We in God Save the World, Inc. do not collect tithes or offerings from anyone, nor do we receive any donations not even a single dime from anybody, we trust the Lord that God provides in accordance to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus Phil 4:19 Believers cannot begin to comprehend God’s riches in glory—his riches are limitless, infinite. If it is from that storehouse that believers’ needs are met, then the Philippian believers could rest assured that God would indeed meet every need, no matter how large, desperate, or hopeless it seemed. Like Paul as a tentmaker, we have to work-1 Cor 4:12 2 We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. Christopher Johnson of Creation liberty evangelism shares about tithing --tithe: the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like (See tithe, Random House Dictionary, Random House Inc, 2012; See also New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, 3rd Edition, American Heritage, 2005) I grew up listening to sermons on tithe in a handful of churches, and based on those sermons, I always believe that tithing was a requirement. Christians should be aware of the Scriptures before jumping to conclusions. Most pastors based their arguments for tithe in Malachi: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. -Malachi 3:10 The pastors Ive seen preach on tithe say that this is a commandment, saying that we are required to tithe, but again, as we have seen in many Roman Catholic beliefs, it is dangerous to take one verse out of context and make an entire doctrine out of it. Malachi told us many times who the Lord was speaking to when He said this: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. -Malachi 3:9 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. -Malachi 3:6 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. -Malachi 1:1 The same pastors that will preach FOR tithing as a requirement (law) in Malachi are the same ones that preach AGAINST the requirement (law) of ceremonies in Leviticus. In Leviticus 14, the Lord commands that a bird be killed and its blood sprinkled throughout the house of a formerly sick man as a ceremony that the home has been cleansed, so if we are required to tithe, are we also required to sprinkle the blood? And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them... -Leviticus 1:1-2 When our Lord Jesus Christ came to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind, he freed us from the burdens of the law. Though we still keep Gods moral laws, because they are a witness to His character that we portray via the Holy Spirit, we are not bound to the laws of the Old Testament. Even the ten percent (tenth) that many churches teach as a requirement has never been a requirement of Christians. In fact, Hebrews 7 talks about the time where Abraham gave tithes to Melchisedec (Gen 14:20), which was traditionally upheld by the nation of Israel (due to Jacobs promise at Bethel), but if you read through the whole chapter, youll see where our Lord Jesus Christ is the reason we are not bound to a law of tithing, anymore than we are bound to a law of sacrifice. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec [i.e. Jesus Christ], and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. -Hebrews 7:11-12 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. -Hebrews 8:6 Shall we prove all things and hold fast that which is good as the Bible commands us? (1Thes 5:21) If you are a Christian who has tithed 10% or more of your income for many years, has the Lord given you so much that you had to reject blessings because you did not have room in your life, home, or bank account? If that has never happened to you, dont be afriad to be honest about it, and remember that the promises of Malachi and Leviticus were not made to you, but to the children of Israel. For example, the lands in Israel were not promised to the gentile Christians, but specifically to the children of Israel, so we should not expect God to give us the lands in the middle east, and likewise the promises of storehouse tithing were not given to gentile Christians, and therefore, we should not expect God to fulfill those promises that He did not give to us. Our Lord Jesus Christ not only gave us Salvation, but was gracious and merciful to give Christians brand new promises: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? -Matthew 6:25-27 If we Christians have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, why do we think can add unto ourselves by observing and doing the works of the law via tithe? Why do we not want to accept the new and better promises Jesus Christ gave us? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. -Mattewh 6:31-33 If we seek after the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, God will automatically provide what we need. Thats a better promise, and one that is provable. We are intended to be free from obligations of tithe, but despite this, many pastors still preach a works-based doctrine from the law of the Old Testament that helps fill their church buildings coffers, and since many Christians follow their pastors instead of the Bible, they are deceived in believing that their duty is to drop money in the plate to make sure their church directors office has air conditioning. In fact, according to research done by Christian History Magazine, tithing was not generally practiced in the Christian churches of America until 1895, when the Wesleyan church attempted to get out of financial trouble in the mid 19th century: Wesley Chapel in Cincinnati has financial trouble. In desperation, it tries suppers, festivals, lectures, stereopticon shows, subscriptions, and the whole round of man-made schemes and devices, according to layman William G. Roberts. Finally, Roberts and others introduce the concept of storehouse tithing, which turns the church around. Tithing is revived as a popular practice in U.S. churches. See Money in Christian History (II): Christian History Timeline - Dates and Events Regarding Money, Christian History Magazine, Issue #19, p. 25 [christianhistorymagazine.org] Why would a church ever have to get into financial trouble? This is not a matter of people who are starving or homeless; this is a matter of people who have entered into debt by trying to build buildings and get fancy stuff that the church shouldnt be getting into because it sets a bad example to the world, and because that debt is unbiblical: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. -Romans 13:8 We should not assume our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are incompetant. If the Lord wills a church building to stand, He will send the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done to make it happen. Christians instead take matters into their own hands, taking on the traditions of man-made devices, not allowing the Spirit to work as needed. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. -Matthew 15:6 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. -Colossians 2:8 On the other hand, we are not to uncharitably let our ministers, evangelists, and missionaries go hungry. With liberty in Christ comes the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and with the Spirit, we will develop the habits of charity. Please do not think that charity simply means putting cash in your churchs offering plate one a week, or dropping off your childrens old clothes at the Salvation Army once a year, because, according to the Scriptures, charity means much more than that: charity: 1) In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. (1Cor 8, Col 3, 1Ti 1) 2) In a more particular sense, love, kindness, affection, tenderness, springing from natural relations; as the charities of father, son and brother. 3) Liberality to the poor, consisting in almsgiving or benefactions, or in gratuitous services to relieve them in distress. 4) Alms; whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the poor for their relief. 5) Liberality in gifts and services to promote public objects of utility, as to found and support bible societies, missionary societies, and others. 6) Candor; liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to think and judge favorably, and to put the best construction on words and actions which the case will admit. The highest exercise of charity, is charity towards the uncharitable. (See charity, Noah Websters Dictionary, 1828, retrieved Jan 19, 2012, [1828.mshaffer/d/search/word,charity]) Websters 1828 Dictionary pulls its definitions primarily from the Word of God, and from this description based on a number of passages, we can see that charity concerns the following: Judging of Others (Mat 7:2) Treatment of Others (Mat 7:12) Humility Towards Others (give your adversary the benefit of the doubt) Meeting Physical and Emotional Needs of Others Providing Gifts and Services for Evangelists and Missionaries of Gods Word Providing Gifts and Services for Local Ministry Needs Demonstrating the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ If Christians were charitable, instead of focusing on tithe, they would see what happens with their giving, and would know how to give more effectively, and they would also not be limited to just ten percent. Sometimes, God does not convict a Christian to give anything, and sometimes, he convicts a Christian to give all they have, but many are not listening to the pull of the Holy Spirit to do what is pleasing to the Lord, and instead just drop money in a plate every week, giving it over to others without knowing where it goes nor why. As we have seen with the government and taxation, letting someone else take control of the spending of our money while we sit in ignorance can lead to a lot of grief. Granted, we do have a lot of Christians wasting money on a lot of things. For example, this ministry alone could operate on a full-time capacity if only TEN Christian homes would turn off their wicked cable TV, and send that money to help our ministry. So I understand that many American Christians waste their money on things that dont matter, but in the end, most pastors are lying to Christians to shake as many coins out of the sheep as possible, so they can keep their hefty paychecks and comforts. Revealing the State of the Church of Jesus Christ Most pastors today have gotten themselves into a situation where they get into debt for seminary college, and must emphasize tithing in order to pay off his debt, pay off his house, his car, and provide for his family. There are many preachers out there today who believe in their hearts it is every Christians duty to help them pay off their debts and provide for their every need. These pastors are teaching tithe for filthy lucres sake. