Monday, June 18, 2012
Truth At All Costs
Many people out there will always tell you what you want to hear. People that will never rain on your parade. People that will get you clapping. That will get you jumping. That will make you dizzy. That will present a Christian faith to you that will make your church look like a Six Flags over Jesus and that will keep you so entertained that you are never addressed with some very important issues. I could tell you a story that would make you laugh or a story about puppies and grandmas that would make you cry, but I love you guys too much for that. I want to share truth. And in most cases, truth is not meant to make you feel all happy happy joy joy. Actually, it's not meant to make you feel good one bit. I already know that I'm going to get some serious flack for this post. And I'm prepared for that. Nevertheless, it needs to be shared.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that there are countless issues in Christianity today, presumably in the United States. I hate to sound as if I'm singling out the church in America, but it's where I live. And I have heard and seen enough of His church in other countries to know that not everyone lives like us. In fact, few do. For starters, we have become dangerously comfortable.
What I have seen in modern American churches today doesn't even come close to following what the first century church did. All across America, people go to some church building every Sunday to have their ears tickled and their backs scratched by some preacher. It doesn’t matter whether your church is traditional or contemporary. If you look around you when you enter the sanctuary, you’ll see stage lights, instruments, cushioned pews or chairs and clean windows. Church has become a social event. For a number of us, it’s a check mark on the calendar. We go to see and be seen. We listen to the sermon, sing a few songs, and leave. We decide to stop going to this church because we didn’t like the music, or we don’t go to that church because we don’t like the pastor. Many of us don’t apply what we learned to our lives (if we learned anything at all). It is undeniable that unbiblical ideas and practices have crept their way into the Church throughout history. But as I have said before, there is a huge gap between rebellion and standing up for what is true. Although I disagree with the institutional church, I'm at peace with it.
It also doesn't take a genius to know that American Christianity is different from Christianity in the rest of the world. Believers in China, the Middle East, and Africa are imprisoned, tortured, and/or killed for their faith. What would happen if America suddenly became a Communist nation, and you are told to deny Jesus Christ and become a Muslim, or be executed? Would you refuse or agree? Would you give up everything for Christ? Would you openly disobey the government and announce that you will never deny Jesus because he is your Lord and Savior? I think most people would say that they would deny Jesus, but on the inside say, ‘I will still recognize Jesus’ just because they don’t want to die. I know that I would rather be killed for my faith than deny Jesus.
A very dangerous, probably the most dangerous, phenomenon in American Christianity today is that if you pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart, He will definitely come in. Friends, you will not find that in any place in Scripture. And if you look back in history, you won't find that appearing until about 60 years ago. The Christian faith is not a once-and-for all flu shot. Many people are being led into a decision with very little knowledge of the Gospel. Trusting in a decision rather than looking onto Christ. Living in ungodliness and believing that they are saved because some religious authority told them that they were after they prayed a little prayer. We need to give people the full picture of the Gospel.
Let me say this. Your profession of faith is no proof that you’re born again because mostly everybody in this whole country professes faith in Jesus Christ. If I went out to knock on every door in my city, do you know what I would find out? That around 85% of people here believe themselves to be believers. With most of them probably not concerned about serving. Not giving a hoot about holiness. Not a worry about being separated from the world. And yet they claim to be Christian. What you need to know is that salvation is by faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ. And faith alone in Jesus Christ is preceded and followed by repentance . . . a turning away from sin, a hatred for the things that God hates and a love for the things that God loves, a growing in holiness and a desire not be like the world, but to be like Christ.
The evidence––the way that you can have assurance that you are genuinely a born-again Christian––is that you do, as a style of life, the will of the Father. And no I'm not saying that works will save you. I'm talking about the evidence of faith. Works will be that evidence. After all, as James says, faith without works is dead.
We need to be radical. Radical Christians are not people who jump at concerts.You're not a radical Christian because you wear a Christian T-shirt or because you go to a Christian conference. Radical Christians are those who bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Simple as that.
While preachers are a dime a dozen nowadays, fervent men of God are an endangered species. What America needs is die-hard followers of God. Believers with guts and determination. Believers who are ticked off enough to make a difference. Believers who aren't afraid to rock the boat. Believers to whom truth and righteousness mean more than anything else. Believers with vision. Believers who aren't afraid to preach the truth, like it or lump it, take it or leave it.
