Daily we are reminded that life is fragile as people, young and old, die from crime, accidents and diseases. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. No one knows when “The Great Resurrection” will come but even if it’s a long time in coming, time is short. Do we, do you, really have time to waste on that, which is not God’s Truth? On sayings or teachings that you’ve imbedded in your mind and spirit simply because it’s “what I’ve always been taught” or because it comes from “someone I respect”?
Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. Proverbs 23:23
Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Isaiah 55:2
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
More on Generational Curses
The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
" `The fathers eat sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:1-4
"Yet you ask, `Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?' Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him. Ezekiel 18:19,20
I am in no way saying that curses do not exist; missionaries encounter them all the time. Village witchdoctors curse them for spreading the gospel, trying in vain to stop their preaching. I’ve been in at least one such setting myself and know that God is more powerful.
No, I’m referring to the teaching that, because of the second commandment, God curses, even those who follow him with a pure heart, because of the sins their parents, grandparents even great grandparents committed.
In the first place, the commandment says that the curse is upon those who hate him, not those who love him. Besides, it says that he’ll “show love to a thousand generations of those who love” him. A thousand generations can certainly out-distance four generations.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6
In the second place, we who are disciples of Jesus are not under the Law. Jesus became a curse for us and fulfilled the Law. (Gal. 3) “It is finished.”
In the third place, not even the Israelites in Ezekiel’s time were expected to live by that part of the commandment. God even rebuked them for following it. (Ezekiel 18) One person countered that only certain sins are relieved from this curse but gave no scriptural backup for his assertion.
When I point out this freeing information to people, they invariably send me articles or point me to the same prominent book by a well-known author—but not to the Bible. They don’t point me to the Bible because they can’t. Or they try to explain away what the Bible clearly says. I’ve read the articles and the book. On this point, these don’t point to the Bible either—except for the second commandment. One person shrugged it off as “doctrine” and extraneous—that what mattered was prayer. The word doctrine means, that which is taught. It matters what you’re taught (and teach) and it matters what you believe. Much valuable time is lost when one prays and believes the wrong thing and in doing so follows the Law of Moses.
Many launch into an example of alcoholism being a “generational curse” and cite the second commandment as the connection. Think about it—that would mean that if your dad were an alcoholic, God would curse you to make you an alcoholic, too. So, I see two ways to look at their assertion: 1. God made you do it; it’s his will and you can’t help yourself or 2. It’s a sin and God is perpetuating sin. (My point is not to get into a debate about the origins of alcoholism but to address the example most often cited.) My grandfather was an alcoholic but that doesn’t mean that I am or that I have to be (and no, I didn’t go through any kind of ritual to break off a curse nor will I). If it’s a sin (any kind of sin), you do whatever it takes to avoid that sin. If it’s a weakness, the same thing applies.
If it’s curses from God that you want to avoid—don’t try to be justified by following the Mosaic Law or require others to do so!
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." Galatians 3:10,11
You are not bound by a curse from God! If you are a follower of Jesus, you are set free from the Law of Sin and Death!
" `The fathers eat sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:1-4
"Yet you ask, `Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?' Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him. Ezekiel 18:19,20
I am in no way saying that curses do not exist; missionaries encounter them all the time. Village witchdoctors curse them for spreading the gospel, trying in vain to stop their preaching. I’ve been in at least one such setting myself and know that God is more powerful.
No, I’m referring to the teaching that, because of the second commandment, God curses, even those who follow him with a pure heart, because of the sins their parents, grandparents even great grandparents committed.
In the first place, the commandment says that the curse is upon those who hate him, not those who love him. Besides, it says that he’ll “show love to a thousand generations of those who love” him. A thousand generations can certainly out-distance four generations.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6
In the second place, we who are disciples of Jesus are not under the Law. Jesus became a curse for us and fulfilled the Law. (Gal. 3) “It is finished.”
In the third place, not even the Israelites in Ezekiel’s time were expected to live by that part of the commandment. God even rebuked them for following it. (Ezekiel 18) One person countered that only certain sins are relieved from this curse but gave no scriptural backup for his assertion.
When I point out this freeing information to people, they invariably send me articles or point me to the same prominent book by a well-known author—but not to the Bible. They don’t point me to the Bible because they can’t. Or they try to explain away what the Bible clearly says. I’ve read the articles and the book. On this point, these don’t point to the Bible either—except for the second commandment. One person shrugged it off as “doctrine” and extraneous—that what mattered was prayer. The word doctrine means, that which is taught. It matters what you’re taught (and teach) and it matters what you believe. Much valuable time is lost when one prays and believes the wrong thing and in doing so follows the Law of Moses.
