Friday, August 22, 2014

There is NO tithe for the church today

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

If any man teach otherwise . . . 



1. He is proud, knowing nothing:

1Timothy 6:3-4 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing (KJV)

2. He may be a novice: 

1Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (KJV)

3. He might want to consider having a trade:

2Thessalonians 3:10 ... if any would not work, neither should he eat. (KJV)

4. He is not worthy of double honor. He is worthy of double honor only IF he labors in the Word:

1Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (KJV)

So, . . . if he demands tithes, then he must NOT be laboring in the Word and therefore NOT worthy of double honor and should therefore get a job and stop demanding or pressuring the members to pay their tithes (perhaps so he can have his "salary," his car, his house, his nice clothes, or other physical benefit). 

Paul, the greatest missionary was a TENTMAKER. This was his trade which helped him pay his expenses:

Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. (KJV)

Acts 20:4 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. (NIV)

2Thessalonians 3:8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. (NIV)

There is NO TITHE for the church today. Nowhere in the NEW TESTAMENT is tithing ordered or commanded for Christians. That would NOT be grace! 

If we give. let us give cheerfully unto the Lord, not because we were coerced to do it by threats of incurring God's anger:

2Corinthians 9:7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." (NLT)

If I do not give in love unto the Lord, then it is nothing:

1Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (NIV)

Therefore, if I give because I was threatened by loss or wrath, this is not love. 

If your pastor (shepherd) is beating you with the Bible to "give, give, give, ..." do not be afraid to remind him of these things, for you speak as the oracles of God:

1Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister ... (KJV)

A word of love, compassion, and care for the beloved flocks of the Lord that are abused every weekend around the city, around the country, and around the world. 

JFS, pastor
http://meditationsfromscripture.blogspot.com/

"Caring for the sheep, one post at a time"

Monday, August 18, 2014

Revenge



"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." -Romans 12:19

How many Hollywood movies can you think of that promote revenge as anacceptable behavior? From the verse above, once again, we can see that the world is at odds with the Word of God, i.e. God's will for the believer. 

How about in our own lives . . . do we often seek revenge for an insult, an offense, or someone else's bad behavior? I know in my own life for example, when my neighbors constantly flood my house with their pollution, or are excessively noisy, I seriously want to take action against them. Of course I am allowed to speak to them and share my concerns but what happens when they do not listen? The Word of God teaches me not to take vengeance, but rather let God deal with these people because according to the Word of God, "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). 

My comfort is that there will come a day when God will sort all of these things out. The book of Revelation assures us of this. Those people in Hollywood who promote revenge as an acceptable social behavior through their movies; those people who are rude to us; those people who treat us "unfairly" will all stand before God and give an account for their behavior. This is much more terrible than we could possibly imagine, and frankly it should move us to more compassion to tolerate, understand, and warn these people.

There is nothing wrong with getting angry about evil people and evil deeds mind you. The Lord tells us, "Be ye angry, and sin not" (Ephesians 4:26); but when all peaceful options have failed, my part is to wait on the Lord to deal with these people. Of course I can address the issues to the person directly, but acts of vengeance are forbidden in God's plan. David gave us an excellent example in the Psalms. Read through the Psalms and you will see how David did not avenge himself on those who treated him harshly, but committed his prayers unto God. He presented his case before merciful God and pleaded with Him to deal with those that treated him coarsely. 

May the Lord grant us the grace to NOT repay evil for evil when we suffer for others' ill-behavior: "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (1Thessalonians 5:15); especially our brethren in the Lord: "especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). 

Meditations from Scripture, JFS

In word or in deed?

http://kingsenglish.info/
Luke 6:46 "And why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

Are we "Christians" only when it is fashionable or unobjectionable?

Malachi 1:6 "A son honors his father ... If I am a father, where is the honor due me?"

Do we call God our heavenly Father only when we want something? 

What happened to honoring our Heavenly Father whether we need something or not? 

1John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

"Lord," "honor," "love" God are words. Where are the deeds?

James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

There are many who claim Christianity, but where is the evidence in our lives? 

Matthew 23:27 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whitewashed sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

Do we look good only one day a week? Or is it a lifestyle?

1Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

God knows our hearts, that they are desperately wicked . . . 

Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Let us turn from our ways and worship God through Jesus Christ. Let us love, honor, and adore Him for who He is and worship Him in the beauty of holiness.