I rightfully still do not endorse any Christians adds, anyone, any person, any organization, any Church  now trying to make any money from  the gospel, or begging, asking for money or even  any of the adds here.  I also do not endorse any of  Bibles, books, tapes listed   for sale too. Jesus said as we have freely received so we are freely to give. Hirelings in their greed and visible lack of faith don't do that. I do believe we should all live by faith in God to supply our needs, and to have the faith for God to supply what anyone needs  freely to anyone who needs it.  Rev Georege Muellar did.

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Earning Money or tithing?

 

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We too often hear sermons on the need to give money to the local storehouse, supposedly the local church, under the heading of tithing being even applicable today? but also now what about us giving something else? or to someone else? Firstly God looks at the heart of the giver, their motives for giving, their willingness to give for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

(Psa 112:9 KJV)  He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

(Prov 27:23 KJV)  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

 

I entered a church for the first time and was greeted by the pastor and he wanted immediately to know where I was working, and he did not at all ask rather about my poor health which had prevented me from working at that time.

 

I CLEARLY SAW THE GLIMMER IN THE HE PASTOR EYES COUNTING THE POTENTIAL INCOME. HE WRONGFULLY HAD HIS EYES ON MAN TO SUPPLY HIS NEEDS AND NOT GOD.

 

Another pastor had asked me to call the members of the church to see if they would make more donations to the church.. and boy did I get an earful from some of the members, and I really was surprised to note that some professing Christians where not Christians when you touched their money. Another Christian bragged to me they were paid up in the annual tithe but admitted to me they had not paid all of the he taxes cause they committed tax evasions, for after all their pastor did the same thing.

 

(Luke 20:25 KJV)  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

 

A godly shepherd is to care about the welfare of his flock both spiritual and physically and tells the whole truth too.. about other bad shepherds too, hirelings.. Jesus did.

 

THE SUBJECT OF  TITHING OFTEN CAUSES SOME PERSONS GREAT STRESS AND EVEN CHURCH DIVISIONS, FALSE  PERSECUTIONS AS WELL.

 

(1 Tim 6:10 KJV)  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.11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

Most persons do not know the Bible really well, in fact they really have not  studied the Bible still firsthand and sadly most people wrongfully rely mostly,  heavily on what  the others do  tell them even as to the supposed truth in  regard to tithing in  the Bible.. and this is still unacceptable.

(Prov 10:22 KJV) The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

For many years people have been looking even for the one Bible verse that would make them rich and famous too.

Well that now happens one day at a time with our walk with Jesus, for we are rich in Him and famous for our great exploits through Him as well not rather solely Money, the love of which is the root of all evil still.. Many people who get more money not only spend it outside of God's will, but they seem to only increase their credit cards and debts too.  When God bless one it is also a blessing in health, friends, in the spirit and it is not limited to money only.. Many people say when they will get more money then they will help others, but  God still wants you to do it now with what you have already..  I am also tired of hearing from the persons who wrongfully distort, take one isolated verse about prosperity being wealth, money and they do also wrongfully leave out all of the rest of the Bible verses that speak on giving, about true prosperity and money now as well.. they are wrongfully mostly selfish and unbalanced persons still, not real loving Christians.  Tell me also how most of the evangelical preachers can  talk about giving, money, but not mention giving to the the poor in the church? How? It seems they are still making themselves and the TV and radio stations richer only.

(Rev 2:5 KJV)  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

(3 John 1:2 KJV)  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

and how is your soul and spirit? prospering  greatly in the Lord firstly? with visible good works too? on behalf of others, the poor and needy persons too?

(2 Cor 8:1 KJV)  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4  Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 

"They first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." Here is the basic underlying principle of all giving, of all stewardship. It brings us full circle to where we began---responding to God. Stewardship is a matter of realizing that not only does everything that we have belong to God, but that we belong to Him too. Stewardship involves giving ourselves to God, allowing Him to be Lord of our lives, allowing all of our decisions to be made on the basis of His standards and His principles and His instructions, because you see, the basic principle of giving involves giving yourself to the Lord before you ever give a dime of money to anything. "

(Gen 39:5 KJV) And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

(Rom 15:29 KJV) And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

(Dan 11:32 KJV) but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

 Yes, "One of the first ways that you can indicate your Christian spirituality is in the way that you handle the money God has given you. Really!. SO ARE YOU A GOOD Christian OR A REAL BAD ONE NOW? And that does not now rather mean how much money you have already saved in your bank account or do even have for retirement, or what you own now, but how much of God's money did you use it wisely, distribute it faithfully?

