When I first became a committed Christian and re-dedicated my life back to Christ in 2002, I found myself searching for answers. Everything was new and I was excited about my new relationship with Christ. I started at a new church and began to grow and learn about God’s Word and how to be a good Christian.
After a few months or so, I began to become very judgmental and strictly harsh in what I was learning. I began to be cynical about things and started following the law; the Ten Commandments. Of course, at the time I was being taught that God’s law was about obedience and as Christians, we must follow the rules. After about two years, God began to open some things up to me. I was taught about rules, laws, religious obligations and the problems within church. God wanted me to learn about them and remember them. However, God also wanted me to leave and move on so I could grow more. It was here that I learned about God’s laws and religion.
I went to a second church and began to get plugged in and did this and did that. I was in everything I could volunteer for, within my job limitations of course. After about 4 or 5 years there, God began to move me again. God was teaching me through His Word. The Holy Spirit was revealing things to me that I never knew before. It wasn’t because of the pastor or the sermons that were preached. It was my own bible study and research that I had gained from arguing with atheists online. When I was challenged about my faith, I found answers. It was at this church that I found a blend of religious, spiritualism and charismatic believers. It was at this church that I was taught about the Spirit and things of that nature.
After about 5 years at that church, God moved me to another church where I would grow even more. I had finally found a church that gave me some meat to chew on and some thick drink to swallow. Everything that I had been interested in, studied and researched was here. All the controversial, harsh teachings and truth-filled sermons were here and I was home. I found community among the believers there. I found real people who had real problems and where the pastor was called by his first name and had admitted to being imperfect with life’s failures just like everyone else. It was there, and am currently attending, that I was taught about the true meaning of God’s grace and freedom.
It is here and now, that I have embraced grace. I really never understood what true Christian grace was until now. It was because of grace that has allowed me to renew my mind and my heart. I am still learning more about God’s unlimited grace every day. I am consistently learning about humility too.
Revealing God's grace and truth to a confused church, the unbelieving and a dying world.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
From Evil People Come Evil Deeds
Is participating in Halloween activities an evil thing? Is not participating in Halloween activities a good thing? What is evil? Where does evil come from? These are the $100,000 questions we Christians want to know. I am anxious to know about this myself.
With Halloween abound on October 31st and people dressing up in zombie costumes & the giving of candy to children dressed in ballet and princess costumes, begs the question: is Halloween evil? Is Halloween an evil event? Does participating in Halloween make you evil?
What does Jesus say about evil? Actually, I used to think that Halloween was evil when I first began my walk with Christ, but that's not what Jesus said about what evil is.
Matt 15: 19 - "For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander (NLT)."
What do evil people do? What are the marks and signs of an evil person?
• Exodus 23:1 - “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.
• Job 24:2 - Evil people steal land by moving the boundary markers. They steal livestock and put them in their own pastures.
• Job 27:16 - “Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing.
• Psalm 94:4 – “How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast?”
• Proverbs 4:16 – “For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.”
• Proverbs 10:16 – “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.”
• Matthew 5:11 - “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
• Philippians 3:2 – “Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.”
• 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
• 3 John 1:9-11 - I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God (NLT).”
Therefore, someone who is evil:
1. Passes rumors
2. Steal things
3. Are arrogant and boastful
4. Causes trouble for people
5. hoarders of money and necessities
6. squander money to commit sins
7. are religious zealots
8. love money
9. refuses to support the church
10. makes false accusations
11. is self-centered
Isn’t that amazing?! In the case of Diotrephes, even a Christian in the church can be evil! Was it because he dressed up as a fictional character on a useless, commercial holiday? No, it was because his intentions and deeds were evil in his heart. He was self-centered, unsupportive of the church and the Apostles, he refused to help anyone who came to teach and he would kick you out of the church if you disagreed with him.
Let us not forget what Jesus said about evil. He said, “For from the heart come:
• evil thoughts
• murder
• adultery
• all sexual immorality
• theft
• lying
• slander
Evil does not come from people dressing up as fictional creatures or cartoon characters. How can things, that don't even exist, be evil? Is it evil to dress up as a Storm Trooper (from Star Wars)? Is it evil to dress up as a nerd? Is it evil to dress up as a clown? Is it evil to dress up as Jesus Christ? I guess it would not be evil to dress up in a costume; rather, it would not be wise to dress up in a costume of someone or something that represents evil or an evil act.
However, if a person was in impersonate a suicide bomber, an axe murderer, a greedy preacher or a porn star it may cause someone to start thinking evil thoughts, act upon sexual immorality and lust by rape or adultery and it may cause them to hesitate into committing a sin. Even though you may have not had the intention of causing evil, you may inadvertently cause someone who is weak to fall into evil thoughts and evil deeds.
If you believe that it is a sin to impersonate a fictional creature for the sake of mind-numbing entertainment, then you shouldn’t do it. It may not always be profitable, lovely or of good report; but isn't that up to the Christian under God's grace to decide? However, from the definition that Jesus gave, evil comes from within the heart & revealed in the deeds of ungodly men.
Now, I understand that some people are really evil. They may be trapped in some evil behavior rooted in Satanism or the occult. We must remember that these people are not our enemies but it is the powers of darkness that have deceived them into these kinds of evil acts and deeds. As Christians, we must show mercy on these people who are bound by this occultism, sorcery and witchcraft. We must pray for the ones who are there and if we know someone who is caught up in these things, we must pray for them and attempt to rescue them if we are able.
I know that on October 31st that there are people all over the world who are involved in many kinds of evil things. However, I am not responsible for what they do or act. Those things are beyond my control. I do not support them and I do not participate in their evil deeds.
When the average person who is not involved in the occult dresses up on Halloween and impersonates a fictional character, they are not sinning against God. They are not actively participating in evil acts such as murder, killing babies, worshipping Satan, divination, sorcery or consulting mediums. These people are dressing up for fun, playing some meaningless games, entering a costume contest and eating lots of candy. Don’t we all do the same things when we participate in other useless activities in our lives?
Some people may suggest that this is mixing the systems. That is, Christians shouldn’t blend the Kingdom of God with the world's system and expect to get godly results. When I think of mixing the Kingdom of God with the worldly system I get ideas such as:
• Pornography for Christ
• Selling Drugs for Jesus
• Mob families in the Church
• Brothels for the Brothers
• Murdering Mothers for the Lord
I know that these are silly examples but that’s my point. Someone would have to blatantly blend the two systems into an obvious perversion that even evil-minded people would recognize that it’s ridiculous. If we are guilty of blending the two, I would hope that we could recognize it and when realized, we should take the proper steps to repair the mistakes.
Even Paul the Apostle supported being in the world, for the sake of Christ but being not of the world. Christians live here and we cannot separate ourselves from what the world is. However, as Christians we must separate ourselves from what the world does.
This is today’s impression of Halloween: people having fun by dressing up, playing mindless games and receiving candy from their neighbors and friends. I hope that is not evil. If that’s what evil is, then God must be a liar. Of course, God is not a liar but I hope you get my point.
Do we go by what God says is evil or do we go by what we think is evil or what we think evil should be? If people are not sinning against God, if they are not performing evil deeds (given by the definition in the bible) or presenting themselves as an act or actor of evil deeds then there is no harm in enjoying the things in life that are a part of traditional holidays, amusing festivals and special occasions. Halloween is harmless unless your intentions are to cause harm to others or by unintentionally presenting yourself as an image of an evil act (murder).
This year on Halloween of 2010, I dressed up as Jason Vorhees, the axe/machete murderer from the movie Friday the 13th. I agree that perhaps my costume may have not been the wisest choice, especially since I went to a church-held event. However, I didn't have murder in my heart and I never planned to kill or rape anyone. It was all in good, clean fun in my heart. I never meant to insult anyone or cause anyone to fall or stumble. Yes, I'm sure there are people that perhaps may do those things and there are many who are victims of such people, but God knows that I'm not one of them. It is my heart that God sees and He knows my intentions and motives.
Where is line drawn when it comes to evil, sin or presenting images of evil acts on the outside? Thanks to a great Christian friend, I have realized my error. I can honestly tell you that I don't want to be responsible for causing others to stumble as well. I believe that I was wrong to present myself as a fictional murderer. If I had dressed up as a clown or a funny cartoon character, perhaps it would have been different. Therefore, I have made a personal decision to never again present an evil person or act on the outside.
With Halloween abound on October 31st and people dressing up in zombie costumes & the giving of candy to children dressed in ballet and princess costumes, begs the question: is Halloween evil? Is Halloween an evil event? Does participating in Halloween make you evil?
What does Jesus say about evil? Actually, I used to think that Halloween was evil when I first began my walk with Christ, but that's not what Jesus said about what evil is.
Matt 15: 19 - "For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander (NLT)."
What do evil people do? What are the marks and signs of an evil person?
• Exodus 23:1 - “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.
• Job 24:2 - Evil people steal land by moving the boundary markers. They steal livestock and put them in their own pastures.
• Job 27:16 - “Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing.
• Psalm 94:4 – “How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast?”
• Proverbs 4:16 – “For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.”
• Proverbs 10:16 – “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.”
• Matthew 5:11 - “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
• Philippians 3:2 – “Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.”
• 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
• 3 John 1:9-11 - I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God (NLT).”
Therefore, someone who is evil:
1. Passes rumors
2. Steal things
3. Are arrogant and boastful
4. Causes trouble for people
5. hoarders of money and necessities
6. squander money to commit sins
7. are religious zealots
8. love money
9. refuses to support the church
10. makes false accusations
11. is self-centered
Isn’t that amazing?! In the case of Diotrephes, even a Christian in the church can be evil! Was it because he dressed up as a fictional character on a useless, commercial holiday? No, it was because his intentions and deeds were evil in his heart. He was self-centered, unsupportive of the church and the Apostles, he refused to help anyone who came to teach and he would kick you out of the church if you disagreed with him.
Let us not forget what Jesus said about evil. He said, “For from the heart come:
• evil thoughts
• murder
• adultery
• all sexual immorality
• theft
• lying
• slander
Evil does not come from people dressing up as fictional creatures or cartoon characters. How can things, that don't even exist, be evil? Is it evil to dress up as a Storm Trooper (from Star Wars)? Is it evil to dress up as a nerd? Is it evil to dress up as a clown? Is it evil to dress up as Jesus Christ? I guess it would not be evil to dress up in a costume; rather, it would not be wise to dress up in a costume of someone or something that represents evil or an evil act.
However, if a person was in impersonate a suicide bomber, an axe murderer, a greedy preacher or a porn star it may cause someone to start thinking evil thoughts, act upon sexual immorality and lust by rape or adultery and it may cause them to hesitate into committing a sin. Even though you may have not had the intention of causing evil, you may inadvertently cause someone who is weak to fall into evil thoughts and evil deeds.
If you believe that it is a sin to impersonate a fictional creature for the sake of mind-numbing entertainment, then you shouldn’t do it. It may not always be profitable, lovely or of good report; but isn't that up to the Christian under God's grace to decide? However, from the definition that Jesus gave, evil comes from within the heart & revealed in the deeds of ungodly men.
Now, I understand that some people are really evil. They may be trapped in some evil behavior rooted in Satanism or the occult. We must remember that these people are not our enemies but it is the powers of darkness that have deceived them into these kinds of evil acts and deeds. As Christians, we must show mercy on these people who are bound by this occultism, sorcery and witchcraft. We must pray for the ones who are there and if we know someone who is caught up in these things, we must pray for them and attempt to rescue them if we are able.
I know that on October 31st that there are people all over the world who are involved in many kinds of evil things. However, I am not responsible for what they do or act. Those things are beyond my control. I do not support them and I do not participate in their evil deeds.
When the average person who is not involved in the occult dresses up on Halloween and impersonates a fictional character, they are not sinning against God. They are not actively participating in evil acts such as murder, killing babies, worshipping Satan, divination, sorcery or consulting mediums. These people are dressing up for fun, playing some meaningless games, entering a costume contest and eating lots of candy. Don’t we all do the same things when we participate in other useless activities in our lives?
Some people may suggest that this is mixing the systems. That is, Christians shouldn’t blend the Kingdom of God with the world's system and expect to get godly results. When I think of mixing the Kingdom of God with the worldly system I get ideas such as:
• Pornography for Christ
• Selling Drugs for Jesus
• Mob families in the Church
• Brothels for the Brothers
• Murdering Mothers for the Lord
I know that these are silly examples but that’s my point. Someone would have to blatantly blend the two systems into an obvious perversion that even evil-minded people would recognize that it’s ridiculous. If we are guilty of blending the two, I would hope that we could recognize it and when realized, we should take the proper steps to repair the mistakes.
Even Paul the Apostle supported being in the world, for the sake of Christ but being not of the world. Christians live here and we cannot separate ourselves from what the world is. However, as Christians we must separate ourselves from what the world does.
This is today’s impression of Halloween: people having fun by dressing up, playing mindless games and receiving candy from their neighbors and friends. I hope that is not evil. If that’s what evil is, then God must be a liar. Of course, God is not a liar but I hope you get my point.
Do we go by what God says is evil or do we go by what we think is evil or what we think evil should be? If people are not sinning against God, if they are not performing evil deeds (given by the definition in the bible) or presenting themselves as an act or actor of evil deeds then there is no harm in enjoying the things in life that are a part of traditional holidays, amusing festivals and special occasions. Halloween is harmless unless your intentions are to cause harm to others or by unintentionally presenting yourself as an image of an evil act (murder).
This year on Halloween of 2010, I dressed up as Jason Vorhees, the axe/machete murderer from the movie Friday the 13th. I agree that perhaps my costume may have not been the wisest choice, especially since I went to a church-held event. However, I didn't have murder in my heart and I never planned to kill or rape anyone. It was all in good, clean fun in my heart. I never meant to insult anyone or cause anyone to fall or stumble. Yes, I'm sure there are people that perhaps may do those things and there are many who are victims of such people, but God knows that I'm not one of them. It is my heart that God sees and He knows my intentions and motives.
Where is line drawn when it comes to evil, sin or presenting images of evil acts on the outside? Thanks to a great Christian friend, I have realized my error. I can honestly tell you that I don't want to be responsible for causing others to stumble as well. I believe that I was wrong to present myself as a fictional murderer. If I had dressed up as a clown or a funny cartoon character, perhaps it would have been different. Therefore, I have made a personal decision to never again present an evil person or act on the outside.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Invisible Log
Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye (NLT).”
I had read this verse many times before and understood it for the most part. However, I had never really caught on to this truth in what Jesus was saying until after I had started writing some thoughts down concerning personal incidences with other Christians who carry a critical spirit about them.
The truth is, I believe that Jesus was saying that the people who usually judge others and point out other people’s little faults are usually the ones who have the greatest faults and yet they are totally oblivious to them. Their intentions are to draw the attention away from themselves and place the attention on others so that their own faults will not be noticed.
Does this sound like someone you know? Maybe this is you. What is it that you are trying to cover for that you would have to point fingers at someone else? Whatever it is, you need to settle it because it’s causing strife and division in your life and the lives of others.
Matthew 7:12 - “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
I had read this verse many times before and understood it for the most part. However, I had never really caught on to this truth in what Jesus was saying until after I had started writing some thoughts down concerning personal incidences with other Christians who carry a critical spirit about them.
The truth is, I believe that Jesus was saying that the people who usually judge others and point out other people’s little faults are usually the ones who have the greatest faults and yet they are totally oblivious to them. Their intentions are to draw the attention away from themselves and place the attention on others so that their own faults will not be noticed.
Does this sound like someone you know? Maybe this is you. What is it that you are trying to cover for that you would have to point fingers at someone else? Whatever it is, you need to settle it because it’s causing strife and division in your life and the lives of others.
Matthew 7:12 - “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Pigeonhole
Why do the hands and feet of the Way typecast our own brothers? It is a state of pure ignorance. Why do you disobey your Master’s commands? Where is your mercy? Where is your compassion?
Destroy your prejudice. You shall not judge by appearance. You must discontinue uttering baseless and pessimistic outlook towards what you do not understand. Do you know all the facts?
The disease is intolerance.
Pull your head out of the sand.
Why do you discriminate against the underground movement of freedom? Is our label of the devil? A divided kingdom will not stand. Surely, I tell you that this is the work of the Lord, your God in heaven. The truth is among us and Christ is the focus. Jesus is life.
You say you are not prejudice but you seem narrow-minded against this. Can’t you see that you are working against us? Where is your grace? Where is your love?
We press forward in Christ. Stop holding the gospel back; never again. Exterminate your bigotry.
Throw it all away.
Get rid of your worthless, sinful nature. Do not make provisions for it. You are a living soul trapped in a dead body. Seek to walk in the Spirit and allow the Lord to lead you. In Christ, there is life. Just throw it all away.
Die, injustice, Die. Go away from me, unfairness. Be gone, partiality. Get out of my life, nepotism. Insults, burn in hell. Bias, goodbye and leave me be. It is ungodly.
Destroy your prejudice. You shall not judge by appearance. You must discontinue uttering baseless and pessimistic outlook towards what you do not understand. Do you know all the facts?
The disease is intolerance.
Pull your head out of the sand.
Why do you discriminate against the underground movement of freedom? Is our label of the devil? A divided kingdom will not stand. Surely, I tell you that this is the work of the Lord, your God in heaven. The truth is among us and Christ is the focus. Jesus is life.
You say you are not prejudice but you seem narrow-minded against this. Can’t you see that you are working against us? Where is your grace? Where is your love?
We press forward in Christ. Stop holding the gospel back; never again. Exterminate your bigotry.
Throw it all away.
Get rid of your worthless, sinful nature. Do not make provisions for it. You are a living soul trapped in a dead body. Seek to walk in the Spirit and allow the Lord to lead you. In Christ, there is life. Just throw it all away.