So my friends, to conclude, all I have left to say here is two things: Pray for revival. We all know this country needs it. And don't just stop there. You know it's time to initiate revival when the Church has no interest to serve and no concern for those lost and when selfishness and pride and no fear of God is in our church buildings, homes, and culture.
And most importantly, if you haven't already, I urge you: Repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Gospel Grenade
The gospel is like a grenade. It doesn’t matter who throws it, it’s
gonna blow up. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 12 year old girl or a 22 year
old Marine. The power is in the object being thrown, not in the person
throwing it. It doesn’t matter if it’s Billy Graham, Luis Palau or some awkward
teenager giving the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost person. The
gospel is no respecter of persons on either the giving or the receiving
side. It is no more effective in capable hands than it is in stuttering
mouths. The power is in the message, not the messenger.
The gospel doesn’t need lights, camera or action. It doesn’t need pyrotechnics or jumbotron screens. It just needs someone to declare it clearly, someone to pull the pin and throw the bomb.
And please don’t ask me how God infused explosive power into a set of propositions. I have no idea how God did it, I’m just grateful He did. This simple message is so powerful that it knocked Saul off his donkey so hard that when he stood up he had undergone a name change, career change and identity change, all in one blinding flash of transformation. Although it blinded his earthly eyes for a few days, it opened his spiritual ones for the rest of his days.
This message is so explosive that the once-Saul-now-Paul rejoiced even when it was being preached by those who had rotten motives. In Philippians 1:15-18 he wrote, “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
The great apostle would rather have preachers preaching the gospel message out of wrong motives than not preaching the gospel at all! Paul understood that grenades don’t care about motives. They exist to explode and that is all.
So what is our lesson from the gospel grenade? Simply this, you may not feel qualified to give the gospel. You may not feel worthy to share the message with those around you. Just remember that it’s not about you, but about Jesus and His simple message. You are not the power. The gospel is.
You don’t have to be eloquent or smooth as you share it. Just share it. You don’t have to have a Masters of Theology or Doctorate of Divinity to share it. Just share it. Whether you have a white collar, blue collar or no collar, just share it. The gospel message and Holy Spirit will do the rest (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14.)
Your responsibility is to pull the pin, throw the bomb and duck. And when you do, explosive things will happen.
Kaboom!
The gospel doesn’t need lights, camera or action. It doesn’t need pyrotechnics or jumbotron screens. It just needs someone to declare it clearly, someone to pull the pin and throw the bomb.
And please don’t ask me how God infused explosive power into a set of propositions. I have no idea how God did it, I’m just grateful He did. This simple message is so powerful that it knocked Saul off his donkey so hard that when he stood up he had undergone a name change, career change and identity change, all in one blinding flash of transformation. Although it blinded his earthly eyes for a few days, it opened his spiritual ones for the rest of his days.
This message is so explosive that the once-Saul-now-Paul rejoiced even when it was being preached by those who had rotten motives. In Philippians 1:15-18 he wrote, “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
The great apostle would rather have preachers preaching the gospel message out of wrong motives than not preaching the gospel at all! Paul understood that grenades don’t care about motives. They exist to explode and that is all.
So what is our lesson from the gospel grenade? Simply this, you may not feel qualified to give the gospel. You may not feel worthy to share the message with those around you. Just remember that it’s not about you, but about Jesus and His simple message. You are not the power. The gospel is.
You don’t have to be eloquent or smooth as you share it. Just share it. You don’t have to have a Masters of Theology or Doctorate of Divinity to share it. Just share it. Whether you have a white collar, blue collar or no collar, just share it. The gospel message and Holy Spirit will do the rest (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14.)
Your responsibility is to pull the pin, throw the bomb and duck. And when you do, explosive things will happen.
Kaboom!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
The Gospel > Politics
There once was a time when almost every person in America acknowledged the Ten Commandments as the cornerstone of ethics and morality. Today, most Americans can’t even name three of them. There was also a time when Americans disapproved of acts such as adultery, divorce, homosexuality, and obscene language.
How times have changed.
In less than fifty years' time, America has adopted a distinctly anti-Christian attitude and agenda. Christian principles? Gone, with equal rights, tolerance, and separation of church and state in it's place. Not to mention the growth of immoral things like pornography and abortion.