(1 Cor 6:19 KJV)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(Deu 16:17 KJV) Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

(Prov 11:11 KJV) By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

(James 1:17 KJV)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Are you a good example, a good firstfruits of how God wants us to spend our money wisely doing his will now? 

(Luke 16:1 KJV)  And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.  2   And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

(1 Pet 4:8 KJV)  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

(1 Pet 4:9 KJV)  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

(1 Pet 4:10 KJV)  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

(1 Pet 4:11 KJV)  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Sadly even in many many churches many persons do not love others, cause firstly they do not love God, or their own family members, and not even their spouses, parents, brothers or sisters, so how can they next also love their Christian brothers and sisters now as well?

(Mat 25:31 KJV)  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: .. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

When prosperity comes, as it has for many Christians in our generation, one of the first considerations should be, when we get a raise or when we get a bonus or when we get a new client, when we get more money, how much more now do I have to give to God, and really not necessarily how much more to buy. Our first thought, usually, when we have an increase in our income, is, ``Boy! Now I will be able to buy this or that" and we falsely forget that absolutely all the money belongs to God, and we show our real daily allegiance to God by giving His money where and when he wants us to give , and rather not in the flesh, as carnal Christians to firstly stuff ourselves with junk food, useless purchases, lusts, theatre, worldly entertainments.

(Mat 6:33 KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Mat 6:34 KJV) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(2 Cor 9:6 KJV)  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8  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: 9  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.    12  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13  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; 14  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

(1 Cor 16:2 KJV)  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.

One of your first priorities ought to be to to note that you you are responsible for that money. You do not just turn it over to the church and let them decide what they are going to do with it. You are to decide what the priorities are in giving. 

 The first priority in your giving should be the local poor in the church. Why do the preachers leave this out? why?  

(Gal 2:10 KJV)  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

They leave this out cause they are building a religious church empire, or trying to get rich themselves?

God has designed the church should help one another and that  can next  also include any other ministries that God will, will lead you to give to as well.. a ministry is where someone actually looks after the good physical and spiritual welfare of the flock of God, not just in words, but with real visible deeds.   

 (Mat 7:20 KJV)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

(Mat 7:21 KJV)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

The basic point still  is that God expects you to administer also that money. Lay it aside yourself. Have this amount of money that you are going to give, and you and your family decide also freely where you are going to give that money. Check it it has been spent wisely...

I have stressed this matter of stewardship.  God does not want it to be a cut and dried, mechanical kind of thing. God wants us to think about what we do with our money. All of it too...

(Luke 16:9 KJV)  And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

(Luke 16:10 KJV)  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

(Luke 16:11 KJV)  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

(Luke 16:12 KJV)  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

(Luke 16:13 KJV)  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. You are to Give not cause they ask you in Church but because God said that you are to give daily to Him and to others, otherwise you too next will be barren spiritually as well. You will reap nothing cause you sowed nothing,.

(Luke 9:25 KJV) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Most Christian persons when they think of tithing they think that the Old  Testament required that the individual Jewish persons  had to give ten percent of all of their incomes to the Temple in Jerusalem to be used only as the Priests  sought  fit and some people would like us next to believe that this now applies  now also to the Christians as well.

 

But FIRSTLY what does the Bible really say about tithing?

 

You firstly in love and gratitude to God for his love, goodness bring the minimum tithe to God through  yourself  and yes you administer it directly to the Christian workers, the poor and needy persons a set portion of the tithe and then you start to also give for the mortgages, the other needs.. Giving is more than the 10 percent tithe for a start. Many Churches falsely do rob God by asking for just the tithe giving and use it to pay the mortgage, building expenses.

