With all the fanfare and craziness of the season, with all the self imposed stress created by the materialism that comes to the fore at this time of the year we must remember and focus on this; Jesus is the reason for the season.
First off, for those who like to show everybody just how intellectual they are, I am well aware of how the Christmas celebration came to be, it was derived from the pagan year end rituals, one being Saturnalia. To harp on this point is a major error for as Romans 8:28 reminds us :
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” NIV
The early church took this Roman Festival and turned into the celebration of the birth of Christ. Satan intends to mislead. God can take Satan’s intentions and turn them around 180 degrees.
If we focus on Jesus Christ, as we should, it shouldn’t matter how the Christmas celebration came about. Jesus came to redeem us from our sins, to make us righteous in God’ eyes. Good people don’t get into heaven, forgiven people do, those who repent and receive Christ as savior. Isn’t that the ultimate gift?
Think and meditate on that.
This will be my last post this year, so until next year, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name, AMEN!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Tithe is Not for Today – Part II
Happy Thanksgiving!
One of the arguments I get supporting the Tithe is this: The tithe existed before the law and they give Abram (Abraham) giving 10% to Melchizedek in Genesis 14. The problem here is that Abram gave Melchizedek 10% and the other 90% to the King of Sodom.
Gen 14 : 22-23 “22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.' NIV
It was also the spoils of war that this addresses. So the next time I capture war booty I’ll be sure to give 10% to the church and 90% to Uncle Sam.
The other example they give is Cain and Abel. The problem here is that no amount or percentage is mentioned. The only thing I draw from this account is that Abel’s offering was given in such a manner as to be acceptable to God as he gave the best of the firstborn of his flocks, while Cain’s was given grudgingly. Sounds like a good place to reference
2 Corinthians 9: 6-8
. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV
Cain gave what he decided in his heart to give and did so cheerfully. Cain gave grudgingly.
The tithe was part of the law, a set of laws with multiple tithes amounting to somewhere around 30%. The purpose was to run the government(sound familiar?) and support the temple. Exodus 25 : 1-2 further supports the concept of 2 Corinthians 9: 7. In some Bibles this comes under the heading of the Tabernacle Offering.
Exodus 25: 1-2
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelite's to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. NIV
For those who argue about consistency of biblical concepts, I think this one is as clear as can be. Give what you have decided in your heart to give and give cheerfully. If you decide to tithe, go for it. If not, and you give cheerfully, it’s all good, you are not robbing God.
I reiterate my point form last week, Malachi was written to the Israelites and they were still under the law, we are under grace. Malachi 3 : 8-12, which is used like a sledge hammer by some, erroneously in my humble opinion, does not apply to us today. The law was fulfilled when Christ died on the cross.
Praise be to God for his mercy.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
One of the arguments I get supporting the Tithe is this: The tithe existed before the law and they give Abram (Abraham) giving 10% to Melchizedek in Genesis 14. The problem here is that Abram gave Melchizedek 10% and the other 90% to the King of Sodom.
Gen 14 : 22-23 “22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.' NIV
It was also the spoils of war that this addresses. So the next time I capture war booty I’ll be sure to give 10% to the church and 90% to Uncle Sam.
The other example they give is Cain and Abel. The problem here is that no amount or percentage is mentioned. The only thing I draw from this account is that Abel’s offering was given in such a manner as to be acceptable to God as he gave the best of the firstborn of his flocks, while Cain’s was given grudgingly. Sounds like a good place to reference
2 Corinthians 9: 6-8
. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV
Cain gave what he decided in his heart to give and did so cheerfully. Cain gave grudgingly.
The tithe was part of the law, a set of laws with multiple tithes amounting to somewhere around 30%. The purpose was to run the government(sound familiar?) and support the temple. Exodus 25 : 1-2 further supports the concept of 2 Corinthians 9: 7. In some Bibles this comes under the heading of the Tabernacle Offering.