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. -Titus 1:10-11 The failing state of Christians working in charity is not a reason to teach false doctrine in tithing, but rather an opportunity to see that the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ as a whole is smaller than most Christians think, and that true charity is rare among the Body. Many pastors know that if the truth of tithe were actually preached, and the congregations given liberty in charity, most churches would fall, but that would be a good thing. Allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to chasten the congregations in the Body is good, but despising and resisting that chastening can be very bad. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: -Proverbs 3:11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: -Hebrews 12:5 If church buildings are closing their doors due to lack of funding, the solution is not to lie to congregations to get them to give more. The solution is to LET IT HAPPEN. The only way Christians are going to wake up from their apathy to realize the state of the Church of Jesus Christ in America right now is to let the church building doors close; if thats what it comes down to. It would show Christians the true state of the church, and inspire true born-again Christians to action in evangelizing and prophesying; two areas we desperately need filled. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ cant be corrected on a lie. Consider for a moment the woman in the Bible who gave two mites. (Mark 12:41-44) She did not tithe, or she would have cut a fraction of one of her mites and tossed it in, but instead she gave all that she had in charity. Christ singled out what she gave as more significant than all the rich men who gave a portion of their wealthy abundance because she gave all, not as a law, but she gave charitably with liberty via faith. Some Christians may say, Well isnt my tithing every week being charitable? No. If we think our tithe is a REQUIREMENT, it is no longer charity, but an obligation of the law. (i.e. grace vs works) For example, do you consider sales tax to be charitable? Do you pay gasoline tax out of charity? Tithe cannot be charity anymore than taxes can be charity because there is no giving in love if we are required to pay. There are many pastors out there who teach: If you give us money, Gods gonna bless you! (We have witnessed creation ministries here in Indiana deceiving Christians with this type of message.) This is called seed-faith preaching, and it is completely unbiblical. Seed faith preaching offers false promises of blessings, putting the hearers into a mindset of expectation that God is going to give them something good that he/she particularly wants at the time. (i.e. If I give, I get something good in return.) Seed-faith givers are being inticed to give in order to get back, putting their hopes in false messages from preachers, rather than in the edifying truth in the Word of God. The seed-faith concept was invented by a man named Oral Roberts. Roberts is a well-known false prophet, who started preaching seed faith sermons to pressure people into giving more because he claimed to have communicated with a 900-foot Jesus who told him to raise 8-million dollars to build a hospital. The hospital was built, and today, it stands as a bankrupt monument to a false prophet, and a witness to the false teachings of seed-faith giving. If Christians followed the Holy Spirit for guidance in charitable matters, the churches of America would be just fine in getting rid of the storehouse and seed-faith tithing sermons that teach a works-based doctrine, and they would better protect themselves from being deceived by wolves in sheeps clothing. The real desperation of pastors holding on to the storehouse and seed-faith tithing sermons is in the knowledge that most church buildings would not survive without forcing a guilt-based REQUIREMENT on Christians to seek after the old covenant bondage under the law. This should clearly demonstrate to the Christian world that we have an awful lot of Christians not following after the Holy Spirit concerning charity and liberty in our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather, we have people seeking after the old law, based on whatever the pastors tell the congregation, without searching the Scriptures to prove the truth. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:23-26 Ive been in many different church buildings, and I see enormous auditoriums, tall steeples, huge bay windows or stained glass, and many other luxury items. I think to myself, Is this what people are tithing for? Soft pews, HD monitors, and elaborate chandiliers? The Christian will immediately begin to make excuses for these things, but we are supposed to PROVE all things, and hold fast that which is good. (1Thes 5:21) Though some churches truly take collections to help with ministries, local and global, there are many others that do very little ministry with the money they receive and create large amounts of elaborate waste that takes advantage of a laity with open wallets. (Ed Young, materialist teacher of false doctrine, preaching tithe or get out! He compares not paying tithe on an equal level with drug addiction.) @1:45 -- Its all about the money!... Gods the one that said that. Second greatest theme in the Bible. @4:27 -- Seriously, why are you even coming to church if youre not bringing the tithe? What are you expecting? Just hang out at home and play golf. Ed Young gives us a fine example of wicked teaching. Should we not be assembling ourselves together for the hearing of the Word? Not according to Ed Young, and many other pastors out there like him. According to Young, your purpose is to bring your pastor money, and if you dont, then dont bother assembling together. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. -Hebrews 10:25 Lets take a look at the reality of church buildings and churchianity-pastors today. The Schaeffer Insititute gathered polls from over 1,000 pastors in the California in 2006, and what they found was very interesting: Eighty-one percent (81%) of the pastors said there was no regular discipleship program or effective effort of mentoring their people or teaching them to deepen their Christian formation at their church (remember these are the Reformed and Evangelical—not the mainline pastors!). -Dr. Richard J. Krejcir, Statistics on Pastors, Schaeffer Institute, 2007, retrieved Feb 2, 2012, [intothyword.org] If there is not much mentorship or discipleship going on, what is the point of the church? Isnt that what the gathering of believers together is for? Why this would happen starts to make more sense when we look at another statstitic they found: Seven hundred fifty-six (756 or 72%) of the pastors we surveyed stated that they only studied the Bible when they were preparing for sermons or lessons. This left only 28% who read the Bible for devotions and personal study. -Dr. Richard J. Krejcir, Statistics on Pastors, Schaeffer Institute, 2007, retrieved Feb 2, 2012, [intothyword.org] Focus on the Family, Barna, and Fuller Seminary all did similar studies and came back with similar results: Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons... Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. -Dr. Richard J. Krejcir, Statistics on Pastors, Schaeffer Institute, 2007, retrieved Feb 2, 2012, [intothyword.org] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. -1 Timothy 6:9-10 Is it possible youre paying someone to stand in front of your congregation because he doesnt want to find another job? Have you proven where your tithe is going? So far, every Christian Ive talked to says, Well, my church isnt like that. So I guess the churches where these statistics are coming from dont exist? Folks, we need to get more involved in our giving, and with our congregations to prove the truth: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -Romans 12:2 Im not saying that all churches and pastors are untrustworthy and dishonest, but we Christians need to wake up to whats happening around us, and get back to the Scripture on issues of giving. Just because we Christians have done something, or been taught something, all our lives, doesnt mean its automatically true and Biblical. Tithing, just by definition, is a REQUIREMENT of the church or of the pastors therein, and most churches are pushing this storehouse tithing as a necessity to the congregations: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. -2 Corinthians 9:7 When a church has overhead, and will be shut down without money, that creates a NECESSITY of giving. With the knowledge we have of the Word, and love we share via the Holy Spirit, lets take this opportunity to learn how to give alms the Biblical way. alms: money, food, or other donations given to the poor or needy; anything given as charity (See alms, Random House Dictionary, Random House Inc., 2012; See also Collins English Dictionary, 10th Edition, William Collins Sons & Co., 2009) Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. -Matthew 6:1 Were to do everything we can to make sure other men dont know about our giving, but so often, I see people donate to a church to have their name put on a list or plaque. Others will pay by check (which gives all your information), and if people think that the church leadship doesnt see who pays the most, and that the influence of the giver is not taken into consideration in the churchs decisions, theyre lying to themselves. In fact, how many of those around us see our giving when the offering plate is passed in church? Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. -1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul even prefered that there be no gatherings for offering when he came to preach to the Corinthians, but rather that each person, in private, gave as the Lord had prospered him. (i.e. FREEWILL giving) This shows us that we should give secretly, and do so outside of the congregation, rather than during a sermon. Most of our charitable practices, if we give alms in charity, are not done within the church building we may attend. The Lord may lead us to give to other charitable causes for missionaries around the world. Sometimes, the Lord will show us that our unsaved next-door neighbor has a need that we can fill. Whatever the situation, alms goes to where the Lord individually shows us it needs to go, and Christians should be active and aware of who we give our alms to and where it goes, instead of handing it over to someone else to decide for us. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. -Matthew 7:6 If your congregation has a need, find out what it is and see how you can help provide for that need, but I urge Christians to stop focusing on the law and false requirements of tithe, giving to men who are teaching false doctrine. Christians should not seek to be bound by the law, but rather, accept the liberty given to us by our Lord. Lets start turning to our Lord Jesus Christ in prayer, and ask Him to reveal to us the needs of our neighbors, our adversaries, and our evangelists and preachers, so we can practice being humble and charitable Christians whose actions will give honor and praise to God Almighty. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. [not tithe!] -1 Corinthians 13:13 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. -Galatians 5:1 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work... For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. -2 Corinthians 9:6-15 But the push for churches to gather up more tithers will get worse with time. Some churches are beginning to install tithing kiosks so that people can quick pay with a credit card in churches. What happened to not being seen among men? Most of these people are paying with a credit card, not a bank card. What does the Bible say about that? The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. -Proverbs 22:7 And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. -Luke 6:34 These churches are encouraging Christians to enter into sinful debt to corporations. A credit card uses borrowed money that doesnt belong to the person using it. How can it be called a Giving Center, when they arent giving their own money? SecureGive currently [as of 2007] operates in 25 churches around the country. One of them is Family Church in West Monroe, Louisiana, where Terry Taylor is the executive pastor. We wanted to help those who were not giving to start walking in obedience, says Taylor. We feel that is being achieved. -ATMs: Automatic Tithing Machiens, Leadership Journal, 2007, retrieved June 22, 2013, [christianitytoday/le/2007/summer/13.14.html] This preacher doesnt care so much about Christians walking in the charity of our Lord Jesus Christ who loves a cheeful giver, but walking in obediance to the church and clergy from their ever increasing pressure to give more money. These kioks will start creating lines after sermons where people will stand around waiting to give, all the while being seen by everyone in halls and lobbies, thereby increasing their personal incentive to give. [And dont forget to take your receipt so you can write off your donation on IRS tax forms!] (Read 501c3: The Devils Church here at creationliberty for more details) Phil Martin of the National Association of Church Business Administrators says that Automated Tithing Machines might only be the beginning. Whether well have an offering plate with a card reader one day, who knows, he said. But were certainly not far from that. -ATMs: Automatic Tithing Machiens, Leadership Journal, 2007, retrieved June 22, 2013, [christianitytoday/le/2007/summer/13.14.html] In fact, the card-reader offering plate has arrived. According to Landover Baptist Church News in 1999, some churches have worked to impliment the offering plate card readers. The beautiful gold offering plates are equipped with credit card slide and approval on demand slots. Church members who do not have cash on hand will now be offered the option of pulling out a credit card and simply sliding it through the plate. Everyone is excited about this project, Team Lead, Dr. Harold Filmington commented, we anticipated since all of our members make at least $75,000.00 a year, that each member who does not have a direct deposit into the Church Tithe Fund, will have to come up with at least $260.00 cash for offering each Sunday. Even though we have two ATM machines installed in all 14 sanctuaries, we calculated that they would not hold enough money to get through one service, if only 30 attendees made use of them. The solution was EZ-Slide offering plates. -Landover Baptist Church News, September, 1999, retrieved Mar 8, 2014, [landoverbaptist.org/news0999/plates.html] We no longer have pastors, we have peddlers. We no longer have apostles, we have accountants. We no longer have ministers, we have marketers. Why does the King of a country have interest in taking a census? The census information tells the King how much he can tax his people and get away with it; or in other words, How much money can I make from these people? As anyone that receives a regular salary from a church building knows, they