I have prayed a long time about sharing my personal thoughts on various subjects and I have been lead to start sharing. The things I post are in no way personal attacks but just observations and should be taken as that. Comments are always welcome!
Is God pleased with the amount of money that goes into the local building where Christians meet, to the amount of money that goes back out to further the gospel? I have been to many facilities over the past few years seeking support for ministry efforts but have not been successful. The only success we have found has been from people who see our desire and willingness to serve and give out of love. For that we are truly thankful!
Many wonder what is wrong with the local establishment. I can only narrow it down to a few things that have been noticed.
1. No budget for missions
2. Debt
3. Missionaries are a thing of the past
4. Your not part of us so why should we support you.
5. We are all missionaries
So many establishments preach tithing and how you wont be blessed if you dont give. Remember the bible tells us bring yout tithe 10% to the storehouse so it can be used to support those that preach and teach and to be used to help those in need when times are bad. My question is how many establishmemts would survive if all of a sudden no money came in one to two to three months? Do they have the resources to stay afloat or would they close. If a disaster hit are they prepared to help the community or would they turn their people away due to lack of money in savings.
If the establishment does not use its money in a way that is truly going back out to further the gospel then how can they call themselves Christians. In the 1920's 10% of every dollar received was given to missionaries. Today that is down to less than 2%.
That could actually be looked at as a 80% decrease in spreading the gospel. Kind of scary? I think so.
(the establishment is also known as the building. The word church is actually the people not the building)
1 comments:
NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE pays the Biblical tithe today.
THE FIRST TITHE
Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken to the Levites.
Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood.
SECOND TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take for the yearly feast.
Purpose of this tithe: “that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always”
THIRD TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
Purpose of this tithe: to feed the poor.
Now, tell me. Which of the above three tithes commanded by God does anyone follow today?
The ONLY people in the Old Testament that were commanded to tithe were those who INHERITED THE PROMISED LAND WITH EVERYTHING ON IT. They got the land, house, animals, crops, etc. ALL FREE AND CLEAR. No mortgage payment or rent to pay. And THEY were commanded to tithe on the crops and animals and take it to the Levites who INHERITED the tithe INSTEAD OF the promised land with everything on it. No one else tithed. Wage earners did not tithe. Jesus did not tithe as a carpenter. Paul did not tithe as a tent maker. Peter did not tithe as a fisherman.
HOW CAN YOU COMPARE THAT WITH CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT OR RENT, INCOME TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, SALES TAXES, ETC?
There is no way to justify making some “principle” out of the Biblical tithe and then apply it to Christians today. It is just flat out wrong and makes no sense at all.
The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve, if not impossible, than giving ten percent.
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