So, what about Christian Tithing?

The majority of leaders and parishioners in the Church say we’re required to tithe, that is one is to give a tenth of their income to God every week. But, I ask the reader the following questions: When and where did the tithe originate? Who was it for? And, what was it’s purpose?

Before answering those questions, let’s site the most popular verse regarding tithing, Malachi 3:8-10: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation (i.e. Israel, not the church). Bring all the tithes in the storehouse that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be enough room for you to receive it (italics added).

It’s unfortunate that this passage regarding the tithe has been isolated in light of so many other passages in the Old Testament regarding the subject. The tithe became law back in the book of Leviticus chapter 27:30: And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or the fruit of the tree is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord (Italics added).

This tithe is regarded as the Levite’s tithe. Why? Because the other tribes were to support the priestly tribe for the service of their daily ministry at the house of God. Levites were not allowed to till the land as the other tribes did for their compensation. The Lord was their inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:2). The Levites were the governing body of the Theocracy of Israel – meaning the nation was run by God. Levites were God’s direct servants on the earth. Giving to the Levites was in essence giving to the Lord. The tithe was taxation to support their government, and it was holy and good. It was so holy that the Levites had to give a tenth of the tithe (a heave offering) they received from the people to the Lord through Aaron, the High Priest (Numbers 18:25-32).

Also every third year, the tithe was to be stored within one’s gates and was to be distributed to the Levites, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Not only was the tithe meeting the needs of the Levites, it took care of the welfare of the poor along with their annual religious festivals where the nation would go to the sanctuary where they would eat and rejoice in the Lord’s provision (Numbers 14:22-29).


 Other Old Testament passages that deal with tithing are II Chronicles 31:5-11 and Nehemiah 10:35-39.

Tithing is not required of the church. It was an Old Testament ordinance. Jesus mentions the tithe in Matthew 23, and in a parable in Luke 18:12. The tithe is also mentioned in Hebrews 7 because the writer is recounting the events between Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis 14, but not in the sense that we’re obligated to do it. This does not absolve the church of it’s obligation to give however. Jesus in Luke 6:38 commands us to give and it shall be given back to us… In I Corinthians 16 Paul commands the church to lay aside something on the first day of the week. Here, Paul was specifically making reference to the Corinthians giving money to support the poor Saints in Jerusalem. However I believe storing a discretionary amount on an ongoing basis is good.

II Corinthians 9:6-7 tells us to decide what we’re to give and give it with joy for this is what God loves. No percentage is prescribed here. It’s at the giver’s discretion. We’re allowed to give a tenth, more than or less than a tenth. Faithfulness and attitude is the key. 


Let me hasten to make another point, if you've been blessed by giving a tenth of your increase to the Lord every week, by all means continue. God is blessing your faithfulness.

There may be people who give tithes because they’re afraid not to – believing if they fail to do so, will be robbing God, and cursed with a curse. The tragedy of the Malachi 3:8-10 was that the people of God were not tithing, and as a result, were robbing the Levites, and more importantly God of what he was due. This forced the Levites to work in the fields with the other tribes to meet their needs which meant God’s house was neglected; meaning the daily offerings and obligation of the nation in terms of worship were brought to a halt. This angered the Lord, and that is why he told the children of Israel that “…you have robbed me in tithes and offerings.”  The Lord also told Israel, “you’re cursed with a curse for robbing me!” They failed to pay their taxes thus not supporting the theocratic government thus breaking the law of God which is holy. 


Keep in mind not only were tithes required giving year by year (not every week as people do in the church today), some Levitical offerings were required as well, and that on a daily basis. If the church is going to require the tithe, they have to require certain Old Testament offerings as well (Leviticus 1-5). See the confusion this causes?

In closing, where did the tithe originate? In Israel's day, Leviticus 27:30. This where it became law. What was it’s purpose? To fund the national government of Israel just like our taxes do today. Who was the beneficiaries? The Levites, the stranger, the orphan, and the widows. Giving to God should always be motivated by love and obedience, not by compulsion, intimidation, a prescribed amount, or  poor theology - not explaining the subject in it's entirety.

