Thursday, August 5, 2010
Is Tithing for Today?
Is Tithing for Today?
The answer is no--as a forced obligation. The answer is also yes--if it is a response from the heart. We are not obligated to give any amount. But, when we have the right mindset, based on the Word of God and a heart that flows with gratitude for what He has done, yes, we will want to give all that we are able to. I believe that in the debates, occurring over the centuries since the early church, and now to the classrooms in seminary, and to the message boards I pursued, money and religion have always gone together. Money and religion have always fought each other in people's pride and inclinations. Just as Jesus' anger with the money changers in the temple and Luther's outrage with the selling indulgences in the pre-Reformation period, to the TV preachers we have today saying, "if you give to me, God will give to you ten times as much," it all comes down to motivation, greed, and the idol of money. We will bow to money or we will bow to God. The question is what do you truly worship? Where is your motivation? Where is your heart?
Ps. I hope you enjoyed this series on Stewardship. My next project will be a series of video's. Stay tuned for the series title.
Love you guys,
Chuck Lewis
The answer is no--as a forced obligation. The answer is also yes--if it is a response from the heart. We are not obligated to give any amount. But, when we have the right mindset, based on the Word of God and a heart that flows with gratitude for what He has done, yes, we will want to give all that we are able to. I believe that in the debates, occurring over the centuries since the early church, and now to the classrooms in seminary, and to the message boards I pursued, money and religion have always gone together. Money and religion have always fought each other in people's pride and inclinations. Just as Jesus' anger with the money changers in the temple and Luther's outrage with the selling indulgences in the pre-Reformation period, to the TV preachers we have today saying, "if you give to me, God will give to you ten times as much," it all comes down to motivation, greed, and the idol of money. We will bow to money or we will bow to God. The question is what do you truly worship? Where is your motivation? Where is your heart?
Ps. I hope you enjoyed this series on Stewardship. My next project will be a series of video's. Stay tuned for the series title.
Love you guys,
Chuck Lewis
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A Template of How the Early Church Gave
A Template of How the Early Church Gave
How did the early church give? Well, it was not just a mere ten percent, because they gave abundantly out of deep poverty (NKJV)! In fact, they may have even given more than they should have! But, they did it because of their love for Christ and knowledge of what He did for them! Their motives were astonishing to other people around them. They need to be our "norm" too. Not that we should give beyond our means, but we should give with a sense of the awe of what Christ did for us. The early church had whole-hearted surrender to Christ, which is the abandonment of our Will to His (Gal. 2:20). They gave everything. What do you give, and where does it come from?
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - (NIV)
· ...Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy...
· ...and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity...
· ...even beyond their ability...
· ...Entirely on their own...
· ...privilege of sharing in this service to the saints...
· ...they gave themselves first to the Lord...
· ...keeping with God's Will...
· ...in faith ...excel in this grace of giving...
· ...I am not commanding you...
· ...you through his poverty might become rich...
· ...you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so...
· ...the gift is acceptable according to what one has...
A warning: beware of your motives. Do not give because you expect to get! God is not a divine bellhop, and He is not required to give you anything. Yet, He does, out of His love and grace! Some very bad teaching has been sneaking in like a snake its way in our churches and airwaves, called the "Health and Wealth" gospel. It says that if you give your money to the preacher or church, God will bless you or give you ten times more, or whatever amount they come up with. They tell you that "Jesus wants you wealthy," "Jesus wants you rich," "Jesus wants you prosperous," and "God wants you rich!" (Direct quotes from Christian Research Institute equip.org by several different preachers!)
Love you guys,
Chuck Lewis
How did the early church give? Well, it was not just a mere ten percent, because they gave abundantly out of deep poverty (NKJV)! In fact, they may have even given more than they should have! But, they did it because of their love for Christ and knowledge of what He did for them! Their motives were astonishing to other people around them. They need to be our "norm" too. Not that we should give beyond our means, but we should give with a sense of the awe of what Christ did for us. The early church had whole-hearted surrender to Christ, which is the abandonment of our Will to His (Gal. 2:20). They gave everything. What do you give, and where does it come from?
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - (NIV)
· ...Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy...
· ...and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity...
· ...even beyond their ability...
· ...Entirely on their own...
· ...privilege of sharing in this service to the saints...
· ...they gave themselves first to the Lord...
· ...keeping with God's Will...
· ...in faith ...excel in this grace of giving...
· ...I am not commanding you...
· ...you through his poverty might become rich...
· ...you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so...
· ...the gift is acceptable according to what one has...
A warning: beware of your motives. Do not give because you expect to get! God is not a divine bellhop, and He is not required to give you anything. Yet, He does, out of His love and grace! Some very bad teaching has been sneaking in like a snake its way in our churches and airwaves, called the "Health and Wealth" gospel. It says that if you give your money to the preacher or church, God will bless you or give you ten times more, or whatever amount they come up with. They tell you that "Jesus wants you wealthy," "Jesus wants you rich," "Jesus wants you prosperous," and "God wants you rich!" (Direct quotes from Christian Research Institute equip.org by several different preachers!)
Love you guys,
Chuck Lewis
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