Die, injustice, Die. Go away from me, unfairness. Be gone, partiality. Get out of my life, nepotism. Insults, burn in hell. Bias, goodbye and leave me be. It is ungodly.
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Ekklesia
We are called to love. We are called to love those who hate us. We have chosen this love that reaches beyond any human measure. We will continue to love those who persecute us in ignorance. We will love them. We will love.
It is because Christ first loved us that we are able to know love. This kind of love is unconditional. It is patient and it is kind. We choose this life and we choose to love you.
We approach with a gentle spirit.
Even when we are thrown away like trash, out of close relationships, we are called to love beyond any human reasoning and understanding. I know it’s a hard thing to receive and it may sound crazy, but that’s my kind of love. I will love. I will choose to love.
It is because Christ first loved me that I am able to know love. This kind of love is unconditional. It is patient and it is kind. I choose this life and I choose to love you.
Yeah, I am my brother’s keeper and I will choose to love, even in rejection. I identify with wearing forgiveness on my forehead and bearing mercy in the palm of my hands. In His grace, no blood will be spilt this time around. Despite all my failures and regardless of any anger or hatred towards me, I will love.
I am called to love.
It is because Christ first loved us that we are able to know love. This kind of love is unconditional. It is patient and it is kind. We choose this life and we choose to love you.
We approach with a gentle spirit.
Even when we are thrown away like trash, out of close relationships, we are called to love beyond any human reasoning and understanding. I know it’s a hard thing to receive and it may sound crazy, but that’s my kind of love. I will love. I will choose to love.
It is because Christ first loved me that I am able to know love. This kind of love is unconditional. It is patient and it is kind. I choose this life and I choose to love you.
Yeah, I am my brother’s keeper and I will choose to love, even in rejection. I identify with wearing forgiveness on my forehead and bearing mercy in the palm of my hands. In His grace, no blood will be spilt this time around. Despite all my failures and regardless of any anger or hatred towards me, I will love.
I am called to love.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Take the Tithing Test
Take the Tithing Test
Take the following True or False quiz to see how much your really understand about tithing. We predict that many of you will be surprised. Record your answers.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ would have tithed. True or False?
2. Simon Peter, originally a fisherman, would have tithed of the fish that he caught. True or False?
3. Everyone in the Old Testament seeking to obey the Law of Moses would have tithed. True or False?
4. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek in the same way that believers tithe to the Lord Jesus Christ. True or False?
5. The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples that they should tithe. True or False?
6. There are many examples of people tithing of their incomes in the Bible. True or False?
7. The New Testament teaches that we should tithe to ministers in the same way that Jews tithed to the Priests.
True or False?
8. The Bible teaches that God’s standard for giving is tenpercent. True or False?
9. The righteous poor tithed in the Old Testament. True or False?
10. Since everyone is held to the same standard, tithing is fair to everyone. True or False?
Bonus Question. The Bible teaches that everyone should give ten-percent of their ongoing income. True or False?
Here are the answers.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ would have tithed of His income. This one is false. The Lord Jesus Christ was a carpenter by profession and then after He became 30 years old He was a preacher and teacher. Neither of these professions was required by the Law of Moses to tithe anything.
2. Simon Peter, originally a fisherman, would have tithed of the fish that he caught. This one is false also. Fishermen were not required to tithe anything either. There were only two kinds of professions in ancient Israel that were required to tithe. Farmers and husbandmen (shepherds and cattle herders) were the only tithers in ancient Israel. They only tithed the food they produced.
3. Everyone in the Old Testament seeking to obey the Law of Moses would have tithed. It should be evident by now that this one is false also. There were many people with other professions who were not required by the Law to tithe. For instance, the apostle Paul being a tent-maker was not required to tithe. In fact, none of the Twelve apostles would have been tithers because none of them came from the required professions.
4. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek in the same way that believers tithe to the Lord Jesus Christ. This one is false also. Abraham’s tithe was very different than what the Church practices today. For instance, Abraham only tithed once. The Church tithes continually. Abraham tithed of the spoils of a war. The Church tithes of its income. Abraham had no increase because he gave the other 90% of the spoils of the war back to the original owner. The Church tithes of its increase. There is no commandment or any logic or indication in the New Testament that believers are to tithe anything to the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are to give generously as God blesses them and whatever is in their heart according to Paul (2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
5. The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples that they should tithe. False. Christ only makes three statements about tithing. None of these statements say that His disciples should tithe anything. Christ first statement, repeated in two Gospels, is spoken to the Pharisees not to His disciples. (Mattthew 23:23, Luke 11:42) In that statement, Christ says that the Pharisees should continue to tithe mint, dill and cummin. This is a tithe of food not money. He also says that this tithe of food is a part of the Law and says that it is not even an important part of the Law. His other statement is about a self-righteous Pharisee bragging that he tithes. Christ says that the other man who was not tithing who humbled himself was justified in the sight of God. The selfrighteous tither was not justified in the sight of God. This is hardly an encouragement for Christ’s disciples to tithe money.
6. There are many examples of people tithing of their incomes in the Bible. False. In 4000 years of recorded biblical history there is not a single example of what the Church practices today in tithing money. There are two one-time acts of tithing recorded before the Law. Neither man, Abraham or Jacob, seems to think that they should continue this process beyond the one-time act. Neither man is tithing of their income since each is only involved in a one-time act. Abraham is tithing of the spoils of a war. Neither man seems to teach their children to tithe. All the other tithing recorded in the Bible is found in the Law of Moses. In the Law, money was never used to tithe only food. In fact, when someone wanted to use money rather than bring the produce to Jerusalem, God required a 20% penalty to be added. (Leviticus 27:30-31) In other words, God discouraged the tithing of money.
7. The New Testament teaches that we should tithe to ministers in the same way that Jews tithed to the Priests. False. The New Testament has nothing at all to say about this. This is extra-biblical logic that is not found in the New Testament. In fact, the Book of Hebrews makes it clear that believers are not of the Levitical order of priests. Believers are of a higher order, the order of Melchizedek.
8. The Bible teaches that God’s standard for giving is tenpercent. False. Neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament teaches this. This is extra-biblical logic again. First of all, the food tithe in the Old Testament was not ten-percent. It was actually more like 23% annually on average. There were three tithes in the Law of Moses. The first tithe was paid only by agrarian families three times yearly at the feasts to the Priests in Jerusalem. The second tithe was saved by the agrarian families to support these trips. It was called the festival tithe. It was for a family vacation. The third tithe was given every three years to the local storehouse, so it amounted to about 3% annually. This was the poor tithe collected for those in need. This is the tithe that Malachi wrote about. None of these tithes were money. They were only food. Those who earned their livings by other occupations did
not pay a tithe of anything. However, they did give offerings required by the Law some of which were in silver, gold, bronze and copper coins. Nowhere does the New Testament change this legal obligation of tithing food for some agrarian Israelites in the Law to money tithing for all Christians. This transformation of the food tithe to a money tithe is done by teaching that our harvest is our income and bringing us under a spiritualized form of the Law
of Moses.
9. The righteous poor tithed in the Old Testament. False. The poor had no harvest or flocks to tithe from. They were able to glean the corners of the field of those who were more prosperous.
10. Since everyone is held to the same standard, tithing is fair to everyone. False. Tithing is incredibly unfair. Ten-percent of the income of a poor person is a great burden, while ten-percent of the income of a rich person may be no burden at all. If a person only has a $1000 a month income, then $100 of that income will affect their lifestyle and may even impact their ability to take care of their children’s basic needs and pay their bills. If a person has a $10,000 a month income then giving $1,000 per month should have little affect on their lifestyle since they should have a good amount of disposable income beyond their basic needs. If a person has a $100,000 a month income, then $10,000 a month has no appreciable affect on their lifestyle at all. Some continue to teach tithing to poor persons by arguing that if the poor person will give ten-percent of their income then God will bless them. However, coming under a spiritualized form of the Law will hinder God’s blessing in finances. The poor should simply obey the Lord as He guides them in giving.
Bonus Question. The Bible teaches that everyone should give ten-percent of their ongoing income. False. The modern practice of tithing has five basic elements expressed as everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. How do Bible facts about tithing actually fit with this teaching? Let’s compare and contrast the modern teaching of tithing with the Bible.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “Everyone” element.
The two events before the Law do not support the idea that everyone should pay tithe. Only Abraham and Jacob in each situation are paying tithe. Genesis doesn’t record anyone else tithing. Abraham and Jacob don’t seem to teach their children to tithe. One of Jacob’s children, Joseph, is a particularly righteous man. In the more than ten detailed chapters devoted to Joseph, we don’t discover him tithing either. Not everyone tithed in Genesis before the Law.
In the Law of Moses, not everyone was required to tithe or give firstfruits. Only those who were actually growing food or raising sheep or cattle were required by the Law to tithe the food or present firstfruits. People from other occupations were not required to tithe since they had no harvest or growth of flocks to tithe or to present firstfruits from. Not everyone tithed food who lived under the Law. No one under the Law tithed money at all. Christ has only a few words to say about tithing. In those words, Christ does not say that everyone should tithe. He says that unbelieving Jews living under the Law should tithe food if they are growing it. He mentions three food plants. Christ is not addressing His disciples. He is addressing unbelieving Pharisees. the apostle Paul does not teach that everyone is obligated to tithe or to even to give. He teaches that giving is completely voluntary. The first apostolic council in Acts Chapter 15 does not say that Gentile believers should tithe either. There is absolutely no evidence that any Gentile Christian in the First Century ever tithed anything. Here is what the Encyclopedia Americana says about the history of tithing: "It was not practiced in the early Christian church but gradually became common (in the Roman Catholic church in western Europe) by the 6th Century. The Council of Tours in 567 and the second Council of Macon in 585 advocated tithing. Made obligatory by civil law in the Carolingian empire in 765 and in England in the 10th Century... The Reformation did not abolish tithing and the practice was continued in the Roman Catholic church and in Protestant countries... (until it was) gradually replaced by other forms of taxation. The Roman Catholic church still prescribes tithes in countries where they are sanctioned by law, and some Protestant bodies consider tithes obligatory." The Encyclopedia Britannica points this out about tithing... "The eastern Orthodox churches never accepted the idea of tithes and Orthodox church members have never paid them."
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “gives” element. The two events before the Law do seem like giving. They are both voluntary acts. God does not require either man, Abraham or Jacob, to give anything. While this does on the surface seem to support the tithing teaching, it actually contradicts some aspects of the Tithing Obligation teaching. While the proponents of tithing teach that tithing is giving, they also often teach that tithing is required, that a tithe must be paid. Of course, this is a contradiction in their teaching. Something can be only given if it is entirely voluntary. If it is required, then it is, in this case, a fee for spiritual services or a religious tax. If some teach that a believer comes under a curse if they do not tithe, then they are not teaching giving but teaching paying an obligated tithe. Of course, they are right in one sense because they are often spiritualizing the Law of Moses to teach tithing. Tithing in the Law of Moses was never giving. It was much more like paying taxes. The Law of Moses required tithing by farmers and husbandmen. They would not have seen their tithing as giving. There was nothing voluntary in their paying tithe. They would have been in violation of the Law if they had not done it. Again, Christ has very little to say about tithing. He did say that Jewish people living under the Law pay tithe. Christ does teach a great deal about finances and giving but never instructs His disciples to tithe money or anything else. He does not instruct them to receive tithes either. Paul writes a great deal about finances and giving but never instructs anyone to tithe or to receive tithes. The first apostolic council in Acts Chapter 15 is silent on the subject of tithing and establishes that Gentiles are not to keep any aspects of the Law of Moses, even spiritualization of the Law. That would include tithing of anything.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “10%” element.
The two events before the Law of Moses do seem to support the idea that ten percent of something should be given. The number ten is the same. However, the other four elements are significantly different. This makes tithing being practiced by the Church very different from what is happening in Genesis. The only similarity is the ten percent number. Christ does validate the ten-percent number but only for Jews living under the Law of Moses. He tells the Pharisees that they should pay tithe, ten percent, of their produced food. He also tells them that paying ten-percent is not a weighty matter of the Law. In saying this, Christ does tell us that tithing is a matter of the Law. The apostle Paul repeatedly warns believers about the curse of the Law. Gentile believers should not attempt to keep any aspects of the Law. Believers are not required to give ten-percent of food or anything else. The writings of the other apostles, James and Peter, are silent about Christians giving ten percent of food or
anything else.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “ongoing” element. The two examples before the Law of Moses do not reveal the practice of on-going tithing. They both appear strongly to be one-time acts. In the case of Jacob, we don’t know exactly what he did but it does seem that he is promising to tithe once if God blesses him. Of course, this is exactly opposite of what the Church teaches. The Church teaches that that God will bless us if we tithe. Jacob says he will tithe if God blesses him. The Church’s practice of ongoing, repetitious tithing simply cannot be validated by two one-time acts. They are not similar to what the Church teaches about tithing. The only place in the Bible where ongoing, repetitious tithing can be found is in the Law of Moses. Those who were farming or practicing husbandry in Israel had a lifetime obligation to tithe the food that they produced. This ongoing food tithe to support the Mosaic Levitical ministry is often borrowed from the Law and spiritualized to justify repetitious money tithing in support of Christian ministry. This justification is not found in the New Testament. Christ’s statement about tithing reveals that the ongoing tithing of food is under the Law. Christ says nothing about His disciples practicing ongoing tithing of anything. While the writings of the apostles in the New Testament often speak of generous giving, they are silent about ongoing tithing of anything. The first apostolic council is also silent about ongoing tithing of anything but releases Gentile believers from any aspects of keeping the Law of Moses.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “income” element.
Abraham tithes on the spoils of war, not his entire income. Abraham tithed the captured belongings of his defeated enemies. Additionally, Genesis reveals that Abraham didn’t even keep the ninety percent that was remaining. He returned those possessions to the King of Sodom. Abraham’s income, his possessions or any part of his own wealth wasn’t involved at all in his tithing. He had no increase to tithe on. In Jacob’s case, we don’t know exactly what he did since all Genesis records is his promise to God. In other words, there is no support in the events before the Law that Christians should give ten percent of their ongoing income. Nearly everyone that teaches tithing resorts to using the Law and prophets living under the Law to teach it. Those that teach Christian tithing from the Law often neglect to reveal that only food produced was tithed on but never money. Only those who earned their livings by producing food tithed at all. Those Israelites who earned money by other means such as tent making, weaving, carpentry, money lending, fishing or many other occupations never tithed on their incomes since it was not commanded of them. Christ does not change tithing food to tithing money. The writings of the apostles do not change tithing food to tithing money. The apostolic council releases the Gentile believers from any keeping of the Law. They certainly do not change tithing food to tithing money. The book of Hebrews does mention the Old Testament tithing of food but does not validate tithing money for believers today. Finally, it should be obvious to the reader that this doctrine is pieced together from these various passages. Not a single passage in itself actually teaches what the Church practices today. Spiritualization of the Law is used to teach tithing. Reasoning that is not found in the Bible is used to justify Christians embracing a legalistic practice from the Old Testament. In more than 4000 years of recorded Biblical history, there is not a single recorded example of tithing that is similar to what the Church practices today. We recommend that every Christian renounce this unscriptural practice and reject any lingering fear, guilt or condemnation! God’s children have no debt to their Father to pay other than thanksgiving and praise. Their elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, has paid in full the debt. Christ will build His Church but only with the truth. He needs no help from a false doctrine that puts the Children of God under bondage to fear and the curse of the Law. The children are free! A portion of this booklet was taken from Dr. Sapp’s book “The Children are Free” the third book in the “Paid in Full” Financial Series.
All Nations Ministries
Take the following True or False quiz to see how much your really understand about tithing. We predict that many of you will be surprised. Record your answers.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ would have tithed. True or False?
2. Simon Peter, originally a fisherman, would have tithed of the fish that he caught. True or False?
3. Everyone in the Old Testament seeking to obey the Law of Moses would have tithed. True or False?
4. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek in the same way that believers tithe to the Lord Jesus Christ. True or False?
5. The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples that they should tithe. True or False?
6. There are many examples of people tithing of their incomes in the Bible. True or False?
7. The New Testament teaches that we should tithe to ministers in the same way that Jews tithed to the Priests.
True or False?
8. The Bible teaches that God’s standard for giving is tenpercent. True or False?
9. The righteous poor tithed in the Old Testament. True or False?
10. Since everyone is held to the same standard, tithing is fair to everyone. True or False?
Bonus Question. The Bible teaches that everyone should give ten-percent of their ongoing income. True or False?
Here are the answers.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ would have tithed of His income. This one is false. The Lord Jesus Christ was a carpenter by profession and then after He became 30 years old He was a preacher and teacher. Neither of these professions was required by the Law of Moses to tithe anything.
2. Simon Peter, originally a fisherman, would have tithed of the fish that he caught. This one is false also. Fishermen were not required to tithe anything either. There were only two kinds of professions in ancient Israel that were required to tithe. Farmers and husbandmen (shepherds and cattle herders) were the only tithers in ancient Israel. They only tithed the food they produced.
3. Everyone in the Old Testament seeking to obey the Law of Moses would have tithed. It should be evident by now that this one is false also. There were many people with other professions who were not required by the Law to tithe. For instance, the apostle Paul being a tent-maker was not required to tithe. In fact, none of the Twelve apostles would have been tithers because none of them came from the required professions.
4. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek in the same way that believers tithe to the Lord Jesus Christ. This one is false also. Abraham’s tithe was very different than what the Church practices today. For instance, Abraham only tithed once. The Church tithes continually. Abraham tithed of the spoils of a war. The Church tithes of its income. Abraham had no increase because he gave the other 90% of the spoils of the war back to the original owner. The Church tithes of its increase. There is no commandment or any logic or indication in the New Testament that believers are to tithe anything to the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are to give generously as God blesses them and whatever is in their heart according to Paul (2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
5. The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples that they should tithe. False. Christ only makes three statements about tithing. None of these statements say that His disciples should tithe anything. Christ first statement, repeated in two Gospels, is spoken to the Pharisees not to His disciples. (Mattthew 23:23, Luke 11:42) In that statement, Christ says that the Pharisees should continue to tithe mint, dill and cummin. This is a tithe of food not money. He also says that this tithe of food is a part of the Law and says that it is not even an important part of the Law. His other statement is about a self-righteous Pharisee bragging that he tithes. Christ says that the other man who was not tithing who humbled himself was justified in the sight of God. The selfrighteous tither was not justified in the sight of God. This is hardly an encouragement for Christ’s disciples to tithe money.
6. There are many examples of people tithing of their incomes in the Bible. False. In 4000 years of recorded biblical history there is not a single example of what the Church practices today in tithing money. There are two one-time acts of tithing recorded before the Law. Neither man, Abraham or Jacob, seems to think that they should continue this process beyond the one-time act. Neither man is tithing of their income since each is only involved in a one-time act. Abraham is tithing of the spoils of a war. Neither man seems to teach their children to tithe. All the other tithing recorded in the Bible is found in the Law of Moses. In the Law, money was never used to tithe only food. In fact, when someone wanted to use money rather than bring the produce to Jerusalem, God required a 20% penalty to be added. (Leviticus 27:30-31) In other words, God discouraged the tithing of money.
7. The New Testament teaches that we should tithe to ministers in the same way that Jews tithed to the Priests. False. The New Testament has nothing at all to say about this. This is extra-biblical logic that is not found in the New Testament. In fact, the Book of Hebrews makes it clear that believers are not of the Levitical order of priests. Believers are of a higher order, the order of Melchizedek.
8. The Bible teaches that God’s standard for giving is tenpercent. False. Neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament teaches this. This is extra-biblical logic again. First of all, the food tithe in the Old Testament was not ten-percent. It was actually more like 23% annually on average. There were three tithes in the Law of Moses. The first tithe was paid only by agrarian families three times yearly at the feasts to the Priests in Jerusalem. The second tithe was saved by the agrarian families to support these trips. It was called the festival tithe. It was for a family vacation. The third tithe was given every three years to the local storehouse, so it amounted to about 3% annually. This was the poor tithe collected for those in need. This is the tithe that Malachi wrote about. None of these tithes were money. They were only food. Those who earned their livings by other occupations did
not pay a tithe of anything. However, they did give offerings required by the Law some of which were in silver, gold, bronze and copper coins. Nowhere does the New Testament change this legal obligation of tithing food for some agrarian Israelites in the Law to money tithing for all Christians. This transformation of the food tithe to a money tithe is done by teaching that our harvest is our income and bringing us under a spiritualized form of the Law
of Moses.
9. The righteous poor tithed in the Old Testament. False. The poor had no harvest or flocks to tithe from. They were able to glean the corners of the field of those who were more prosperous.
10. Since everyone is held to the same standard, tithing is fair to everyone. False. Tithing is incredibly unfair. Ten-percent of the income of a poor person is a great burden, while ten-percent of the income of a rich person may be no burden at all. If a person only has a $1000 a month income, then $100 of that income will affect their lifestyle and may even impact their ability to take care of their children’s basic needs and pay their bills. If a person has a $10,000 a month income then giving $1,000 per month should have little affect on their lifestyle since they should have a good amount of disposable income beyond their basic needs. If a person has a $100,000 a month income, then $10,000 a month has no appreciable affect on their lifestyle at all. Some continue to teach tithing to poor persons by arguing that if the poor person will give ten-percent of their income then God will bless them. However, coming under a spiritualized form of the Law will hinder God’s blessing in finances. The poor should simply obey the Lord as He guides them in giving.
Bonus Question. The Bible teaches that everyone should give ten-percent of their ongoing income. False. The modern practice of tithing has five basic elements expressed as everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. How do Bible facts about tithing actually fit with this teaching? Let’s compare and contrast the modern teaching of tithing with the Bible.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “Everyone” element.
The two events before the Law do not support the idea that everyone should pay tithe. Only Abraham and Jacob in each situation are paying tithe. Genesis doesn’t record anyone else tithing. Abraham and Jacob don’t seem to teach their children to tithe. One of Jacob’s children, Joseph, is a particularly righteous man. In the more than ten detailed chapters devoted to Joseph, we don’t discover him tithing either. Not everyone tithed in Genesis before the Law.
In the Law of Moses, not everyone was required to tithe or give firstfruits. Only those who were actually growing food or raising sheep or cattle were required by the Law to tithe the food or present firstfruits. People from other occupations were not required to tithe since they had no harvest or growth of flocks to tithe or to present firstfruits from. Not everyone tithed food who lived under the Law. No one under the Law tithed money at all. Christ has only a few words to say about tithing. In those words, Christ does not say that everyone should tithe. He says that unbelieving Jews living under the Law should tithe food if they are growing it. He mentions three food plants. Christ is not addressing His disciples. He is addressing unbelieving Pharisees. the apostle Paul does not teach that everyone is obligated to tithe or to even to give. He teaches that giving is completely voluntary. The first apostolic council in Acts Chapter 15 does not say that Gentile believers should tithe either. There is absolutely no evidence that any Gentile Christian in the First Century ever tithed anything. Here is what the Encyclopedia Americana says about the history of tithing: "It was not practiced in the early Christian church but gradually became common (in the Roman Catholic church in western Europe) by the 6th Century. The Council of Tours in 567 and the second Council of Macon in 585 advocated tithing. Made obligatory by civil law in the Carolingian empire in 765 and in England in the 10th Century... The Reformation did not abolish tithing and the practice was continued in the Roman Catholic church and in Protestant countries... (until it was) gradually replaced by other forms of taxation. The Roman Catholic church still prescribes tithes in countries where they are sanctioned by law, and some Protestant bodies consider tithes obligatory." The Encyclopedia Britannica points this out about tithing... "The eastern Orthodox churches never accepted the idea of tithes and Orthodox church members have never paid them."
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “gives” element. The two events before the Law do seem like giving. They are both voluntary acts. God does not require either man, Abraham or Jacob, to give anything. While this does on the surface seem to support the tithing teaching, it actually contradicts some aspects of the Tithing Obligation teaching. While the proponents of tithing teach that tithing is giving, they also often teach that tithing is required, that a tithe must be paid. Of course, this is a contradiction in their teaching. Something can be only given if it is entirely voluntary. If it is required, then it is, in this case, a fee for spiritual services or a religious tax. If some teach that a believer comes under a curse if they do not tithe, then they are not teaching giving but teaching paying an obligated tithe. Of course, they are right in one sense because they are often spiritualizing the Law of Moses to teach tithing. Tithing in the Law of Moses was never giving. It was much more like paying taxes. The Law of Moses required tithing by farmers and husbandmen. They would not have seen their tithing as giving. There was nothing voluntary in their paying tithe. They would have been in violation of the Law if they had not done it. Again, Christ has very little to say about tithing. He did say that Jewish people living under the Law pay tithe. Christ does teach a great deal about finances and giving but never instructs His disciples to tithe money or anything else. He does not instruct them to receive tithes either. Paul writes a great deal about finances and giving but never instructs anyone to tithe or to receive tithes. The first apostolic council in Acts Chapter 15 is silent on the subject of tithing and establishes that Gentiles are not to keep any aspects of the Law of Moses, even spiritualization of the Law. That would include tithing of anything.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “10%” element.
The two events before the Law of Moses do seem to support the idea that ten percent of something should be given. The number ten is the same. However, the other four elements are significantly different. This makes tithing being practiced by the Church very different from what is happening in Genesis. The only similarity is the ten percent number. Christ does validate the ten-percent number but only for Jews living under the Law of Moses. He tells the Pharisees that they should pay tithe, ten percent, of their produced food. He also tells them that paying ten-percent is not a weighty matter of the Law. In saying this, Christ does tell us that tithing is a matter of the Law. The apostle Paul repeatedly warns believers about the curse of the Law. Gentile believers should not attempt to keep any aspects of the Law. Believers are not required to give ten-percent of food or anything else. The writings of the other apostles, James and Peter, are silent about Christians giving ten percent of food or
anything else.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “ongoing” element. The two examples before the Law of Moses do not reveal the practice of on-going tithing. They both appear strongly to be one-time acts. In the case of Jacob, we don’t know exactly what he did but it does seem that he is promising to tithe once if God blesses him. Of course, this is exactly opposite of what the Church teaches. The Church teaches that that God will bless us if we tithe. Jacob says he will tithe if God blesses him. The Church’s practice of ongoing, repetitious tithing simply cannot be validated by two one-time acts. They are not similar to what the Church teaches about tithing. The only place in the Bible where ongoing, repetitious tithing can be found is in the Law of Moses. Those who were farming or practicing husbandry in Israel had a lifetime obligation to tithe the food that they produced. This ongoing food tithe to support the Mosaic Levitical ministry is often borrowed from the Law and spiritualized to justify repetitious money tithing in support of Christian ministry. This justification is not found in the New Testament. Christ’s statement about tithing reveals that the ongoing tithing of food is under the Law. Christ says nothing about His disciples practicing ongoing tithing of anything. While the writings of the apostles in the New Testament often speak of generous giving, they are silent about ongoing tithing of anything. The first apostolic council is also silent about ongoing tithing of anything but releases Gentile believers from any aspects of keeping the Law of Moses.
Everyone gives 10% of ongoing income. Considering the “income” element.
Abraham tithes on the spoils of war, not his entire income. Abraham tithed the captured belongings of his defeated enemies. Additionally, Genesis reveals that Abraham didn’t even keep the ninety percent that was remaining. He returned those possessions to the King of Sodom. Abraham’s income, his possessions or any part of his own wealth wasn’t involved at all in his tithing. He had no increase to tithe on. In Jacob’s case, we don’t know exactly what he did since all Genesis records is his promise to God. In other words, there is no support in the events before the Law that Christians should give ten percent of their ongoing income. Nearly everyone that teaches tithing resorts to using the Law and prophets living under the Law to teach it. Those that teach Christian tithing from the Law often neglect to reveal that only food produced was tithed on but never money. Only those who earned their livings by producing food tithed at all. Those Israelites who earned money by other means such as tent making, weaving, carpentry, money lending, fishing or many other occupations never tithed on their incomes since it was not commanded of them. Christ does not change tithing food to tithing money. The writings of the apostles do not change tithing food to tithing money. The apostolic council releases the Gentile believers from any keeping of the Law. They certainly do not change tithing food to tithing money. The book of Hebrews does mention the Old Testament tithing of food but does not validate tithing money for believers today. Finally, it should be obvious to the reader that this doctrine is pieced together from these various passages. Not a single passage in itself actually teaches what the Church practices today. Spiritualization of the Law is used to teach tithing. Reasoning that is not found in the Bible is used to justify Christians embracing a legalistic practice from the Old Testament. In more than 4000 years of recorded Biblical history, there is not a single recorded example of tithing that is similar to what the Church practices today. We recommend that every Christian renounce this unscriptural practice and reject any lingering fear, guilt or condemnation! God’s children have no debt to their Father to pay other than thanksgiving and praise. Their elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, has paid in full the debt. Christ will build His Church but only with the truth. He needs no help from a false doctrine that puts the Children of God under bondage to fear and the curse of the Law. The children are free! A portion of this booklet was taken from Dr. Sapp’s book “The Children are Free” the third book in the “Paid in Full” Financial Series.
All Nations Ministries
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Is Ignorance Bliss or is it just Plain Ignorant?
I recently posted this video link on my facebook profile and a few people had some great comments. However, this one particular woman that I know, who is supposedly a Pastor, commented on this post and said, "What a mockery."
Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnRTfjPohYw&feature=autofb
or
These are the lyrics:
"Oh Lord my God when I am in awesome wonder I consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed And when I think that God his Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in that on that cross my burden gladly bearing. He bled and died to take away my sin. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim my God how great Thou art. (Then sings my soul) HOW GREAT THOU ART! MY GOD HOW GREAT THOU ART!"
Is this mockery or is the just a different form of music? I say it is not mockery but glorification of God, just in a genre of music that she was not used to hearing and possible very unfamiliar with. Well, this is our conversation.
Woman Pastor: "what a mockery!"
Me: "This really hurts guys. Just because "How great Thou Art" has been redone in a style or genre you are not familiar with or do not like, doesn't mean it's a mockery or a bad version; that is a matter of opinion and you know how opinions are.
Its just that you don't like it, its not your preference; I understand that and that's fine. I don't expect you to like it and if you don't, thats ok too. My whole point in this was to show that people who play this genre of music, can still worship God, praise Him and give glory to God without the traditional style or genre of accompaniment.
But, please don't call this version a "mockery" because its not. A mockery would be making fun of it. A "mockery" would mean ridicule, scorn, derision, contempt, disdain, sarcasm and jeering. I'm sorry, but I don't see that here. What I see is a Christian band singing a traditional song in a different style that what you are used to.
*Woman Pastor,* if singing 'How Great Thou Art" in ANY form is mockery, then your god is not my God. Are you telling that me that there's only one way to sing a song? Is there only one way to worship Christ? Is there only one way to preach the gospel? Is there only one group of people deserving of salvation?"
Me, again: "One more thing, *Woman Pastor.* You call your self a pastor? lol
I don't think so deary, you have alot to learn and a long, long way to go sister!
Real pastors don't go around spreading doubt and cynicism within the universal church of Christ. You need to be OPEN and encouraging, no matter WHO you come across. Jesus would have never condemned a style of music as long as it glorified God!
Matthew 12:30 - “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me."
Mark 9:38-41 "John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded."
A simple cup of water!!!!!! (omg, someone stop me!)
*Woman Pastor,* just because you have some sort of hatred or anger against me or the metal music I like, does not mean that its wrong. If people who like metal music worship Jesus, glorify him or revise old traditional hymns are FOR CHRIST, then what the heck is the problem?!"
Woman Pastor: "Wow whos judging now? Interesting Matthew 24:10 you should read it."
Woman Pastor,again: "I have no hatred or anger against you I can honestly say I love you. Thats why I tell the truth. Im not led by my emotions or how someone hurt me or victomize myself. I can take ur critisizum because I live to please God and not man. Im not trying to pick a fight. There must be truth to what Im saying Im obviously hitting a nerve."
My Wife: *Woman Pastor* the only truth to this point is that you dont like the same music! I am sure if this could be forwarded to this band they would be able to come back and defend their own music, but because that is not the case and you came on an attack with the statement "what a mockery" this was all you picking the fight. If you dont like it don't listen to it and don't comment. Anything Jason [Me]puts on here in regards to music you always have to come and make a negative comment this is not something you expect out of a pastor. So no there is no truth to what you are saying it is strickly a matter of opinion.
In the word it says: Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those that listen. Eph 4:29
In this verse it says their needs not the needs of our own. *Woman Pastor* its time that you stop shuting out what is around you and start learning from it you may need it to one day spread the word of God to someone that would shut you out because of who you are a Pastor."
Woman Pastor: "Unwholesome talk did u read ur husbands words in his conversation about "Why is it that rap music is excepted ..." [this is my status on facebook, please see my status below] calling people old bags come on *my wife* why is it the truth in love is so hard to take.. There is a spirit of anger and rage behind that music in these last days we got to discerned Jesus said in Matt 24 do NOT be decieved and just cause I say something that isnt all mushy so called love doesnt mean its not love my friend love is strong unmovable a firm foundation sorry if it offends you. Blessing"
My Wife: "Yes I read what my husband said and he was angry I will not doubt that but you are a pastor you need to think before you speak. *Woman Pastor* best I can say for you is to not comment when you dont like something no one forced you to listen to it no one forced you to comment. Jason [Me] will reach souls if that is what Christ wants for him if he did not then this band would have not had the blessings that they have had. I have read some lyrics and have heard some testimonoes from these national bands and they are saving souls for the kingdom so please don't judge what you don't know."
Woman Pastor: "Sooo it is justifiable if ur husband calls names but if I because Im a Pastor tell the truth that obviously you both dont want to hear.(as its plastered on FB) Im all wrong a pastor shouldn't do that??? My judge is God not man. Sorry if you cant handle some one disagreeing.Or handle truth in love. I think ur hurts need to heal. And that happens by choosing forgivness for pat offenses not holding on to them and spewing hate. Blessings"
Me: "I read Matthew 24:10 and it doesn’t apply in this case because I haven’t turned away from Christ, I have never betrayed you and I don’t hate you.
As far as judging you, I am allowed to do that. I’m just not allowed to judge unbelievers, those who are outsiders of the church.
1 Corinthians 5:13-13 “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside.”
When you are prejudice against something you do not understand, you are being ungodly. Ungodliness is sinful and we should not be prejudice, or pre-judging, unless you have all the facts.
James 2:9 - “If you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin.” This does not apply just for people alone but being prejudice against anything, is ungodly.
John 7:24 - “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
God is not partial towards the Greek or the Jew, rich or the poor. There is no favoritism in Him. But, for you to say that one particular style of music is evil and another is good is being prejudice. The fact is that styles of music cannot be evil or good, only people can be evil or good, not music. Music is a matter of preference, that’s it. Now, what people do with the music, such as adding evil lyrics and talking about evil and ungodly things, is a different matter. But, in this case the lyrics are righteous and godly.
