Seed is NOT money

Mark 4:14 ESV
(14)  The sower sows the word.

Jesus is explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples. Very clearly and unmistakably, Jesus says the seed is the word.  He doesn’t say “sow your thousand dollar seed.”  Where did we get this mistaken idea that we are to give X amount of dollars and then get 100X back?  Oral Roberts and those he mentored.

The pyramid scheme of sowing dollars works great if you are the one taking up the offering.  Everyone gets to practice their “faith” while you rake in the bucks.  If the people never see a hundred-fold return, you can always blame their “rocky soil.”  How convenient.

1 Peter 1:23 ESV
(23)  since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

What is the imperishable seed?  The word of God.

Acts 8:18-23 ESV
(18)  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
(19)  saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
(20)  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
(21)  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
(22)  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
(23)  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

Furthermore, you cannot buy the gifts of the Holy Spirit with money!  God and His gifts are not for sale.  In fact, this practice is call simony after this passage.

The next time you hear a huckster on a Christian television channel tell you to send in “your thousand dollar seed” just say “no thank you!” and get out your bible and read for a while.  You’ll get a bigger blessing by reading Scripture!