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Love
Christian Fellowship
Predenominational
Christian Fellowship
Anchorage, Alaska.
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Getting
ready to celebrate "Easter"?
This
year "Easter" is on March 22, but why?
Easter is celebrated on the Sunday immediately
following the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox. What does this date have to do
with Jesus?
Jesus was resurrected on Nisan 15th, April 20th.
Think "Easter" is a Christian holiday? Read this!
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Christians
and Christian-haters.
The outright hatred, mean-spiritedness, and
social aggression against Christianity lately has quite shocked me.
I find this tendency to be very disturbing, but not nearly as
disturbing as Christians, themselves.
While I understand that Christianity has certain elements that can be
confusing, I can't remember a time when I have
listened to so many absolutely confused, uncaring, and unchristian like
"Christians".
There have been numerous television programs, sitcoms, newspaper and
magazine articles attacking Christianity lately,
NOT with the focus of explaining some belief of the producer, director,
or writer of these messages but to discredit Christianity. They're not
telling us what to believe, they're telling us what NOT to believe.
How would THEY know?
Certainly not because of the research that they've done! Some of the
most stupid comments I've ever heard have fallen from
the lips of the "experts" that these writers have chosen as their
talking heads. I mean, not just dumb, but insultingly stupid!
Yet, as stupid as these comments are, as blatantly false as these
statements have been, the next day and for weeks later, these same
comments are shared like homemade cookies at the office, in school,
between friends, without even the slightest
attempt to verify the credibility of these so-called "experts".
I have come to believe that most people don't even know what
Christianity is, now, I'm convinced of it. Most Christians
have simply made up their own religion and named it Christianity. I
also find this strange. They have taken several
pop religions, some elements from psychology, some elements from
Christianity, some elements from pop culture,
some elements from Buddhism, and mixed it all together and named it
Christianity. What I can't understand is with all
of these different parts, HOW they decided to name this mess
Christianity instead of using their own name,
or creating an acronym of all the parts. This is ANYTHING but
Christianity.
What IS a Christian then? Anyone who claims to be a Christian?
And, what of the Christian-haters... what are they offering instead?
NOTHING!
| Gal
5:22 |
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
|
| Gal
5:23 |
gentleness and self‑control.
Against such things there is no law.
|
|
Christians
have these characteristics (according to the Bible).
| love |
ἀγάπη |
agape |
affection,
good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love |
| joy |
χαρά |
chara |
joy,
gladness |
| peace |
εἰρήνη |
eirene |
the tranquil
state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ,
and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of
whatsoever sort that is) (from a primary verb eiro (to join) |
| patience |
μακροθυμία |
makrothumia |
patience,
endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance,
longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs |
| kindness |
χρηστότης |
chrestotes |
moral goodness,
integrity, benignity, kindness |
| goodness |
ἀγαθωσύνη |
agathosune |
uprightness of
heart and life, goodness, kindness |
| faithfulness |
πίστις |
pistis |
a conviction or
belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine
things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born
of faith and joined with it |
| gentleness |
πραότης |
prautes |
gentleness,
mildness, meekness |
| self-control |
ἐγκράτεια |
enkrateia |
self-control
(the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his
sensual appetites |
So what,
exactly, is the argument of these Christian-haters?
They point out false Christians by their actions,
who according to the Bible,
aren't real Christians (according to their actions),
and then try to convince everyone that their way,
non-Christianity,
is a much better way,
but it is the exact same actions they have just condemned
the false Christians of?
How STUPID is that?
Don't be like those people,
be like us,
who are just like those people???
Oh oh!
Judging!
Then, the Christian-haters bring up this verse out of context -
Don't judge...
but the verse is really saying don't judge wrongly!
So, after misapplying this verse of "Don't judge",
and then "judging", they condemn false Christians
for acting like they do!
What could possibly be a better example of judging falsely than this???
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So,
Christian-hater...
If
you have ended up here accidentally,
and you are condemning false Christians because you don't approve of
their actions, you are actually condemning your own actions!
You are condemning false Christians for the same actions that YOU do!
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So,
false Christian...
If you ended up here accidentally,
get yourself right with God.
There are tons of resources here to help you in your search for TRUE
Christianity.
True Christianity doesn't contradict the Bible, and true Christ-ians
are followers of Christ, NOT contradictors of Christ's words!
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Shall we then,
reject Christianity because there are false Christians,
go the opposite way? What IS the opposite way?
According to Galatians
5:19-21 it is
sexual immorality,
impurity,
debauchery,
idolatry,
witchcraft,
hatred,
discord,
jealousy,
fits of rage,
selfish ambition,
dissensions,
factions,
envy,
drunkenness,
and orgies.
Great plan, Christian haters!
Just how stupid is this plan? But turn on the radio,
turn on the TV, read the paper, read the blogs,
read anything put forth by the Christian haters,
and you'll read the same agenda -
"reject Christianity and everything Christian".
This
plan leaves you with the list above!
Some plan!
Christian-haters have created a religion, then attributed this
religion to those they hate, and no matter what proof,
or extent of proof, or quantity of proof one offers them, they are
insistent on hating those they have lumped into this
self-created religion that THEY have created.
So what is Christianity?
Why is it so difficult for
everyone to get their mind around what Christianity really is?
For the most part I think that people don't care. They have made
Christianity into a product that they're not quite sure
they really need, but they're willing to entertain certain aspects
because they believe that Christianity may help
to improve their life. THIS is NOT Christianity! Christianity is not a
product and it is not a self improvement program,
nor is it a way to insure that you have a better quality of life. Think
I'm kidding? Think about the hundreds of thousands of early Christians
that were fed to the lions, burned alive, crucified, or beheaded. Sound
like a positive addition to YOUR life?
I used to think that these rude,
outspoken,
self-proclaimed religious
and philosophy experts were just poorly informed.
They ARE poorly informed, but not because of a lack of
trying.
They specifically restrict their reading materials, the programs they
watch on TV, and the people they speak with to insure that they don't
accidentally learn anything that will contradict their hatefull
philosophy..
They
have created a self perpetuating mental vacuum.
I recently had several confrontations with some Christian haters in the
local online newspaper chat boards.
I would make a point, then they
would attempt to refute it... with no facts.
They insisted on each
incident that I provide "proof". So I did.