 

One prominent Christian Internet group's Suggested readings on tithing was:

 

Matthew 22:15-22  Render to Caesar his own

Luke 6:38  Give and receive good measure

 

1 Corinthians 16:1,2  Giving to needy saints"

Not let's deal with the truth, reality and are they here thus really also saying that  they do use use the  tithe to pay the taxes?

 

and/or  that they do also use the same  tithes today   to help practically the poor  persons in their own church? even the designated Old  Testament amount of 19 %?  Are you aware of a church that gives of the portion of the  collected tithes directly  to their poor?

 

or do these stated verses of their still have have rather nothing to do with tithing?

 

I have to say that I am also still shocked that like in all other issues, healing,  prophecy, baptism of the Holy Spirit,  giving alms to the poor and now even  "tithing" is not being Biblically, being  honestly presented even in Churches.   I have never heard a full honest explanation of tithing in any evangelical church  even the last 40 years, but rather still only Bible verses taken out of context,  distorted  and why is that now too?   For someone who says that they are now truthful then why do most of even the  Evangelical, Pentecostal  pastors now clearly mostly still do  withhold  wrongfully  the more applicable, more important verses related to  tithing in the Bible? Why?

 

Now it is true that tithing existed and was practised in the Old Testament  and  a  set portion of these tithes  were also to be given to the local poor persons  too. In fact at least 19 % of these Biblical commanded tithes were to be given  directly to the local poor persons  

 

Furthermore the Old Testament Levites, and the poor persons who could enjoy  the benefits of the tithes they did not own  or could not own any land, or a house. The Lord God  stated that the Levites would have no inheritance of land but would be given a portion of the tithe instead. Such an injunction would also apply today to anyone claiming a right to a tithe too.

Numbers 18:20 (NIV) 20 The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites..

The tithe was also paid directly to the storehouse only every 3rd year? and the other two years the tither himself enjoyed the tithes himself by feasting on it?

 

(Deu 12:17 KJV)  Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:(Deu 14:23 KJV)  And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

And why now have any of the today's  pastors  not even mentioned these  Biblical verses, truths  too in all honesty? rather they like you to belive that   then and not all of the tithes was to be  given to the local church.. which was  not so at all. Not in the Old or New Testament.

 (Neh 10:38 KJV)  And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

Thus in reality now Is it not a biblical fact that only  10 percent of the collected  tithe in the Old testament  every three years went directly to the storehouse?

Also, every third year, the Israelite was required to store his tithe in his own town to feed the fatherless, aliens, and widows as required by the Lord. This was the tithe of the poor. (ma’aser ani)(Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 26:12-15) (Amos 4:4-5)

Now let's further review the actual Bible verses applicable to the laws on  tithing..

 

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 (NIV) 22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 2 5 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 26:12-15 (NIV) 12 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. 13 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. 14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey."

Deuteronomy 12:4-19 (NIV) 4 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. 5 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; 6 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. 7 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. 8 You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, 9 since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you. 10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. 11 Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name--there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD. 12 And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maid servants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. 14 Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. 15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer, according to the blessing the LORD your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. 16 But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. 17 You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. 18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose--you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns--and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to. 19 Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Amos 4:4-5 (NIV) 4 "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. 5 Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings-- boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do," declares the Sovereign LORD.

Heb.7:1 For this Melchisidec, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all;. . . 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. In Genesis chapter 14, Abraham goes out to rescue his nephew Lot, who along with many others has been kidnapped. The kidnappers had ransacked the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot lived, and were on their way back to their own cities. Abraham took 318 servants with him, (boy was he rich), and rescued Lot's family. He also took from the kidnappers all the loot they had obtained during their raids. After restoring the personal property of the residents of Sodom, he gave 10% of the loot to Melchisidec. This time, and this time only, are we ever told that Abraham pays tithes to anyone. There is no mention that he went home to round up 10% of the goods he had there, and anyone who could produce his own 318 man army was not poor. We are nowhere told that Abraham ever paid tithes on any of his income again. If Abraham establishes a law for Christians regarding tithing, then if you give away 10% of your next windfall, you have imitated Abraham. The purpose of Hebrews chapter 7 is not to establish a law of tithing, but to show how Jesus Christ was foreshadowed in symbols and figures throughout the Old Testament.

