Monday, March 9, 2009

Tax Time Tythe Sermons

Try to say the name of this article five times real fast. I will start right off saying tithing is biblical and everyone should do it. However, it states nowhere in God's Word your tithe should go to the man in the $3,000(US) suit. In fact, if a man is preaching the Gospel of Jesus, material items and worldly riches are not important. "Not!" To the contrary, riches is exactly what the Gospel means to so many evangelists today. They are what gives such a bad image to being a Christian, and they will pay for it with their eternity.

You bring up the need for salvation to most non-believers, and the typical response will be an attack on the integrity concerning either money, or hypocrisy. While each of these issues are distinct in character, mostly they are tied together and rightly so. Any way you look at it, it is all blasphemy. While it is true that we cannot know what is in all men's hearts, their open and repeated actions are their testimony. To a large percentage of today's evangelists, "GOD" is just a symbol for raking in vast fortunes. To some, anything relating to money is the only gospel you will hear from them.

Mike Murdock is a well known infomercial star. He is seen on dozens of networks at different times of the day and night. He portrays himself as a sort of preacher, or evangelist. He is a trickster, a con artist, but, in no way is he a man of God. He quotes scripture and claims God talks to him all the time and he receives revelations. He is a false prophet, to put it politely. He gives motivational lectures to fake audiences, just like any good infomercial. He has found a lucrative twist to the old Ronco or vacuum sales. He is capitalizing on God's Word and your ignorance. The "seed" Mr. Murdock uses to convince you in an intimidating manner, is not a biblical monetary denomination.

It is especially a sore subject with me, as I am a product of the "seed" being planted in me at an early age. The "seed" stayed dormant for many years, but, if not there(inside me) I certainly would have faced doom. I don't appreciate people like Mike Murdock, Paula White, Nasir Saddiki, and so many more televangelists cheapening the Word of God for their capitol gain. The "seed", of which they speak, is the Word of God. In fact, it is our duty as believers to spread the seed; to plant it in others, so their lives can be saved someday.

Saddiki and Murdock, especially, speak of many passages in Proverbs with their twist to convince you God will make you rich, just as they are. They will have you believing they are anointed, and doing God's work. It is too bad they don't really believe the Word, they would drop to their knees, before it is too late, and repent. The more subtle phonies like Benny Hinn, at least try to look like they are concerned about your spiritual health. They actually teach about things other than money, but, it is so clear money is their god. Hinn is hugely popular in places like India, and throughout the converted Arab communities. Hinn owns several palatial estates all around the globe, and lives like royalty. I watched Mr. Hinn shake his fist at a crowd of what appeared to be 100,000 or so, which is normal for him. He began yelling like a daemon and stated he is going up with the rapture, and if they(the audience) wanted to go, they will give him the money.

Not all evangelists are only out to get your money in the most clever way they can find with scripture. One is too many. If TBN and Daystar, the two biggest evangelistic networks, had integrity they would not air such trash, but, they wouldn't be the biggest networks for long. These infomercial con-artists pay big bucks to be aired. The telethons to raise money for these networks bring out the best(or more appropriately the worst) of these wicked doers. The characters of these people running these billion dollar institutes are too familiar of Jim Baker and Tammy Fay of the eighties. When a wig collection is worth more than the yearly income of the people they are ministering to, something is dreadfully wrong.

A stronger percentage of televangelists just soften the Word, so we are drawn to it, to ease our pain, or rationalize our conscience. They will sell their books or CD/DVD products for a set donation amount which is usually more than a similar product would sell for. Because it is called a donation, they don't even pay their share of taxes. Most televangelists will point out countless scriptures which may or may not have anything to do with tithing. They will get very passionate and imply the worse sin we could commit would be not to tithe. When they reluctantly address the general matter of sin and iniquity, they are somber and almost apologetic. They soothe our conscience with the false teaching that striving to be righteous is 'good works'. They demand we are sinning by feeling guilty about our sin; Jesus did not die on the Cross for us to carry the burden of sin.