Then, each time I fulfilled their demand that I verify my information,
they complained that I was posting too much information... "Wow! I
didn't know we were allowed to post a book here!"
In one
incident, a large clump of haters banded together and supported each
other's false claims about the
origins of Christmas. I took their position apart point by point,
provided proof for each point, and offered documented historical proof,
and their response was...
"yawn", and then "double yawn". So, in the end, their entire argument
was a lie. Their entire philosophy, was not a philosophy, in that
philo-sophy means the "love of truth", for which they had no love
whatsoever!
They were ignorant blowhards who had every intention of not being
dissuaded by any kind of facts, and who insisted
on maintaining their fictional beliefs regardless of how much
information that was provided to them.
No matter the quantity, quality, or duration of proof, they insisted on
maintaining their false world view!
This same situation has occurred numerous times during my lifetime, so
I
have come to a conclusion.
There
is
no
point
arguing
with
Christian
haters!
NONE!
Christian haters are intellectual frauds, and even if proved 1,000
points to each of their objections, and verified each
point, with photos and documentation, they would then simply walk away
and argue with some other Christian that was
less grounded.
So, the entire focus of this article is for those that have already
become Christians, but they are confused
about some of the details. Perhaps you are reading this and don't even
know you are confused. But like it has been said -
"Confusion is the first step of learning". So, let's be confused
together, and work through our confusion.
If you contact me, and I think that you are simply trying to use this
contact as a means to hear yourself talk, I will not respond. If you
contact me simply as a means to blast me with more anti-Christian
hatred, I've heard it all before, and I will not respond. If you are a
Christian, or if you are a seeker and are wondering TRUTHFULLY what
Christianity is all
about, I will respond to your questions. So, consider this your only
notice that if you are only contacting me to attack Christianity, your
email will be deleted and I will not respond to you in any way. You
will have wasted your time.
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When I talk to people about Christianity, they seem confused as to what
Christianity is. Christians are followers of Christ, thus the name.
This means that Christians follow Jesus, the Christ, the real,
historical, Biblical person, the Messiah.
This does NOT mean that you get to make up your own Jesus! I know,
millions have already done this...
Why can't you? Well, you can. But, that doesn't mean that you will
benefit in any way.
Most people picture Jesus in their minds as having wavy auburn hair,
blue eyes,
and very caucasian features,
but considering that Jesus was
born in Middle East,
this is not likely.
Most people also picture a
very attractive man as Jesus,
but this also is not Biblical. Jesus
didn't show up to get His face on Time magazine.
It may be shocking to find out that most of what you believe about
Jesus, about Christianity, isn't true.
While this may be uncomfortable,
don't you really want to find out the truth?
When I speak to people about Jesus, most people say that Jesus came to
forgive sins.
When I ask what that means, they say
"Jesus came and died for our sins, so now we are forgiven and we can
all go to heaven".
When I ask them if everyone will go to heaven, they
say,
yes,
except really bad people.
Things fall apart when I ask them
how bad you have to be,
and who decides who is bad and who is good.
The
problem with this idea is that each person thinks that it is THEIR
opinion that matters.
Or they think that God must automatically agree
with what they think about themselves.
This is not true.
The truth about this is, everybody is bad.
Yes,
every, single, person that has ever been born or ever will be born is
bad, corrupted, evil.
I know, that isn't nice. So what!
The truth is
the truth, so stop demanding that the universe must be some kind of
Disney theme park.
It isn't. So, either what I just said is true or it
is false.
So, you must now decide how you are going to determine what
is true and what is false.
This is called your "procedure of evidence".
That is, why you believe what you believe.
So why DO you believe what you believe? Just because? Does that sound
logical to you?
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What is
"good", what is "evil"? Are
they opposites? Are they related?
Absolute 0 is −273.15
°C, or −459.67
°F. So, when you remove all heat from an object, you can reduce
it's temperature to absolute zero. IF cold existed as a thing, you
could
simply apply more cold
to an object and get it colder than absolute zero, but absolute zero is
as cold as you can get an object. Why?
Because cold doesn't really exist as a thing, but it is really just a
name we have given a lack of heat. The same is true of darkness.
Darkness doesn't actually exist as a thing, it is a name we have given
to a lack of light. You can remove all light and you end up with
darkness. You can't add anymore darkness, you can only remove all
light, and you have darkness.
We have even created a measurement for both temperature and light. But
we are measuring the light and we are measuring the heat, we are not
measuring the cold and we are not measuring the dark.
Imagine that God is heat, and God is light. The complete lack of God
then would be absolute zero and absolute darkness.
Now imagine God as being good, so absolute evil would be a complete
absence of God.
So, when I say that every person that has been born is evil, and that
every person that ever will be born is evil, I'm not saying that every
person ever born is absolute evil, just evil, some degree of lacking
being totally good, for which,
ONLY God is perfectly good.
The problem is that to have a relationship with a being who is
absolutely good, YOU must also be absolutely good, or
you would taint God, making Him something less than perfect. God, is so
absolutely pure, and good, that your presence
would make God less than God.
So, what Christianity is all about, why Jesus became man, was to
provide YOU with a way of having a relationship with God, that #1
wouldn't kill YOU, and #2 that would allow you to meet with a just,
loving, kind, completely pure, and completely good God. THAT is what
Christianity is all about, not the rituals, not guys on TV with bad
hair, or all of the other nonsense that most people think that
Christianity is about.
Christianity is about giving you a chance to have a relationship with
God, IF you want one.
So, IF you want a relationship with God, or if you already have one but
you want to improve it,
I have placed some links below to individual topics so that you can do
your own studies and improve your spiritual life.
Please read this information with an open mind, an open heart, and with
an eye on developing a solid Procedure of Evidence.
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Jesus
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Holy Spirit |
God |
Prophecy |
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To
tithe or not to tithe...
but what does the BIBLE say about tithing?
Do
you realize that
very, very few people actually read their Bibles?
Nearly ALL Christians simply depend on the pastor to read it for them!
But... don't forget that about 65% of all pastors and ministers
DO NOT
have a Biblical world view! (Barna Research Group)
READ IT
FOR YOURSELF!
Many
people have asked me about tithing.
Many people have
then yelled at me when I
answered them.
I
truly
don't understand why people ask me questions about what
the
Bible says
on a subject when clearly
they
do NOT want to know that the Bible says about their pet topic,
they
just want the Bible to say what
THEY
think it should say.
