You are familiar with my commandment not to take the name of God in vain. Do you think this applies only to profane expletives? Could it have another meaning? What about those who invoke my name with intended piety, but in a way that claims a righteousness they do not possess, or to advance a self-serving interest that is not according to my will? Isn’t that as bad as using profanity to express anger or frustration they cannot otherwise articulate? What about swearing an oath to gain greater authority than a simple yes or no? Which of these is the worst form of taking my name in vain?

Do you expect to go through a spiritual transformation? Have you gone through one already? Every believer must say yes because they were not always believers. Do you expect to go through another one? The alternative is to be settled and comfortable in your current position. But this is not a way to grow and be transformed. There is a human tendency to think that things will continue in the current state, but is this realistic? Wasn’t it a journey that got you to where you are now? Apply the same logic to the future.

Do you believe that generosity is important? Do you believe that generosity can be compelled or coerced? Doesn’t that sound like a contradiction, because true generosity must be freely expressed, and if coercion or compulsion are present that extortion is a more accurate term than generosity? How does your church go about raising money? Churches have real expenses, and it is reasonable to expect the members to support them by contributions. There are many ways to go about the appeal for funds.