You have not told the truth about anything except the truth about yourself. You have exposed yourself as being a hypocrite. You assume the role of a Pastor but you condemn others and their taste in music and what they do. You have done nothing but inadvertently condemned my band, our music and our ministry in a negative light. No wonder there will be thousands of "metal heads" in hell! Because people like you rejected them! Who are you to choose who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?
Angry emotions are not a bad thing. Jesus was led by his emotions when he got angry at the money changers in the Temple. He started turning over tables, yelling and screaming and trying to kick them all out! Was Jesus justified? Of course, because those people were wrong!
In 1 Samuel 11:6, “Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.” If God can make a man angry, then gosh darn it, it must be justified!
When people like you condemn ministries that reach out to the un-churched youth with the good news of Christ by means of metal music, I am justified in my anger because it’s wrong! It’s wrong to reject God working through us or any other Christian metal band to reach these lost people.
When churches reject a Christian metal band from showing up at an event because they growl, scream or have loud guitars and drums who come with Christian based lyrics, preaching the gospel and giving their testimonies of how God has changed their lives, then those churches are wrong! Who are they to reject a Christian ministry that reaches those who do listen to that kind of music? To do that, is prejudice! Remember, John 7:24 - “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
Yeah, the only nerve you struck was the nerve of truth by exposing ignorant people like you who don’t know what the heck your doing leading a supposed “church.”
If you truly lived to please God then it would matter what people said about Christian metal music. If you really lived to please God you would rebuke those who speak against spreading the good news of Christ through this style of music and the testimonies of the band members. If you wanted to truly please God then you would defend ministries that are “on God’s side” that’s goal is to evangelize and reach those kids who will probably never step foot in an uppity, snooty, religious and condemning church. The usual response to those kinds of people and churches is, “Your hair is too long, your clothes are too freaky, you have a piercing on your eyebrow and lips, you have too many tattoos, you growl in your songs, you scream words and we can’t understand the lyrics, sorry you cannot be saved, you heathen; burn in hell!”
You should take this criticism as revealing because I come across people and churches like this all the time. They are negative, condemning and combative. They never uplift, they are not positive or encouraging. They mock what they do not understand and reject the true power of God working in the lives of the underground church. You scoff at what you do not know and you should humble yourself, repent and ask God to forgive you for your cynicism and negative attitude."
Me, again: "*Woman Pastor,*
Look, calling someone an “old bag” is not a sin, so get over it. Jesus called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” right in front of their faces! However, when someone calls themselves a Pastor, they are held to a higher standard than the average church-going Christian who sits in the pews; you lost that privilege when you became a Pastor.
I live for the truth and I always support it. However, the only truth you presented here was exposing your negative and discouraging attitude towards a particular style of music that you do not like. If you simply would have said in the beginning, “Great lyrics but I don’t care for the style.” Then no harm done. However, when you mocked the style of music (which is what you really did) that I like with a statement like “What a mockery,” then I’m not going to let that go. Why? Because it’s a lie! This music, along with the wonderful lyrics are not a mockery but they glorify God; fully and wholly.
As I stated with *an old Navy friend of mine* and as anyone can see, I can disagree; I don’t have a problem with that! If you don’t particularly like this genre, I can understand that; but what you did was wrong and you need to repent. I have already forgiven you because you don’t know what you are doing by saying foolish things like that. I am not hurt as much as you think. However, my anger is justified because of what people say about things they are ignorant of. This is not hate towards you; I have no reason to hate you! However, I have concern for religious dogmatics like yourself who cannot see past the four walls of you church building. There are thousands of people out here dying and going to hell because churches and people like you ignore them or reject them because it’s not your style of music. Omgosh, get over it! I don’t like Country music, but I’m not going to reject it if it brings people to Christ! I just don’t prefer to listen to it. I would never mock it or condemn it because I didn’t like the style of music.
If hardcore/metal core bands brings people to know Christ by planting seeds of hope, watering those people with positive messages through the lyrics and great testimonies at shows and then offering a message of hope in a lost world by praying with these to receive Christ people in a concert, then why would any Christian speak badly or negative of it?!
Please burn me at the stake! I will scream and growl in the famous words of Joan of Arc, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"
My 13yr. old Daughter: "I dislike people who judge, that means that the don't have anything else to do with there life but criticize people who are different from them.
*Woman Pastor, You being a pastor should accept people for who they are and what type of music they like, it doesn't make them any different from any of the rest of the people.
Hate is a strong word, To have a great aversion to, with a strong desire that evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is directed; to dislike intensely; to detest; as, to hate one's enemies; to hate hypocrisy.
My pastor makes mistake and he admits them, on the podium.
He asks for forgiveness, he thanks God for forgiveness, he LOVES his church family. He may not like my father's music but he knows that its bringing other souls to the Lord.
I personally love my dad's music. My friend's don't like it, they are glad my dad's band is moving forward.
I'm defending my parents because I know they are Godly people who love God and love God's people.
God made everybody DIFFERENT in their own way!
I think we should respect that."
My Wife: "Well *Woman Pastor* as i have read in what Jason [Me] responded he never once called you names. You are wrong a pastor should not act this way. I have no hurts that need healing eithermaybe looking at yourself before making accusations is what needs to happen. I am in a loving relationship and as Christ tells us to be the loving support to our husbands and i am following that. I beleive that this is pointless to continue with you and I will not respond any further if you choose to come back then it will only be making you the pastor look childish "plastered here on facebook". I know the relationship that I myself, my husband, and my children have with Christ and I need not defend this anymore. Thank you and have a nice life."
Woman Pastor: "hmmmm interesting! Ill be praying for u all God bless."
Me: "Wow! Your piety and arrogance still shines through; even when you are completely speechless."
Woman Pastor: ";)"
Well, that's it folks. What a poor example of a Pastor with no backbone, no humility and absolutley no concern for truth or the unsaved. I'm not re-posting this to ruin her. I'm doing this to OPEN your eyes and her eyes too!! Wake up America, your life will pass you by and your meaning in life will too if you do not answer the call and bury your hatred and prejudices!
My Status on Monday at 5:19 pm, 2010: "Why is it that Christian Rap is accepted, Christian Rock is accepted, Christian Country is accepted but when you mention the word Christian "metal," everyone freaks out and calls you a demonic band? I just don't get it."
Me: "When people hear a vocalist scream, yell or growl (whatever you want to call it) they automatically associate this type of vocalization of words with demons. The problem is, I can't figure out why?
What I want to know is, have these people ever heard a real demon scream? I mean seriously, I have never come across a demon in my lifetime... See More, at least as far as I know, and I certainly have never heard an actually demon scream or growl. So, do we really know what demons sound like and do we we even know that they scream? These are all stupid questions.
My point is that the music, the sound, the guitar, the vocals or the noise coming from a group of guys playing instruments loudly and fast does not qualify as demonic. At the very least it may qualify as terrible to some folks but demonic, I don't think so. Seriously, have we ever seen a real band of demons? Last time I checked, there has never been an actual band that had actual demons from hell, win a grammy for "Best Demonic Band?" Gimme a frigg'n break!
I guess it's Hollywood's fault. They have personified demonic voices in movies so much that when people hear a scream or growl, its automatically assumed that it's got to be demonic, even though they haven't a clue of what is being actually spoken!
I can scream or growl John 3:16 to an audience and someone will say, "Ohh, that's demonic! It must be bad because I can't understand it! Rediculous. :-("
Woman Pastor: "wow calling people old bags and idiots Matthew 5:22 amp! But i say to you (Jesus Speaking) that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, you fool! [You empty headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell(Gehenna) of fire!
matthew 24 do not be decieved!!! Everyone saying Lord Lord will enter the kingdom! Jason ask ur self why ur so angry and this "music" u defend sooo passionitly feeds your anger. Let God heal your hurts and heart. its not about the music its about your heart!"
Me: "As I stated in my other post, calling people "old bags" is not a sin. Even calling someone an "idiot" is not a sin. Matthew 5:22 says, "If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court."
All this says is that my actions of calling someone an idiot, may be out of line. However, I feel I am justified because anybody who continues in discussing things they are clearly clueless about, must be an idiot or just plain stupid. Jesus clearly called the Pharisees plenty of names and he said it to their faces! So, if Jesus can say it, then I can say it. If he is justified, then I am justified.
I'm not angry at my brother and anyone else for that matter. I am angry at the fact that people like you make ignorant comments on things that they are clueless about. You don't know anything about Christian metal. You "think" you know something, but who do you think knows more, you or me? I am in a band that plays it, I attend the concerts and I see people being influenced for Christ. I see people giving testimonies of how Christ changed their lives and now they live to serve Christ. I have even seen "unbelievers" worshipping God! Try that at church next Sunday!
What have you seen? Absolutely nothing and only what you want to see because you don't want to see the truth of the gospel of Christ working in the lives of these people. Like I said, you are clueless.
If someone makes a comment about something that they have no earthly idea of what they are talking about, and they continue to discuss it, then they are truly an idiot! If you don't have enough common sense to shut up about something you don't know anything about, then you are an idiot.
The music I listen to does NOT feed my anger (in which I have none), what makes me justifiably angry are people who think they know better than God. I am angry at what Jesus got angry about, which is pride, arrogance, piety and people who are so self-righteous, they can't even see their own failures.
The reason I am now able to express my true thoughts to you is because I am no longer afraid of man. Once you come to intimate knowledge of, understand and know the fear of God, man is no more a threat to me. I could care less what any man thinks of me because I know what God thinks of me and what He thinks of me is all that matters. I don't care if you hate me, I don't care what any man thinks of me. I am not here to please man, I aim to please God and what He has for me in my life.
I am healed in Jesus name and I don't need you telling what's wrong with me, I have Jesus for that. Jesus has changed my heart. That's why I am telling you these truths that you need to pay attention too!
As I stated before, I do NOT hate you or anyone else. I am NOT angry at anyone, only the situation. If it's not about the music, then why did you call "How Great Thou Art" by Becoming the Archtype a "mockery?"
Yes, it's not about the music, that's what I have been trying to tell you!It's about Jesus, nothing else!
I just want you to know one thing, it is completely out of love that I've said this."
This something I want to point out. Woman Pastor originally says, "What a mockery" about the music video I posted. Then much later on my status, she says "its not about the music its about your heart!" If it's not about then the music then whay did she say, "What a mockery" in the beginning of this conversation?
I can tell you why. It's because she is a liar and a hypocrite. She focuses strictly on the music and does not even consider the lyrics. Let's face it, she does not like "metal" music! Why doesn't she just admit it?!
You see folks, these kind of so-called "Christians" are the false ones. They pretend to be Christian but underneath, they judge people, have prejudices against certain types of music, certain clothes you wear, certain types of tattoos, etc, etc, and if you don't fit inside their little mold that they have created in their own little perfect religious world then you must not be worthy of salvation, even though Christ thought different.
One day in heaven, God will ask Woman Pastor, "Why did you reject these people because of the type of music they listened too? Didn't someone tell you that this was all about my Son, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah? Why didn't you listen and gain understanding from this situation? Did not my words of truth reign in your heart? Or, did you worry too much about your preferences and what you liked versus what I gave you to use? My dear child, you are a selfish one, into the consuming fire with you and pray that your deeds and works are not consumed as purely stubble and hay."
Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnRTfjPohYw&feature=autofb
or
These are the lyrics:
"Oh Lord my God when I am in awesome wonder I consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed And when I think that God his Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in that on that cross my burden gladly bearing. He bled and died to take away my sin. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim my God how great Thou art. (Then sings my soul) HOW GREAT THOU ART! MY GOD HOW GREAT THOU ART!"
Is this mockery or is the just a different form of music? I say it is not mockery but glorification of God, just in a genre of music that she was not used to hearing and possible very unfamiliar with. Well, this is our conversation.
Woman Pastor: "what a mockery!"
Me: "This really hurts guys. Just because "How great Thou Art" has been redone in a style or genre you are not familiar with or do not like, doesn't mean it's a mockery or a bad version; that is a matter of opinion and you know how opinions are.
Its just that you don't like it, its not your preference; I understand that and that's fine. I don't expect you to like it and if you don't, thats ok too. My whole point in this was to show that people who play this genre of music, can still worship God, praise Him and give glory to God without the traditional style or genre of accompaniment.
But, please don't call this version a "mockery" because its not. A mockery would be making fun of it. A "mockery" would mean ridicule, scorn, derision, contempt, disdain, sarcasm and jeering. I'm sorry, but I don't see that here. What I see is a Christian band singing a traditional song in a different style that what you are used to.
*Woman Pastor,* if singing 'How Great Thou Art" in ANY form is mockery, then your god is not my God. Are you telling that me that there's only one way to sing a song? Is there only one way to worship Christ? Is there only one way to preach the gospel? Is there only one group of people deserving of salvation?"
Me, again: "One more thing, *Woman Pastor.* You call your self a pastor? lol
I don't think so deary, you have alot to learn and a long, long way to go sister!
Real pastors don't go around spreading doubt and cynicism within the universal church of Christ. You need to be OPEN and encouraging, no matter WHO you come across. Jesus would have never condemned a style of music as long as it glorified God!
Matthew 12:30 - “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me."
Mark 9:38-41 "John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded."
A simple cup of water!!!!!! (omg, someone stop me!)
*Woman Pastor,* just because you have some sort of hatred or anger against me or the metal music I like, does not mean that its wrong. If people who like metal music worship Jesus, glorify him or revise old traditional hymns are FOR CHRIST, then what the heck is the problem?!"
Woman Pastor: "Wow whos judging now? Interesting Matthew 24:10 you should read it."
Woman Pastor,again: "I have no hatred or anger against you I can honestly say I love you. Thats why I tell the truth. Im not led by my emotions or how someone hurt me or victomize myself. I can take ur critisizum because I live to please God and not man. Im not trying to pick a fight. There must be truth to what Im saying Im obviously hitting a nerve."
My Wife: *Woman Pastor* the only truth to this point is that you dont like the same music! I am sure if this could be forwarded to this band they would be able to come back and defend their own music, but because that is not the case and you came on an attack with the statement "what a mockery" this was all you picking the fight. If you dont like it don't listen to it and don't comment. Anything Jason [Me]puts on here in regards to music you always have to come and make a negative comment this is not something you expect out of a pastor. So no there is no truth to what you are saying it is strickly a matter of opinion.
In the word it says: Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those that listen. Eph 4:29
In this verse it says their needs not the needs of our own. *Woman Pastor* its time that you stop shuting out what is around you and start learning from it you may need it to one day spread the word of God to someone that would shut you out because of who you are a Pastor."
Woman Pastor: "Unwholesome talk did u read ur husbands words in his conversation about "Why is it that rap music is excepted ..." [this is my status on facebook, please see my status below] calling people old bags come on *my wife* why is it the truth in love is so hard to take.. There is a spirit of anger and rage behind that music in these last days we got to discerned Jesus said in Matt 24 do NOT be decieved and just cause I say something that isnt all mushy so called love doesnt mean its not love my friend love is strong unmovable a firm foundation sorry if it offends you. Blessing"
My Wife: "Yes I read what my husband said and he was angry I will not doubt that but you are a pastor you need to think before you speak. *Woman Pastor* best I can say for you is to not comment when you dont like something no one forced you to listen to it no one forced you to comment. Jason [Me] will reach souls if that is what Christ wants for him if he did not then this band would have not had the blessings that they have had. I have read some lyrics and have heard some testimonoes from these national bands and they are saving souls for the kingdom so please don't judge what you don't know."
Woman Pastor: "Sooo it is justifiable if ur husband calls names but if I because Im a Pastor tell the truth that obviously you both dont want to hear.(as its plastered on FB) Im all wrong a pastor shouldn't do that??? My judge is God not man. Sorry if you cant handle some one disagreeing.Or handle truth in love. I think ur hurts need to heal. And that happens by choosing forgivness for pat offenses not holding on to them and spewing hate. Blessings"
Me: "I read Matthew 24:10 and it doesn’t apply in this case because I haven’t turned away from Christ, I have never betrayed you and I don’t hate you.
As far as judging you, I am allowed to do that. I’m just not allowed to judge unbelievers, those who are outsiders of the church.
1 Corinthians 5:13-13 “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside.”
When you are prejudice against something you do not understand, you are being ungodly. Ungodliness is sinful and we should not be prejudice, or pre-judging, unless you have all the facts.
James 2:9 - “If you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin.” This does not apply just for people alone but being prejudice against anything, is ungodly.
John 7:24 - “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
God is not partial towards the Greek or the Jew, rich or the poor. There is no favoritism in Him. But, for you to say that one particular style of music is evil and another is good is being prejudice. The fact is that styles of music cannot be evil or good, only people can be evil or good, not music. Music is a matter of preference, that’s it. Now, what people do with the music, such as adding evil lyrics and talking about evil and ungodly things, is a different matter. But, in this case the lyrics are righteous and godly.
You have not told the truth about anything except the truth about yourself. You have exposed yourself as being a hypocrite. You assume the role of a Pastor but you condemn others and their taste in music and what they do. You have done nothing but inadvertently condemned my band, our music and our ministry in a negative light. No wonder there will be thousands of "metal heads" in hell! Because people like you rejected them! Who are you to choose who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?
Angry emotions are not a bad thing. Jesus was led by his emotions when he got angry at the money changers in the Temple. He started turning over tables, yelling and screaming and trying to kick them all out! Was Jesus justified? Of course, because those people were wrong!
In 1 Samuel 11:6, “Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.” If God can make a man angry, then gosh darn it, it must be justified!
When people like you condemn ministries that reach out to the un-churched youth with the good news of Christ by means of metal music, I am justified in my anger because it’s wrong! It’s wrong to reject God working through us or any other Christian metal band to reach these lost people.
