Jesus was a man of the streets, His disciples were people of the streets, and his message and ministry were aimed deliberately at reaching such "lost" ones as these. To the Pharisees, Jesus didn't look right, He didn't dress right and He didn't sound right, and His disciples were even worse. Born in a stable and wearing a peasant's robe, He came as a poor man preaching to poor men. Today, however, in word and deed, we preach a middle-class Jesus to a world that is crying out for something "real"- something worth giving their lives for. And we wonder why they don't want to know? I believe that God's strategy in the coming Revival will involve almost completely bypassing the present structures, methods, and leadership. (Extracts from Andrew Strom, Meat in Due Season, 3/94)
I offer at a reader's request, a study on this vital subject. Christian giving is about giving to God. Believers give to God in various ways; some following the tithing system of Israel, and others the New Testament pattern. Whatever way that you choose to give to God the Lord will surely bless you for. The purpose of this article is not to discourage anyone from giving as the Lord leads them to give. However, I feel it is important to understand the Scriptural distinction between Tithing, and Christian Giving.
Consider, firstly, the economy in which the tithing system operated. Israel, unlike modern society, was a theocracy. Tithes were the tax that was collected by the political/ religious leaders, who used it to support religious, social, legal, health, and educational services. It was payable on the direct produce of the earth. In fact, three tithes were collected. The first was paid to the Levitical priests in place of a land inheritance, which the other tribes were given. A second tithe was paid for the feasts, and another was for distributing as needed to the poor. The Old Testament tithe amounted to around 30 to 35%. For those under the Old Covenant, tithing was an obligation and a law. Its payment was regarded as a debt.
In the New Testament, we find only seven references to tithing, all of which refer to Old Testament usage and Jewish practice. Our Lord uses the word "tithe" only in speaking to the Pharisees, who were under the Old Testament obligation to tithe. Paul writes a lot about giving; he commends generosity; but never speaks of a tithe. Paul teaches free-will offerings, with no stipulated amount demanded. Giving in the early church was voluntary, chiefly to aid the poor, and shared as anyone had need (Ac.2:44-45, 4:32-35). Every believer is now a priest (minister/servant); there is no longer a Levitical priesthood who are dependent on a tithe. Irenaeus viewed tithing as a Jewish law, not required of Christians who had "liberty". The early church was always providing for the needs of God's people (Ac.11:29, 2 Co.9:12, Ro. 12:13, 3 Jn 5,8). We hear nothing of tithing in the first Christian centuries, until the Council of Macon (585 AD), when the corrupt Roman church made payment of tithes compulsory under threat of excommunication.
The New Testament concept of giving is that we should give enough in proportion to what we possess. My giving will be rewarded not by how much I gave, but by how much I had left. The value of a gift is not measured by the amount given, but by the attitude in which it is given (2 Cor. 8:12). Give what you have decided to the Lord; set apart your offering; present it to the Lord as His. Ask Him when and where you should give it. We give to the Lord's work when we give to the needs of those around us. He will tell you to give it to a person- ie., someone in ministry- a stranger, an orphan, a guest, a widow, to feed and provide for their needs (Mt. 25:40; 1 Tim. 5:3-6,9). We can invest for God by giving to solid, steady, consistently Biblical causes, to spread the Gospel and help those in need. Christian giving can involve giving to Christian education, Christian schools, missions, Bible-distribution, outreach; in purchasing tracts and Christian literature, and supporting ministries. Your Christian giving may include sending your children to a Christian school, buying musical instruments for ministry work, doing Bible courses, building a library of good, edifying Christian books, etc.
The Christian is to be a steward of his possessions, using them all to the service of God. All of our money and possesions belong to God, and we use them as He suggests. Christians are not to lavish what has been entrusted to them on needless and even harmful luxuries while others live in glaring poverty and the spread of the Gospel is hindered by lack of support. We will give account of how we have used what God has given to us. The New Testament priorities for the use of income includes: providing for family, the needs of brothers in difficulty, widows and orphans, the poor, and spiritual leaders. We are to show hospitality to travelers and strangers, and give for the extension of the Gospel. Also, we should meet our obligations to debts (Rom.13:8). The amount that we give to the Lord is for each believer to decide, having regard to family responsibilities and obligations. It is important that a certain amount be set aside for meeting the needs of one's family; the home, and necessary expenses (1 Tim. 5:8).
