? 

Most people, if not all, have aspirations of acquiring wealth—even great fortunes. If not striking parvenu, certainly the majority of people, if not, all would enjoy living comfortably—having enough to take care of their needs without struggles. Countless books have been written on just such a theme and many more movies have been produced to illustrate such fantasy. No doubt the people of faith are not excluded from this sentiment. It is here that the problem occurs.

Sadly, many ministers in this modern Christian era are exploiting this basic human instinct and now hold the scripture ransom to their designs. Sunday after Sunday, and on many weekdays, people fill up sanctuaries, convention centers and hotel ballrooms to hear very charismatic men and women of God pour their hearts out about the mysteries in the scripture and then believe that only if they (the believer) would have a little more faith, reach a little deeper, and give sacrificially. They hope to reach the next level that God is trying to get them to by proving that they are equipped, demonstrating that they are ready and, most importantly, committing to tutelage presented by the minister. Then and only then, they believe, will God grant them their financial blessings. The only way to cash in on the celestial windfall is for the faithful to commit to following the prose bellowing from the lips of this new authority on scripture.

No one should be beholden or held captive to a spellbinding overture that offers never-ending promises of eternal winnings. We need no intermediary between God, or money and what and how God intends to bless us in our finances. He set in motion His intentions from the beginning, where the first gifts were presented: one from Cain and the other from Able. Both had to work the land and both had to bring in the harvest; both had to “save” and give an offering.