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Article on tithing.
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Another article
on tithing.
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And... another
article on tithing.
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Another article
on tithing
(a bit longer)
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Another article
on tithing
(historical)
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An
article on tithing as a
rebuttal to Paul de Jong's
tithe teaching.
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An article on tithing
as a tradition rather than truth.
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And another one.
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Are you starting
to get the picture?
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| And, finally, my
favorite article on tithing. |
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Amen, Franz Sigel Shroy
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What's Wrong With
the Gospel?
A.W. Tozer
Matthew 15:9 But
in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men.
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In
each generation there have been various ways and means used to secure
the attention of sinners so that they may be shown the truth and then
led into a saving knowledge and true relationship with the Lord Jesus
Christ.
It is a fact that
man is a creature of habit. He loves form, doesn't like things to
change "too quickly," and he clings to tradition.
Unfortunately (for man), God is no such person. Though something has
never been tried before, God simply does not care. His only concern is
that it is the wisest and most direct way of accomplishing His desire.
This
of course, threw the children of Israel into many a panic. "What's God
doing now?" If there was a big sea in the way, no problem, He just
split it. If there wasn't any water, snap! A drinking fountain from a
rock. Food running low? Presto! It'll rain bread in the morning. And
Jesus had the same way of dealing with things. When His disciples were
far from shore, it didn't matter; Jesus just strolled over the waves.
Problem with the weather? "Shut up wind!" And so it went.... (Exodus
14:21-22, 16:4, 17:6,; Matt. 14:25; Mark 4:39).
Now
as you can see in the Bible, God had a lot of problems with man and his
traditions. Just take a look at the Jews - how they loved their temple,
their sacrifices, their Sabbath - too bad they didn't care much for
their God. And Jesus ran up against the whole stubborn lot of them.
"Did you see that? Why, He healed on the Sabbath!" (Luke 13:14) At
every turn, Jesus tried to show them the truth, using the wisest
reasoning and the best example, but they kept getting hung up on His
methods - touching lepers, raising the dead, hanging out with sinners,
whipping moneychangers - it scared them to death! (Matt. 8:2-3, 9:11;
John 2:15, 11:43-44) Their religion was basically peaceful, very solemn
and quiet. But Jesus...why Jesus had the whole town in an uproar at
least once a week! You can see why He bothered them; He distributed
their nice little religion...with the truth! (John 8:44-45)
It is obvious that
God anoints men and women
who are completely yielded to His Spirit. He also anoints methods and
tools that we use - meetings, tracts, books, music, witnessing,
preaching, etc. - when they are also full submitted to Him in
faithfulness. But there is a great danger when man (or even God)
designs a tool to be used for God's glory, and then as time passes,
people's attention starts to be fixed on the tools itself, rather than
on the glory of God (which it was originally designed to promote). (See
II Kings 18:4 - Because it had now become an idol, King Hezekiah had to
destroy the same bronze serpent that Moses had made in Numbers 21:8,
which was used to stop the plague of death among the Israelites. This
is the same bronze serpent referred to by Jesus in reference to Himself
in John 3:14)
The
following is a list of just some of the tools, methods, and concepts
that I believe have become so much a part of presenting the modern
gospel, that they have become just about inseparable from it. In fact,
they are to such an extent considered necessary, that if many of them
are left out of an evangelistic meeting, Christians can hardly believe
that anyone can be saved there.
Some Inventions of
Man That Have Become Essential Parts of the Modern Gospel
The Term and Concept
of "Personal Savior."
I
find it very disturbing when something unnecessary is added to the
Gospel. The use of the term "Personal Savior" isn't very harmful in
itself, but it shows a kind of mindset that is willing to "invent"
terms, and then allow these terms to be preached as it they were
actually found in the Bible.
But
why must we do this? Why must we add needless, almost meaningless
things to the Gospel? It is because we've taken so much out that we
have to replace it with "spiritual double talk." That's right, double talk! Would you ever
introduce your sister like this: "This is Sheila, my personal
sister"?! Or would you point to your navel and say, "This is my
personal bellybutton"? Ridiculous! But nevertheless, people solemnly
speak of Christ as the personal Savior, as if
they've got Him right there in their shirt pocket - and as if when He
returns, he will not have two, but three titles written
across His thigh: King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Personal
Savior!
(See Rev. 19:16) This is only one example of how a non-biblical term
can be elevated to reverence by the Church, as if to say, "Well even if
it isn't in the Bible - it should be!"
The Altar Call.
Imagine
if you can, Jesus having people bow their heads after hearing the
Sermon on the Mount, and then very slowly and softly (while Bartholomew
plays "How Great Thou Art" on the accordion) saying to the crowd,
"While your heads are bowed and your eyes are closed, if you really
want to be My disciple tonight, if you really want to show My Father
and I that you truly mean to follow this sermon I have given, then I
want you to slip your hand up slowly, so that I may see it. There
now...yes...yes...I see that hand...and that one...and the one way back
by the fig tree...yes! Now, please, while Bart plays another chorus,
I'd like you to start moving down through the center of the
crowd...yes, those who raised their hand. I want to know if you really mean business. I'd
like to lead you in a prayer..."
I
realize that there are some who will see such an illustration as
sacrilegious. And that's just the point. They think that making fun of
the "altar call" is making fun of God. But it isn't. Traditions die
hard, because they take so long to form. Once I received a very intense
letter from the pastor of a church who had sponsored me in a city-wide
concert in his area. He was upset that I had "let several hundred souls
go ungathered" because I had not given an altar call. He said, "It
seems you have no burden for souls." (Nothing could be further from the
truth.) But because I had not given the recognized "official
invitation," this pastor could see no value in my presentation of the
Gospel. Or as Tony Salerno (director of "The Agape Force") recently
remarked, "If you don't give an altar call, they think you have
committed the unpardonable sin!'"
The Gradual Altering
of the "Altar Call"
Believe
it or not, the altar call was invented only about 150 years ago. It was
first used by the American evangelist, Charles Finney, as a means of
separating out those who wanted to talk further about the subject of
salvation. Finney called the front pew "the anxious seat" (for those
who were "anxious" about the state of their souls) or "the mourner's
bench." Finney never "led them in a prayer," but he and a few others
would spend a great deal of time praying with and giving specific
instructions to each, one by one, until finally, everyone was sent home
to pray and continue seeking God until "they had broken through and
expressed hope in Christ," as Finney would say.