Hear me now. Write this down if there is any chance you might forget it. It is the most important thing you could ever imagine. Jesus did not die on the Cross so we could merely not feel guilty about our sin. We are washed clean of our past sin by the blood of Jesus. We are not to feel guilty of our past sin, it is forgotten. When we accept Him as our Saviour, we are repenting of sin. Old things are passed away - our past sin and our sinful ways. Regardless these are troubled times and we are surrounded by temptation, we are still expected by God to stay on a righteous path and hate sin, as He hates sin. We are to walk in love and spread His Word at every opportunity. Just because Satan has managed to corrupt even the most basic beliefs in Christians, we are not excused from following God's Word.

It is hard enough to explain to a non-believer that we are not hypocrites just because we are not Saints. God does not expect us to not ever sin, but, to a believer, we are convicted by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us, and acknowledge the sin right away, and repent. It is through the Divine Grace of God that we are able to resist temptation even in these difficult days. We are not given special consideration because it is 2,000 years after the Word was directly given by Jesus. We are not excused from living with God's Holiness and morals because there are special needs produced by the world today. We are not supposed to be living for the world. We cannot close our eyes to what we consider little sin, or sin we consider to be "not hurting anyone else" because we have done so many other good things.

If one person hears this and understands, I guess it is good. However, I am trying to reach out to as many as I can. I get visitors to my pages from all over the world. My desire is not to turn people away from the Word, any way they can receive. If you cannot keep a bible where you are at, but you obviously have access to a computer, try the Blue Letter Bible. It has most versions and translations. I am appealing to you to discern whether you are hearing the Word with integrity. Do not believe false prophets who are driven by greed and the world.

I ran across a website the other day where a man goes on for over twenty pages talking about tithing is not biblical. He had numerous passages from the Bible taken out of context, explaining how the tithe was only Old Testament. He seemed to be very intellectual and knowledgeable of the Bible. How then, could he totally miss one of the most unforgettable comments from Jesus?
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Mat 22:21)

For years, Satan coupled with our own selfishness and greedy freewill, to confuse even the strongest believers. We have become a partnership with the enemy. We have served the devil more than we have ever considered serving our precious Saviour. Christians are fighting for embryonic destruction, cloning, abortion, sexual freedoms, oppressions, legalisation of drugs, corruption in our government, liberal doctrine in our educational system, and the list goes on. All these things are adverse to the Word of God. We must know if something is apposed to His commandments and follow His wisdom in the morals and ethics He expects from us.

I call out to you with all my heart. The time of the Tribulation draws near. It is closer than even the Theologians were expecting. The snowball effect has brought about the perfect conditions quicker than anyone anticipated. I am not saying Jesus will come for us in days, or even weeks. Definitely in the next few years. Perversion has reached the end of its holiday. Biblically, the conditions are right that would allow for the Lord to return tonight. Nobody will know, so don't believe anyone who gives you any indication of a time. He will come like a 'thief in the night', or, when we least expect it. The reason for this is so that we remain ready at all times. Are you ready? Do you think you have plenty of time to worry about that? Please do not gamble. I feel like a stuck record, if you have read any other articles I've written, you know I harp on the same thing. Be prepared for the rapture. You do not want to be left behind.

Many Pastors, that have lost their faith, will not go with the rapture. Many, many Christians whom are thinking they will be lifted up will remain in the world that they loved so much. Please believe me, you do not want to remain in the Tribulation. It will be worse than you could imagine. You think you have problems now. You won't get another chance to escape the Tribulation a second after we are lifted up. You will get one more chance to make it to Heaven by finally professing your Christianity for real, then be beheaded. Most will still be confused and believe all the hype they are hearing now and follow the New Age leader - the Antichrist.