As John MacArthur puts it "America’s moral decline is a spiritual problem, not a political one, and its solution is the gospel, not partisan politics."
Too many Americans, Christians even, look to politics to deal with these problems in America. And that is most certainly not what we need to be focusing on. Instead, we need to be focusing on the gospel. Here are ten reasons why:
1. Politics change. The gospel doesn’t (Matthew 24:35.)
2. The gospel will transform our politics, not vice versa (Romans 12:1,2.)
3. It’s what Jesus calls us to do (Acts 1:6-8.)
4. We are citizens of a different kingdom (Philippians 3:20.)
5. It’s what the early church focused on (Acts 4:23-31.)
6. It attacks the root of evil and not just the fruit of it (Romans 1:16.)
7. Politics can divide the body of Christ while the gospel will unite us. (Philippians 1:27)
8. The gospel calls us to pray for politicians we disagree with, not hate them (1 Timothy 2:1-4.)
9. The gospel brings political action soaked in love and humility, not pride and arrogance (Romans 13:1-8.)
10. Politics are a reflection of the moral compass of a society. The gospel gives society a new compass that is accurate (Titus 3:1-5.)
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Hell...Right Outside of Columbus?
What if Hell was right outside of Columbus, Indiana? What if people went there before they died and not after? What if people could get into a car and drive to Indiana to witness the suffering of the lost firsthand? What if everyone who hadn’t believed in Jesus by the age of thirty was cast into the Lake of Fire and there was no second chance after three decades on earth? If this fictional scenario was factual reality then convincing every person on the planet under the age of thirty to follow Jesus would become the greatest social justice movement in the history of the world. Local churches would line up to throw resources behind this urgent and immediate cause. Christians would share the gospel to the younger generation with boldness, passion and urgency.
Well, the Lake of Fire is not outside of Columbus, but it is just on the other side of the border to this life. Hell is not the immediate consequence for every thirty year old, but it is the wages for everyone who has ever sinned no matter what their age (Romans 6:23). Every person on this planet is just one breath away from heaven or hell at every second of every day. In light of this brutal reality we must use our every breath to convince every one within our reach to believe in Jesus before it’s too late. We must embrace sharing the gospel with everyone as the greatest cause in human history.
So with that said, no single act in the Christian life is as dangerous as evangelism. Bible study, prayer and attending church aren't dangerous, they are disciplines. But when you actually open your mouth to proclaim the gospel to someone, you risk some kind of loss. In some countries that could be your life. But in America it is most likely your reputation, a relationship, or maybe even a pending promotion. When you share the gospel, even in a loving way, you could be subjecting yourself to mockery or, at the very minimum, alienation by co-workers, classmates, family or friends. When you proclaim Christ’s controversial message to those you know, you are picking up your cross in a visceral and vocal way. You are proving that you are willing to die to that relationship, if need be, so that that person can hear and have the opportunity of being transformed by the gospel. Now that is dangerous and that is evangelism.
Well, the Lake of Fire is not outside of Columbus, but it is just on the other side of the border to this life. Hell is not the immediate consequence for every thirty year old, but it is the wages for everyone who has ever sinned no matter what their age (Romans 6:23). Every person on this planet is just one breath away from heaven or hell at every second of every day. In light of this brutal reality we must use our every breath to convince every one within our reach to believe in Jesus before it’s too late. We must embrace sharing the gospel with everyone as the greatest cause in human history.
So with that said, no single act in the Christian life is as dangerous as evangelism. Bible study, prayer and attending church aren't dangerous, they are disciplines. But when you actually open your mouth to proclaim the gospel to someone, you risk some kind of loss. In some countries that could be your life. But in America it is most likely your reputation, a relationship, or maybe even a pending promotion. When you share the gospel, even in a loving way, you could be subjecting yourself to mockery or, at the very minimum, alienation by co-workers, classmates, family or friends. When you proclaim Christ’s controversial message to those you know, you are picking up your cross in a visceral and vocal way. You are proving that you are willing to die to that relationship, if need be, so that that person can hear and have the opportunity of being transformed by the gospel. Now that is dangerous and that is evangelism.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Truth or Tradition Pt 3: The Sunday Service
Usually every Sunday, most Christians gather the family together, go to a church, sing, pray, and listen to a sermon by a pastor. And about an hour or so later, they go home. Like the other topics I've blogged about for the past couple of weeks, a number of things that are done in our modern churches, including the church building itself, has no basis in the Bible. Little that is observed today in modern Christianity maps to anything found in the first-century Church. Obviously, I can't go into major depth about every topic. I would be writing a book if I wanted to do that. So first, let's look at the church building.