The
early Salvation Army, going a bit further on Finney's innovation,
developed what they called "the penitent form" or "the mercy seat."
After a rousing time of singing and preaching, they would invite any
sinner present who wanted to confess his sins to God and repent, to
come to the front, and they would be prayed for individually. I have
met a few older Christians who used to attend some of these early
meetings, and they said that sometimes people would stay there all
night, and on a few occasions, even a few days, weeping and confessing
their sins with broken hearts. There were always some who would stay
right there to instruct them further, encouraging them to make a clean
sweep of sin from their lives.
This
is what the early "altar call" was like. But gradually, it began to
become a fixed part of every meeting, and like all other traditions, it
began to lose its original spirit. The "coming forward" part started to
be more important than the "sorrow, confession, repentance, and
instruction" parts. Eventually, anyone who would "come down the aisle"
was excitedly proclaimed "a new believer in Christ!" No matter how they
felt, they still were told, "Your sins are forgiven, brother! Rejoice
in Christ!" How many a miserable, defeated, and confused person has
come away from a meeting like this? (Jer. 6:14). See Repentance
The Sinner's Prayer.
Can you also try and
imagine this scene where Jesus is leading some new "disciples" in the
"sinner's prayer"?
"Wow!
There are so many that came forward for salvation tonight!" (The
multitude applauds.) "Now, it's very simple. You just repeat this
little prayer after Me, and then you're a Christian! Now it doesn't
really matter whether you fully understand the prayer...it works just
the same. Now ready? Repeat after Me... Dear Jesus...Come into my
heart..." and so on...
As
you can see, when we try to picture Jesus Himself using our modern
methods of evangelism, it seems completely foolish. I think this is a
very good test for any method. "Could I see Jesus doing this?" or
"Could I see Jesus preaching or teaching this?" Since the Bible tells
us, "Walk in the manner that He walked" (1 John 2:6), we
should always try to compare our actions and message to the Master's.
It is obvious that
there is no "set" sinner's prayer.
There are many variations, with different lengths, different wordings,
different endings, etc., but the contents are usually the same. The
prayer usually includes phrases like, "Dear Jesus," "Come into my
heart," "I admit I have sinned" (at least the better ones contain this
last statement - there are some who do not even like to mention sin
in their "sinner's prayer"), "Fill me with Your Spirit," "In Jesus'
name. Amen." Extremely harmless...nothing wrong with a prayer like
that, right? Wrong! It isn't the wording that's important, it's the
state of the heart of the one saying it.
I
believe that a true "sinner's prayer" will gush out of anyone who is
truly seeking God and is tired of being enslaved to sin. (Matt. 5:6)
The very act of "leading someone in a prayer" is utterly ridiculous.
You will find nothing even remotely like it in the Bible, or among the
writings and biographies of those in Church history. It completely
savors of crowd and peer pressure tactics, and (please forgive me)
brainwashing techniques. I do not believe that Jesus wants to have his
disciples "repeat after Me," I believe He wants them to follow after Him! (Matt. 4:19, 8:22,
9:9, 16:24, 19:21; Luke 9:59; John 12:26, 21:19,22; 1 Peter 2:21; Rev.
14:4.) Also See Is The Sinner’s Prayer
Effective?
Premature Death
As
with the altar call, the practice of having someone repeat a prayer
with the minister probably originated from the best of intentions. And
no doubt, there are those who have "followed through," continuing to
pray and walk with God, entering into the path of righteousness through
God's infinite grace. But also, like the altar call, the so-called
"sinner's prayer" is one of those tools that make it alarmingly easy
for someone to consider himself a Christian, when he has absolutely no
understanding of what "counting the cost" (Luke 14:28) really
means.
The
greatest reason I believe that God can be grieved with the current use
of such tools as the "altar call" and "sinner's prayer" is because they
can take away the conviction of the Holy Spirit prematurely, before the
Spirit has time to work repentance leading to salvation. With an
emotional splash that usually doesn't last more than a few weeks, we
believe we're leading people into the Kingdom, when really we're
leading many to hell - by interfering with what the Spirit of God is
trying to do in a person's life. Do you hear? Do you understand
that this constitutes "spiritual abortion"? Can't you see the
eternal consequences of jumping the gun, trying to bring to birth a
baby that isn't ready?
We
are so afraid that we'll see a "big one that got away," that we'd
rather rush someone into a shallow decision, and get the personal
gratification of seeing him "go down the aisle," than take the time to
fully explain things to him, even it if takes long hours and
nights of travailing prayer for his soul. We just don't "have the time"
to do things God's way anymore. (In contrast to this, look at the
amount of time and effort Jesus took to explain salvation to one mere
Samaritan woman - John 4:3-42.)
But God would rather
see one true convert
than an ocean full of "decisions." Oh, can't you see what a mess we're
in? What we've done to the Gospel? And when those "converts" no longer
want to fellowship with us, when they want to go back to their old
friends and their old way of life, we have the nerve to call it
"backsliding," when we stood in the very way of them ever
"front-sliding" toward the cross! Oh, it breaks my heart to think of
that awesome day, when God will judge those who have "stumbled one of
these little ones." (Mark 9:42).
Other Man-Made
Methods That Have Made
The Gospel Very Shallow, And Therefore
Unbiblical
Quick
and Easy "1-2-3 Steps-to-Salvation" Booklets. I certainly cannot fault
the intentions nor the integrity of the men and organizations
responsible for these little tools. One of the best known of these
booklets has been printed in over 30 languages, and has over 100
million copies in circulation. With that in view, it is even more
urgent for me to say that unless these or any other "gospel" booklets
contain the same message that our Lord preached (and commanded His
disciples to spread "to every kindred and nation"), then they are worse
than "inadequate tools," they are wicked!
For
the Bible says in Proverbs, "Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the
eyes, so is the unfaithful messenger to him who sends him." (Proverbs
10:26) Paul said that if we are really Christians, then we are
"ambassadors of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20) - we are God's sole
representatives in this foreign land called "the world."
With
that analogy in mind, consider what a president would think of an
ambassador to a foreign country, say Russia, who is told to deliver an
extremely urgent message that will involve the peace of the whole
world. And that ambassador (even with the best intentions) gives only a
small part of the message, in such a way as to make a very different
impression - in fact, the exact opposite
impression - than what the president wanted to make. What do you think
that president will do to the ambassador when he finds out the damage
done?
