A Conflict of Interest
06/26/25 10:11 AM
Solitary Man
solitaryman.substack.com
20250622
Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
To my shepherds, and those who fancy themselves true ministers of the Lord: What mean you when you bandy about this word? What ails you in your soul, when you speak with less integrity than those who live and work in Babylon?
In the system of the world, most still adhere to the ethical principle of conflict of interest. That is, a judge, a businessman, a politician excuses themselves from participation in any situation if there is any possibility of direct benefit to themselves should they influence the outcome. And yet those so called leaders in my body cannot even meet this minimum standard of ethical conduct!
Who benefits by your browbeating and intimidating the flock? Terrifying them, making them fear to question, or ever thinking for themselves? That if anyone discerns ungodly behavior from the clergy, that they are endangering their soul if they stand up against wickedness in the pulpit! Making them think that I protect the wicked, just because there is a title before their names.
Did not my word say that my true shepherds are to be servants of all? Did I ever instruct my shepherds to terrify and intimidate the sheep with threats and misapplication of the scripture, all to benefit your own person? Is it not up to me to defend those who are wrongly accused? Did I not stay silent when my accusers spoke evil of me? Yet you think of nothing but yourself. Have you noticed that it is only those with something to hide that try to make their accusers believe that the wrath of God is about to fall on those who dare to expose their sin?
Respect for leadership, or for anyone else, is earned, not coerced. If you have to coerce respect, then you are unworthy of it.
Which shepherd of mine has the faith and the moral courage to stop terrorizing and tormenting the sheep over finances? How is it that none of you sees that preaching about tithing as one of the most important laws and obligation is the greatest conflict of interest of all?
Telling your sheep that they are cursed of God if they do not give to you, how do you justify such raw, naked greed? Do you preach the same woe over the rampant idolatry and immorality in my church, things that I truly hate? No, the wrath of God (in your mind) is only reserved for those who do not empty their wallets at the altar of your own covetousness.
Pastors, how dare you threaten the flock over things that primarily benefit you? Which of you has the faith to trust me in all things? Why do you feel it is up to you to help the Holy Spirit bring to pass what you believe that I have tasked you to accomplish? If I have truly shown you what you are to do, is my hand too short to provide? Must you add the works of the flesh to accomplish my will? Or is it possible that you are building something out of the imagination of your own heart? Do you possess the humility and depth of character to admit to the world when you have made an error?
The principle is simple. For any law, precept, or commandment where the benefit primarily accrues to you, tread very carefully. Teach what my word says, but teach all sides of the issue. Do not think my word commands blind obedience to sinful rulers who are leading my sheep astray. Do not think my word demands tithing of all, when the curse of disobedience was actually spoken to the priests who were misusing these sacred offerings to the temple. I told the Pharisees to tithe while the temple yet stood, but as a law of least importance. Yet my ministers make it to be the greatest and most important commandment in the entire bible! Where is the emphasis on sanctification, purification, evangelization, separation, and the denial of all things of the flesh, by walking after the Spirit? Why, even as the Pharisees, are your priorities upside down?
Have you not witnessed the power of money in your nations? Do you still not see how filthy lucre has destroyed millions upon millions of souls in your materialistic, lust filled cultures? What is the American dream all about? To the Puritans, it meant a place where they could worship me freely and in safety and peace. To your generation, it means an ever increasing bank account and the accumulation of more toys than your neighbor. Health, wealth, and happiness. Me, myself, and I. Always another possession to covet and possess. Always another sensory experience to pursue. And where will it all end? There is only one place. And that place is the pit.
You shepherds out there who have been taken captive by the spirit of this age, this word is for you. Free yourselves of this greed, and free yourselves quickly. Else I will come and remove you from your place. My eyes are searching, searching, continually searching. Searching to see if there is anyone willing to count the riches of this world as dung, in order to gain me. Willing to reject the so called ‘American dream’ with all the contempt it deserves, and follow me.
Will you be one of those chosen few? Will you answer the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? Or will you continue to deceive yourself, and deceive others, justifying those things that my Father found abominable in his sight?
Those of you who hear my voice know that there is coming a famine in the land. So many focus on the natural, but take heed and know that the true famine is in the Spirit. So few hear my voice. So few have the courage to preach those things that convict and change lives. They choose to preach anything, as long as it causes them no loss. What if I desire you to forsake all for the sake of the gospel? What if I told you that the only way to reach souls was for you to suffer loss? Would you still follow me? Or is that one road too far to travel?
My people, it all comes down to your heart. What truly matters to you? Is it material safety, or pleasing me? Is it to stay safe, or to do my will? Let my word do its work. Let it convict. Let it transform. If you allow my word to have its way, you will have an eternity to be thankful that you chose wisely.
Scripture References
Psa_105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Mat_23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Luk_22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
1Pe_3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Mat_27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
1Ti_6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Ti_3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti_3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Tit_1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Tit_1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
1Pe_5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Php_3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Php_3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Luk_16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Psa_105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
Amo_8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Php_3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php_3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Mat_10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Solitary Man
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