The Church Building
The New Testament records the early Christians meeting in homes. Neither Jesus nor the apostles encouraged Christians to build church buildings. It wasn't until Constantine and his succeeding Roman Emperors made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire that Christians began to build temples. In some instances, Christians, with the aid of Roman soldiers, took over pagan temples and “Christianized” them into churches.
Christians building church buildings resulted in multiple problems. First, have you ever heard of the term "God's house?" People began to think of a church building as sacred space. This resulted in a separation between what goes on inside a church building, and what takes place outside of a church building. Among some, blatant evil and immorality was tolerated outside of the church as long as behavior inside the church was proper. Second, The biblical fact that fellowship with God could be had anywhere was lost, and replaced with the idea that a church building and/or the altar inside a church building was the only place one could connect with God. Third, some people lost sight of the fact that brothers and sisters in Christ were the Church, and instead began to think of the Church as the building.
Service Structure
Then there's the structure of the "Sunday service." In many churches today, there is a “set in stone” structure for how a service will proceed. The structure changes somewhat from church to church, but the core items remain the same: announcements, corporate worship, meeting and greeting, prayer, the sermon, a closing song. The idea of a church meeting having such a rigid structure is not presented in the New Testament. When a church has such a rigid structure, it can stifle, rather than promote, true worship and fellowship. It is unbiblical for a church service to be so structured that it prevents any participation, freedom, or moving of the Spirit.
Church Leadership
The Bible undeniably teaches that the Church is to have godly leadership. Over time, the concept of Church leadership molded into a priesthood. While most Protestant and Evangelical churches do not refer to its leadership as priests, in some instances, the pastor/preacher serves in much the same role as a priest. Pastors are expected to do all, or nearly all, of the ministry work. In some churches, the re-introduction of the idea of a priest into Christianity resulted in the biblical identity of all believers being saints, ministers, and priests, being lost. In church leadership, the result can be burnt-out pastors or overly authoritative pastors. The result in the congregation can be passivity and inactivity.
The idea that a Christian can sing a few songs, shake a few hands, inattentively listen to a sermon, and reluctantly give an offering – and thereby fulfill his/her role in the Church – is completely unbiblical. The church is intended to be a place of healthy fellowship, active participation, and mutual edification. First Corinthians chapter 12 compares the Church to a human body. All of the parts of the body must be functioning for the body to do what it is intended to do. In some churches today, only the “head” is functioning. And as physiology teaches us, a head cannot survive on its own.
Conclusion
It is undeniable that unbiblical ideas and practices have crept their way into the Church throughout history. But as I stated in part 1 of this blog series, if you are going to read these blog posts and use the truths that are in them as an invitation to rebel against your church, stop. If you're thinking like that, you've completely missed the point. Either leave your church quietly or be at peace with it. There is a huge gap between rebellion and standing up for what is true. As for me, I fall into the second option. Although I disagree with the contemporary church, I'm still at peace with it. But it's so refreshing that the Lord has revealed these truths to me! And like all truths, they needed to be shared. I hope you all were and continue to be challenged with these truths, or even better, changed. So with that said, I want to conclude with one of my favorite quotes that I feel fits in this post.
“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” - Martin Luther
The Church Building
The New Testament records the early Christians meeting in homes. Neither Jesus nor the apostles encouraged Christians to build church buildings. It wasn't until Constantine and his succeeding Roman Emperors made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire that Christians began to build temples. In some instances, Christians, with the aid of Roman soldiers, took over pagan temples and “Christianized” them into churches.
Christians building church buildings resulted in multiple problems. First, have you ever heard of the term "God's house?" People began to think of a church building as sacred space. This resulted in a separation between what goes on inside a church building, and what takes place outside of a church building. Among some, blatant evil and immorality was tolerated outside of the church as long as behavior inside the church was proper. Second, The biblical fact that fellowship with God could be had anywhere was lost, and replaced with the idea that a church building and/or the altar inside a church building was the only place one could connect with God. Third, some people lost sight of the fact that brothers and sisters in Christ were the Church, and instead began to think of the Church as the building.