Many launch into an example of alcoholism being a “generational curse” and cite the second commandment as the connection. Think about it—that would mean that if your dad were an alcoholic, God would curse you to make you an alcoholic, too. So, I see two ways to look at their assertion: 1. God made you do it; it’s his will and you can’t help yourself or 2. It’s a sin and God is perpetuating sin. (My point is not to get into a debate about the origins of alcoholism but to address the example most often cited.) My grandfather was an alcoholic but that doesn’t mean that I am or that I have to be (and no, I didn’t go through any kind of ritual to break off a curse nor will I). If it’s a sin (any kind of sin), you do whatever it takes to avoid that sin. If it’s a weakness, the same thing applies.
If it’s curses from God that you want to avoid—don’t try to be justified by following the Mosaic Law or require others to do so!
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." Galatians 3:10,11
You are not bound by a curse from God! If you are a follower of Jesus, you are set free from the Law of Sin and Death!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Loving Jesus
We so often hear, “It’s not about rules and regulations; it’s about relationship, about loving Jesus”
Yes. And no.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. John 14:21
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19,20
Loving Jesus isn’t only about raising your arms in worship but also about keeping his commands. Wait a minute, you say, I thought you were adamant about not putting Christians under the Law. That’s right! The Lord doesn’t want us under Mosaic Law which was against us (Colossians 2:13-15) but under the “law of the Spirit of life. (Romans 8:1,2)
You can’t be someone’s follower and not do what he says.
Most of us who are called by Jesus’ name are quick to insist, “It’s all about Jesus!” But do we truly believe what he said? Do we truly believe that he meant it for us? Are we doing it?
Are we loving our enemies and blessing them? Or are we dehumanizing them with labels and derision?
Are we storing up treasures in heaven? (Matthew 19:21) Or are we storing them up on the earth where they’ll rot?
Do we really believe Jesus’ statement that adultery is the only reason for divorce? Or are we saying, “God wants me to be happy”? (Matthew 5:32)
These are just a few examples. Following Jesus was never meant to be easy, (freeing yes, burden light…) after all it is a narrow road but it’s The road that leads to life.
Yes. And no.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. John 14:21
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19,20
Loving Jesus isn’t only about raising your arms in worship but also about keeping his commands. Wait a minute, you say, I thought you were adamant about not putting Christians under the Law. That’s right! The Lord doesn’t want us under Mosaic Law which was against us (Colossians 2:13-15) but under the “law of the Spirit of life. (Romans 8:1,2)
You can’t be someone’s follower and not do what he says.
Most of us who are called by Jesus’ name are quick to insist, “It’s all about Jesus!” But do we truly believe what he said? Do we truly believe that he meant it for us? Are we doing it?
Are we loving our enemies and blessing them? Or are we dehumanizing them with labels and derision?
Are we storing up treasures in heaven? (Matthew 19:21) Or are we storing them up on the earth where they’ll rot?
Do we really believe Jesus’ statement that adultery is the only reason for divorce? Or are we saying, “God wants me to be happy”? (Matthew 5:32)
These are just a few examples. Following Jesus was never meant to be easy, (freeing yes, burden light…) after all it is a narrow road but it’s The road that leads to life.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Triumph!
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Christian Unity
Unity is very valuable. It's brought about by loving one another deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22), forgiving one another from the heart (Matthew 18:35), bearing with one another (Romans 15:1) and submitting to one another--the Greek word means voluntarily coming under with the idea of doing so to accomplish something. (Ephesians 5:21)
This unity is to be always around the Lord and His Word, which must never be compromised. It's not to be built around a leader, a leader's vision or style of leadership or a "because I said so and I'm the boss" attitude. It cannot be forced. A leader is to be a servant to those he or she leads. (1 Peter 5:2)
Christian unity is a very sweet and special treasure that Jesus valued and can bind his followers together in close fellowship across language, culture and personality.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22,23)
This unity is to be always around the Lord and His Word, which must never be compromised. It's not to be built around a leader, a leader's vision or style of leadership or a "because I said so and I'm the boss" attitude. It cannot be forced. A leader is to be a servant to those he or she leads. (1 Peter 5:2)
Christian unity is a very sweet and special treasure that Jesus valued and can bind his followers together in close fellowship across language, culture and personality.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22,23)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
True Christian Giving (tithing, part 3)
Does it seem right that many Christians are on some kind of public or private assistance while giving hundreds each month to the church? It doesn’t look right to the world either.