(Gen 28:21 KJV)  So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:  Jacob said, "Of all that Thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto Thee" (Gen.28:22). We can presume from these words, that Jacob did, from that point, give the tenth to God: but to whom did he give it? How did he give it to God? There were no "clergymen" around to collect these tithes, and neither was there a Temple to bring them to. Perhaps Jacob gave these tithes to the poor; perhaps they were consumed in offerings by fire, but one thing is for sure: these tithes were not going into someone's "storehouse". Note: this was not a command to Jacob from God, but a vow made by Jacob to God. The antiquity of any practice does not make it a law for The Church.

Matt.23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith: these ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides! which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

It is obvious that the Lord told the Pharisees to not neglect paying the obligatroy  tithe is a reflection of His judgement on them: in that they were not of His sheep. It was characteristic of Our Lord Jesus to encourage the self righteous in their works, and even to increase the requirement, so as to show them that they were not made righteous by these works.

(Gal 3:11 KJV)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

2 Cor.9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Will somebody please show me where in the New Testament we can next find  any of the New testament Believers in Christ believers paying tithes specifically, or any of the Apostles asking for tithes? Well? Where? It does  not exist in fact!

 The New Testament  Epistles are full of discussions about giving for the support  of  preachers, teachers, and also the poor persons: but no where do any of the  Apostles ask for the tithes  directly or indirectly!

Let's look at the few  New Testament supposedly applicable verses on tithing.

(1 Cor 16:2 KJV)  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. 3  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

The percentage amount of the individual's donation firstly is not specified here  though, not even even implied not even  the old testament standard of 10  percent of one's income or the amount  to be given to the poor persons. Now  why is that?

 

EVEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SOME PERSONS LIED  ABOUT THEIR INCOMES

(Acts 5:3 KJV)  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?  4 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.

But Ananias clearly now too was not obligated to give any portion of his  incomes  unwillingly

"Heb.7:1 For this Melchisidec, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all;. . . 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

 

Well in Genesis chapter 14, Abraham goes out to rescue his nephew Lot, who along with many others has been kidnapped. The kidnappers had ransacked the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot lived, and were on their way back to their own cities. Abraham took 318 servants with him, (boy was he rich), and rescued Lot's family. He also took from the kidnappers all the loot they had obtained during their raids. After restoring the personal property of the residents of Sodom, he gave 10% of the loot to Melchisidec. This time, and this time only, are we ever told that Abraham pays tithes to anyone. There is no mention that he went home to round up 10% of the goods he had there, and anyone who could produce his own 318 man army was not poor. We are nowhere told that Abraham ever paid tithes on any of his income again.  If Abraham established a law for Christians regarding tithing, then if you give away 10% of your next windfall, you have imitated Abraham.

 

The purpose of Hebrews chapter 7 is not to establish a law of tithing,  but to show how Jesus Christ was foreshadowed in symbols and figures  throughout the Old Testament.

(Gen 28:21 KJV)  So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:  Jacob said, "Of all that Thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto Thee" (Gen.28:22).

 

We can clearly from the New Testament now even presume from these words, that Jacob did, from that point, give the tenth to God: but to whom did he give it?

 

How did he give it to God? There were now  no "clergymen" around to collect these tithes, and neither was there a Temple to bring them to.  Perhaps Jacob gave these tithes to the poor; perhaps they were consumed in offerings by fire, but one thing is for sure: these tithes were not going into someone's "storehouse".

 

Note: this  still was not a command to Jacob from God, but a vow made  by Jacob to God. The antiquity of any practice does not make it a law for  today's Church or believers."

 

Some people today wrongfully want to claim even a government  refund on  their tithe giving TOO!

Matt.6:1 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. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, Himself shall reward thee openly.

This furthermore  is a clear command by Our Lord Jesus Christ to NOT KEEP TRACK of how generous we have been to church or charity. This also applies to keeping donation records of giving for income tax purposes.

Coming back to the Old Testament verses also  on tithing..

 

"There were several types of tithes, according to the source of Israelites' income: the tithes from the land (seed and fruit) and the tithes from the domestic animals (flock and herd). In other words, God HAD expected His people to set aside one tenth of all increase (income)."

 

(Exo 34:26 KJV)  The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God.

