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Every
Believer Becomes a Disciple -
Matthew 28:19
As
many that have received the gift, minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God
1Peter4:10
A
Disciples Handbook Complete Version in PDF Form
PARTAKING IN THE AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIFE
Discipleship
If you want to experience
religious anger, dissonance, or heated debate, this is the topic to
broach. Giving is the bread and butter of ministry. It is support for a
man and his message. It provides the financing of the Gospel to world.
It provides support for both the local church and missionary outreaches.
Men and women go forth after devoting a large part of their lives
training for "ministry" and look forward to the expectation that they
will "live by the Gospel".
The Lord hath ordained that
those preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel."
(1Corinthians 9:14)
The obligation of giving and the expectation that church members should contribute tithes and offerings is a fact of church-life. However, if the truth be known, what the Bible says about giving, should reveal other criteria regarding support for the work of God. I believe each of us has to examine "giving for the gospel's sake' in light of Scripture and draw our best personal conclusions in the light of the Word. It requires dedication and commitment to a local church body to share in meeting its financial demands. It is easy to see how giving can become burdensome or the leadership turn to preach on the requirements or obligations of giving. Almost every church I have seen teaches an obligation of paying at least a tithe and for amounts over your tithe, to give "offerings." Tithing obligations are promoted widely as commanded Scripturally using Malachi 3: 8-12. Jesus addressed the matter of required giving when confronting the pharisees. He made a distinction between giving out of the leading of the heart as opposed to the demands of the law. According to what Jesus taught his disciples in this church-age we are not under compunction or legal obligations to give but to give freely according the purposes of the heart.
Every believing Christian should be
willing to support the Kingdom of God as we judge it to be
best presented. We need to see the life of God as a Divine promise
and a transforming human potentiality. We need to see ministers bringing
others into this higher life. Once that criterion is met, we can go on
to other matters concerning Giving. It is not my desire to subvert a
system that you are committed to for your own best reasons, but rather
to encourage each person to strive to know God as fully as possible
and to experience the potential written of in the Gospel, even if it
means setting aside certain long- held traditions. Every person should
support the Kingdom of God as we see it best expressed. We need to see
the life of God as a potentiality and the people who minister bringing
others into it. Once that criterion is met, we can go on to other
matters concerning Giving.
There are no laws (rules) for
giving in the Kingdom of God. God has set us free from rules and
obligations including rules about giving. Giving is good! Giving
expresses the goodness and openness of the heart of God. Giving supports
the man of God but giving can also support other people who are
not necessarily "ministers" of churches but who God wishes to bless
through us. Jesus said, "Give to the poor and
you will have treasures in heaven." (Matthew 19:21 ) Various
kinds of worldly commitments touch upon the Kingdom of God that need
support which may include buildings, outreach expenses, travel, or any
of a wide variety of needs which can only be met by others sharing the
cost. God wants his will to be done through selfless sharing and
contributions of money resources. Ideally, the believer will discern his
part in meeting the needs of others. We need to be able to hear God
leading us in the ministry of giving so that it is truly a
work of God for the Gospel sake and not just a worthy cause or charity.
Giving as "unto the Lord" will always have a reward in the age to come.
The Almighty knows if we have a worldly reward or a heavenly one. Having
a reward in this world comes from drawing attention to ourselves in
ostentatious displays of generosity that draw attention to our
goodness. *"Giving to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven," suggests that giving to the poor is following God's intentions
in the gospel by giving to the less fortunate and needy. The above scriptures are a few of many references to money and giving found in the Bible. With so many ministries eager to receive our contributions it is a challenge to be able to discern who God would have us support among the ministries or servants of God. But I believe we would miss God if we only gave to ministry professionals and not to individuals and especially the poor. God's love is about giving. Ministry is about caring and sharing. Koinonia is also about mutual sharing and support. This whole world thrives in the light of a generous heart.