"There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:34,35)
When we get back on a Scriptural foundation and give generously, hilariously and without compulsion (force) to lots of ministries and people in need instead of the lion’s share to the “local church," fewer Christians will struggle and the poor will be better cared for, making a better witness to the world. (Luke 6:38, Acts 4:34)
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)
Also, there’s no scriptural foundation for the separate “para-church” designation in which the local church is to get the main part of giving and ministries are supposed to get only the "extra". They are not outside the church;there is one church of Jesus Christ and all who worship him in Spirit and in truth are a part. However, we are to provide all good things for those from whose teaching we benefit.
(1 Corinthians 9:12) but from what we have, not what we don’t have.
"The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea." (Acts 11:29)
"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor 8:12)
Incidentally, “Christian tithing” didn’t become widespread until the eighth century! That’s right, the early church didn’t teach it or do it.
This is liberating! Everything we have and are belongs to God! We are free from the Law and we are free to give from our hearts so that no Christian goes without! Give wherever God instructs you with a free and cheerful heart not just squeezing out the tenth that the pastor tells you that you must if you want to avoid a curse! (One pastor paralleled tithing with salvation! A church administrator said that it should be a requirement for church membership! We once told a pastor that we were in a financial situation in which we couldn’t tithe; he was very “understanding” and said that we could, in effect, owe it to the church!) Take care of the poor! Notice that Jesus didn’t describe Himself as telling the people in the end that they were cast out because they didn’t “tithe” but because they didn’t take care of the poor!
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (Matthew 25:37-43)
*All emphases are mine
"There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:34,35)
When we get back on a Scriptural foundation and give generously, hilariously and without compulsion (force) to lots of ministries and people in need instead of the lion’s share to the “local church," fewer Christians will struggle and the poor will be better cared for, making a better witness to the world. (Luke 6:38, Acts 4:34)
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)
Also, there’s no scriptural foundation for the separate “para-church” designation in which the local church is to get the main part of giving and ministries are supposed to get only the "extra". They are not outside the church;there is one church of Jesus Christ and all who worship him in Spirit and in truth are a part. However, we are to provide all good things for those from whose teaching we benefit.
(1 Corinthians 9:12) but from what we have, not what we don’t have.
"The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea." (Acts 11:29)
"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor 8:12)
Incidentally, “Christian tithing” didn’t become widespread until the eighth century! That’s right, the early church didn’t teach it or do it.
This is liberating! Everything we have and are belongs to God! We are free from the Law and we are free to give from our hearts so that no Christian goes without! Give wherever God instructs you with a free and cheerful heart not just squeezing out the tenth that the pastor tells you that you must if you want to avoid a curse! (One pastor paralleled tithing with salvation! A church administrator said that it should be a requirement for church membership! We once told a pastor that we were in a financial situation in which we couldn’t tithe; he was very “understanding” and said that we could, in effect, owe it to the church!) Take care of the poor! Notice that Jesus didn’t describe Himself as telling the people in the end that they were cast out because they didn’t “tithe” but because they didn’t take care of the poor!
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (Matthew 25:37-43)
*All emphases are mine
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Levitical Tithe (tithing part 2)
The Hebrews verses,in addition to pointing to Melchizidek's greatness, refer to “the Law” requiring the collecting of tithes by “the Levites”. In Christianity, we aren’t under the law and we do not have Levites.
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations." (Ephesians 2:14,15)
Some point to Jesus’ reprimand of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy as justification for Christian tithing but overlook the fact that He was speaking to Jewish Pharisees, not to Christians (again, who are not under the Law). If we were to be like the Pharisees, we would be following the law (613 parts) to it’s “nth” degree along with all their add-ons, we would be sacrificing animals for our sins and we wouldn’t eat with Gentiles (oops, that’s me)!
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23,24)
The favorite scripture quoted by those who teach tithing to the local church is Malachi 3:8-11: “You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” This is the context for Malachi 3:8:
“I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 3:2-7)
This is a reference to God’s requirement for Israel to obey the Law that they were to bring food: wine, grain, olive oil, meat--not money, (this was separate from their monetary system) into the storehouse of the Tabernacle or Temple, (which the church is not; a woman who “was raised in a Jewish home” pointed out that the tithing teaching is a type of "replacement theology",designating the church building as a replacement for the Temple). Every first and second year they were to take this food to the designated place and eat it themselves in the presence of the Lord but still remembering to include the Levites.
"You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)
The Levites were to give a tithe from what they got in the third year to Aaron or the chief priest.
"Say to the Levites: “When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die." (Numbers 18:30-32)
In the third year, the Israelites were to give that tenth of food to the Levites, aliens, orphans, and widows, so it was a four-way split. The Israelites in Malachi’s time were robbing God by not taking care of the aliens (read immigrants), widows and orphans and apparently the Levites weren’t sharing what they did get!