 

(Exo 23:16 KJV)  And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

 

(Lev 23:10 KJV)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

 

(Num 28:26 KJV)  Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

 

(Deu 26:10 KJV)  And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:

 

(2 Chr 31:5 KJV)  And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

 

(Neh 10:35 KJV)  And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

 

(Neh 10:37 KJV)  And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

 

OFFERINGS AND TITHINGS, BOTH WERE DONE..

 

(Prov 3:9 KJV)  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

 

(Ezek 20:40 KJV)  For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

 

(Ezek 44:30 KJV)  And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.

In Reality..

"God's people OF THE OLD TESTAMENT practised Sharing between the Israelites who received their inheritance from God (the land) and with those who did not posses such inheritance – Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows. If we examine the figures, the number of Israelites versus the number of Levites and the percentage that the Israelites were to give to the Levites and the poor (one third of 10%),( about 19% percent of the tithe)  we will find that each would end up with an equal share. This is the principle that was observed in the distribution of manna: one who gathered much had nothing left over and the one who gathered little had no lack.  Sharing was the community coming together with their families/neighbors and sharing in the atmosphere of joy and celebration before the Lord. "

(Lev 27:30 KJV)  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

The tithe always  is God's not the churches, pastor's, priests, etc.,

(Lev 27:32 KJV)  And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

(Num 18:26 KJV)  Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.

(Deu 14:22 KJV)  Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

(2 Chr 31:5 KJV)  And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

(2 Chr 31:6 KJV)  And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

(Neh 13:12 KJV)  Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

(Lev 27:31 KJV)  And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

(Num 18:24 KJV)  But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

(Num 18:26 KJV)  Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the  LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.

(Num 18:28 KJV)  Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

(Deu 12:6 KJV)  And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

(Deu 12:11 KJV)  Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

(Deu 26:12 KJV)  When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

(2 Chr 31:12 KJV)  And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

(Neh 10:37 KJV)  And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

(Neh 10:38 KJV)  And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure  house.

(Neh 12:44 KJV)  And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

(Neh 13:5 KJV)  And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

(Amos 4:4 KJV)  Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:

(Mal 3:8 KJV)  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 10  Bring ye all ( all )  the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat ( note this food for the workers was the purpose of the tithe) 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.

And still  coming back to the Old Testament you are to give all of the tithe to God, all of the tithe, all of  of it belongs to him, and you next gave  1/7 of this tithe to the local poor people, and the balance of the tithe was to go 100 percent to the support of of the Christian workers and their families. 

 

Note this  that  none cent of the tithe,  not one cent  of the tithe, now still  was to go to the temple upkeep, or to the mortgages, building funds.. for there were other specific  offerings to be collected for this..  Is this than also  being practised today? No! and why not if tithing is applicable today in full?

 

But sadly today and very obviously even today almost all Christian churches firstly  they do not at all give the stated designated old testament portion of the tithe to the local poor, falsely too, and thus they do steal even from the tithes, and from the poor people  to wrongfully pay their Church bills, mortgages.. to even falsely make pastors even richer. This is an unacceptable sin by them as well now too.

Now some really crooked still Pentecostal church do try to even make you sign an unbiblical agreement that you will give ten percent of your tithes to their church and they will let you next become a member of their church.. yes these  are crooked churches for there is no such thing even of listed church memberships in the New Testament, and in my own wittiness these pastors, elders, tithers of these churches committed tax evasions, even stole some of the monies , are and were only materialistic oriented and not spiritual too.

The false preachers say that even today says that 10 percent of all your income is to be given to the local storehouse, whereas in fact the old testament tithe required that only 3.33 percent be given directly to the local  church, storehouse, and that 3.33 percent was based on your annual  income less expenditures.

Basically enforced tithing, like circumcision,  is an Old testament Law and thus is not really fully enforced in the  New Testament.. for in the New Testament you give to God of yourself, all of it, and next all of your money.. all of it belongs to God and He God spends it the way He God wants.. (1 Cor 16:1 KJV)  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

The New Testament city Churches supported the  poor people even  in  the local city church unlike most Churches today. And now too  many people, pastors, elders do steal from all of God's money today in reality as I myself have too often witnessed in churches too and thus  they are still thieves.