"God
so loved the world that he gave -" "God so loved the world that he gave
-" There are unscrupulous ministers who have learned how to grow rich and live sumptuously by manipulating the audience / congregation. They have discovered how to make claims that their ministry is what God is using (prophetically) to give financial "breakthroughs." The doctrine of Seed Faith has been used by dozens of Prosperity-focused ministries. They use worldly strategies, not heavenly ones. Such men or women will also receive their due reward if not in this world, the world to come.
The Tithe
The Storehouse
Malachi describes the
"storehouse" as the place we are supposed to bring our tithe to God.
Pastors love to teach that the storehouse is the local church, where all
of the sheep are fed. Remember that under the law the Levites only lived
through the use of tithing. They were those appointed to minister as
God's ordained priesthood were sustained by the rest of the tribes of
Israel. After Jesus ascended into
the heavenly temple of God,
it is my belief that the nature of the
storehouse has changed as radically as the priesthood.
For us in
the church age, the local church model being the storehouse has some
problems associated with it:
Expectations of a vibrant, Spiritual congregation:
Is God honored, exalted and given
first place? Is He the focus of praise? Is there an honor afforded to
the God of power and Might? Does He inspire Holy Fear? Jesus our Great
High Priest who keeps accounts of everything given in his name, whether
money in a church collection plate, food to a hungry child, a visit to
an invalid, a drink to a thirsty man, or a visit to a person sick and
alone in a hospital. (Matthew 25)
We know confidently, that he will
also meet any of our needs in a time of lack because we did not withhold
giving to others. We do not give out of obligation. We are not debtors
to the law. We are free to give because God is a giver. Giving is sowing
seeds. The seeds are recorded in a heavenly journal. If we sow
bounteously we are told to expect to reap bounteously. We expect
something will result from our planting. The sower of seeds also look
forward to a crop which will come at a future harvest time.
Sowing and reaping is surely a part of giving to the Kingdom of God. The
commodity may be money but it can be any other commodity of kindness or
care. God will meet our needs at a future time because we have planted.
God stores up treasure for another day in a heavenly place, because we
have given.
The past decades have seen a
great emphasis on the Prosperity message. Poverty and lack are clearly
seen as a curse throughout scripture. God does want us to live without
provision. The redemption from the curse of the law also freed us want
and lack. We believe that "My God shall supply
all of our needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus."
In gauging any matter of doctrine we have to hold it up not only to
common sense and scripture but to discerning what the spiritual life
needs to be. The doctrine of prosperity does associate with blessing (Deuteronomy 28) but the negative side of riches is its link to selfish motives both in the giver and the receiver. Many who preach the prosperity message are in a position to directly benefit by the unrestrained giving that is encouraged in sermons and in seminars. Some of those who preach the doctrine exceed the Word of God by suggesting that gifts given to their own ministries have the greatest return connected to them. Of course the hyper faith doctrine ascribes a greater degree of return, thirty, sixty or one hundred fold spoken of in scripture insured as a consequence of giving. There is greater insight in the 30, 60 and hundred fold metaphor than mere cash and assets. The prospering of the soul is accounted above all, in Spiritual richness. Giving, according to Jesus, should not be in the manner of the Pharisees who "sound a trumpet" to give notice that they are doing an alms deed. Jesus teaches to give in secret and for the left hand not to see what the right hand does. All of these teachings address anonymous giving rather than a public display in which people are applauding the giver for his excellent generosity. The Lord says of such people, “-they receive their reward.” by the act of receiving public acclaim and applause. It is far better to give with only the Father who sees in secret knowing our deed. He will be the one who insures a return in the best possible time. Any man or woman can give or contribute in any kind of thing or commodity. One can give a gift of service another a gift of a song. Another a gift of kindness. The same principle applies when the motive is right, God who is the author and overseer of every good and perfect gift. The Father knows when our giving is free from self exaltation. He will insure the return.
A
description of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship, updated 2024
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