Service Structure
Then there's the structure of the "Sunday service." In many churches today, there is a “set in stone” structure for how a service will proceed. The structure changes somewhat from church to church, but the core items remain the same: announcements, corporate worship, meeting and greeting, prayer, the sermon, a closing song. The idea of a church meeting having such a rigid structure is not presented in the New Testament. When a church has such a rigid structure, it can stifle, rather than promote, true worship and fellowship. It is unbiblical for a church service to be so structured that it prevents any participation, freedom, or moving of the Spirit.
Church Leadership
The Bible undeniably teaches that the Church is to have godly leadership. Over time, the concept of Church leadership molded into a priesthood. While most Protestant and Evangelical churches do not refer to its leadership as priests, in some instances, the pastor/preacher serves in much the same role as a priest. Pastors are expected to do all, or nearly all, of the ministry work. In some churches, the re-introduction of the idea of a priest into Christianity resulted in the biblical identity of all believers being saints, ministers, and priests, being lost. In church leadership, the result can be burnt-out pastors or overly authoritative pastors. The result in the congregation can be passivity and inactivity.
The idea that a Christian can sing a few songs, shake a few hands, inattentively listen to a sermon, and reluctantly give an offering – and thereby fulfill his/her role in the Church – is completely unbiblical. The church is intended to be a place of healthy fellowship, active participation, and mutual edification. First Corinthians chapter 12 compares the Church to a human body. All of the parts of the body must be functioning for the body to do what it is intended to do. In some churches today, only the “head” is functioning. And as physiology teaches us, a head cannot survive on its own.
Conclusion
It is undeniable that unbiblical ideas and practices have crept their way into the Church throughout history. But as I stated in part 1 of this blog series, if you are going to read these blog posts and use the truths that are in them as an invitation to rebel against your church, stop. If you're thinking like that, you've completely missed the point. Either leave your church quietly or be at peace with it. There is a huge gap between rebellion and standing up for what is true. As for me, I fall into the second option. Although I disagree with the contemporary church, I'm still at peace with it. But it's so refreshing that the Lord has revealed these truths to me! And like all truths, they needed to be shared. I hope you all were and continue to be challenged with these truths, or even better, changed. So with that said, I want to conclude with one of my favorite quotes that I feel fits in this post.
“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” - Martin Luther
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Truth or Tradition? Pt 2: Tithing
Tithing
Most churches today teach that Christians should tithe, that is, give 10% of their income to their church. Must you give a tenth (10%) to the Church? What does the Bible say about financial giving? Applying a 10% "church tax" on an individual is no small matter, especially when the usual commandment is that the tithe must be given on a person’s gross income before all living expenses are paid (often referred to as the first fruits). So is this tithing principle valid? Is it reasonable to expect all members of the Church to give up 10% of their income regardless of salary? Or is this nothing more than a fraudulent fleecing of the flock? With those questions in mind, I did a little research.
Is It Biblical?
Yes, tithing is biblical. However, it is not Christian. It belonged to ancient Israel and you won't find the early Church doing it.
You may say, “Well, what about Malachi 3:6-10? That says that people who do not tithe are ‘robbing God.’” Those verses have been used countless times to prod Christians into giving, but wait a moment—to whom is Malachi written? Well, in verse 9 of chapter 3 it says “the whole nation” is under a curse. What nation? The USA? No, the book of Malachi is specifically addressed to the nation of Israel, and more specifically to the priests (see 1:6,10-13; 2:1,7 and 8) who were badly mistreating God’s people.
So where does the 10 percent come from? Some Christians point to Genesis 14 and/or 28 in a misguided attempt to prove that tithing was instituted prior to the Mosaic Law and is therefore relevant to Christians today. Their rationale is that because Abram gave ten percent of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, and because Jacob chose ten percent as the amount to give to God for watching over him on his journey, this is the prescribed amount God would have all people give.
The tithe we see today is much different than the tithe presented in the Old Testament. Here are a few examples below:
• The OT tithe was for produce of the land only. The church tithe is money.