(1 Cor 10:24 KJV)  Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. and that means caring about their physical well being now as well.

(Gal 2:10 KJV)  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

(Rom 15:25 KJV)  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto
them in carnal things.

(Isa 58:6 KJV)  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

(Dan 4:27 KJV)  Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

(Mat 10:42 KJV)  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Mat 25:37 KJV)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

(Mat 5:19 KJV)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

And here is what the early church fathers said on tithing too..

"The great Church Father Irenaeus (A.D. 120-202) stated that tithing as a legal obligation is no longer binding. He explains this in chapter XIII of book IV in "Irenaeus Against Heresies":

"And for this reason did the Lord, instead of that [commandment], "Thou shalt not commit adultery," forbid even concupiscence; and instead of that which runs thus, "Thou shalt not kill," He prohibited anger; and instead of the law enjoining the giving of tithes, [He told us] to share all our possessions with the poor;"And again in chapter XVIII of book IV he again
states:

"And for this reason they [the Jews] had indeed the tithes of their goods consecrated to Him, but those who have received liberty set aside all their possessions for the Lord's purposes, bestowing joyfully and freely not the less valuable portions of their property, since they have the hope of better things [hereafter]; as that poor widow acted who cast all her living into
the treasury of God. This provides us with ample evidence that Church-age tithing [versus NT giving] is simply a pharisaic type tradition."

"The First Conference of Abbot Theonas, Chapter IV states:

"For the righteous [Christians], for whom the law is not enacted, are thus shown to be not under the law, . . ." Abbot Theonas felt as St. Irenaeus did, that you should share all that you have with the POOR AND NEEDY.

Now lets look at Acts 15:1-20. In summary it tells us that the first council, the Apostle's Council, was called to determine what part of Mosaic Law the gentiles would be responsible for. Their response was: 15:10 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke [the Law] on the neck of the disciples [Gentiles] which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."

Acts 15:24: "Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and KEEP THE LAW' to whom we gave no such commandment." 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:" 15:29 "that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

It is difficult to see where anything could be anymore explicit then the above statement from Acts. Nowhere does it mention tithing. In fact, nowhere in the New Testament is tithing required of Christians and is only mentioned in relation to those (Jews) under the Law doing what they are suppose to be doing.

"THINK ABOUT IT. WHY WOULD THE APOSTLES REQUIRE THE GENTILES TO GIVE TEN PERCENT OF THE PRODUCE OF THE LAND TO THE LEVITES? It would have been a ridiculous concept to the Apostles?"

"Remember there were people in Israel earning money through commerce and work and NONE OF THEM WERE REQUIRED TO TITHE BY MOSAIC LAW so one earning money was not a requirement to tithe?"

In addition, the gentiles were not under a theocracy nor did they have Levites or the Temple System to support. So the question is, why do religious leaders of today twist the Scriptures to support the idea that some how Scripture REQUIRES us to give ten percent of our weekly income to the Church? This is not supported by Scriptures However Christians are not prohibited from tithing." http://www.ij.net/ona/#Tithing%20and%20its%20Application%20to%20Christians "

A true faith produces. shows real love for others, is concerned about their spiritual as well as physical well being..  and it tells the whole truth, not partial truths, or even clear lies..

The earth is the Lord's, and every thing in it, the world, and all who live in it… (Psalm 24:1).

(Deu 15:11 KJV)  For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God, I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.    I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.   If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it (Psalm 50:7-12).

‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:8).

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” (Romans 11:35).

(Gal 2:16 KJV)  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Much has been said and not said about "tithing" by all kind of persons..

Here are a few basic facts, truths from the Bible that need also to be considered.The "tithe" itself  is reserved for certain functions, persons now as well.. and no man can still  force any one to tithe. The message of Jesus is that God is not in need of money but of a humble, sacrificial spirit.

(Mat 17:24 KJV)  And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?  Acts 5:4

(2 Cor 9:7 KJV)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8  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: 8 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his
righteousness remaineth for ever.`10   Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Furthermore only the persons who did not own any land, a house  the Old Testament Levites, the poor enjoyed the benefits of the third year  tithes

Numbers 18:20 (NIV) 20 The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites

At least up to 19 % of the Biblical tithe was to be given directly to the local poor persons

Deuteronomy 26:12-15 (NIV) 12 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

Deuteronomy 14: 27 And do not neglect the Levites  living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

10 percent of  tithe only was paid directly to the storehouse and only every 3rd year?