Exodus 25: 1-2
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelite's to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. NIV
For those who argue about consistency of biblical concepts, I think this one is as clear as can be. Give what you have decided in your heart to give and give cheerfully. If you decide to tithe, go for it. If not, and you give cheerfully, it’s all good, you are not robbing God.
I reiterate my point form last week, Malachi was written to the Israelites and they were still under the law, we are under grace. Malachi 3 : 8-12, which is used like a sledge hammer by some, erroneously in my humble opinion, does not apply to us today. The law was fulfilled when Christ died on the cross.
Praise be to God for his mercy.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tithing Is Not for Today
This one will rankle some feathers but I feel compelled to write this just the same.
I could write a book on this subject but that has been done by many on both sides of this argument. Instead I'll use just one example.
Here is an often used scripture many in the church use to justify tithing.
Malachi 3:8-12
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. NIV
Malachi was written to whom? Israel.
Malachi 1:1 An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. NIV
So, who was robbing God of Tithes and offerings? Israel! More specifically tithes to the storehouse of the Levites for the Temple, neither of which exist today.
While we can extract lessons from the Old Testment, none of the laws God gave to Israel apply to us today for we have a New Covenant, (New Testament) through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law, because NO ONE is capable of keeping the law.
The tithe(s) were part of the law, but we are no longer under the law but under grace. If you select bits and pieces of the law to follow you deny grace you are in a world of hurt.
Also,in this case many churches focus on one tithe, the Temple tithe, so the selectivity is even more egregious. Some argue that the principle still applies but I disagree with this assertion.
James 2:8-11
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. NIV
You cannot choose to follow one part of the law, for if you do you are subject to the all of the law. If you break one one aspect of the law, you are guilty of all of it.
While true believers will not suffer loss of their salvation over this secondary issue, they have, in my humble opinion, none the less been led astray.
I implore everybody to stay alert, read your Bible, and test everything you hear against the scriptures.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
I could write a book on this subject but that has been done by many on both sides of this argument. Instead I'll use just one example.
Here is an often used scripture many in the church use to justify tithing.
Malachi 3:8-12
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. NIV
Malachi was written to whom? Israel.
Malachi 1:1 An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. NIV
So, who was robbing God of Tithes and offerings? Israel! More specifically tithes to the storehouse of the Levites for the Temple, neither of which exist today.
While we can extract lessons from the Old Testment, none of the laws God gave to Israel apply to us today for we have a New Covenant, (New Testament) through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law, because NO ONE is capable of keeping the law.
The tithe(s) were part of the law, but we are no longer under the law but under grace. If you select bits and pieces of the law to follow you deny grace you are in a world of hurt.
Also,in this case many churches focus on one tithe, the Temple tithe, so the selectivity is even more egregious. Some argue that the principle still applies but I disagree with this assertion.
James 2:8-11
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. NIV
You cannot choose to follow one part of the law, for if you do you are subject to the all of the law. If you break one one aspect of the law, you are guilty of all of it.
While true believers will not suffer loss of their salvation over this secondary issue, they have, in my humble opinion, none the less been led astray.
I implore everybody to stay alert, read your Bible, and test everything you hear against the scriptures.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Back to Basics: What Do You Believe?
What do you believe? Here are the basics that I believe and for you to consider:
Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant word of GOD? I understand that there are issues with translations, which is why you should own more than one, but do you believe the original documents are without error or contradiction?
Do you believe in the Virgin birth?
Do you believe the child in the manger was GOD in the flesh?
Do you believe that God is one God who manifests himself as Father, Son, and Spirit?
Do you believe Jesus was crucified, died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day?
Do you believe in addition to all the above that by putting your faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross you will be saved?
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV
C.H. Spurgeon was once asked to sum up the gospel in a few words. He answer was four words, “Christ died for me”. This spoke to me personally and here is one of those scriptures that kicked me in the head that buttresses this point:
Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NIV
Theological arguments about things like the gifts of the spirit, predestination, Baptism by immersion vs infant baptism,even tithing, are all secondary issues full of people stuff and the “ologies” and “isms” of men. There are Phd's, Doctors of Theology, Doctors of Divinity, on both sides of all these secondary issues.