"When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them." (Deuteromony. 26:12-13)
There is no New Covenant equivalent of the Aaronic Priesthood or the Levites; the Temple sacrificial system is over.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12)
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
So, if we were to remain under the Law, (the very thought of such horrified Paul as he wrote to the Galatians) we would be tithing from our fields and flocks, not our money. We would eat that tithe ourselves at the central location, which God designated for all Christians to gather for worship in the first and second years (could be a very long trek!). In the third year we would divide that tithe of food between the pastors, immigrants, orphans and widows. However,Scripture says that if one aims to be justified by following any part of the law, one must keep the entire Law and be judged by it or be under a curse! SCAREY!
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14)
But, the prosperity teachers say, when you give ten percent to us (I’m still amazed that this erroneous teaching prevails twenty years after it’s been thoroughly debunked by many Bible teachers), God will multiply it and “rebuke the devourer”. We’ve heard, “tithe and your appliances and cars won’t break down”. We tithed but our appliances and cars broke down. In fact we were hurting financially but the church got theirs. Occasionally this works for some people but you don’t hear the prosperity teachers talking about the cases where it didn’t work—this is correlation, not causation (two unrelated events happening at the same time without one causing the other). I can only conclude that when people are under compulsion to do a certain thing that the Bible doesn’t teach ("traditions of men"), under many pains of shame, accusations of sin and supposed curse if they don’t—that if somehow it does “work” it’s more likely magic than miracle. Noah Webster (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the Webster’s) says “the doing of things not required by God (as a religious rite)” is superstition. I shudder to think about it.
And it’s not just the prosperity teachers who proclaim tithing, most evangelical preachers teach it, but without the pay-off. All you get from their version is a “spiritual blessing” which doesn’t really have a basis in scripture either, certainly not in the “Malachi 3” one. You can be assured that on payday they will want their paychecks, they won’t be satisfied with a spiritual blessing alone.
continued tomorrow...
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations." (Ephesians 2:14,15)
Some point to Jesus’ reprimand of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy as justification for Christian tithing but overlook the fact that He was speaking to Jewish Pharisees, not to Christians (again, who are not under the Law). If we were to be like the Pharisees, we would be following the law (613 parts) to it’s “nth” degree along with all their add-ons, we would be sacrificing animals for our sins and we wouldn’t eat with Gentiles (oops, that’s me)!
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23,24)
The favorite scripture quoted by those who teach tithing to the local church is Malachi 3:8-11: “You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” This is the context for Malachi 3:8:
“I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 3:2-7)
This is a reference to God’s requirement for Israel to obey the Law that they were to bring food: wine, grain, olive oil, meat--not money, (this was separate from their monetary system) into the storehouse of the Tabernacle or Temple, (which the church is not; a woman who “was raised in a Jewish home” pointed out that the tithing teaching is a type of "replacement theology",designating the church building as a replacement for the Temple). Every first and second year they were to take this food to the designated place and eat it themselves in the presence of the Lord but still remembering to include the Levites.
"You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)
The Levites were to give a tithe from what they got in the third year to Aaron or the chief priest.
"Say to the Levites: “When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die." (Numbers 18:30-32)
In the third year, the Israelites were to give that tenth of food to the Levites, aliens, orphans, and widows, so it was a four-way split. The Israelites in Malachi’s time were robbing God by not taking care of the aliens (read immigrants), widows and orphans and apparently the Levites weren’t sharing what they did get!
"When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them." (Deuteromony. 26:12-13)
There is no New Covenant equivalent of the Aaronic Priesthood or the Levites; the Temple sacrificial system is over.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12)
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
So, if we were to remain under the Law, (the very thought of such horrified Paul as he wrote to the Galatians) we would be tithing from our fields and flocks, not our money. We would eat that tithe ourselves at the central location, which God designated for all Christians to gather for worship in the first and second years (could be a very long trek!). In the third year we would divide that tithe of food between the pastors, immigrants, orphans and widows. However,Scripture says that if one aims to be justified by following any part of the law, one must keep the entire Law and be judged by it or be under a curse! SCAREY!