When churches reject a Christian metal band from showing up at an event because they growl, scream or have loud guitars and drums who come with Christian based lyrics, preaching the gospel and giving their testimonies of how God has changed their lives, then those churches are wrong! Who are they to reject a Christian ministry that reaches those who do listen to that kind of music? To do that, is prejudice! Remember, John 7:24 - “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
Yeah, the only nerve you struck was the nerve of truth by exposing ignorant people like you who don’t know what the heck your doing leading a supposed “church.”
If you truly lived to please God then it would matter what people said about Christian metal music. If you really lived to please God you would rebuke those who speak against spreading the good news of Christ through this style of music and the testimonies of the band members. If you wanted to truly please God then you would defend ministries that are “on God’s side” that’s goal is to evangelize and reach those kids who will probably never step foot in an uppity, snooty, religious and condemning church. The usual response to those kinds of people and churches is, “Your hair is too long, your clothes are too freaky, you have a piercing on your eyebrow and lips, you have too many tattoos, you growl in your songs, you scream words and we can’t understand the lyrics, sorry you cannot be saved, you heathen; burn in hell!”
You should take this criticism as revealing because I come across people and churches like this all the time. They are negative, condemning and combative. They never uplift, they are not positive or encouraging. They mock what they do not understand and reject the true power of God working in the lives of the underground church. You scoff at what you do not know and you should humble yourself, repent and ask God to forgive you for your cynicism and negative attitude."
Me, again: "*Woman Pastor,*
Look, calling someone an “old bag” is not a sin, so get over it. Jesus called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” right in front of their faces! However, when someone calls themselves a Pastor, they are held to a higher standard than the average church-going Christian who sits in the pews; you lost that privilege when you became a Pastor.
I live for the truth and I always support it. However, the only truth you presented here was exposing your negative and discouraging attitude towards a particular style of music that you do not like. If you simply would have said in the beginning, “Great lyrics but I don’t care for the style.” Then no harm done. However, when you mocked the style of music (which is what you really did) that I like with a statement like “What a mockery,” then I’m not going to let that go. Why? Because it’s a lie! This music, along with the wonderful lyrics are not a mockery but they glorify God; fully and wholly.
As I stated with *an old Navy friend of mine* and as anyone can see, I can disagree; I don’t have a problem with that! If you don’t particularly like this genre, I can understand that; but what you did was wrong and you need to repent. I have already forgiven you because you don’t know what you are doing by saying foolish things like that. I am not hurt as much as you think. However, my anger is justified because of what people say about things they are ignorant of. This is not hate towards you; I have no reason to hate you! However, I have concern for religious dogmatics like yourself who cannot see past the four walls of you church building. There are thousands of people out here dying and going to hell because churches and people like you ignore them or reject them because it’s not your style of music. Omgosh, get over it! I don’t like Country music, but I’m not going to reject it if it brings people to Christ! I just don’t prefer to listen to it. I would never mock it or condemn it because I didn’t like the style of music.
If hardcore/metal core bands brings people to know Christ by planting seeds of hope, watering those people with positive messages through the lyrics and great testimonies at shows and then offering a message of hope in a lost world by praying with these to receive Christ people in a concert, then why would any Christian speak badly or negative of it?!
Please burn me at the stake! I will scream and growl in the famous words of Joan of Arc, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"
My 13yr. old Daughter: "I dislike people who judge, that means that the don't have anything else to do with there life but criticize people who are different from them.
*Woman Pastor, You being a pastor should accept people for who they are and what type of music they like, it doesn't make them any different from any of the rest of the people.
Hate is a strong word, To have a great aversion to, with a strong desire that evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is directed; to dislike intensely; to detest; as, to hate one's enemies; to hate hypocrisy.
My pastor makes mistake and he admits them, on the podium.
He asks for forgiveness, he thanks God for forgiveness, he LOVES his church family. He may not like my father's music but he knows that its bringing other souls to the Lord.
I personally love my dad's music. My friend's don't like it, they are glad my dad's band is moving forward.
I'm defending my parents because I know they are Godly people who love God and love God's people.
God made everybody DIFFERENT in their own way!
I think we should respect that."
My Wife: "Well *Woman Pastor* as i have read in what Jason [Me] responded he never once called you names. You are wrong a pastor should not act this way. I have no hurts that need healing eithermaybe looking at yourself before making accusations is what needs to happen. I am in a loving relationship and as Christ tells us to be the loving support to our husbands and i am following that. I beleive that this is pointless to continue with you and I will not respond any further if you choose to come back then it will only be making you the pastor look childish "plastered here on facebook". I know the relationship that I myself, my husband, and my children have with Christ and I need not defend this anymore. Thank you and have a nice life."
Woman Pastor: "hmmmm interesting! Ill be praying for u all God bless."
Me: "Wow! Your piety and arrogance still shines through; even when you are completely speechless."
Woman Pastor: ";)"
Well, that's it folks. What a poor example of a Pastor with no backbone, no humility and absolutley no concern for truth or the unsaved. I'm not re-posting this to ruin her. I'm doing this to OPEN your eyes and her eyes too!! Wake up America, your life will pass you by and your meaning in life will too if you do not answer the call and bury your hatred and prejudices!
My Status on Monday at 5:19 pm, 2010: "Why is it that Christian Rap is accepted, Christian Rock is accepted, Christian Country is accepted but when you mention the word Christian "metal," everyone freaks out and calls you a demonic band? I just don't get it."
Me: "When people hear a vocalist scream, yell or growl (whatever you want to call it) they automatically associate this type of vocalization of words with demons. The problem is, I can't figure out why?
What I want to know is, have these people ever heard a real demon scream? I mean seriously, I have never come across a demon in my lifetime... See More, at least as far as I know, and I certainly have never heard an actually demon scream or growl. So, do we really know what demons sound like and do we we even know that they scream? These are all stupid questions.
My point is that the music, the sound, the guitar, the vocals or the noise coming from a group of guys playing instruments loudly and fast does not qualify as demonic. At the very least it may qualify as terrible to some folks but demonic, I don't think so. Seriously, have we ever seen a real band of demons? Last time I checked, there has never been an actual band that had actual demons from hell, win a grammy for "Best Demonic Band?" Gimme a frigg'n break!
I guess it's Hollywood's fault. They have personified demonic voices in movies so much that when people hear a scream or growl, its automatically assumed that it's got to be demonic, even though they haven't a clue of what is being actually spoken!
I can scream or growl John 3:16 to an audience and someone will say, "Ohh, that's demonic! It must be bad because I can't understand it! Rediculous. :-("
Woman Pastor: "wow calling people old bags and idiots Matthew 5:22 amp! But i say to you (Jesus Speaking) that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, you fool! [You empty headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell(Gehenna) of fire!
matthew 24 do not be decieved!!! Everyone saying Lord Lord will enter the kingdom! Jason ask ur self why ur so angry and this "music" u defend sooo passionitly feeds your anger. Let God heal your hurts and heart. its not about the music its about your heart!"
Me: "As I stated in my other post, calling people "old bags" is not a sin. Even calling someone an "idiot" is not a sin. Matthew 5:22 says, "If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court."
All this says is that my actions of calling someone an idiot, may be out of line. However, I feel I am justified because anybody who continues in discussing things they are clearly clueless about, must be an idiot or just plain stupid. Jesus clearly called the Pharisees plenty of names and he said it to their faces! So, if Jesus can say it, then I can say it. If he is justified, then I am justified.
I'm not angry at my brother and anyone else for that matter. I am angry at the fact that people like you make ignorant comments on things that they are clueless about. You don't know anything about Christian metal. You "think" you know something, but who do you think knows more, you or me? I am in a band that plays it, I attend the concerts and I see people being influenced for Christ. I see people giving testimonies of how Christ changed their lives and now they live to serve Christ. I have even seen "unbelievers" worshipping God! Try that at church next Sunday!
What have you seen? Absolutely nothing and only what you want to see because you don't want to see the truth of the gospel of Christ working in the lives of these people. Like I said, you are clueless.
If someone makes a comment about something that they have no earthly idea of what they are talking about, and they continue to discuss it, then they are truly an idiot! If you don't have enough common sense to shut up about something you don't know anything about, then you are an idiot.
The music I listen to does NOT feed my anger (in which I have none), what makes me justifiably angry are people who think they know better than God. I am angry at what Jesus got angry about, which is pride, arrogance, piety and people who are so self-righteous, they can't even see their own failures.
The reason I am now able to express my true thoughts to you is because I am no longer afraid of man. Once you come to intimate knowledge of, understand and know the fear of God, man is no more a threat to me. I could care less what any man thinks of me because I know what God thinks of me and what He thinks of me is all that matters. I don't care if you hate me, I don't care what any man thinks of me. I am not here to please man, I aim to please God and what He has for me in my life.
I am healed in Jesus name and I don't need you telling what's wrong with me, I have Jesus for that. Jesus has changed my heart. That's why I am telling you these truths that you need to pay attention too!
As I stated before, I do NOT hate you or anyone else. I am NOT angry at anyone, only the situation. If it's not about the music, then why did you call "How Great Thou Art" by Becoming the Archtype a "mockery?"
Yes, it's not about the music, that's what I have been trying to tell you!It's about Jesus, nothing else!
I just want you to know one thing, it is completely out of love that I've said this."
This something I want to point out. Woman Pastor originally says, "What a mockery" about the music video I posted. Then much later on my status, she says "its not about the music its about your heart!" If it's not about then the music then whay did she say, "What a mockery" in the beginning of this conversation?
I can tell you why. It's because she is a liar and a hypocrite. She focuses strictly on the music and does not even consider the lyrics. Let's face it, she does not like "metal" music! Why doesn't she just admit it?!
You see folks, these kind of so-called "Christians" are the false ones. They pretend to be Christian but underneath, they judge people, have prejudices against certain types of music, certain clothes you wear, certain types of tattoos, etc, etc, and if you don't fit inside their little mold that they have created in their own little perfect religious world then you must not be worthy of salvation, even though Christ thought different.
One day in heaven, God will ask Woman Pastor, "Why did you reject these people because of the type of music they listened too? Didn't someone tell you that this was all about my Son, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah? Why didn't you listen and gain understanding from this situation? Did not my words of truth reign in your heart? Or, did you worry too much about your preferences and what you liked versus what I gave you to use? My dear child, you are a selfish one, into the consuming fire with you and pray that your deeds and works are not consumed as purely stubble and hay."
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Monday, July 19, 2010
Christian Metal Demonic?
Why is it that Christian Rap is accepted, Christian Rock is accepted, Christian Country is accepted but when you mention the word Christian "metal," everyone freaks out and calls it a demonic band? I just don't get it.
When people hear a Christian hardcore/metal vocalist scream, yell or growl (whatever you want to call it) they automatically associate this type of vocalization of words with demons. The problem is, I can't figure out why?
What I want to know is, have these people ever heard a real demon scream? I mean seriously, I have never come across a demon in my lifetime, at least as far as I know, and I certainly have never heard an actually demon scream or growl. So, do we really know what demons sound like and do we we even know that they scream? These are all stupid questions.
My point is that the music, the sound, the guitar, the vocals or the noise coming from a group of guys playing instruments loudly and fast does not qualify as demonic. At the very least it may qualify as terrible to some folks but demonic, I don't think so.
Seriously, have we ever seen a real band of demons? Last time I checked, there has never been an actual band that had actual demons from hell, win a grammy for "Best Demonic Band?" Gimme a frigg'n break!
I guess it's Hollywood's fault. They have personified demonic voices in movies so much that when people hear a scream or growl, its automatically assumed that it's got to be demonic, even though they haven't a clue of what is being actually spoken!
I can recite by a scream or growl the famous verse of John 3:16 to an audience and someone will say, "Ohh, that's demonic! It must be bad because I can't understand it!
Rediculous.
When people hear a Christian hardcore/metal vocalist scream, yell or growl (whatever you want to call it) they automatically associate this type of vocalization of words with demons. The problem is, I can't figure out why?
What I want to know is, have these people ever heard a real demon scream? I mean seriously, I have never come across a demon in my lifetime, at least as far as I know, and I certainly have never heard an actually demon scream or growl. So, do we really know what demons sound like and do we we even know that they scream? These are all stupid questions.
My point is that the music, the sound, the guitar, the vocals or the noise coming from a group of guys playing instruments loudly and fast does not qualify as demonic. At the very least it may qualify as terrible to some folks but demonic, I don't think so.
Seriously, have we ever seen a real band of demons? Last time I checked, there has never been an actual band that had actual demons from hell, win a grammy for "Best Demonic Band?" Gimme a frigg'n break!
I guess it's Hollywood's fault. They have personified demonic voices in movies so much that when people hear a scream or growl, its automatically assumed that it's got to be demonic, even though they haven't a clue of what is being actually spoken!
I can recite by a scream or growl the famous verse of John 3:16 to an audience and someone will say, "Ohh, that's demonic! It must be bad because I can't understand it!
Rediculous.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Proof that God Loves Christian Metal Music
Psalm 27:6 – “Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music (NLT).”
Ps 33:3 – “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts (ESV).”
Ps 98:4 - “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise (KJV).”
Psalm 144:9 – “I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God; upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto Thee (21st Century KJV).”
Psalm 150:5 – “Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals (NLT).”
The Message
Ps 33:3 – “Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising. Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare (The Message).”
Psalm 47:1 – “Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo! Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs! God Most High is stunning, astride land and ocean. He crushes hostile people, puts nations at our feet. He set us at the head of the line, prize-winning Jacob, his favorite. Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain, a ram's horn blast at the summit. Sing songs to God, sing out! Sing to our King, sing praise! He's Lord over earth, so sing your best songs to God. God is Lord of godless nations— sovereign, he's King of the mountain. Princes from all over are gathered, people of Abraham's God. The powers of earth are God's— he soars over all (The Message).”
Psalm 144:9 – “O God, let me sing a new song to you, let me play it on a twelve-string guitar— A song to the God who saved the king, the God who rescued David, his servant (The Message).”
Ps 33:3 – “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts (ESV).”
Ps 98:4 - “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise (KJV).”
Psalm 144:9 – “I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God; upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto Thee (21st Century KJV).”
Psalm 150:5 – “Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals (NLT).”
The Message
Ps 33:3 – “Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising. Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare (The Message).”
Psalm 47:1 – “Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo! Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs! God Most High is stunning, astride land and ocean. He crushes hostile people, puts nations at our feet. He set us at the head of the line, prize-winning Jacob, his favorite. Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain, a ram's horn blast at the summit. Sing songs to God, sing out! Sing to our King, sing praise! He's Lord over earth, so sing your best songs to God. God is Lord of godless nations— sovereign, he's King of the mountain. Princes from all over are gathered, people of Abraham's God. The powers of earth are God's— he soars over all (The Message).”
Psalm 144:9 – “O God, let me sing a new song to you, let me play it on a twelve-string guitar— A song to the God who saved the king, the God who rescued David, his servant (The Message).”
Monday, May 31, 2010
God Doesn't Need Our Money?
“God doesn't need our money; He already owns it all. But when we willingly set aside the first part of our income for the local church, our hearts will be turned toward Him. (Matthew 6:21)
Know Giving, Know Life
Giving is the antidote for materialism. The Bible says that by giving generously we are able to "take hold of the life that is truly life." You aren't really living unless you are freely giving. (I Timothy 6:19)
The above is an exact copy and paste from a local church's website (see link below, if interested). Let’s examine this one part at a time so we can get the full scope of things.
“God doesn't need our money; He already owns it all.” If God owns it all, then why does my local church need God’s money? Is the local church God? If God is the church, then why doesn’t the local church already have God’s money? Why do they need to get it from me? I know why…it’s because the local church is not God and they do need my money. They have programs to support and salaries to pay; why won’t they just admit it?
We should willingly set aside first part of our income for the local church? That’s not what the Holy Scriptures say. The great Apostle Paul said that “hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor (2 Tim 2:6).” Whose labor? Who should be first? The hardworking farmer! Why? Because the farmer earned it and did all the work! Does God get up at 6:45 every morning do my job for me? No, I do that. I work hard to support my family and to pay the bills. Yes, God had a hand in getting my job and I’m very thankful for it, but I’m the one with sweat on my brow everyday. Thank you, Lord!
So, “when we willingly set aside the first part of our income for the local church, our hearts will be turned toward Him?“ No, this is twisting of Scripture. Is the local church considered to be God now? When did this happen?
Jesus, who is God in the flesh, said “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! (Matt 25:35-40)’”
It’s when you give to the poor and needy saints that you give to God, not the local church building fund or institution.
The Scripture of Matthew 6:21 actually states, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be (NLT).” The problem is, that this verse is not talking about tithing. The topic of Matthew 6:21 is referring to loyalty, your devotion and your heart attitude, not tithing.
Matthew 6:21 is really saying, “Your heart will always be where your treasure is (CEV).” In other words, are you going to invest in God’s kingdom where things are eternal or are you investing in things that are earthly that are temporary? How do I invest in God’s kingdom? Is it by giving 10% of my income to the local church? Is the local church God’s kingdom?
The answer is “No.” The local church is not the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not anything man can see with his eyes. The kingdom of God is in you, the believer (Luke 17:20). Jesus said, “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven (Matt 19:21).” “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God (Luke 12:21).” Trust me, this church won’t want to be called the “storehouse” after that verse. If you want to be rich, be rich in a relationship with God.
If you want to invest into the kingdom of God, invest in people by building relationships. Do not fully invest everything, or even 10% of what you earn, exclusively into your local church.
What do you think would please God more?
1. $1000 given to a poor family to help with food and necessities.
2. $1000 given to white-suited, jet-flying rich TV evangelists ministry.
3. $1000 given to buy new sound equipment, the building fund or budget for the church.
4. $1000 tithed to the Mercedes driving pastor of a mega-church.