In summary, we give as we have made up our mind to give (2 Co.9:7), with the generosity of Christ as our example (8:9). Our giving is to be willing, and cheerful, given in the light of our accountability to God; "freely give, even as you have freely received". Under grace, all things belong to the Lord. The whole 100% is His, and it is our responsibility to use that which He has given us as He gives us guidance. God wants joyous, cheerful and ready givers (2 Co. 9:7), who give in freedom, without any feelings of compunction or constraint. Give in the right spirit, willingly, what you can give. God will accept it, for He expects no-one to do more than he is "able" (Ac.11:29; 2 Co.8:3). Some may find this study controversial; my hope is that it will cause believers to extend their giving beyond a "10% mentality", or legalistic view of the subject. Many are able to give far in excess of this from their income, while others aren't able. Some give legalistically, but waste the remainder on junk food, materialism, and worldly pleasures, as poor stewards of what God has given them. Give as the Lord gives to you, not out of condemnation but out of liberty. If you choose to give a set "tithe", God will bless you; if you choose to give in some other way that is in harmony with the spirit of the New Testament, God will also bless you. The Lord wants us to be faithful and generous supporters of His work Be encouraged to give liberally, cheerfully, wisely, and as the Lord leads, and especially in support of your fellowship and your pastor. Andrew.
Some time some ordinary day will come,
A busy day, like this, filled to the brim
With ordinary tasks- perhaps so full
That we have little care or thought for Him.
And there will be no hint from silent skies,
No sign, no clash of cymbals, roll of drums-
And yet that ordinary day will be
The very day before our Lord returns!
The day before we lay our burdens down,
And learn instead the strange feel of a crown!
The day before all grieving will be past,
And all our tears be wiped away at last!
O child of God, awake and work and pray;
That ordinary day might be- today!
And yet the setting of tomorrow's sun
Will find a billion souls still here, unwon!
(Martha Nicholson)
The Pope rules over the Vatican State, which is about 1035m long, and 742 m wide. It has 400 citizens, most of whom are his armed forces. It has its own flag, radio, TV station, newspaper, pharmacy, railway stations, fire department, and heliport. It mints its own coins and prints stamps. (Newspaper clipping sent by Br Jim McKernan, Northfield, SA)
The Roman Catholic Church, headed up by the Popes of Rome, is the Antichrist. This was firmly believed by all the Reformers. The Pope and the wicked religion of Rome has persecuted innocent Christians. 32,000 were burnt alive, and 300,000 tortured in the Inquisition. Charles V caused the death of 50,000 Protestants, the Duke of Alva had 36,000 killed, and 40,000 French Huguenots were massacred at the Pope's command. In 1572, Catholics slaughtered 60,000 Christians in one day. (Br Bob Humphries, Maryborough, Qld)
"Take me", cried the gold one, "I'm shiny and bright; I'm of great value, And I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest, And for Someone like You, Master, gold would be best."
The Master passed on With no word at all, And looked at a silver urn, grand and tall. "I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine; I'll be on Your table whenever You dine. My lines are so graceful, My carving so true, And silver will always complement You.
Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass, Wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
"Here, here," cried the vessel, "I know I will do. Place me on your table For all men to view."
"Look at me," called the goblet of crystal so clear, "My transparency shows My contents so dear. Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride, And I'm sure you'll be happy In Your House to abide."
Then the Master came next To a vessel of wood; Polished and carved it solidly stood. "You may use me, dear Master," the wooden bowl said, "But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread."
Then the Master looked down And saw a vessel of clay. Empty and broken it helplessly lay. No hope had the vessel That the Master might choose, To cleanse, and make whole, To fill and to use.
"Ah now, this is the vessel I've been hoping to find. I'll mend it and use it And make it all Mine. I need not the vessel with pride in itself, Nor one that is narrow To sit on the shelf, Nor one that is big-mouthed and shallow and loud, Nor one that displays his contents so proud, Nor the one who thinks he can do things just right, But this plain earthern vessel Filled with power and might.
Then gently He filled the vessel of clay, Mended and cleansed it And filled it that day. Spoke to it kindly; "There's work you must do... Just pour out to others as I pour in to you."
(Anon.; sent by Paul, Toowoomba)
Christian gratitude teaches us to recompense to the utmost of our power those who have been an encouragement and influence for our benefit and Christian service. (Sent in by Br Harold, Bentleigh)
It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice. (Sent by Sis Bev)
Thirty Indian Christians were caught at a forbidden Christian meeting, and taken to court. The judge mocked, "What is written in your books about Jesus giving power to His disciples to heal is not true. On purpose, I have ordered a blind and a deaf person to be brought into the courtroom. Now heal them and you will be free!"