Neh. 10:37-38 "...to bring the firstfruits... and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse."

and the other two years the tither and his family enjoyed the tithes  by even feasting on it.The people of Israel were required to assemble three times a year at Jerusalem (as the place chosen by the Lord) for the major feasts.

(Deu 12:17 KJV)  Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

(Deu 14:23 KJV)  And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God  always.

The Israelite was not commanded to tithe on everything he obtained and used throughout the year, but only on his increase at the end of the year. ( The increase minus his actual expenditures during the year, or the final year  end profit?)

Deut.14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the
field bringeth forth year by year.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows” (Malachi 3:10).

There were four tithes in Israel under the Old Covenant. Which one is referred to here?

And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse (Nehemiah 10:38).

The book of  Malachi firstly is about Malachi  is rebuking the priests, the  Levites. The tithe payable by the Levites, and main subject is not the tithes payable by the people was the unpaid tithe here. Ironic that the tithe collection is still being abused too often today as well by the Church priests, pastors.

Please ALSO do not get any false impression that I am against voluntary tithing to the Lord Jesus Christ, or voluntary giving to the Lord Jesus Christ, AND to the poor persons. I am against trying to earn, buy your way into heaven, and also  giving on the too often false man defined  mandates that the still mostly false pastors themselves do define it.. and what mostly false pastors? The fact that at least 60 percent of the evangelical pastors I have dealt with are very inadequate, even rather mere hirelings who lie, slander, abuse others, gossip,  cheat, steal, commit tax evasions, tolerate divorce wrongfully etc, and do not really follow after the Lord. We need to have a better biblical  account of how the Lord's money is spent.

The Mosaic Law of Tithing was never 10% of everything you get.

The Temple (now considered to be the church-house) did not receive all of the tithes that were given by the Israelites.

Tithing was neither commanded nor fully observed in the early church.

Tithing as a covenant of prosperity is effective only for those who seek to be justified by keeping all of  the Law which is not possible anyway.

Those who demand 10% of everything you get, are identified with the Scribes and the Pharisees, who were still the historic enemies of Christ.

 

(Heb 13:5 KJV)  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

(Mark 9:41 KJV)  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

 

Some people still wrongfully do look for false reasons not to help any others, they falsely even do delegate wrong reasons for the others being poor  or sick now as well and thus wrongfully excuse themselves from not personally helping them .. sadly some Christians,  some, pastors included.  I have met many professing Christian persons who wrongfully teach even that all sickness or poverty  is caused by a  personal mental problem,  or they do wrongfully teach that one has power within oneself to heal oneself, to get rich too... or that all sickness, poverty  is only demonic in cause, needing only a spiritual cure..   and none of this is in accordance to the Bible, or what God teaches us now as well.. none of this.. If your parents were poor it is unlikely you will get rich by working hard next too. 

 

(Rom 15:1 KJV)  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

 

(1 Cor 16:22 KJV)  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

 

(Mat 7:16 KJV)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

 

(Mat 7:20 KJV)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Phil. 1:11

 

"Five things that can cripple a church

By J. Gerald Harris, Editor

Published March 16, 2006

The dear Lord Jesus loves the church and has given Himself for it, and He obviously wants the church to be healthy and vibrant. The devil hates the church and since its inception has been hurling all the weapons in his diabolical arsenal in an effort to cripple its witness and its effectiveness.

Let me mention five of the things that weaken the church and minimize its effectiveness.

First, there is the problem of a scandalous leadership. When immorality bred by lust or greed is found among the leadership of the church the results are devastating. That is precisely why pastors, church staff and lay leaders such as deacons must have lives marked by physical chastity, moral purity and spiritual integrity.

I have pastored a church that was marked by a staff member who was guilty of immorality of the worst sort and the results of his sin had a devastating impact, not only upon him, but also upon his family, friends, the church and even the community. In fact, the church may still bear the stigma of that heinous sin. Someone said that it might take the church a generation to overcome the humiliating and ignominious scars suffered from the grievous sins of one staff member.