Why would you want to make the church and pastor rich? Don’t you know that Jesus said, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom (Luke 18:24). Even the very first mention of giving a tenth in the bible was Abram, who said to the king of Sodom after taking war booty from his enemies, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich (Genesis 14:22-23).” If you want to be rich, be rich in faith, not in money. Wanting to rich in money or wealth, is the root of all kinds of evil.
In detail, Jesus said, “Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? (James 2:5).” Please take the Bible’s advice, give to the poor and needy in your congregation, not solely to your local church building.
Know Giving, Know Life
Giving is the antidote for materialism? What is materialism? Materialism is the focus on possessions or the devotion to material wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 Paul writes, “people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows (NLT).”
Who is the one asking for the money I earn every week? Who is one who has online giving made easy? Who is it that gives a little “tithe sermon" every single week? Who is it that never fails to pass the plate or bucket to collect tithes and offerings on Sunday morning? Who are the ones who try to guilt trip or coax the members into tithing every church service? Who is it who depends upon getting money from the church members every week to pay the light bill, meet the budget and staff salaries?
Why isn’t the local church more concerned with my prayer life or my spiritual relationship with God rather than money?
Maybe it’s because the local church is focusing “on possessions or the devotion to material wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values.”
Seems to me that it is the local church who is the one focusing on material wealth, not the members who attend it! It sounds to me that the only antidote for materialism in the local church is Christ! If the local ‘tithe’ supported churches would focus more on preaching the gospel of Christ, then material wealth would seem to fade away as the focus is directed towards Christ.
The only remedy for this greed in local churches like this one is failure. They should realize that they need to stop relying on people‘s incomes and start relying on God‘s provision. They need to start worrying about preaching the gospel, teaching others with proper Scriptural doctrine and sending out more teachers, evangelist and such. They need to insist on the significance of people over the need for money and relationship over politics in the local church. If God wants that church to have money, God will provide. If God wants that pastor to be there, God will provide. If God wants a special presentation or program, God will provide. Aren‘t you living by faith and not by sight? Or, are you living by fear and by your own might?
“Do not worry about everyday life; whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing (Luke 12:22-23).”
“You aren't really living unless you are freely giving?” They quoted 1 timothy 6:19. What does that verse say?
1 Timothy 6:19 “By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” By doing what?
In just two verses before in 1 Timothy 6:17-18, this is what it says we must do, which is:
1. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud.
2. Teach those who are rich in this world not to trust in their money.
3. Tell them to use their money to do good.
4. They should be rich in good works.
5. Be generous to those in need.
6. Always being ready to share with others.
Will the rich listen to us? Money is unreliable? If money is unreliable, then why does the church want it so desperately?
This verse is not talking about tithing. This verse is talking about giving; giving to those in need.
Please allow me to explain this. Tithing is not giving. Giving is giving and tithing is done by compulsion. Tithing is 10% or one-tenth; no more, no less. Tithing is an obligation; a duty to obedience to the Mosaic Law (Matt 23:23). Giving doesn’t have a certain amount of money involved or attached to it but it is the attitude of the heart and it is not given under compulsion (Mark 12:43). Tithing is tithing, and giving is giving; they are not the same thing!
Why should I do these things? For the future! What future? Your future in heaven with God so that “they may experience true life!” This verse is not talking about this earthly life, it’s talking about our life beyond this age when we get into the kingdom of heaven! Heaven is the true life, not earth!
We should be using our money to do good and be rich in good works. Is my local church in need? Is my local church poor? Do they trust in my income (money) to pay staff salaries? So, who’s trusting in money, the church or me? They should be rich in good works, not in wealth. It sounds as if the church needs my money more than I do.
What’s really confusing is that they use a tithing principle (first part of our income) in combination with a giving principle (our hearts will be turned toward Him). Then, they add the word “donate” to the web page on top of it all. A donation is usually a phrase that one uses to give or present something to a charitable organization or other good cause. It seems somewhat deceptive to just blend and mix it all together as if it’s all good without explaining the basic differences between Tithing and Giving. Should I expect any less from religious people’s ideas?
What is the local church?
1. Is the church God?
2. Is the church a “storehouse?”
3. Is the church a charitable organization?
4. Is the church a business or a “good cause?”
5. Is the local church an institution?
No, the local church should be none of these. The local church is the local body of believers. The local church are the Christ followers, the people of God. The building is not a local church. The church “building” is nothing more than a building! It’s a place to teach, learn about and worship God. The local church meets in the building, it’s not the other way around.
The church building is not a necessity, but a benefit. It is not an authority figure, but a place to serve the local body of Christ. The pastors are there to serve the body of believers, not the other way around. Who comes up this this craziness? The local church should not be a business or place of employment, but a place where local believers can meet and fellowship together; for free and without a cover charge. If money is needed for this, then God will provide the need by placing people in the church specifically for that purpose (2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:11-13).
Dear Christian church, please stop twisting Scripture and picking and choosing what you like and dislike from the Bible. Start teaching New Testament church doctrines which include grace giving principles and not Old Testament tithing principles. Please, stop lying to people and telling them that God will bless them 100-fold if they give their 10%. There’s absolutely no Scripture that supports or teaches that. We are blessed because we have faith in Christ, not because we give you money. Please, stop telling people that they should write out that tithe check first before they pay any other bills. That’s irresponsible and terrible stewardship principles. Stop lying to people by telling them that if they didn’t give 10%, that their other 90% will be cursed. That is a curse of the Mosaic Law and Christians are not under the Law of Moses. Christ redeemed us from the law and became the curse for us.
You should not prevent people from church membership or keep them out of a certain ministry because they are not a "faithful tither." This is all wrong. My giving is between me and God and its none of your D#$% business!
If you ask me, churches or pastors who support this kind of extortion of the church members should be removed from their positions as a leader. If you are a pastor and hold that position solely for the sake of making money, you should repent, be removed from your position and ashamed of yourself. Your pay should be the privilege to preach and teach the good news of Christ. We should be giving to the poor, needy and the hurting in our congregations as taught in the New Testament. Churches should stop ignoring their own people in the local church instead of reaching out to the "community" first. This is wrong. Jesus said that when we give to the poor saints, and “least of my brethren” is giving to him, not the heathen community outside the local church. Of course, reaching the world with the gospel is a priority as well, but you don't neglect your own church members for the sake of the world....who mostly hates Jesus and the church anyway!
The Treasure Test
An Eternal Investment
(Church link: http://www.treeoflifechurch.org/donate/)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Fear of Death
1. Who is afraid to die?
2. Why are you afraid of death?
• The narrow way is difficult but lead to life that is found in Christ (Matt 7:14).
• If you follow Jesus, you will not walk in darkness, but you will have the light of life. (John 8:12).
• The help you asked for is there when you ask Him (Matt. 7:7).
• It is through the cross, that we who are in Christ have been freed from fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15).
• Hebrews 2:14-15 “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (NLT)
If you are saved, then you should have no fear of death. The only thing between you and death is Christ; and since Christ has conquered death, you have also.
While in prison, Paul wrote:
• Philippians 1:20-21 “For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. 21 For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.” (NLT)
Paul was not worried about his death; he actually welcomed it. Why?
He was confident in God’s promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus.
• Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” (NKJV)
There is no “fear of death” to the Christian. Christ dominated death and we have been liberated from the power of death through Jesus.
• 1 John 5:12-13 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (NKJV)
2. Why are you afraid of death?
• The narrow way is difficult but lead to life that is found in Christ (Matt 7:14).
• If you follow Jesus, you will not walk in darkness, but you will have the light of life. (John 8:12).
• The help you asked for is there when you ask Him (Matt. 7:7).
• It is through the cross, that we who are in Christ have been freed from fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15).
• Hebrews 2:14-15 “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (NLT)
If you are saved, then you should have no fear of death. The only thing between you and death is Christ; and since Christ has conquered death, you have also.
While in prison, Paul wrote:
• Philippians 1:20-21 “For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. 21 For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.” (NLT)
Paul was not worried about his death; he actually welcomed it. Why?
He was confident in God’s promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus.
• Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” (NKJV)
There is no “fear of death” to the Christian. Christ dominated death and we have been liberated from the power of death through Jesus.
• 1 John 5:12-13 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (NKJV)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Did Jesus Abolish "thou shalt not murder, or thou shalt not commit adultery?"
Yes and No.
Jesus did not completely abolish the Mosaic law. However, the requirements of the law still remain. Instead, Jesus made a way to fulfill the laws requirements instead. He abolished the penalty of the Law for those who have faith in Christ. Remember, the purpose of the law was to show you how sinful you are. Since we have come to Christ and have faith in what He did on the cross, God no longer counts the law against us because of Christ. God’s grace has freed us from the penalty of the law. There is no longer a Mosaic law for us to follow if establish it ourselves. It’s by our faith in Christ that we have been counted righteous.
Concerning the answer, “No,” Paul said, “Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law?” In fact, without having faith in Christ, we are still guilty of the law and will have to pay the penalty, which is death.
Paul explains why we are no longer subject to the law.
Romans 3:21-31 "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past; for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
To reiterate what Paul explained, because we have placed our faith in Christ, we now establish or fulfill (complete, establish, finish, end, satisfy) the law.
This law is simple. It is to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
*Romans 13:8 “If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.”
*Romans 13:10 “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
*Galatians 5:14 “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The bottom line is that when we are led by the Spirit of God, and allow our faith in Christ to fill our lives, the natural response is to love God and love others. When we love others, we will not commit adultery and we will not murder people. When we love God and others, we will not steal from our friends and we will not treat others unfairly. Therefore, we establish the law and become a law unto ourselves because of our faith in Christ and our love for others.
Jesus did not completely abolish the Mosaic law. However, the requirements of the law still remain. Instead, Jesus made a way to fulfill the laws requirements instead. He abolished the penalty of the Law for those who have faith in Christ. Remember, the purpose of the law was to show you how sinful you are. Since we have come to Christ and have faith in what He did on the cross, God no longer counts the law against us because of Christ. God’s grace has freed us from the penalty of the law. There is no longer a Mosaic law for us to follow if establish it ourselves. It’s by our faith in Christ that we have been counted righteous.
Concerning the answer, “No,” Paul said, “Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law?” In fact, without having faith in Christ, we are still guilty of the law and will have to pay the penalty, which is death.
Paul explains why we are no longer subject to the law.
Romans 3:21-31 "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past; for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
To reiterate what Paul explained, because we have placed our faith in Christ, we now establish or fulfill (complete, establish, finish, end, satisfy) the law.
This law is simple. It is to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
*Romans 13:8 “If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.”
*Romans 13:10 “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
*Galatians 5:14 “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The bottom line is that when we are led by the Spirit of God, and allow our faith in Christ to fill our lives, the natural response is to love God and love others. When we love others, we will not commit adultery and we will not murder people. When we love God and others, we will not steal from our friends and we will not treat others unfairly. Therefore, we establish the law and become a law unto ourselves because of our faith in Christ and our love for others.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
In Context, Out of Context
Matthew 23:23 - You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
This verse has been taken “out of context” so many times by Christians, it’s incredible. What does it mean to take a verse “out of context?”
Context is the words, phrases, or passages that come before and after a particular word or passage in a speech or piece of writing and help to explain its full meaning. It may include the circumstances or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place.
Some questions to ask yourself when applying the proper context are:
Who said what? Who did they say it to? What time was it? Was it after or before a certain event? Was the listener receptive? Was the listener of the conversation friendly or hostile? Where was the person who said this thing? What prompted the person to say it? Whose interests did the speaker have at heart? By what or whose authority or expertise did the narrator possess? Was the orator serious? Was the presenter being honest?
We can’t just pull a verse out of the pages of the bible and honestly apply them to ourselves without understanding the context involved. This is what has happened to Matthew 23:23. Christians will read Matthew 23:23 and say, “See? Jesus says right there that we should tithe!”
Is that really what it says? No, that has read “out of context.” Every time the scriptures say, "you" and we apply it to ourselves, saying "that means me" we take the scripture “out of context.” In context, almost any "you" refers to persons who have been dead for centuries.
The following is to whom Jesus was speaking. Jesus said, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.” Was he talking to you, an after-the-cross, grace-saved contemporary Christian Gentile from the 21st century? No, Jesus was talking to the before-the-cross, unsaved Jewish religious teachers of the Mosaic Law and Pharisees who are under the Law in Israel!
Next time you’re reading the bible and you come across a verse and you wonder, “Does that apply to me?” Ask yourself the questions mentioned above and ask yourself, “Does the principle involved apply to me?” Why?
It’s important to keep things in context and to have the right perspective. One reason is because it can keep you out of trouble. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,“ did he mean that it was okay to have sex with your neighbor? No, that would contradict what Jesus said about lust in Matthew 5:28. Jesus said, “Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Therefore, it is imperative to keep the Scriptures in context so truth can be taught as it was meant to be from God’s Word.
This verse has been taken “out of context” so many times by Christians, it’s incredible. What does it mean to take a verse “out of context?”
Context is the words, phrases, or passages that come before and after a particular word or passage in a speech or piece of writing and help to explain its full meaning. It may include the circumstances or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place.
Some questions to ask yourself when applying the proper context are:
Who said what? Who did they say it to? What time was it? Was it after or before a certain event? Was the listener receptive? Was the listener of the conversation friendly or hostile? Where was the person who said this thing? What prompted the person to say it? Whose interests did the speaker have at heart? By what or whose authority or expertise did the narrator possess? Was the orator serious? Was the presenter being honest?
We can’t just pull a verse out of the pages of the bible and honestly apply them to ourselves without understanding the context involved. This is what has happened to Matthew 23:23. Christians will read Matthew 23:23 and say, “See? Jesus says right there that we should tithe!”
Is that really what it says? No, that has read “out of context.” Every time the scriptures say, "you" and we apply it to ourselves, saying "that means me" we take the scripture “out of context.” In context, almost any "you" refers to persons who have been dead for centuries.
The following is to whom Jesus was speaking. Jesus said, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.” Was he talking to you, an after-the-cross, grace-saved contemporary Christian Gentile from the 21st century? No, Jesus was talking to the before-the-cross, unsaved Jewish religious teachers of the Mosaic Law and Pharisees who are under the Law in Israel!
Next time you’re reading the bible and you come across a verse and you wonder, “Does that apply to me?” Ask yourself the questions mentioned above and ask yourself, “Does the principle involved apply to me?” Why?
It’s important to keep things in context and to have the right perspective. One reason is because it can keep you out of trouble. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,“ did he mean that it was okay to have sex with your neighbor? No, that would contradict what Jesus said about lust in Matthew 5:28. Jesus said, “Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Therefore, it is imperative to keep the Scriptures in context so truth can be taught as it was meant to be from God’s Word.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What is my Motivation?
Recently, I was asked what my motivation was for teaching anti-tithing messages. Well, my first response was, “I'm motivated by love, grace and truth. John 1:17 - “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
However, that is a very broad answer and may be unsatisfactory to some readers. To be more specific, I will give you my disclaimer that I usually post along with my facebook notes and blog posts.
It states:
“It is most certainly not my intention to offend, hurt somebody's feelings, upset, insult, be rude to, cause offense or rub anyone the wrong way with this theologically based note. It is not my intention to convert, win over, convince, talk into, induce, persuade, talk round or bring around anyone’s mind about my beliefs or teachings. Please, let it be known that this is not a personal attack on anyone specific or any church or institution’s foundational beliefs and statements of faith. On the other hand, it is my clear intention to share, communicate, let somebody in on, impart, reveal and disclose my principles, opinions, views, theories and philosophy. It is because of my love for people, teaching the truth taught in the Holy Scriptures and discovering the endless and unfolding knowledge of God that I am compelled to write these things. I personally believe that I am moved and motivated by the Spirit of God to share the great and wonderful news of Christ with those whom I know and have known in the past. It is my heart‘s desire to share the passion I have for the love of Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the heart of God with freedom and liberty. If you are offended or have hurt feelings, have resentment towards me, or irritation, anger, or displeasure by this note; then I humbly and sincerely apologize from the heart with all gentleness and hope that you are able to forgive me beforehand. However, if you find yourself convicted or possibly swayed, or not in anyway offended and have the courage and humility to become different than the way you were before after reading and engaging in this note; then I most certainly commend you. Furthermore, I am delighted to know that because of this, we are able to share in this unique endeavor and great adventure that we call “life.”
I guess that if I had to summarize my motivation it would be righteous indignation. I am justifiably angry that I was taught wrong doctrine. I am outraged at the wrong and unfairness that contemporary pastors, preachers and teachers are teaching about money these days. Everything they teach about giving is based upon Old Testament Law of Moses.
All of their Scriptural are references for giving are from the Mosaic Law; which in fact, are not about giving freely for a purpose led by the Holy Spirit to help the poor and needy but instead are a religious and obedient law-following command given to Israel for land owners, farmers and cattle owners to give to the Levite priests for support in the Temple.
The modern definition of tithing is defined as giving 10% of your weekly or monthly on-going income to support the local church by paying it’s electric bills, staff salaries and special programs.
I hate to see my brothers and sisters in Christ being subtly deceived into giving 10% of their on-going pay-checks every week to their local church to pay bills, staff salaries and special programs. It’s not that these things are bad; their not. But, you don’t have to con people into giving when they would gladly give anyway if grace led the way.
Jesus said that tithing was an aspect or "matter of the Law" (Matt 23:23) and being under the Law is a curse (Gal 3:10). Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Therefore, it is by having faith in Christ that we are blessed and we should be a blessing to those in need (Rom 4:13,16; Gal 3:8-14).
I know that God has called me to tell the church that we must do away with legalism and false teaching. We must get rid of the Old Testament thinking and start living by faith in truth and love with all the fullness of grace found only in a personal relationship with Christ. We must prepare our hearts for Christs return.