have to keep tabs on how much everyone makes, so they can calculate how much everyone should be giving according to their storehouse tithing sermons, and then they can calculate how much they should be receiving from their congregation on a regular basis, so they can calculate how much they can boost their salaries by giving themselves a well-deserved raise for all their extra accounting work that they do... all for the Lord, of course. Members are asked to allow a longer offering time during services. Read the Hymns will be played till offering is Paid brochures if you have further questions. Sleeping will not be tolerated, we do not expect the length of services to be increased dramatically. They could go an extra hour or two for the first few months until we get the hang of things. Remember, each parishioner using the E-Z Slide offering plates must wait for credit card approval, sign their cards, and obtain their receipts. We ask for your patience during this wondrous time of Christian change and adjustment. -Landover Baptist Church News, September, 1999, retrieved Mar 8, 2014, [landoverbaptist.org/news0999/plates.html] If Christians believe that most of todays modern American church buildings would never get this bad, then Id say they must have a willful blindness to the state of the Church right now. The average ministry I see when I visit a website has already transformed itself into a shopping mall, so how much farther behind are the church buildings of America? According to the easyTithe website, a new company selling easy-to-setup tithe kiosks, the churches of America are going to jump right in: Easy Tithe more than paid for itself within the first month of offering online giving. On top of that, our giving has continued to significantly increase month over month! -Kevin, Pastor, Saginaw, TX If every church knew about this (Easy Tithe), every church would be signing up! -Tony, Pastor, Atlanta, GA -easyTithe, Giving/Donation Kiosk Testimonials, retrieved Mar 8, 2014, [easytithe/giving-kiosk.htm] Mark my words, one of these days, all 501c3 churches are going to be required to use card-payments through these types of readers in order to have legal donations. Why would these churches need card readers to make it easier for people to give more? Why is there so much focus on getting money? This is an image Joel Osteens home, and multi-story houses and extensive shrubbery around his fenced-in estate, along with luxury vehicles can be very expensive. I mean, hes supposed to be ordained of God, so your job as laity is to make sure you fork over your paycheck to make sure hes provided lavish comforts, otherwise he cant teach you his truth. Robert Schuller has no choice but to have a shining monument to been seen from miles away, and he needs you to hand over your hard-earned money so they can provide an organ bigger than your house, and maintain the entire facility at 72 degrees fahrenheit year-round, otherwise he cant provide you with quality television that not only offers you the best quality praise music, but also can give you a great deal on porcellan bald eagles at the low, low price of only $29.95 each. What would happen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ if you dont help maintain this place? (The Crystal Cathedral filed bankruptcy in 2010.) Not just mainstream churches, but even many evangelical churches today have turned into businesses, rather than ministries. Giving in charity is part of the doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we should be teaching that, but the pressured giving from storehouse tithing sermons is not the doctrine of the New Testament dispensation. I pray our Lord Jesus Christ would cleanse His Church of those seeking a paycheck, and replace them with humble preachers who will be salt and teach righteousness. As a final point, Ive heard tithe-preachers come back and say that Ananias and Sapphira were killed by God because they held back the tithe. That is NOT true. In fact, the example of Ananias and Sapphira were excellent warnings to preachers who are preaching false messages and setting bad examples with tithe: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. -Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and his wife sold land for a certain price, kept back part of it, and gave part of it to the church, and there was nothing wrong with that. The problem was that they LIED by saying that they gave the church everything they received in payment for the land they sold so they could look good in front of the congregation, and so God punished them for LYING, not for keeping back a portion. All of us are going to give an account for everything we have ever said, thought, or done when we stand before God, and I encourage church leaders to think carefully about what theyre doing and what example theyre setting. You might look good in front your congregation, but God knows the truth, and He knows your heart. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. -Psalm 12:2 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. -Luke 16:15
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 12:35:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015