• The OT tithe was levied on landowner farmers only (not fishermen for example). The church tithe is levied on everyone.
• The OT tithe could be collected by Levites only and there are none left today. The church tithe can be collected by any church startup.
• The OT tithe was for a celebration of the Lord's goodness. The church tithe is to prop up a ministry.
• The OT tithe was consumed by the tither, the Levites, the poor, the widows, the stranger. The church tithe is consumed by the ministry.
• The OT tithe was ordained by God. The church tithe was ordained by man.
So, the Truth Is...
With Christ's death, all ceremonial codes that belonged to the Jews were nailed to the cross, never to be used again to condemn us. This is why we never see Christians tithing in the New Testament, just as we don't see them sacrificing animals to cover their sins. Tithing belonged solely to Israel under the Law. The early Christians gave cheerfully according to their ability, not out of command. It was completely voluntary to benefit the poor, orphans, widows, prisoners, strangers, and the sick.
The early Christians did not tithe. Instead, they used their funds to support those poor among them, along with the poor in the world. They also gave funds to traveling church planters so that the gospel could be spread and churches could be raised in other lands. They didn't give out of compulsion or guilt but rather according to their ability. Today, many in the Church are weighed down by feelings of guilt because they can’t or won’t tithe. Others are puffed up with pride because they do tithe their 10 percent. Still others go along with it because they never hear a dissenting voice raise a challenge. To insist that the Church tithes its 10% is to take a law of Moses, twist its meaning into something else, enforce it upon a people for whom it was never intended, then promise that they will be cursed if they disobey. If we really want God to bless our finances, we need to be obedient to His direction. Generous joyful giving, that is freely given out of love is God’s desire. It is this that He will bless.
A More Excellent Way To Give
So to conclude this post, I just want to say: give. With a cheerful heart, without guilt or obligation, to generously help those in need. If you wish to tithe out of a personal conviction or decision, go for it. It's when it's shown as God's command that it becomes a problem. The New Testament teachings on giving simply involve the heart and not some law.
“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8b)
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:35)
Most churches today teach that Christians should tithe, that is, give 10% of their income to their church. Must you give a tenth (10%) to the Church? What does the Bible say about financial giving? Applying a 10% "church tax" on an individual is no small matter, especially when the usual commandment is that the tithe must be given on a person’s gross income before all living expenses are paid (often referred to as the first fruits). So is this tithing principle valid? Is it reasonable to expect all members of the Church to give up 10% of their income regardless of salary? Or is this nothing more than a fraudulent fleecing of the flock? With those questions in mind, I did a little research.
Is It Biblical?
Yes, tithing is biblical. However, it is not Christian. It belonged to ancient Israel and you won't find the early Church doing it.
You may say, “Well, what about Malachi 3:6-10? That says that people who do not tithe are ‘robbing God.’” Those verses have been used countless times to prod Christians into giving, but wait a moment—to whom is Malachi written? Well, in verse 9 of chapter 3 it says “the whole nation” is under a curse. What nation? The USA? No, the book of Malachi is specifically addressed to the nation of Israel, and more specifically to the priests (see 1:6,10-13; 2:1,7 and 8) who were badly mistreating God’s people.
So where does the 10 percent come from? Some Christians point to Genesis 14 and/or 28 in a misguided attempt to prove that tithing was instituted prior to the Mosaic Law and is therefore relevant to Christians today. Their rationale is that because Abram gave ten percent of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, and because Jacob chose ten percent as the amount to give to God for watching over him on his journey, this is the prescribed amount God would have all people give.
The tithe we see today is much different than the tithe presented in the Old Testament. Here are a few examples below:
• The OT tithe was for produce of the land only. The church tithe is money.
• The OT tithe was levied on landowner farmers only (not fishermen for example). The church tithe is levied on everyone.
• The OT tithe could be collected by Levites only and there are none left today. The church tithe can be collected by any church startup.
• The OT tithe was for a celebration of the Lord's goodness. The church tithe is to prop up a ministry.
• The OT tithe was consumed by the tither, the Levites, the poor, the widows, the stranger. The church tithe is consumed by the ministry.
• The OT tithe was ordained by God. The church tithe was ordained by man.
So, the Truth Is...
