The Deception of Ink:

Do headlines lie to us, or do we fool ourselves? Are bold headlines the problem, or do our own assumptions shape what we believe? I ask this because our thoughts guide our actions, as Proverbs 23:7 says: “As a person thinks in their heart, so they are.”

Unlike many authors, I avoid long, unnecessary stories—childhood memories or personal details that don’t support the main point—just to fill pages. Why do others do this? To make books seem worth their high price. A short, honest book priced at $19.95 wouldn’t sell well. So, authors write lengthy books full of fluff to make money. Many Christian books stray from the Bible’s clarity, containing errors or false teachings. Messiah didn’t write long books to answer questions. His responses, like in Matthew 22:21—“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”—were short, clear, and to the point.

Publishing has rules: what to include, what to avoid. Authors aren’t told to ramble, but they’re encouraged to be descriptive and share emotions to connect with readers. That’s unnecessary. If I’m lost, I don’t need someone’s life story to understand their directions—just clear instructions.

Modern-day Christian publishing is often driven by profit, not truth. My first experience with the Bible came with a “Christian book” from a churchgoer, sold as a guide to solving problems. A few pages in, while my wife drove, I got frustrated: I said, why was the author talking about his childhood, likes, or past scenery? What does this have to do with the topic? I threw the book in the backseat and decided to stick to the Bible alone. That was a smart choice. Many Modern-day Christian authors take advantage of people’s spiritual needs, selling wordy books for profit instead of sharing simple truth. When religion becomes a business, it pushes some people away, and others fall away, some falling into atheism when they don’t see the fruit of their labors come to fruition simply because they were taught to practicing traditions, not biblical truths.

How often doModern-dayChristian leaders say they care for their church, only to advertise a book during a sermon, sometimes holding back all answers unless you buy it? They target trusting people, influenced by smooth words rather than Elohim’s Spirit. If they followed the Spirit, they’d avoid these practices. Do they study the Bible, or just recite each other’s books? Have they missed Micah 3:11-12, where Elohim condemns those who teach for money, warning of consequences? Selling Elohim’s message goes against Messiah’s example.

In Matthew 10:8, Messiah says, “You received freely, so give freely.” Spiritual help, including the message of salvation, should be free, as Elohim intended. But many Modern-day Christian publishers follow worldly rules, like copyright, suing over shared content, while ignoring Elohim’s principles. They make money from the Holy Spirit, which Elohim gives freely.

Some might say, “I paid for my Bible!” True, but Elohim will judge those who sell His Word. Your effort to get a Bible, even if it cost money, will be rewarded if you follow it. However, you got what you paid for so why would Elohim reward you for that? Should we copy the mistakes of these merchants? Thankfully, groups like the Gideons give out free Bibles, and the King James Bible is free online, it’s free domain. This reflects Elohim’s Spirit. But some people exploit this, printing Bibles to make money, often with support from churches that enable them.

When Christians charge for sermons, events, worship concerts, or anything spiritual, they go against Elohim commands. What can those who disobey Elohim teach ecept disobedience? They say, “These things cost money—how else can we pay for them if we don’t charge?” That’s a human excuse, not from Elohim. Did Elohim teach you to sell his word? No. Elohim never tells His servants to sell spiritual things. Some claim they don’t take offerings to justify selling millions of dollars of books, but that ignores Elohim’s plan for giving, as Malachi 3:10 encourages. They want more than Elohim’s allotment for them, forgetting Galatians 6:7: “Elohim cannot be mocked.”

Look at David in 1 Chronicles 21:24, who refused a free gift for worship: “I won’t offer to Elohim something that costs me nothing.” He paid 600 shekels. Today, many Modern-day Christians, chasing profit or trying to “break even,” offer services Elohim didn’t approve to attract followers. They draw crowds, but not Elohim’s true people. They call obeying Elohim’s law legalism, but the Bible calls the obedient and his Ten ten commandments holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). These leaders reject Elohim’s ways—stay away from them. Their love is fake, their humility false. The world loves them for their products, unlike Messiah, who in John 14:21 promises to reveal Himself to those who obey, a voice these leaders haven’t heard.

If Messiah were here, He’d be kicked out of their churches. He’d drive them out, like in John 2:15. Matthew 23:13 fits them: they block the way to heaven, neither entering nor letting others enter. Their followers make things worse.

Here’s the truth: any ministry charging for Elohim’s Word goes against the Bible. Elohim’s servants don’t rely on the offerings of unbelievers—Elohim provides for them (Numbers 18:20). He inspires people to support them, not through forced fees, which break His rules. But by a willing heart, not by buying or selling but by giving. The Bible rejects unwilling giving (3 John 1:7), and so does Elohim; we must follow Messiah’s example. But many churches accept any money, turning Elohim’s house into a marketplace (Mark 11:17).

Why criticize Modern-day Christianity? Not everyone is dishonest—some start with good intentions but use the wrong label. Messiah wasn’t a Christian and didn’t teach “Christianity” or call His followers that. He taught Elohim’s law to the Jews (Matthew 15:24), sending the Twelve to the Jews and Paul to non-Jews (Acts 9:15). His disciples baptized like John (John 4:1-2), and Paul preached the same message. The name “Christian” started in Antioch (Acts 11:26), used by mockers, not by Elohim’s Spirit. So, why follow their term instead of Messiah’s?

Many Christians ignore Elohim’s commandments, saying they don’t apply to non-Jews, forgetting their Teacher—a Jew—who kept Elohim’s law and all Ten Commandments (John 15:10) taught these commandments to the Jews alone, not the gentiles. Yet, he sent Paul—a Jew— to teach what Messiah taught him, not contrary. Their traditions fail, supported by people who don’t know the Bible. They judge themselves using each other as the standard of measurement, ignoring Elohim’s true followers, who are few (Romans 11:5).

True believers follow Messiah, keeping all Ten Commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath, the Bible’s food rules (Leviticus 11), and Elohim’s holidays as best they can (John 14:15). Sunday worship comes from Catholic tradition, not Elohim, and their own writings call it their “mark.” In Revelation 13:1, the “beast” means people; this mark shows disobedience, not faith. Faith means being faithful, which requires obeying Elohim—ignoring His law is the opposite.

Shalom!