No matter what anybody tells you, if you aren't convicted of your sin, and repent, you better start feeling real guilty. You better feel so guilty you drop to your knees and vow to change your ways. Forget the world. Forget lost stock or what may happen with the economy. Forget your addictions or perversions. Focus on your Saviour. Ask His forgiveness for neglecting Him and ignoring His Word. Get into His Word as if you only have days to cram for the biggest exam of your life, you just may.

3 comments:

  1. I also am a Conservative Evangelical Dispensational Baptist but I do not believe tithing is biblical. I am confident that every tithing argument can very easily be refuted from God's Word.

    May I respond to your worldwide Internet post requesting comments.

    Genesis 14:18-21: Nothing Abraham did is an example of faith for the Church. (1) only pagan spoils of war, (2) not his own property, (3) he gave it all away and (4) he gave the 90% to the king of Sodom.

    Numbers 18:202-29: The tithing law required those who receive tithes to forfeit land ownership. It also demands tithes be paid to servants to the prissts and only one percent be given to the priests. Churches do not teach this.

    Deuteronomy 28 and 29: The entire law was a TEST. Obey and be blessed; disobey and be cursed. The only way for Hebrews to be blessed by tithing was by observing all 600+ commands of the OT law which is impossible. See also Neh 10:29; Mal 4:4.

    Malachi 3:10 has been replaced by Galatians 3:10; 1:8-9; 3:1-2 and 2 Cor 3:10.

    Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

    DEFINE TITHES: Although money was common in Genesis and essential for sanctuary worship, money is never included in 16 texts which describe the content of tithes.

    DEFINE FIRSTFRUITS: Tithes were not firstfruits. Firstfruits were extremely small token offerings. Compare Deut 26:1-10; Neh 10:35-39; 12:44 and 2 Chron 31:5.

    Matthew 23:23: Jesus only discussed tithing as "matters of the law." Tithing is never commanded o the Church in terms of grace after Calvary.

    Gentiles were never under Hebrew worship laws (Ex 19:5-6; Acts 15:10-11, 19; 21:20.

    NT giving is: freewill, generous, sacrificial, joyful, not by commandment or percentage and motivated by love for God and lost souls. Especially 2 Cor 8:12-15.

    www.tithing-russkelly.com

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  2. Hi Edward.

    Tithing is not found be in effect in the New Testament.

    The Old Testament of Moses was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Tithing is about the ONLY work of the Old Testament that New Testament Christians have ripped from the Law of Moses and applied to NT Christianity.

    We are to give MUCH more than a tenth, if God puts it on our hearts. We are not even supposed to let our left hand know what our right hand has done, so keeping track is NOT an option. Please read my article on this subject to fully understand what God wants from New Testament Christians.

    http://777denny.wordpress.com/38-tithing-money-greed-idolatry-covetousness/

    Thank you for listening,
    777denny

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  3. Tithing was HUGE in OT as for the Messiah Jesus Christ had not come to earth yet-to die on that cross...and take away our sins. There are many ways He wants us to give-and not just money. And when we can't reach 10% we aren't banned-we are ALWAYS loved and accepted-look at all the murderers and rapists etc that last minute-before death-declare Him as their Lord and Savior-that yes, He died on the cross for them-to clean the slate of sins-to become brother/sister with our Lord most High! And that's all it takes. We can yap on about good works, and tithing...which is an awesome feeling...and what He loves us to do to get His Word out..yet no matter what...His love is unconditional...and will have his arms wide open for us when we do enter His Kingdom.
    I am one not about money. I have watched my brother,, parents who don't believe in Christ...try to follow money-but there is no happiness and it falls apart without being focused on Him-using it for His glory!

    Some are to be wealthy-and He knows which ones can handle that right for Him...others He has just thrilled to be tight with Him...I'd take that anyday! He is my rock...

    Love you all...

    Proverbs 11:4 Riches won't help on the day of judgement, but right living is a safeguard against death.

    In His Grip,

    Heather Sieben

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