With all due respect, I don't care how many letters somebody may have after their name, I say let’s get back to the basics of the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant word of GOD? I understand that there are issues with translations, which is why you should own more than one, but do you believe the original documents are without error or contradiction?
Do you believe in the Virgin birth?
Do you believe the child in the manger was GOD in the flesh?
Do you believe that God is one God who manifests himself as Father, Son, and Spirit?
Do you believe Jesus was crucified, died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day?
Do you believe in addition to all the above that by putting your faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross you will be saved?
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV
C.H. Spurgeon was once asked to sum up the gospel in a few words. He answer was four words, “Christ died for me”. This spoke to me personally and here is one of those scriptures that kicked me in the head that buttresses this point:
Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NIV
Theological arguments about things like the gifts of the spirit, predestination, Baptism by immersion vs infant baptism,even tithing, are all secondary issues full of people stuff and the “ologies” and “isms” of men. There are Phd's, Doctors of Theology, Doctors of Divinity, on both sides of all these secondary issues.
With all due respect, I don't care how many letters somebody may have after their name, I say let’s get back to the basics of the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Back to Basics: Putting God First
The church that I presently attend was designed to reach out to those who have had negative experiences in their walk, as well as for people who are curious about God, and for those who just like to go to church on Sundays and not be subjected to overbearing self-righteousness. The messages almost always have a theme of putting God first and the ministry is built on loving your neighbor as you do yourself. Does this sound familiar?
It should.
Matthew 22: 35-38
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
NIV
If you read the Ten Commandments closely you realize that the first three commandments are about loving God and the other seven are about loving your neighbor.
It is greatly apparent to me that when you put God first and love your neighbor as yourself that all else naturally falls right into place. It is very New Testament and very basic. It is also very Old Testament as well.
When Christ died for our sins he fulfilled the letter of the law. When he answered the question about which is the greatest commandment he went to the root of it all and made it very simple. Too many churches today major in the minors, create "ologies" and "isms", doctrines of men, and religious ritual, not unlike the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. It is refreshing to get back to basics and to the roots of faith: Putting GOD first, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus said it, I believe it.
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
It should.
Matthew 22: 35-38
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
NIV
If you read the Ten Commandments closely you realize that the first three commandments are about loving God and the other seven are about loving your neighbor.
It is greatly apparent to me that when you put God first and love your neighbor as yourself that all else naturally falls right into place. It is very New Testament and very basic. It is also very Old Testament as well.
When Christ died for our sins he fulfilled the letter of the law. When he answered the question about which is the greatest commandment he went to the root of it all and made it very simple. Too many churches today major in the minors, create "ologies" and "isms", doctrines of men, and religious ritual, not unlike the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. It is refreshing to get back to basics and to the roots of faith: Putting GOD first, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus said it, I believe it.
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Back to Basics: My Dilemma with the Modern Church
I have attended various churches of different denominations, as well as non-denominational churches, all with various “ologies” and “isms”. At the heart of this experience I had come to the conclusion they are all parts of one body, the body of Christ.
My dilemma is that there has been a trend over the past decade or so for churches once stout in preaching the Gospel, to soften the message to become more relevant, more inclusive, and in so doing have become less effective. Messages abound about prosperity, self confidence, personal growth, etc., but there are fewer and fewer messages about sin and Gods salvation plan through his son Jesus Christ being preached. I rarely hear messages about evil anymore, or the existence of Satan as the adversary and how we should, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, put on the full armor of God on a daily basis. (Eph 6)
Let’s get back to basics. What could be more important than having a personal relationship with the God of the universe? I’m not talking about religion or any “ology” or “ism”. I’m talking about the provision God made for all of us to enjoy by simply putting our faith in the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin and by doing so walking in the newness of life.
So now I need to ask, what possibly could be more uplifting than knowing and believing the following:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. "
Romans 6: 4
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." NIV
Romans 8:1
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", NIV
Eph 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"
Walking in the will of God begins with believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us. True prosperity, i.e. spiritual prosperity, begins when we are in the will of God. The truth will set you free and true freedom comes when we receive Christ as savior.