Booklets like these
usually mention a "sort-of" repentance like, "you must turn
from your sins, to Jesus." But they rarely explain what "turning"
really means. This is also true of such other vital terms such a "Lord"
- they usually refer to Jesus as "Lord," but again, they seldom define
"lordship" - and people go their merry way, believing they have the
full right to continue running their own lives as long as they call
Jesus "Lord." (See Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46.) See Repentance
I
don't care how many letters I get saying how much good has been done by
such and such a ministry, or how many have been "saved" through such
and such a booklet. Jesus said, "You will know
them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16) and in another place He said
that "Your fruit should remain" (John 15:16),
which means it should last! I believe we shall
see in that great day, when God spreads out the lives of men in
judgment, how many were truly converted
by the efforts of these ministries, and how many were turned aside from
the path of righteousness - being led to believe the pleasant
half-truths contained in these shallow and false epistles that have
been printed to the ends of the earth by people with "the best
intentions, and the highest integrity." (Matt. 23:15)
The "Poor Jesus"
Syndrome. This is the form of preaching that misuses the Scripture in
Rev. 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock "
How many evangelists have used that Scripture to paint a pathetic
picture of Jesus standing outside a door, waiting, knocking, knocking,
waiting, for the sinner to open up and let Jesus in? Sometimes these
preachers go on and on, until it starts to sound like, "Aw, poor Jesus
is out there in the cold, shivering, waiting for someone to let Him in.
Won't you go ahead and let poor Jesus into your heart?"
What a line of
reasoning! First of all, this statement by the Lord in Revelation is
not to the unsaved, it's to the Church in
Laodicea (see Rev. 3:14). The picture is truly pathetic.
Jesus is standing outside of His own church, knocking for them
to let Him in!
(Sound familiar?) And if there's any doubt left as to whom He's talking
to, look at verse 22, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
is saying to the churches."
Second
of all, the truth of the matter for sinners is the exact opposite.
Jesus is not outside of their world, knocking to come in - they are outside of His kingdom!
And they can knock all night like the five foolish virgins (Matt.
25:11), but Jesus will never let them in unless they meet the
requirements: a humble and contrite heart, and a complete disgust for
sin. Then, and only then, will God deliver them from their slavery to
sin - and transfer them by His grace to the Kingdom of His
loving-kindness. God will never repent for someone - He will take every
step possible to make the sinner see the folly of his ways, but the
final move is up to the individual himself. Each person must make the
final surrender, the desperate gasp of "I am a fool to run my own life!
Lord, show me the way to Your door, and I'll
knock and knock, and beg forgiveness ... I'll do anything, anything, anything You say!" Then, and only
then, will God save a sinner. (Psalm 34:18, 51:17; Isaiah 66:22; Luke
18:14; James 4:10) See Salvation
Bumper Stickers,
Cheap Clichés, and "Christian" Slogans.
It
pains me to see the beautiful truths of Scripture being plastered about
like beer advertisements. Many think it is wise to "get the word out"
in this way, but I believe that we are really just inoculating the
world with bits and pieces of truth - giving them their "gospel shots."
(And we're making it hard for them to "catch" the real thing!) People
become numb to the truth when we splash our gaudy sayings in their eyes
at every opportunity. Do you really think this is "opening them up to
the Gospel"? Or is it really just another way for us to get smiles,
waves, and approval from others in the "born-again club" out in the
supermarket parking lot, who blow their horns with glee when the see
your "Honk if you love Jesus!" bumper sticker?
What
about those "other sayings"? You know, the quasi-biblical ones, like
"Please be patient, God isn't finished with me yet," which can really
be a horrible replacement for "I'm sorry." (And besides, it puts the
blame on the wrong person - "The reason I'm such a creep is because God isn't finished with
me yet.")
And
if you really want to play "Stretch the Bible" there is that other
fabulous excuse that absolutely ends all quests or expectations for
holiness: "Christians Aren't Perfect Just Forgiven!"
Ah, how convenient. You might just as well say, "Christians aren't
moral, just forgiven!" or what about "Christians aren't nice, just
forgiven!" How about the ultimate? "Christians aren't saved...just
forgiven!" (That might be a little too deep.) What we're saying by this
glorious piece of prose is, "Madam, you cannot trust your teenage
daughter with my Christian son, you'd better keep your eye on
him...he's not safe...he's just forgiven!"
Maybe I've gone a
little too far to make a point, but I think the world is completely
sick to its stomach with our sayings and "witnessing tools." It's time for us
to be expressing the truth with our lives, and then the whole truth of God with
our lips!
"The Follow-Up
Program."
There
is one last great mistake being committed in the name of evangelism. It
is rightly called "follow-up." I say "rightly called" because it is
following up the same miserable and incomplete gospel with a miserable,
incomplete, and false replacement for what the Bible calls
"discipleship."
Our
"follow-up" usually consists of a "packet of literature," which almost
always includes a complete list of all church services and functions.
This "packet" also may include many "essential" items like a complete
Bible study on "tithing." Also enclosed is usually at least one tithe
envelope. (It's amazing that this is one "principle" that nearly every
new believer learns right away!)
See Tithing Were
one to ask most teachers of tithing to cite a passage of Scripture
supporting the practice, a few verses--I like to call them "the usual
suspects"--can be rounded up. Frequently, only parts of Scripture
passages are cited, and usually they are rendered out of context.
In
my studies of the life of Jesus, it has amazed me that He never had "a
follow-up program." It was usually His habit to let people "follow Him
up." He never had to go door to door, looking for that fellow who He
healed last week, wanting to share another parable or two. He always
seemed to have the attitude of, "If they want life, then they'll have
to come and follow Me." [See Seeker Friendly, Church
Growth Failures in The Bible]
Can't
you see what fools we are? We preach a man-made, plastic gospel. We get
people to come forward to "the altar" by bringing psychological
pressures that have nothing to do with God. We "lead them" in a prayer
that they are not yet convinced they need to say. And then to top it
all off, we give them "counseling," telling them it is a sin to doubt
that they're really saved!