Worldly wealth is temporary and unreliable, so stop thinking that by legalistically giving 10% of your income to your local church somehow pleases God, it does not. Only by having faith in Christ can God be pleased.
Titus 1:11 "They [false teachers] must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money (NLT)."
2 Timothy 2:15 “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth (NLT).”
However, that is a very broad answer and may be unsatisfactory to some readers. To be more specific, I will give you my disclaimer that I usually post along with my facebook notes and blog posts.
It states:
“It is most certainly not my intention to offend, hurt somebody's feelings, upset, insult, be rude to, cause offense or rub anyone the wrong way with this theologically based note. It is not my intention to convert, win over, convince, talk into, induce, persuade, talk round or bring around anyone’s mind about my beliefs or teachings. Please, let it be known that this is not a personal attack on anyone specific or any church or institution’s foundational beliefs and statements of faith. On the other hand, it is my clear intention to share, communicate, let somebody in on, impart, reveal and disclose my principles, opinions, views, theories and philosophy. It is because of my love for people, teaching the truth taught in the Holy Scriptures and discovering the endless and unfolding knowledge of God that I am compelled to write these things. I personally believe that I am moved and motivated by the Spirit of God to share the great and wonderful news of Christ with those whom I know and have known in the past. It is my heart‘s desire to share the passion I have for the love of Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the heart of God with freedom and liberty. If you are offended or have hurt feelings, have resentment towards me, or irritation, anger, or displeasure by this note; then I humbly and sincerely apologize from the heart with all gentleness and hope that you are able to forgive me beforehand. However, if you find yourself convicted or possibly swayed, or not in anyway offended and have the courage and humility to become different than the way you were before after reading and engaging in this note; then I most certainly commend you. Furthermore, I am delighted to know that because of this, we are able to share in this unique endeavor and great adventure that we call “life.”
I guess that if I had to summarize my motivation it would be righteous indignation. I am justifiably angry that I was taught wrong doctrine. I am outraged at the wrong and unfairness that contemporary pastors, preachers and teachers are teaching about money these days. Everything they teach about giving is based upon Old Testament Law of Moses.
All of their Scriptural are references for giving are from the Mosaic Law; which in fact, are not about giving freely for a purpose led by the Holy Spirit to help the poor and needy but instead are a religious and obedient law-following command given to Israel for land owners, farmers and cattle owners to give to the Levite priests for support in the Temple.
The modern definition of tithing is defined as giving 10% of your weekly or monthly on-going income to support the local church by paying it’s electric bills, staff salaries and special programs.
I hate to see my brothers and sisters in Christ being subtly deceived into giving 10% of their on-going pay-checks every week to their local church to pay bills, staff salaries and special programs. It’s not that these things are bad; their not. But, you don’t have to con people into giving when they would gladly give anyway if grace led the way.
Jesus said that tithing was an aspect or "matter of the Law" (Matt 23:23) and being under the Law is a curse (Gal 3:10). Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Therefore, it is by having faith in Christ that we are blessed and we should be a blessing to those in need (Rom 4:13,16; Gal 3:8-14).
I know that God has called me to tell the church that we must do away with legalism and false teaching. We must get rid of the Old Testament thinking and start living by faith in truth and love with all the fullness of grace found only in a personal relationship with Christ. We must prepare our hearts for Christs return.
Worldly wealth is temporary and unreliable, so stop thinking that by legalistically giving 10% of your income to your local church somehow pleases God, it does not. Only by having faith in Christ can God be pleased.
Titus 1:11 "They [false teachers] must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money (NLT)."
2 Timothy 2:15 “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth (NLT).”
Sunday, March 28, 2010
28 Reasons why "Tithing" is NOT Mandatory
Disclaimer: Let it be known that the definition of "tithe" or "tithing" used in this article as in "I am not preaching against tithing. If you decided to tithe, then God will bless you. It is good to tithe" is actually referring to "giving" and NOT the Old Testament idea of giving crops and cattle by compulsion or by command of the Mosaic Law.
"I believe in supporting your local church. And if you can afford to tithe that's great. But tithing is not mandatory. God will bless any amount you can afford to give. We live under grace not the law. Read my 28 reasons. I think I explain it well.
If anyone needs Biblical and/or historical evidence for these 28 points, I can easily provide them. Tithing was part of the Law of Moses. But the Law of Moses has been gone since the time Jesus brought in the new covenant of grace, but preachers still demand tithes. Many will kick you out of their churches if you don’t tithe. Let’s look at this whole thing from a Biblical and historical perspective.
1. Jesus only mentions tithing once, and that was when he was pointing out how hypocritical the Pharisees were in keeping the Mosaic Law. In that statement Jesus says that tithing is part of the Mosaic Law.
- It is said that Jesus commended the Pharisees for tithing. Well, let's look at the passage: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
- Saying "these you ought to have done" is not a commendation when in the previous sentence He says "woe". Why would He say "woe" if He is commending them? He's saying that they ought to have kept the tithe, but practiced justice and love as well. But He said this in reference to how they were keeping the Mosaic Law, which He nailed to His cross. The point of this passage is not to preach tithing, but to denounce hypocrisy. The lesson to the disciples is not to be hypocrites. Tithing is simply mentioned to illustrate how hypocritical the Pharisees were. In the gospel of Matthew Jesus tells the people to obey the Jewish leaders because they sit in the seat of Moses. This would have meant obeying the Old Testament Law. But considering that Jesus nailed the Law to his cross this saying by Jesus would have only been in effect till His crucifixion and the foundation of the Church. Once that happened the Old Law passed away. Just like His mention of tithing only referred to the Old Law and passed away when He was crucified.
- When Jesus says "woe" to someone it doesn't sound like a commendation to me. It's obvious what is going on here. Jesus was telling them that they were so hypocritical in keeping the Mosaic Law. Jesus even says “weightier matters of the law.” He’s talking about how the Pharisees kept the Mosaic Law like hypocrites. Jesus preached love and justice throughout the entire 4 Gospels, but only mentions tithing this one time to point out hypocrisy. Love and justice got transferred into the New Testament. Tithing didn’t. It couldn’t have been, because tithing revolves around farming in the land of Israel, and that land alone.
- Here is another way to explain it. The Law of Moses had two aspects to it. The moral aspects and the ceremonial aspects. The moral aspects were the parts of the law which dealt with moral issues, such as most of the 10 commandments, and ideas concerning justice and mercy. The ceremonial aspects dealt with issues such as keeping kosher, and animals sacrifices, and being ritually clean, and tithing. But Jesus nailed the ceremonial aspects of the Law of Moses to His cross, while He reiterated the moral aspects of the Law of Moses and transferred them into the Covenant of Grace. Therefore murder is still a sin, and justice and mercy have to be given by Christians, but we are not obligated to keep kosher, or tithing, which are ceremonial aspects of the law. When Jesus made this statement to the Pharisees he was telling them that in their keeping of the Law of Moses they should have kept both the moral aspects of the Law, as well as the ceremonial aspects, and not have been hypocrites by only obeying the ceremonial aspects, such as keeping the tithe meticulously, while at the same time they avoided justice and mercy. Those ceremonial aspects no longer apply to Christians, just like keeping kosher no longer applies, because Jesus nailed all of that to the cross. His reason for making this statement to the Pharisees was to point out their hypocrisy, and not to preach the ceremonial parts of the Law of Moses, such as tithing.
- If you don't think that tithing was part of the ceremonial aspect of the Law of Moses, but insist that it was part of the moral aspect, then answer me this, why don't Christians keep the festival tithe of the Law of Moses?
2. My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
-How can Jesus' yoke be easy and His burden light if you can't afford to tithe? It is a burden, because Paul says that he worked with his own hands to make a living, so as not to “burden” his new converts. Why did he call it a burden? How do you define a light burden? If tithing is such a blessing, then why does Paul call it a burden?
3. Freely you have received, freely give.
-When Jesus said: freely you have received, freely give, He was talking to the Apostles. That means he was talking to preachers. They are the ones who this is being addressed to. They are to give freely if they have received freely.
4. Blessed are the poor (Gospel of Luke - Sermon on the Plain).
- In Luke's gospel Jesus said blessed are the poor (not poor in spirit). You can't bless a poor man if you take what he needs to live.
5. Jesus was a poor man. He had no where to lay His head. If the blessing for tithing is always financial, and always to the individual, and if Jesus tithed, then why was this the case? Peter had no silver or gold to give the lame beggar. How can this be if God blessed him for being a tither? If John the Baptist was a tithing believer, then why was he so poor? If the poor widow who gave the mite was a tither then why was she so poor? Yet even though she was poor Jesus praised her.
6. Paul said to give as the Lord has prospered you and as you have decided in your heart, not out of necessity, not grudgingly, because the Lord loves a cheerful giver. It's hard to believe that Paul would not have preached tithing if it was mandatory.
7. Paul said that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly, that means that you're allowed to sow sparingly if you wish. You might not get the best blessing, but you will still get a blessing nonetheless. It means that God blesses any amount you give and therefore tithing cannot be mandatory for Christians. God does not curse Christians for not tithing, and you're allowed to give any amount you see fit, without disobeying God. Paul's statement in itself shows that tithing is not a command for Christians.
8. The percentage and/or the amount that some people give may be little, but due to their income it is a bigger sacrifice than others who give more than a tithe. The widow who gave two mites to the Temple gave more than the rich men who gave a lot, because she was poor. She gave all she had left, after she had spent the rest, and even though she had less than a penny left it meant more than the riches the rich men gave.
9. Abraham is recorded as only having tithed once, and it was on war booty, not income, and it was voluntary. If it was voluntary and on war booty and only once, how can some preachers say that tithing precedes the Law of Moses and therefore transcends it. If that is the case then circumcision also transcends the Mosaic Law because Abraham practiced it too. And circumcision was definitely a command, while Abraham tithed that one time voluntarily.
10. Jacob tithed, but it was only voluntarily, and he made all these conditions for God. And we don't know where his tithe went. There were no Jewish churches back then with a staff that needed to be paid. So he either burned it up in sacrifice, or gave it to the poor, or both.
11. Tithing under the Law of Moses was only to be given to the tribe of Levi because they inherited no land. The Levites shared it with the poor. Modern day pastors are not Levites who don't get to inherit land.
12. Tithing in the Law of Moses was tied to the land of Israel. When the land was not farmed in the Sabbath and Jubilee years, so there was to be no tithing. But the Israelites had other jobs in the Sabbath year. They worked all the time, except for the Sabbath day. The entire nation didn’t just stand still every 7 years and stop working completely. There was no tithing in the Sabbath years because there was no farming. The land had a rest, but only the land. The Israelite nation didn’t stand still for an entire year. The land was not farmed in the Sabbath year so that the land could have a rest. Farm animals were born in the Sabbath years, but they were not tithed on because there was no farming in those years. Tithing was tied to the land and to farming in Israel, and that land alone. Christians are not Jewish farmers living in Israel.
13. Modern day Jews in the USA don't tithe because there is no Temple, and most of them are not farmers in Israel. No modern day Synagogue asks for a Tithe, which is an Old Testament thing which Christian religious leaders ask for, not Jewish religious leaders.
14. Tithing was only on farm products, if you were a carpenter, like Jesus, you had no farm products to tithe, so Jesus didn't tithe. Look it up in your Bible. No where does it say to tithe on anything but farm products, such as food and livestock. I looks evident that the reason is because God wanted the Levites to eat, but did not intend for them to get rich. And if it the tithe was on more than just farm products why was there no tithe in the Sabbath year? People worked in that year and had incomes, they just didn’t tithe?
15. Jesus never collected any tithes to fund His own ministry. Never. If Jesus never collected any tithes, then it seems impossible that His ministers should have the nerve to demand tithes under His name.
16. In Deuteronomy Moses clarifies tithing by saying that "the year of tithing" to the Levites was only once every 3rd year, in a 7 year cycle. It says "the year of tithing", not "the year of secondary tithing", so this is the same tithe as the one mentioned in Leviticus and Numbers, it's just clarified. It is not a secondary tithe.
17. There was only one tithe, not 3 tithes, in the Mosaic Law. It says that a "tenth is holy to the Lord", not "23% is holy to the Lord". So the festival tithe, and the Levite tithe, and the tithe mentioned in Leviticus and Numbers are all one tithe. In the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th years the tithe was the festival tithe. On the 3rd and 6th years it was given to the Levites who shared it with the poor. It says in Deuteronomy 14 that every year you shall tithe to the Lord, and then goes on to explain how it was to be done. First the festival tithe, then on the 3rd year the Levite tithe. But just one tithe each year. Yet only every 3rd year did the Levites get a tithe.
- The third year is called the year of tithing because it was that year that the tithe was given away. In the other years the families separated a tithe, but kept it in their own families for the festivals.
- Modern day preachers will not allow Christians to have a Sabbath year from tithing, nor a Jubilee year from tithing. And modern day preachers often have other sources of income which include owning land and inheriting land, while the Levites were given the tithe because they neither inherited land nor owned it.
18. The prophet Daniel never tithed. Neither did Queen Esther or Mordecai. They were not farmers in the land of Israel, and at that time there was no Temple to upkeep. Also the Levites were often forbidden to preach during the exile. So they were forbidden to do the work of preaching. They had other jobs to occupy them and support them during the exile. But during the exile there was no tithing, just like there were no animal sacrifices during that time period.
19. After the Babylonian captivity, under Ezra and Nehemiah, the Jews created man made laws for themselves, one of which was to tithe every year to the Levites, and another was to give a temple tax. Jesus said that the sons of the kingdom are free from paying the temple tax when Peter was asked by the Pharisees if Jesus pays the tax. So after the captivity tithing to the Levites was yearly, but it being a yearly thing was a man made law, just like the Temple tax. Yearly tithing to the Levites was not a divine law, only tithing once every 3 years in a 7 year cycle was mandatory, and that was only in the Mosaic Law. It seems clear that the yearly tithe was established after the exile because there were fewer people to support the Temple, and the work of the Levites, due the exile which had just ended. Jesus said that these man made laws need not be followed anymore, since he told Peter that the sons are free from paying the Temple tax, which was one of the man made laws created in the time of Nehemiah.
20. Malachi 3 is addressed to the nation of Israel as a whole, during the time when the Law of Moses was still in effect. Malachi 3 is not addressed to individuals. It says that if the nation returns to God then the land of Israel will be a pleasant land. The whole land, not just the land of the tithers. God would either bless the whole nation or curse the whole nation, depending on if they obeyed Him. Just like God punished the whole nation with captivity in Babylon. Jesus said that the blessings of God rain down on the good and the bad. When rain falls and waters crops, the rainfall does not stop at the border of the land which belongs to the man who does not tithe. The whole nation is watered.
21. The Levites had other sources of income. They had 13 cities, with pasture lands. Levites also collected fines and free will offerings. Levites were only one tribe out of 12. They only made up about 6%-8% of the population. Even if they received a tithe only once every 3 years, in a 7 year cycle, they still had plenty, since in addition to the free will offerings and fines they collected, the Israelites were to voluntarily share some of their food with the Levites during the years of the festival tithe. And let us not forget that the Levites also received the first fruits, but no percentage is given for how much that was.
22. So even in the Mosaic Law the tithe to the Levites was not every year. The Mosaic tithe was tied to farming and farm products in the land of Israel. And only in the land of Israel. If you're not an Israeli farmer, you don't tithe.
23. The tithe does not predate the Law, because Jacob tithed voluntarily, not under command. And Abraham only voluntarily tithed once, and it was on war booty, not income.
24. Jesus nailed the Mosaic Law to His cross. We are no longer under the Law, but under grace. We are free under Christ. Christ set us at liberty from the law. Paul calls the law a curse. No Christian is under any curse. Paul says we are free from the curse of the law. Christians cannot be cursed for not tithing, because Christians are freed from the curse of the Law.
25. Justin Martyr lived in the 2nd century, and Tertullian lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. They preached free will giving. The founders of the Baptist Church, John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, Roger Williams, all preached free will giving. The Baptist Church didn't start preaching tithing till after the Civil War because missionary societies needed funding. Martin Luther preached at least one sermon on how tithing was not a command for Christians.
26. God did not create a burden or a stumbling block for His people, whom His Son died for. We are under grace, not law. Grace means "God's Riches at Christ's Expense." Jesus has paid everything we owe. He never collected tithes for His own ministry, and told his apostles that they have received freely, so they should give freely. Mark 10:29-31 has nothing to do with tithing, and no where in there is anything mandatory mentioned. The New Testament model is free-will giving. And even the Old Testament model was tithing to the Levites only once every 3 years, in a 7 year cycle. If you chose to give more in a free will offering, that was up to you.
27. Even if you don't agree with my interpretation of Luke's passage, as described in #1, and you want to preach Old Testament tithing, you still have to contend with the fact that "the year of tithing" to the Levites in Deuteronomy was only once every 3 years, in a 7 year cycle. And during the Sabbath and Jubilee years there was no farming and therefore NO TITHING, and this proves that it was tied to the land of Israel, especially since people had other jobs in Israel outside of farming, even in the Sabbath years. People worked during the Sabbath years, just not in farming, and not on the Sabbath day, yet in those years they did not tithe. Do you get what I'm saying? Some people have a hard time understanding something, even if it's said over and over again, because they are so set in their ways.