With Christ's death, all ceremonial codes that belonged to the Jews were nailed to the cross, never to be used again to condemn us. This is why we never see Christians tithing in the New Testament, just as we don't see them sacrificing animals to cover their sins. Tithing belonged solely to Israel under the Law. The early Christians gave cheerfully according to their ability, not out of command. It was completely voluntary to benefit the poor, orphans, widows, prisoners, strangers, and the sick.
The early Christians did not tithe. Instead, they used their funds to support those poor among them, along with the poor in the world. They also gave funds to traveling church planters so that the gospel could be spread and churches could be raised in other lands. They didn't give out of compulsion or guilt but rather according to their ability. Today, many in the Church are weighed down by feelings of guilt because they can’t or won’t tithe. Others are puffed up with pride because they do tithe their 10 percent. Still others go along with it because they never hear a dissenting voice raise a challenge. To insist that the Church tithes its 10% is to take a law of Moses, twist its meaning into something else, enforce it upon a people for whom it was never intended, then promise that they will be cursed if they disobey. If we really want God to bless our finances, we need to be obedient to His direction. Generous joyful giving, that is freely given out of love is God’s desire. It is this that He will bless.
A More Excellent Way To Give
So to conclude this post, I just want to say: give. With a cheerful heart, without guilt or obligation, to generously help those in need. If you wish to tithe out of a personal conviction or decision, go for it. It's when it's shown as God's command that it becomes a problem. The New Testament teachings on giving simply involve the heart and not some law.
“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8b)
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:35)
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Truth or Tradition? Pt. 1: Wearing Your Sunday Best
Beforehand
There have been countless times in which I've heard somebody question why we do certain things in church. And you know what the funny thing is? A good number of times, people tend to go to family, friends, or even tradition for their answers. Everywhere except the most important place, which is the Word. And if you look at the Word, you'll see that a lot of our church practices today are not even rooted in Scripture, but rather in human tradition. And I realized that after discovering these truths, they needed to be shared. So, that's what my next few blog posts are going to cover.
What this is: After reading a book and doing some research, I'm just sharing the reality that some of our Christian practices don't actually come from Scripture, but rather human tradition. I'm inviting you to be willing to have the curtain pulled back on the contemporary church and have it's traditional assumptions challenged. If you're willing, read on.
What this isn't: If you are going to read these blog posts and use the truths that are in them as an invitation to rebel against your church, stop. If you're thinking like that, you've completely missed the point. Either leave your church quietly or be at peace with it. There is a huge gap between rebellion and standing up for what is true.
Also: I'd like to state that whenever I mention Church (with a capital C) I'm referring to how it is in the New Testament. The living, breathing, Christ-centered, every-member functioning body of Christ. And when I mention church (lowercase c) I'm referring to the contemporary church which is the religious system (such as the building) and not a particular group of people.
Pt 1: Wearing Your Sunday Best
Now I'm sure that a number of us growing up were forced to wear decent clothing to Sunday morning church services. I was one of them. And I never exactly fancied the idea. A lot of people say that we should dress up out of respect for Christ. But define dressing up. Is a tie enough? Or do you need a suit as well? Can nice jeans count? Slacks? Shirt tucked in or out? I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
So you guys might be thinking to yourselves, "What's the big deal about dressing up for church? It really doesn't sound like a big deal." Sure, dressing up by itself isn't. But, it's what dressing up for church represents that is.
Like many other church practices today, dressing up for church is the outcome of Christians being influenced by the culture surrounding them. Frank Viola says 'to think that God cares one whit if you wear dressy threads on Sunday to "meet Him" is a violation of the New Covenant. We have access to God's presence at all times and in all circumstances. Does He really expect His people to dress up for a beauty pageant on Sunday morning?'
What one person considers dressing up may not be consistent with what other people think. Very quickly you start down a road that can lead to legalism and pride. However, Jesus was constantly around all kinds of sinners of his day. Not just the affluent and wealthy. The Pharisees were the religious of the day who were impressively dressed, but Jesus had some of the harshest words for them.