Conclusion
And
now we come to the end of this "Bible study." Yes, that's just what is
has turned out to be. I hope you will take the time to look up each of
the Scriptures given, and see for yourself what God had said in His
Word about all these things. I realize that these articles will step on
many toes, and some might even be deeply offended, but that is not my
intention at all. My only prayer is that through this little effort,
many will begin to take up the cross and preach the good news of our
salvation with the same power and anointing that Jesus promised and
gave to the early Church, and that when we ministers stand before Him
on that great day, we will be able to say with Paul, "I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith I have
fully preached the gospel of Christ" (2 Tim. 4:7; Rom.
15:19), so that we may hear those sweet words from our King's lips, "Well done, good
and faithful servant!" (Matt. 25:21)
Beloved
family, the world around us is going to hell. Not because of communism,
not because of television, not because of drugs, or sex, or alcohol, or
the devil himself. It is because of
the church! We are to blame! We
alone have the commission, the power, and the truth of God at our
disposal to deliver sinner after sinner from eternal death. And even
though some are willing to go...into the streets, the prisons, foreign
lands, or even next door, they are taking a watered-down, distorted
version of God's message, which He has not promised to anoint. That is
why we are failing.
And unless we admit that we are failing, then I'm afraid there is no
hope for us or the world around us. We have the choice between causing
eternal tragedy for our whole generation, or bringing our beloved a
whole family full of "good and faithful servants." See Section The Contemporary Church
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http://www.inplainsite.org/html/Index.html
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Tithing
Today:
God's
Plan or Designs of Man?
©
2001 Tyler S. Ramey
Please pay careful attention to footnotes. Important
comments are contained in them.
Also See Should The
Church Teach Tithing
 |
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And
all that believed were together, and had all things common; and
they
sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as
any man had need. Act 2:44-45
Part I
Preliminary
Stuff
A
difficult subject to contend with is the issue of money, its place in
the Christian's life, and the believer's responsibility when it comes
to giving. A related subject, often inseparable to the subject of money
(and giving) in the minds of many Christians, is the matter of tithing.
Usually, the issue of tithing is itself a non-issue for many believers
who have been taught that tithing is a command of God for Christians
today.
Were
one to ask most teachers of tithing to cite a passage of Scripture
supporting the practice, a few verses--I like to call them "the usual
suspects"--can be rounded up. Frequently, only parts of Scripture
passages are cited, and usually they are rendered out of context. For
example, have you ever heard that The tithe belongs to the Lord, or
Will a man rob God? or The house of the Lord is neglected?
A
familiar passage of Scripture frequently used in challenging Christians
to greater spiritual, and sometimes material, reward is Malachi 3:8.
Will a man rob God? is an often repeated "battle cry" delivered from
pulpits across America. Unfortunately, this passage of Scripture is
most often encountered during annual stewardship sermons or when a
project or building needs financing. One thing seems relatively certain
these days; a predominance of teaching from the prophet Malachi will
often accompany a squeeze upon the pocketbook. When believers buy in to
the bad teaching offered from the commonly misrepresented words of
Malachi, they are often prevented from enjoying true Christian
stewardship.
In
Part I of this paper, I will examine the primary scriptures used to
finance American Christianity. In Part II I will offer a scriptural
pattern of Christian stewardship that opposes modern pulpit appeals.
Along the way, I'll refute common arguments used to persuade believers
that tithing is biblically required. One goal of this commentary is to
liberate the Christian from mechanical, legalistic, and often coercive
giving; however, the primary goal is to open evangelistic opportunities
as individual believers learn to heed more closely biblical instruction
by channeling their resources to places where need is greatest.
Evangelistic opportunities will open when Christians develop habits of
stewardship that follow scriptural patterns.
This
exposé comes as a result of numerous questions over the past
several
years regarding the issue of tithing. The matter was brought to my
attention by friends and acquaintances so many times that I decided to
write this brief paper in an attempt to provide some clarity.
The
most common--though not all--defenses of tithing are examined in this
work and a liberating, more rewarding challenge to Christian
stewardship is offered.
The
Offensive Nature of Truth
Truth
often offends those who believe they already have it. Keep this in mind
as you read this exposé. It's not uncommon for those who believe
they
already know what the Bible teaches about a given subject to be
offended (sometimes even angered) about an alternative. Challenging
certain teachings that have been accepted as true tends to be
agitating. This is sometimes true of many Christian leaders--in
virtually any capacity--who generally don't appreciate challenges
(cordial or otherwise) to doctrines they sincerely believe and have
taught for years. Thankfully, sincerity and time have no effect on
scriptural truths. Keep in mind that with regard to all matters of
faith and practice the only standard for believers is the Bible.
Some
Words About Tradition
Because
certain practices have grown to reflect man-made traditions instead of
biblical truths, it is important to remember that tradition is good
only when it complements Scripture. The old saying: "What's popular
isn't always right; what's right isn't always popular" is appropriate
here. For many, the subject of tithing is sensitive, hotly contested,
and deeply passionate. It is, therefore, important to remember that
what we strive for in this endeavor is scriptural truth.
Ground
Rules
The
ground rules for this study are quite simple. Basic rules of biblical
interpretation [1] (the plain meaning of Scripture) [2] is utilized in
this work to examine the most common scriptures used to defend modern
teaching. If the reader would like to learn about biblical
interpretation, a few helpful books are worth mentioning. How to
Read the Bible for all its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart,
Protestant Biblical Interpretation by Bernard Ramm, and An
Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics by
Walter Kaiser and Moisé Silva are excellent resources. Fee and
Stuart's
text is an excellent primer on biblical interpretation, Ramm's work is
a time-tested introduction used at seminary level as is the text by
Kaiser and Silva.
Scriptural
Gymnastics
The
interesting things that are done to scriptures commonly used to support
a "thou shalt tithe" doctrine are actually quite abusive. These abuses
stem from either an ignorance of basic interpretive rules, or a
perceived need to manipulate people. I'm sympathetic to the ignorance
that often comes with tithing doctrines but not the outright deceit
that comes with manipulation.
Manipulating people into following modern tithing doctrines seems to be
motivated or inspired by one or more of the following: 1) greed; 2) the
financial obligations or poor management of a given church or ministry;
3) the pride, ego, or need for recognition of the teacher (usually a
pastor), e.g., the "kingdom building" sometimes associated with bigger
buildings and flashy programs, and; 4) misplaced faith, i.e., faith in
money or faith in a clever teaching to accomplish certain goals rather
than faith in God.