None of the brethren was a charismatic. They themselves had never thought of exercising such powers. But challenged by the judge, they prayed with a loud voice for the healings. And the blind saw and the deaf heard. The judge was converted and acquitted them all. Pray for them, though, as they have been expelled from their country and families. (Voice of the Martyrs, 1/94)
The reformers defended the Gospel aptly by the following slogans:
May God in our day revive these great truths for which many Reformers died, and may He teach His people the impossibility of common ground or union with Rome. (The Sword & The Trowel)
God sent His Son into the World to save,
To save lost souls, our Lord did crave,
He pleaded with sinners to repent,
This was His message, wherever He went.
Jesus, the only Son of God above,
Who radiates great abundance of Love,
He didn't come down on earth to condemn;
He came to save the souls of men.
Eternal life is offered each one
Who believe on God's Only Begotten Son,
What a wonderful prize to receive,
At the end, only to them that will believe.
(Sis Margaret, Hallam, Vic)
Is anybody happier, because you passed their way?
Does anyone remember, that you spoke to them today?
Did you waste the day or lose it?
Was it well or poorly spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness,
or a scar of discontent?
(Sent by Bev from Heywood, Vic)
How much? Out of this life I shall never take
Things of silver and gold I make.
All that I cherish and hoard away,
After I leave, on this earth must stay
Though I call it mine and boast its worth,
I must give it up, when I leave this earth.
All that I gather, all that I keep,
I must give it up when I fall asleep.
And I often wonder, what I shall own,
In that other life when I pass alone:
Will the Great Judge say when the task is through,
That my spirit has gathered some riches too?
Or shall it be mine to find,
All that I worked for is left behind!
(The Gospel Witness)
When people pray, miracles happen. When we see hardened drinkers quit drinking, families restored, and good food and furniture going into those homes, we give God the glory and praise Him with thanksgiving in our hearts. Hallelujah! The presence of God is so real, with the mountains, the trees and the creek, and in the morning there are multitudinous bird life. We feel very blessed to have been called and sent here. Every day is a joy and almost always filled with the unexpected. The real thing is ministering Jesus. A friendship and a trust that has developed through our day to day contact with the people causes them to feel free to come and talk to us if they need to. More and more people are coming and we give God the glory. Last Sunday 8 children gave their hearts to the Lord. Our prayer is that there will be a breakthrough with the drinking and gambling problems amongst the Aboriginals and that they will be gainfully employed. (Br Alan & Sis Iris Skinner, Coen, Qld.)
The church is engaged in a fearsome war. We can't help but be wounded from time to time, and the wounded need a human touch. They need to see Jesus through you. There is healing in Christian fellowship. Satan knows it. So he subverts our churches so that there is no fellowship, just criticism, gossip and political games. As satan laughs with glee, Christians waste their energies by fighting the wrong enemy- one other. (Extracts from Nicky Cruz, Don't Shoot the Wounded)
Of the 10,000 counsellors needed for Billy Graham's Oregon crusade, the Catholic churches set a goal to supply 6,000 of these, as they will then get the converts. (O Timothy)
God has been expelled from school. The ten commandments have been taken off the walls. Instead of Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, and Honour thy father and thy mother, children are learning new commandments, Thou shalt commit only safe fornication and if thou shalt become pregnant anyhow, thou shalt get an abortion before thy parents find out.
Nelson Mandela is openly involved in occultic ancestral worship and is hostile to Christianity. 32 witchdoctors called on the spirits of the ancestors to "bless" Mandela at an ANC cultural festival. The ceremony conducted normally requires human blood and human flesh. (Signposts, 1/94)
If He should come today
and find my hands so full
Of future plans, however fair,
In which my Saviour has no share,
What would He say?
If He should come today
and find My love so cold
My faith so weak and dim
I had not even looked for Him,
What would He say?
If He should come today
and find I had not told
One soul about my heavenly Friend,
Whose blessings all my way attend,
What would He say?
If He should come today,
would I be glad- quite glad?
Remembering He had died for all
And none through me had heard His call,
What would He say?
(The Advocate of Truth)
Br Harold & Sis Mary Neil of Bentleigh, Vic, are actively ministering to residents of "Southleigh" Baptist Social Services Home- Harold shares, "it is a labour of love - we praise the Lord that He still gives us the ability and will to continue in His service."
Br Gordon Johnson has made two good quality 3-hour videos of recent travels in Israel, to various interesting Biblical sites. For details, write to: C/- 4 Maxwell St, Pt Vernon, Qld 4655.
John Wesley travelled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging 20 miles a day for 40 years; preached 40,000 times, wrote 400 books, knew 10 languages, At 83 years he was annoyed that he couldn't write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes. At 86 he was ashamed he couldn't preach more than twice a day. In his diary he complained of an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5.30 am. It's good to remember this when we're feeling "tired". (Faithful Witness 3/94)
Get down to business with God in prayer. Prayer is more powerful than an atomic
bomb. (Br Peter, Mt Barker)
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