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14)
But, the prosperity teachers say, when you give ten percent to us (I’m still amazed that this erroneous teaching prevails twenty years after it’s been thoroughly debunked by many Bible teachers), God will multiply it and “rebuke the devourer”. We’ve heard, “tithe and your appliances and cars won’t break down”. We tithed but our appliances and cars broke down. In fact we were hurting financially but the church got theirs. Occasionally this works for some people but you don’t hear the prosperity teachers talking about the cases where it didn’t work—this is correlation, not causation (two unrelated events happening at the same time without one causing the other). I can only conclude that when people are under compulsion to do a certain thing that the Bible doesn’t teach ("traditions of men"), under many pains of shame, accusations of sin and supposed curse if they don’t—that if somehow it does “work” it’s more likely magic than miracle. Noah Webster (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the Webster’s) says “the doing of things not required by God (as a religious rite)” is superstition. I shudder to think about it.
And it’s not just the prosperity teachers who proclaim tithing, most evangelical preachers teach it, but without the pay-off. All you get from their version is a “spiritual blessing” which doesn’t really have a basis in scripture either, certainly not in the “Malachi 3” one. You can be assured that on payday they will want their paychecks, they won’t be satisfied with a spiritual blessing alone.
continued tomorrow...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Abraham’s Tithe (tithing, part 1)
Lately, I’ve been looking thoroughly at every area of life through the lens of Scripture. I want to follow the Lord in Spirit and in truth. Unfortunately, many of the ways that we American (and others?) Christians have picked up are based only on the traditions of men or on teachings of error. One of the teachings that I’ve examined is that of tithing. As you may know, the standard teaching nearly everywhere in America is that we are to give 10% of our paychecks, “off the top”. If one says, “But that’s the Law and we’re under grace not the Law!” the comeback is, “Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and that was before the Law.” They cite scriptures from here and there and if you only look at those few, it seems like a must to tithe. Well as it turns out, Abraham didn’t tithe everything-everything but only his spoils of war i.e., not that which he had to live off of but the windfall and he didn't keep a share.
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
“The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, `I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me--to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share." (Genesis 14:13-22)
“Just think how great he (Melchizedek) was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.” (Hebrews 7:4-7)
Abraham’s tithe came from other people’s shares before they got it. The point of the writer of Hebrews is not to admonish us to tithe, but that Abraham, by tithing, acknowledged that Melchizedek was greater than he was. The writer uses this example as proof that the priesthood Jesus is a part of (the Order of Melchizedek) is far greater than the Levitical priesthood. However, if we were to take Abraham as our example to follow (and he is a good one if you exclude tying one’s son to a sacrificial altar [yes, God commanded him to do it but He’s not commanding us to!], lying about Sarah not being his wife and “lying” with Hagar, who wasn’t his wife), then we would tithe off of things like sweepstakes winnings or bonuses--not on everyday income for living expenses.
continued tomorrow...
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
“The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, `I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me--to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share." (Genesis 14:13-22)
“Just think how great he (Melchizedek) was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.” (Hebrews 7:4-7)
Abraham’s tithe came from other people’s shares before they got it. The point of the writer of Hebrews is not to admonish us to tithe, but that Abraham, by tithing, acknowledged that Melchizedek was greater than he was. The writer uses this example as proof that the priesthood Jesus is a part of (the Order of Melchizedek) is far greater than the Levitical priesthood. However, if we were to take Abraham as our example to follow (and he is a good one if you exclude tying one’s son to a sacrificial altar [yes, God commanded him to do it but He’s not commanding us to!], lying about Sarah not being his wife and “lying” with Hagar, who wasn’t his wife), then we would tithe off of things like sweepstakes winnings or bonuses--not on everyday income for living expenses.
continued tomorrow...
Monday, February 9, 2009
A Blessing
May you believe who God says He is
Not what people say He’s not
May you base your faith on what God says He’ll do
Not on what your experience seems to show
May you place your confidence and pride in the Lord and who He’s made you to be
Knowing full well you can’t draw a breath without Him
May you be assured that Jesus’ atonement covers every one of your sins
And the sins of those who wrong you
May you remember that Jesus’ main desire is that we love
May you throw yourself wholly into trusting Him
Never leaving yourself a back door out
May you live as though the Kingdom of God is “the real world”
May you realize that you are no longer “only human” but filled with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead
And that you are empowered to answer His call
Joan C. Thomson
(c)December 2001
Not what people say He’s not
May you base your faith on what God says He’ll do
Not on what your experience seems to show
May you place your confidence and pride in the Lord and who He’s made you to be
Knowing full well you can’t draw a breath without Him
May you be assured that Jesus’ atonement covers every one of your sins
And the sins of those who wrong you
May you remember that Jesus’ main desire is that we love
May you throw yourself wholly into trusting Him
Never leaving yourself a back door out
May you live as though the Kingdom of God is “the real world”
May you realize that you are no longer “only human” but filled with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead
And that you are empowered to answer His call
Joan C. Thomson
(c)December 2001
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