When we wear our Sunday best, it brings up an illusion that we are somehow "good" because we are dressing up for the Lord. The early Church was quite the opposite. The first-century Christians did not "dress up" to attend meetings. They didn't dress to publicly display their social class either. They actually made solid efforts to show their absolute contempt for social class differences. In the Church, all racial and social discrimination should be no longer present. The early Christians knew that they were a new people on this planet and for this, James rebuked believers who were treating the rich saints better than poor saints. He boldly rebuked the rich for dressing better than the poor. Yet, still many Christians are under the delusion that it's disrespectful to dress in informal clothing when attending a Sunday morning service.
I could go into the history of how this trend of wearing nice clothes came to be but that would be a novel, not a blog post.
Overall, to say that the Lord expects His people to dress well when they gather is basically adding to the Scriptures and is nothing more than a human tradition.
However, if you really feel that dressing up for church gatherings is a positive thing and you can do it unto the Lord with pure motives, then go right ahead. But remember, you must be careful not to judge or look down upon those who do not dress up for gatherings.
There have been countless times in which I've heard somebody question why we do certain things in church. And you know what the funny thing is? A good number of times, people tend to go to family, friends, or even tradition for their answers. Everywhere except the most important place, which is the Word. And if you look at the Word, you'll see that a lot of our church practices today are not even rooted in Scripture, but rather in human tradition. And I realized that after discovering these truths, they needed to be shared. So, that's what my next few blog posts are going to cover.
What this is: After reading a book and doing some research, I'm just sharing the reality that some of our Christian practices don't actually come from Scripture, but rather human tradition. I'm inviting you to be willing to have the curtain pulled back on the contemporary church and have it's traditional assumptions challenged. If you're willing, read on.
What this isn't: If you are going to read these blog posts and use the truths that are in them as an invitation to rebel against your church, stop. If you're thinking like that, you've completely missed the point. Either leave your church quietly or be at peace with it. There is a huge gap between rebellion and standing up for what is true.
Also: I'd like to state that whenever I mention Church (with a capital C) I'm referring to how it is in the New Testament. The living, breathing, Christ-centered, every-member functioning body of Christ. And when I mention church (lowercase c) I'm referring to the contemporary church which is the religious system (such as the building) and not a particular group of people.
Pt 1: Wearing Your Sunday Best
Now I'm sure that a number of us growing up were forced to wear decent clothing to Sunday morning church services. I was one of them. And I never exactly fancied the idea. A lot of people say that we should dress up out of respect for Christ. But define dressing up. Is a tie enough? Or do you need a suit as well? Can nice jeans count? Slacks? Shirt tucked in or out? I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
So you guys might be thinking to yourselves, "What's the big deal about dressing up for church? It really doesn't sound like a big deal." Sure, dressing up by itself isn't. But, it's what dressing up for church represents that is.
Like many other church practices today, dressing up for church is the outcome of Christians being influenced by the culture surrounding them. Frank Viola says 'to think that God cares one whit if you wear dressy threads on Sunday to "meet Him" is a violation of the New Covenant. We have access to God's presence at all times and in all circumstances. Does He really expect His people to dress up for a beauty pageant on Sunday morning?'
What one person considers dressing up may not be consistent with what other people think. Very quickly you start down a road that can lead to legalism and pride. However, Jesus was constantly around all kinds of sinners of his day. Not just the affluent and wealthy. The Pharisees were the religious of the day who were impressively dressed, but Jesus had some of the harshest words for them.
When we wear our Sunday best, it brings up an illusion that we are somehow "good" because we are dressing up for the Lord. The early Church was quite the opposite. The first-century Christians did not "dress up" to attend meetings. They didn't dress to publicly display their social class either. They actually made solid efforts to show their absolute contempt for social class differences. In the Church, all racial and social discrimination should be no longer present. The early Christians knew that they were a new people on this planet and for this, James rebuked believers who were treating the rich saints better than poor saints. He boldly rebuked the rich for dressing better than the poor. Yet, still many Christians are under the delusion that it's disrespectful to dress in informal clothing when attending a Sunday morning service.
I could go into the history of how this trend of wearing nice clothes came to be but that would be a novel, not a blog post.
Overall, to say that the Lord expects His people to dress well when they gather is basically adding to the Scriptures and is nothing more than a human tradition.
However, if you really feel that dressing up for church gatherings is a positive thing and you can do it unto the Lord with pure motives, then go right ahead. But remember, you must be careful not to judge or look down upon those who do not dress up for gatherings.
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