Second, there is the problem of a discordant member. I am not speaking of the person who registers an occasional disagreement. I am not referring to the person who may infrequently raise a voice of dissent. I am speaking of the person who is born in the objective mood and negative case – the person who is never happy with what happens in the church and actually creates dissention.

In Proverbs 6:16-19 the Bible actually tells us that there are some things that God hates or considers an abomination and one thing God despises is the person who sows seeds of discord among the brethren. Such an individual can make life miserable for the pastor, sandbag decisions in a church business meeting, discourage other church members, repel the lost and summons an ominous cloud over the entire church.

Third, there is the problem of apathy. Vance Havner said, “We have anarchy in the world, apostasy in the professing church and apathy in the true church.” An indifferent, indolent, lukewarm church nauseates God and renders the church helpless and ineffective.

One pastor went down to the train station every day to see the one westbound passenger train that came through their small town each afternoon at 4:30.

One day the ticket agent, who saw the pastor watch the train pull out of the station each day, asked, “Preacher, why are you always here to see the 4:30 train pull out of the station?”

The weary pastor said, “I just like to see something moving forward that I don’t have to push.”

Did you hear about the company that makes blank bumper stickers? They’re for people who don’t want to get involved. Too many churches have too many people who just don’t want to get involved. Such apathy cripples the cause of Christ and paralyzes the effort to build healthy kingdom churches.

Fourth, there is the problem of inflexibility. Some churches do not grow because the members are so unwilling to change, so unyielding, so set in their ways. I have known Sunday School class members that were so married to their class that they would never agree to serve anywhere else or move to another class or help start another class.

Some classes have their own budget in order to purchase their own chairs, carpet their own classroom and purchase their own television in case they want to watch a certain television preacher instead of have their own teacher teach the lesson. The class is like a country club and for the most part visitors and new members are not welcome unless they are “approved.”

Gordon Venturella says, “Inflexibility leads to idolatry; and change is the only road out of self-centered control to servanthood.” Yet many churches are inflexible – unwilling to change.

Fifth, there is the problem of purposelessness. One church put a sign on their church door in 1963 that stated, “Gone out of business. Didn’t know what our business was.”

Thomas Carlyle said, “A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.” The same is true of a church. Proverbs 29:18 emphasizes: “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”

Is your church avoiding the problems that cripple the family of God?" and it looks like ours does...

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It might have been unintentional but quite revealing away.

 

Besides the fact of a clear love  for others and God, the main factor that firstly clearly cripple a church are lack of personal daily prayer by the pastors, deacons, elders, lay persons. All Pastors should at least pray and read their bibles one hour a day.. and most Christians still do not read or pray 5 minutes of day.

 

I know for a fact also that  Robbing God of his tithes, misappropriating them and denying the poor their portion of the tithes devastates a church as well.

 

(Isa 3:7 KJV)  In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

 

(Luke 19:46 KJV)  Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

 

The perverse prosperity prostitutes, adulterers. It has been my too many years of personal experiences that the perverse prosperity prostitutes, adulterers, idolterers persons, who mainly  tithe to get richer and not rather to help the poor persons,  for they do  generally as well despise the poor and needy persons, covet to be rich they can be found in both the secular and religious camps, and their behaviors tend to be very similar. Even the religious persons, the rather still carnal persons, the Judas followers,  while they now even do profess to be moral good living persons  still when it comes to making more money they clearly bend their rules on morality, ethics, honesty, and they will even cheat, lie steal to acquire more wealth... they mainly still also do see other people as slave objects, slaves that can be used to help them increase their personal acquisitions and they will cast out, sell out their poor  relatives, relationships still too..  but they still will even profess to be good persons now too... and try to by their way into heaven.

 

(Mat 25:34 KJV)   Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:

 

(James 2:1 KJV)  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

 

(1 Tim 5:8 KJV)  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 

(1 John 1:9 KJV)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

(Jer 2:20 KJV)  For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

 

Do study the Bible for yourself and determine the truth, stop believing rather what others say that the Bible says as well on all issues! Giving, tithing, healing, tongues, prophecy etc.,