28. I believe that God wanted the Levites to be provided for, not to be made rich. If you believe in how most preachers interpret the Old Testament system of tithing, then 6%-8% of the population received 10% of all food in the country, plus free will offerings, plus collected fines, plus first fruits, plus food from sacrifices, plus some of the supposed "secondary tithe" of Deuteronomy, plus some of the festival tithes, plus they got to live in 13 cities of their own, where they had pasture lands. If you believe this then it means that God created one tribe of wealthy people, who did no physical labor. Considering that they made up 6%-8% of the population it meant that there was one family of Levite preachers for every 13 to 17 people. That's if you believe that Levites only taught and preached, and basically accept the interpretation of most modern day preachers. That's extremely unrealistic. These people had other jobs, if they didn't then why did they have 13 cities of their own which had pasture lands? I don't believe that it was God's intent to create one wealthy tribe, while the rest had to toil in the land under the hot sun for one third the income of an average Levite family, who according to most preachers, only taught, and did no physical labor, in a time when most people worked hard jobs on a farm. I remember reading that God has no favorites, so why would the tribe of Levi be more favorably blessed in finances than all the other tribes? Is God an elitist? Were the Levites supposed to be a tribe of elite noblemen? I think not.
- But no matter how you slice it, all the laws for mandatory tithing come from the Law of Moses. It was that same Law which Jesus nailed to His cross. Modern day pastors are not Levites. And we live under grace.
I am not preaching against tithing. If you decided to tithe, then God will bless you. It is good to tithe. My argument is against people saying that it is mandatory. It is not mandatory!!! If you cannot afford to tithe because God has not prospered you enough, then you are free not to tithe. God is not a taskmaster demanding a percentage out of you or else. He's not holding a baseball bat over your head demanding that you tithe. God does not curse Christians. God loves us, and we have liberty and are free in Christ. And God will bless any amount you give, and not only a tithe. Yet your blessing might not be a financial one. It's really up to God how He will bless you. And remember, the blessings of God rain down on both the good and the bad. So don't think that you are special just because you might be a tither. And again, it is good to tithe, but it is not mandatory!!!!!"
(Let it be known that the definition of "tithe" or "tithing" used in this article as in "I am not preaching against tithing. If you decided to tithe, then God will bless you. It is good to tithe" is actually referring to "giving" and NOT the Old Testament idea of giving crops and cattle by compulsion or by command of the Mosaic Law.)
*This is a note from a special friend who asked to remain anonymous, thank you friend!
"I believe in supporting your local church. And if you can afford to tithe that's great. But tithing is not mandatory. God will bless any amount you can afford to give. We live under grace not the law. Read my 28 reasons. I think I explain it well.
If anyone needs Biblical and/or historical evidence for these 28 points, I can easily provide them. Tithing was part of the Law of Moses. But the Law of Moses has been gone since the time Jesus brought in the new covenant of grace, but preachers still demand tithes. Many will kick you out of their churches if you don’t tithe. Let’s look at this whole thing from a Biblical and historical perspective.
1. Jesus only mentions tithing once, and that was when he was pointing out how hypocritical the Pharisees were in keeping the Mosaic Law. In that statement Jesus says that tithing is part of the Mosaic Law.
- It is said that Jesus commended the Pharisees for tithing. Well, let's look at the passage: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
- Saying "these you ought to have done" is not a commendation when in the previous sentence He says "woe". Why would He say "woe" if He is commending them? He's saying that they ought to have kept the tithe, but practiced justice and love as well. But He said this in reference to how they were keeping the Mosaic Law, which He nailed to His cross. The point of this passage is not to preach tithing, but to denounce hypocrisy. The lesson to the disciples is not to be hypocrites. Tithing is simply mentioned to illustrate how hypocritical the Pharisees were. In the gospel of Matthew Jesus tells the people to obey the Jewish leaders because they sit in the seat of Moses. This would have meant obeying the Old Testament Law. But considering that Jesus nailed the Law to his cross this saying by Jesus would have only been in effect till His crucifixion and the foundation of the Church. Once that happened the Old Law passed away. Just like His mention of tithing only referred to the Old Law and passed away when He was crucified.
- When Jesus says "woe" to someone it doesn't sound like a commendation to me. It's obvious what is going on here. Jesus was telling them that they were so hypocritical in keeping the Mosaic Law. Jesus even says “weightier matters of the law.” He’s talking about how the Pharisees kept the Mosaic Law like hypocrites. Jesus preached love and justice throughout the entire 4 Gospels, but only mentions tithing this one time to point out hypocrisy. Love and justice got transferred into the New Testament. Tithing didn’t. It couldn’t have been, because tithing revolves around farming in the land of Israel, and that land alone.
- Here is another way to explain it. The Law of Moses had two aspects to it. The moral aspects and the ceremonial aspects. The moral aspects were the parts of the law which dealt with moral issues, such as most of the 10 commandments, and ideas concerning justice and mercy. The ceremonial aspects dealt with issues such as keeping kosher, and animals sacrifices, and being ritually clean, and tithing. But Jesus nailed the ceremonial aspects of the Law of Moses to His cross, while He reiterated the moral aspects of the Law of Moses and transferred them into the Covenant of Grace. Therefore murder is still a sin, and justice and mercy have to be given by Christians, but we are not obligated to keep kosher, or tithing, which are ceremonial aspects of the law. When Jesus made this statement to the Pharisees he was telling them that in their keeping of the Law of Moses they should have kept both the moral aspects of the Law, as well as the ceremonial aspects, and not have been hypocrites by only obeying the ceremonial aspects, such as keeping the tithe meticulously, while at the same time they avoided justice and mercy. Those ceremonial aspects no longer apply to Christians, just like keeping kosher no longer applies, because Jesus nailed all of that to the cross. His reason for making this statement to the Pharisees was to point out their hypocrisy, and not to preach the ceremonial parts of the Law of Moses, such as tithing.
- If you don't think that tithing was part of the ceremonial aspect of the Law of Moses, but insist that it was part of the moral aspect, then answer me this, why don't Christians keep the festival tithe of the Law of Moses?
2. My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
-How can Jesus' yoke be easy and His burden light if you can't afford to tithe? It is a burden, because Paul says that he worked with his own hands to make a living, so as not to “burden” his new converts. Why did he call it a burden? How do you define a light burden? If tithing is such a blessing, then why does Paul call it a burden?
3. Freely you have received, freely give.
-When Jesus said: freely you have received, freely give, He was talking to the Apostles. That means he was talking to preachers. They are the ones who this is being addressed to. They are to give freely if they have received freely.
4. Blessed are the poor (Gospel of Luke - Sermon on the Plain).
- In Luke's gospel Jesus said blessed are the poor (not poor in spirit). You can't bless a poor man if you take what he needs to live.
5. Jesus was a poor man. He had no where to lay His head. If the blessing for tithing is always financial, and always to the individual, and if Jesus tithed, then why was this the case? Peter had no silver or gold to give the lame beggar. How can this be if God blessed him for being a tither? If John the Baptist was a tithing believer, then why was he so poor? If the poor widow who gave the mite was a tither then why was she so poor? Yet even though she was poor Jesus praised her.
6. Paul said to give as the Lord has prospered you and as you have decided in your heart, not out of necessity, not grudgingly, because the Lord loves a cheerful giver. It's hard to believe that Paul would not have preached tithing if it was mandatory.
7. Paul said that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly, that means that you're allowed to sow sparingly if you wish. You might not get the best blessing, but you will still get a blessing nonetheless. It means that God blesses any amount you give and therefore tithing cannot be mandatory for Christians. God does not curse Christians for not tithing, and you're allowed to give any amount you see fit, without disobeying God. Paul's statement in itself shows that tithing is not a command for Christians.
8. The percentage and/or the amount that some people give may be little, but due to their income it is a bigger sacrifice than others who give more than a tithe. The widow who gave two mites to the Temple gave more than the rich men who gave a lot, because she was poor. She gave all she had left, after she had spent the rest, and even though she had less than a penny left it meant more than the riches the rich men gave.
9. Abraham is recorded as only having tithed once, and it was on war booty, not income, and it was voluntary. If it was voluntary and on war booty and only once, how can some preachers say that tithing precedes the Law of Moses and therefore transcends it. If that is the case then circumcision also transcends the Mosaic Law because Abraham practiced it too. And circumcision was definitely a command, while Abraham tithed that one time voluntarily.
10. Jacob tithed, but it was only voluntarily, and he made all these conditions for God. And we don't know where his tithe went. There were no Jewish churches back then with a staff that needed to be paid. So he either burned it up in sacrifice, or gave it to the poor, or both.
11. Tithing under the Law of Moses was only to be given to the tribe of Levi because they inherited no land. The Levites shared it with the poor. Modern day pastors are not Levites who don't get to inherit land.
12. Tithing in the Law of Moses was tied to the land of Israel. When the land was not farmed in the Sabbath and Jubilee years, so there was to be no tithing. But the Israelites had other jobs in the Sabbath year. They worked all the time, except for the Sabbath day. The entire nation didn’t just stand still every 7 years and stop working completely. There was no tithing in the Sabbath years because there was no farming. The land had a rest, but only the land. The Israelite nation didn’t stand still for an entire year. The land was not farmed in the Sabbath year so that the land could have a rest. Farm animals were born in the Sabbath years, but they were not tithed on because there was no farming in those years. Tithing was tied to the land and to farming in Israel, and that land alone. Christians are not Jewish farmers living in Israel.
13. Modern day Jews in the USA don't tithe because there is no Temple, and most of them are not farmers in Israel. No modern day Synagogue asks for a Tithe, which is an Old Testament thing which Christian religious leaders ask for, not Jewish religious leaders.
14. Tithing was only on farm products, if you were a carpenter, like Jesus, you had no farm products to tithe, so Jesus didn't tithe. Look it up in your Bible. No where does it say to tithe on anything but farm products, such as food and livestock. I looks evident that the reason is because God wanted the Levites to eat, but did not intend for them to get rich. And if it the tithe was on more than just farm products why was there no tithe in the Sabbath year? People worked in that year and had incomes, they just didn’t tithe?
15. Jesus never collected any tithes to fund His own ministry. Never. If Jesus never collected any tithes, then it seems impossible that His ministers should have the nerve to demand tithes under His name.
16. In Deuteronomy Moses clarifies tithing by saying that "the year of tithing" to the Levites was only once every 3rd year, in a 7 year cycle. It says "the year of tithing", not "the year of secondary tithing", so this is the same tithe as the one mentioned in Leviticus and Numbers, it's just clarified. It is not a secondary tithe.
17. There was only one tithe, not 3 tithes, in the Mosaic Law. It says that a "tenth is holy to the Lord", not "23% is holy to the Lord". So the festival tithe, and the Levite tithe, and the tithe mentioned in Leviticus and Numbers are all one tithe. In the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th years the tithe was the festival tithe. On the 3rd and 6th years it was given to the Levites who shared it with the poor. It says in Deuteronomy 14 that every year you shall tithe to the Lord, and then goes on to explain how it was to be done. First the festival tithe, then on the 3rd year the Levite tithe. But just one tithe each year. Yet only every 3rd year did the Levites get a tithe.
- The third year is called the year of tithing because it was that year that the tithe was given away. In the other years the families separated a tithe, but kept it in their own families for the festivals.
- Modern day preachers will not allow Christians to have a Sabbath year from tithing, nor a Jubilee year from tithing. And modern day preachers often have other sources of income which include owning land and inheriting land, while the Levites were given the tithe because they neither inherited land nor owned it.
18. The prophet Daniel never tithed. Neither did Queen Esther or Mordecai. They were not farmers in the land of Israel, and at that time there was no Temple to upkeep. Also the Levites were often forbidden to preach during the exile. So they were forbidden to do the work of preaching. They had other jobs to occupy them and support them during the exile. But during the exile there was no tithing, just like there were no animal sacrifices during that time period.
19. After the Babylonian captivity, under Ezra and Nehemiah, the Jews created man made laws for themselves, one of which was to tithe every year to the Levites, and another was to give a temple tax. Jesus said that the sons of the kingdom are free from paying the temple tax when Peter was asked by the Pharisees if Jesus pays the tax. So after the captivity tithing to the Levites was yearly, but it being a yearly thing was a man made law, just like the Temple tax. Yearly tithing to the Levites was not a divine law, only tithing once every 3 years in a 7 year cycle was mandatory, and that was only in the Mosaic Law. It seems clear that the yearly tithe was established after the exile because there were fewer people to support the Temple, and the work of the Levites, due the exile which had just ended. Jesus said that these man made laws need not be followed anymore, since he told Peter that the sons are free from paying the Temple tax, which was one of the man made laws created in the time of Nehemiah.
20. Malachi 3 is addressed to the nation of Israel as a whole, during the time when the Law of Moses was still in effect. Malachi 3 is not addressed to individuals. It says that if the nation returns to God then the land of Israel will be a pleasant land. The whole land, not just the land of the tithers. God would either bless the whole nation or curse the whole nation, depending on if they obeyed Him. Just like God punished the whole nation with captivity in Babylon. Jesus said that the blessings of God rain down on the good and the bad. When rain falls and waters crops, the rainfall does not stop at the border of the land which belongs to the man who does not tithe. The whole nation is watered.
21. The Levites had other sources of income. They had 13 cities, with pasture lands. Levites also collected fines and free will offerings. Levites were only one tribe out of 12. They only made up about 6%-8% of the population. Even if they received a tithe only once every 3 years, in a 7 year cycle, they still had plenty, since in addition to the free will offerings and fines they collected, the Israelites were to voluntarily share some of their food with the Levites during the years of the festival tithe. And let us not forget that the Levites also received the first fruits, but no percentage is given for how much that was.
22. So even in the Mosaic Law the tithe to the Levites was not every year. The Mosaic tithe was tied to farming and farm products in the land of Israel. And only in the land of Israel. If you're not an Israeli farmer, you don't tithe.
23. The tithe does not predate the Law, because Jacob tithed voluntarily, not under command. And Abraham only voluntarily tithed once, and it was on war booty, not income.
24. Jesus nailed the Mosaic Law to His cross. We are no longer under the Law, but under grace. We are free under Christ. Christ set us at liberty from the law. Paul calls the law a curse. No Christian is under any curse. Paul says we are free from the curse of the law. Christians cannot be cursed for not tithing, because Christians are freed from the curse of the Law.
25. Justin Martyr lived in the 2nd century, and Tertullian lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. They preached free will giving. The founders of the Baptist Church, John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, Roger Williams, all preached free will giving. The Baptist Church didn't start preaching tithing till after the Civil War because missionary societies needed funding. Martin Luther preached at least one sermon on how tithing was not a command for Christians.
26. God did not create a burden or a stumbling block for His people, whom His Son died for. We are under grace, not law. Grace means "God's Riches at Christ's Expense." Jesus has paid everything we owe. He never collected tithes for His own ministry, and told his apostles that they have received freely, so they should give freely. Mark 10:29-31 has nothing to do with tithing, and no where in there is anything mandatory mentioned. The New Testament model is free-will giving. And even the Old Testament model was tithing to the Levites only once every 3 years, in a 7 year cycle. If you chose to give more in a free will offering, that was up to you.
27. Even if you don't agree with my interpretation of Luke's passage, as described in #1, and you want to preach Old Testament tithing, you still have to contend with the fact that "the year of tithing" to the Levites in Deuteronomy was only once every 3 years, in a 7 year cycle. And during the Sabbath and Jubilee years there was no farming and therefore NO TITHING, and this proves that it was tied to the land of Israel, especially since people had other jobs in Israel outside of farming, even in the Sabbath years. People worked during the Sabbath years, just not in farming, and not on the Sabbath day, yet in those years they did not tithe. Do you get what I'm saying? Some people have a hard time understanding something, even if it's said over and over again, because they are so set in their ways.
28. I believe that God wanted the Levites to be provided for, not to be made rich. If you believe in how most preachers interpret the Old Testament system of tithing, then 6%-8% of the population received 10% of all food in the country, plus free will offerings, plus collected fines, plus first fruits, plus food from sacrifices, plus some of the supposed "secondary tithe" of Deuteronomy, plus some of the festival tithes, plus they got to live in 13 cities of their own, where they had pasture lands. If you believe this then it means that God created one tribe of wealthy people, who did no physical labor. Considering that they made up 6%-8% of the population it meant that there was one family of Levite preachers for every 13 to 17 people. That's if you believe that Levites only taught and preached, and basically accept the interpretation of most modern day preachers. That's extremely unrealistic. These people had other jobs, if they didn't then why did they have 13 cities of their own which had pasture lands? I don't believe that it was God's intent to create one wealthy tribe, while the rest had to toil in the land under the hot sun for one third the income of an average Levite family, who according to most preachers, only taught, and did no physical labor, in a time when most people worked hard jobs on a farm. I remember reading that God has no favorites, so why would the tribe of Levi be more favorably blessed in finances than all the other tribes? Is God an elitist? Were the Levites supposed to be a tribe of elite noblemen? I think not.
- But no matter how you slice it, all the laws for mandatory tithing come from the Law of Moses. It was that same Law which Jesus nailed to His cross. Modern day pastors are not Levites. And we live under grace.
I am not preaching against tithing. If you decided to tithe, then God will bless you. It is good to tithe. My argument is against people saying that it is mandatory. It is not mandatory!!! If you cannot afford to tithe because God has not prospered you enough, then you are free not to tithe. God is not a taskmaster demanding a percentage out of you or else. He's not holding a baseball bat over your head demanding that you tithe. God does not curse Christians. God loves us, and we have liberty and are free in Christ. And God will bless any amount you give, and not only a tithe. Yet your blessing might not be a financial one. It's really up to God how He will bless you. And remember, the blessings of God rain down on both the good and the bad. So don't think that you are special just because you might be a tither. And again, it is good to tithe, but it is not mandatory!!!!!"
(Let it be known that the definition of "tithe" or "tithing" used in this article as in "I am not preaching against tithing. If you decided to tithe, then God will bless you. It is good to tithe" is actually referring to "giving" and NOT the Old Testament idea of giving crops and cattle by compulsion or by command of the Mosaic Law.)
*This is a note from a special friend who asked to remain anonymous, thank you friend!
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