Questions & Answers on The Holy Ghost
Questions 98 (COD Page 445)
Brother Branham, is it right for ministers to make long pulls for money in their services, telling that God has told them that so many in the audience are supposed to give so much? If this is right, I want to know. Or if it is wrong, I want to know. This has disturbed me terribly.
150 Now, you see, friend, I’m going to tell you, I’m going to tell you what I think. See? Now, that don’t mean it right. I think it’s terrible.
151 Now, I think this. God sent me on the field. I’ve seen the time where I looked like I would be at least... And I-I didn’t have no money at all. And I’d say, “Just pass the collection plate.” And the manager would come to me and say, “Look, Billy, we’re five thousand dollars in the red tonight, Boy. Have you got the money in Jeffersonville to pay it?”
152 I’d say, “It’s all right. God sent me here, or I wouldn’t have come. (See?) Just pass the collection plate.” And before the meeting’s over, somebody say, “You know, the Lord put on my heart to give five thousand dollars to this.” See, see? First, be led to do it.
153 I do not believe in pulling, and begging, and bumming money. I think it’s a wrong thing. Now, brother, if you do it, don’t let me hurt your feelings. See? You-you might have the right-of-way from God to do it. But I’m speaking just for myself. I do not believe in it.
154 Now, I’ve even knowed of ministers going and say... I stood right, not long ago... Now, this isn’t Pentecostals, this is... Well, it’s churches (see?), other churches. It was at a big camp meeting. Gertie, you was with me, many others present. And they took the whole afternoon at a famous denomination-two or three of them together (that’s the regular regular churches, like our modern churches here in the city, and so forth) at a big convention-and they took the whole afternoon, standing on the platform-and threatening that that God would destroy their crops, would give their children polio, and things like that, if they didn’t put into that meeting. That’s exactly the truth, with this Bible before me. I said, “It’s blasphemy to God and to His followers.” If God sends you, He’ll take care of you. If He hasn’t sent you, then let the denomination take care of you then. But-but you... If God sends you, He’ll take care of you.