Adjusting
Causes Agitation
One
thing that seems common regarding the matter of tithing is that people
who have been manipulated into following modern teachings have the most
difficult time adjusting to biblically liberated stewardship. This is
generally because they have been manipulated or persuaded into
believing something that has no scriptural support. Sadly, the
manipulation or persuasion often comes from people they respect who
utilize poor Bible interpretation, and weak--but sometimes
clever--arguments. Incidentally, those who have been truly manipulated
into practicing a tithing doctrine won't know they've been misled, but
if they come to realize it, sometimes anger results. This is
understandable.
Let's
begin our "journey to liberated stewardship" with a definition and
history of tithing; then, we'll examine the most common arguments used
to defend modern practice.
A Brief
Definition and History of Tithing
The
predominant concept of tithing today involves the giving of money to
one's local church. It is often regarded to be the same as the Old
Testament Jewish practice of giving first fruits.
Briefly
expounding upon first fruits will offer some help in clarifying exactly
how confused the matter of tithing has become. While it is not within
the scope of this work to comment on every Scripture pertaining to
either first fruits or tithing, it is important to note that an
examination of God's Word reveals that first fruits and tithes were not
likely the same thing. Contemporary believers equate the giving of
tithes as being the same as first fruits. This, however, is disputed
among scholars. Nevertheless, biblical evidence seems to support the
notion that first fruits and tithes were different.
That
being said, both first fruits and tithes, to the Jew, were the edible
provisions from God that were produced of crops and herds. First fruits
were primarily agricultural (with a noted exception below) and included
produce "in the raw state (grain and fruit); those prepared for use as
food (wine, oil, flour, and dough), including wool" [3] (Ex.
22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 18:4). Offerings of first fruits were to be
the choicest portions (Num. 18:12) and the amount of the offering was
apparently left to the discretion of the giver. According to Nelson's
Quick Reference Bible Dictionary:
The
law ordered in general that the first of all ripe fruits should be
offered in God's house. It was an act of allegiance to God as the giver
of all. No exact quantity was commanded, but it was left to the
spiritual and moral sense of each individual. [4]
First
fruit offerings were the "perquisite of the priests" [5] (Num. 18:11;
Deut. 18:4). In other words, the Temple priests received part of their
wages (or, perks) in the form of edible provisions or
commodities, e.g., wool; first fruit offerings were one means of this
support. Tithing, on the other hand, while eventually serving some of
the same purposes as first fruits, e.g., the support and provision for
priests, was different from the giving of first fruits. The portion of
an individual's first fruits was at the discretion of the giver--the
amount could vary--while the amount of a tithe could not.
The
Antiquity of Tithing
Many Christians are unaware that tithing was
not first practiced by the ancient Jews. It
was an ancient practice to be sure, but it was exercised in many
cultures. [6] Even prior to the earliest biblical record of tithing
(Gen. 14:20), it was a custom practiced by several people groups as
noted by Christopher Hill in his Economics of the Early Church:
The
system of appropriating 10 per cent. [sic] of the produce of the
community to the maintenance of a priest is of great antiquity. It
existed not only among the Jews, but also in many pagan tribes. [7]
And,
according to Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible:
the
institution of offering tithes of the fruits of the field and of the
flocks is one which dates back to a period greatly anterior to
Israelite history. A tenth of the flocks, fruits, and possessions of
all kinds, as well as of the spoils of war, was given to their gods
[referring to pagan tithing] by many peoples. [8]
The
widespread practice in the ancient world of tithing by giving a portion
of one's profit or spoils of war extended from Greece to China.
Donation of a tenth portion was common apparently because most people
"counted in tens, based on ten fingers." [9]
The
word "tithe," it should be noted, actually means "tenth." The word's
history is tied to "the old ordinal numeral in English." [10] Phonetic
changes in the prehistory of the English language are responsible for
the word looking very different from the word ten.
The
Concise Evangelical Dictionary of Theology says that tithing is
the "practice of giving one-tenth of one's property or produce to
support religious institutions." [11] This is quite an interesting
definition since it allows two ways to understand the word "produce."
Misleading
Definition
In Elwell's definition above, the word "produce"
could easily be understood to mean fruits and vegetables or that which
has been produced for the expressed purpose of exchange, e.g.,
wages or money. [12] The definition allows both an ancient and
modern understanding of tithing. [13] It
accurately reflects modern practice as long as "produce" is understood
to mean "money," but it fails to adequately represent the Old Testament
contextual institution of biblical tithing.
More
History
Don't
forget, tithes and first fruits were items of consumption, i.e., the
yield of crops or herds. Biblically, tithes--as well as first
fruits--didn't involve money per se. While the giver never actually
submitted money as a tithe, transporting a tithe could be very
difficult for some people living great distances from where the Lord
desired tithes to be submitted. So, the Deuteronomic code provided
relief from the burden of transporting large numbers of animals and
produce by permitting the farmer to sell the tithe, then use the money
to buy what was needed for the feast when he arrived to the designated
place (Deut. 14:24-26). [14] Later on, this "place" was the
temple at Jerusalem. This appears to be the only instance where money
actually had anything at all to do with tithing, and it certainly
doesn't support modern practice.
It's
important to note that the Old Testament instructed tithes to be
brought to the "place where the Lord chose to put his Name" (Deut.
12:5-6; 14:23). In other words, the chosen center of worship, i.e., the
Tabernacle or Temple, was the place where the Jews were to bring their
tithes. The required tithes (possibly three different tithes) [15]
were submitted in anticipation of a festive meal and were ultimately
used in providing for the Levites and priests (Nu. 18:21) as well as
"aliens, the fatherless and widows" (Deut. 14:27-29; 26:12), i.e.,
those in need. Tithing, as it was prescribed and followed in Old
Testament times, evolved into a sort of theocratic welfare system; it
really grew to be a ten-percent tax. Today, many preachers make the
application (from Old Testament passages) that the modern "place where
the Lord chooses to put his Name," is the local church and that priests
have been replaced by today's pastors.
Tithing
was a practice that failed to enjoy consistency throughout Jewish
history. However, during some episodes of neglect, certain reforms
became necessary whereby tithing was reintroduced (II Chron. 31:4-5).
In some instances, special officers were appointed to take charge of
the storerooms (storehouses) that were established within and about the
Temple area to secure the supplies of goods (31:11-20, Ne. 12:44).