Let’s get back to basics.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
My dilemma is that there has been a trend over the past decade or so for churches once stout in preaching the Gospel, to soften the message to become more relevant, more inclusive, and in so doing have become less effective. Messages abound about prosperity, self confidence, personal growth, etc., but there are fewer and fewer messages about sin and Gods salvation plan through his son Jesus Christ being preached. I rarely hear messages about evil anymore, or the existence of Satan as the adversary and how we should, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, put on the full armor of God on a daily basis. (Eph 6)
Let’s get back to basics. What could be more important than having a personal relationship with the God of the universe? I’m not talking about religion or any “ology” or “ism”. I’m talking about the provision God made for all of us to enjoy by simply putting our faith in the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin and by doing so walking in the newness of life.
So now I need to ask, what possibly could be more uplifting than knowing and believing the following:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. "
Romans 6: 4
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." NIV
Romans 8:1
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", NIV
Eph 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"
Walking in the will of God begins with believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us. True prosperity, i.e. spiritual prosperity, begins when we are in the will of God. The truth will set you free and true freedom comes when we receive Christ as savior.
Let’s get back to basics.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Meekness vs Weakness
I think I may have covered the concept of biblical meekness before but I came upon a daily devotional from Pastor Greg Laurie that explains this better than I can.
I hope he doesn't mind my using it here.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
— Matthew 5:5
"Meekness is not weakness. Sometimes we confuse the two. But the difference between a meek person and weak person is this: a weak person can't do anything. A meek person, on the other hand, can do something but chooses not to.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). The word "meek" from the original language was used to describe reining in a stallion. It is the idea of a horse being controlled by a bit and bridle. The horse is choosing to submit to authority. That is meekness. It is power under constraint.
Although Jesus said, "Blessed [happy] are the meek," we don't celebrate meekness in our culture. Instead, we celebrate assertiveness. We celebrate getting things from other people, sometimes even taking advantage of other people. When is the last time you saw a movie that celebrated the virtue of meekness? When is the last time the big buildup for the movie was the moment when the good guy meekly restrains himself, even though he was wronged? We don't want to go to a movie like that. We want to see a payback movie in which the first half consists of bad things happening to the hero, and the last half consists of bad things that come to the people who did those things to the hero. That is what entertains us. That is what our culture celebrates.
How different this is from what the Bible teaches. The Bible celebrates meekness. The biblical worldview says last is first. Giving is receiving. Dying is living. Losing is finding. The least is the greatest. Meekness is strength. The idea is that we are living by God's truth—not by what our culture says should make us happy."
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
I hope he doesn't mind my using it here.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
— Matthew 5:5
"Meekness is not weakness. Sometimes we confuse the two. But the difference between a meek person and weak person is this: a weak person can't do anything. A meek person, on the other hand, can do something but chooses not to.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). The word "meek" from the original language was used to describe reining in a stallion. It is the idea of a horse being controlled by a bit and bridle. The horse is choosing to submit to authority. That is meekness. It is power under constraint.
Although Jesus said, "Blessed [happy] are the meek," we don't celebrate meekness in our culture. Instead, we celebrate assertiveness. We celebrate getting things from other people, sometimes even taking advantage of other people. When is the last time you saw a movie that celebrated the virtue of meekness? When is the last time the big buildup for the movie was the moment when the good guy meekly restrains himself, even though he was wronged? We don't want to go to a movie like that. We want to see a payback movie in which the first half consists of bad things happening to the hero, and the last half consists of bad things that come to the people who did those things to the hero. That is what entertains us. That is what our culture celebrates.
How different this is from what the Bible teaches. The Bible celebrates meekness. The biblical worldview says last is first. Giving is receiving. Dying is living. Losing is finding. The least is the greatest. Meekness is strength. The idea is that we are living by God's truth—not by what our culture says should make us happy."
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
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