Today, a forced application drawn from such passages is that individual
churches are "mini storehouses," or "temples."
Unger's
Bible Dictionary aptly describes the symbolism inherent within the
Jewish institution of tithing, but it's questionable that it describes
most contemporary practice. Tithing "constituted a practical confession
and acknowledgment that all possessions belonged to God and that it is
he who confers them upon those who enjoy them." [16]
There
is little doubt that many who pay tithes today regard their giving as
acknowledgment that everything belongs to God. However, it seems that
most
tithing is done mechanically, out of obligation, and with little
thought. In fact, modern practice often resembles a mindless act of
habit or an exercise performed under the pressure of coercion rather
than the thoughtful and loving pattern of Christian giving outlined in
the New Testament.
While
directives for tithing are found in the Old Testament, there are only a
couple of references in the New (we'll explore these later). A reading
of New Testament passages reveals that tithing was indeed a practice
followed in Jesus' day (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42), but there is an
absence of any directive that designates tithing being required of
today's Christian. The Revell Bible Dictionary states the case a little
stronger when it says:
there
is no indication that a tithe is required. This is partly because the
tithe was a unique expression of God's ownership of the land of Israel,
but it is also because the NT lays out new principles of giving
(emphasis added). [17]
Though
there is an absence of New Testament directives to tithe, there is,
however, a challenging doctrine of Christian stewardship in the New
Testament that offers greater satisfaction and reward than present
practice.
The Early
Church and Tithing
Some
people wonder if the early Church Fathers taught tithing. The answer to
this somewhat depends on what is meant by "the early Church." [18]
As
far as the earliest early Church is concerned, neither the Apostles nor
their disciples (the early Church Fathers) taught that tithing was a
Christian obligation.
Prior to
tithing gradually becoming a mainstay in some corners of the early
Church, "there was no support of the clergy by a systematic giving
of a tithe." [19] In
time (several centuries after the Cross), "the tithe came to be
regarded generally after the pattern in the Jewish synagogue." [20] Up
to this time, tithing was simply a suggestion that apparently generated
more and more support as the power of bishops and presbyters grew.
As
the power and position of Church leaders grew to reflect Temple era
priests and the provisions that supported them, the Church eventually
prescribed a tithe that included "money, clothes, and all your
possessions," [21] something generally not taught today and which
is conspicuously absent in contemporary practice. [22]
Tithing in the early Church (ca. 4th Century) was supported by an
appeal to passages like Matthew 10:10 that says "the worker is worth
his keep" (cf. Luke 10:7), and First Corinthians 9:11 that says "If we
have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a
material harvest from you?" Some early Church leaders, however, "(like
Irenaeus and Epiphanus) showed the argument drawn from these texts was
not valid. Rather, freedom in Christian giving was emphasized." [23]
By
the 6th century, the practice of tithing had adopted numerous man-made
regulations which included certain portions to be designated for
priests and parishes. This practice reflects common notions that Old
Testament tithing directives regarding priest and temple
maintenance have counterparts to church leaders--usually
pastors--and church buildings. This belief in parallelism is shared by
many Christians, and even has the support of numerous Christian leaders
today.
After covering a brief history of tithing, it's now time
to turn to the common arguments used to defend modern practice. We'll
start with Genesis and work our way through the commonly mishandled
scriptures regarding tithing, beginning to end, but not before we take
a look at a few scriptures that will no doubt be eye-opening. Let's
start with a frequently cited passage that's often used as an
introduction and summary to tithing sermons.
Malachi:
Will a Man Rob God?
Malachi
3:8-10 and some related passages are the most popular scriptures used
as a foundation for many elaborate tithing doctrines. Malachi is
usually used to generate large doses of fear and personal introspection
during fund-generating campaigns. Christian teachers often use this
challenge from Malachi as an attention-grabber; after all, what
Christian would ever want to rob from God? The robber-of-God tactic is,
quite simply, an easy way to capture a listener's attention. The subtle
effect is that one asks himself consciously or subconsciously: Good
heavens! What must I do to avoid being one of those dreaded "robbers of
God?" The answer: Subscribe to the teacher's tithing doctrine, of
course.
Teaching
from Malachi is, quite honestly, often loaded with a measure of guilt.
Too often a teacher will indiscriminately repeat what he's been taught
while utilizing tired, faithless, and unbiblical arguments to generate
funds. This is sometimes done with noble, though ignorant, intent as
churchgoers are encouraged to reap the blessings of God through the
teacher's tithing doctrine. Unfortunately, sometimes the teacher knows
these tired arguments are unbiblical, yet he still uses them to open
the wallets of the saints. When this occurs, it is plainly dishonest.
Taking a closer look at the Will-a-man-rob-God approach reveals that
this Scripture passage can't be applied in the manner so frequently
offered.
Context,
Context, Context
Malachi 3:8-10 says:
Will
a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In
tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of
you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says
the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of
heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough
for it.
Unfortunately,
we don't normally receive the historical context of this passage when
it's delivered during a tithing sermon. The greater context of verses
8-10 is that the Jewish people, having returned to the Promised Land
from Babylonian captivity, failed to maintain the order and reforms
implemented by Nehemiah, a contemporary of Malachi. Nehemiah played a
crucial role in overseeing the rebuild of Jerusalem as well as the
Temple upon the return of the former captives. One of several reforms
implemented by Nehemiah was that of helping the poor (Ne.
5:2-13). The
poor were being financially taken advantage of at the time and Nehemiah
insisted that the abuses cease. The book of Malachi was written after
the city's rebuild as well as Nehemiah's return to royal service in
Persia, and his subsequent return to Jerusalem. Upon his return to the
city after a thirteen-year absence, he discovered the numerous failings
of the people (Ne. 13:7-31). It was the sins of the Jewish people
during this time that were encountered by Nehemiah and which were
addressed in the prophet Malachi's words.
Now,
with the help of historical context the reader is in a better position
to determine what God meant when he chastised the Jewish people and
accused them of robbing him. This will help in applying the passage to
our own lives. Let's back up a few verses in Malachi. Reading from 3:5
to verse 12, it says:
So
I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify
against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud
laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless,
and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me, says the Lord
Almighty.
I
the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not
destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away
from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return
to you, says the Lord Almighty.
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