 Be glad we have the blessed privilege to give (Acts 20:35). It’s builds the kingdom of God, supports the work of the ministry, and most importantly, it glorifies the Lord with the resources he’s given us.

WHY WATER BAPTISM?

What is water baptism? What is it’s purpose? Who can participate? The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptisma which means to submerge or immerse. This also is in reference to John’s baptism and Christian baptism.

There’s no mention of baptism in the Old Testament. The first time we encounter baptism is in the gospel of Matthew where we find John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan River. The purpose for this was for repentance of sins, and to prepare the participant for the Messiah (Matthew 3:5-6). John’s baptism was incomplete and was never meant to save or take away sins. In short, water baptism can not save anyone (emphasis added)! For if it could, Jesus dying on the cross and shedding his blood would have been in vain.  

John declared to the religious leaders that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).

In fact, when Jesus approached John to be baptized, John tried to prevent him and replied, “I need be baptized by you, and you’re coming to me? John recognized that Jesus’ baptism is what he needed also, for he himself knew that he was a sinner and needed salvation. ” But Jesus said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he (John the Baptist), allowed him (Matthew 3:13-15. Italics added). Jesus being water baptized was identifying with sinners and those he knew he would save. This simple act was an expression of love for the lost. Jesus met us at our point of need.

Water baptism is an outward sign of what has already taken place in the heart of a believer. Water baptism signifies publicly that one is identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Water baptism only has validity if one has already been baptized spiritually – i.e. born again (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 19:2:Romans 6:3-6; Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27). 

Water baptism is most significant because of what is symbolizes, and who it identifies you with, the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer needs to be water baptized so that we fulfill all righteousness. Jesus substituted his sinless life and represented us in his humiliating death on the cross – paying the price for our sins. A debt that he alone was qualified to pay. The  least we can do is represent him publicly in symbolically showing solidarity in his death, burial and resurrection for it's a loving act of obedience to our Savior.

The Book Of Jonah - A Commentary

                                                         THE BOOK OF JONAH

Commentary: Jonah was a Hebrew prophet  whose name means dove. He was the son of Ammitai. The time of Jonah’s one prophecy was in the latter part of the eighth century B.C. God commanded Jonah to prophecy against Nineveh; an evil gentile city in the country of Assyria. Jonah refuses to travel there which was eastward, so instead, he heads to a town named Joppa (today Jaffa), boards a ship, and heads west toward Tarshish he hopes to run from the presence of the Lord.                                                    

The Lord caused a great  tempest on the sea while Jonah was sleeping at the bottom of the ship.  The captain and other men on the ship are in a panic and call upon their gods. They awake Jonah and command him to call on his God.  As the men throw the cargo into the sea to lighten the load, the tempest becomes worse.  They cast lots to see who it will fall on; the lot fell on Jonah. Once Jonah identifies who he is, and where he’s from, the men become terrified.  Jonah realizes he’s the cause for their panic so he commands them to throw him overboard which they do. Immediately the sea is calm.                 

God commands a great fish to swallow Jonah.  The strange thing about it is Jonah is alive in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Symbolically at least, Jonah has died.  In the second chapter of the book, Jonah acknowledges his sin of disobedience, and offers praises of thanksgiving to the Lord for saving his life – that is the great fish swallowing him or else he would have drowned. The Lord speaks to the fish, and vomits Jonah upon dry land.                                                                           

In chapter three, the Lord commissioned Jonah again to preach to Nineveh. This time he willingly obeys. It’s apparent Jonah is determined to do God’s will because it’s a three day  journey which he  travels on foot. Jonah’s message is simple,                                                                                    

            

                “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed!” (Jonah 3:4).

The people of Nineveh believed God’s word and proclaimed a city wide fast, starting from the king, to the least of them. The king laid aside his royal garments, and put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes. This expression was an ancient way to show grief and humiliation for sin and distress. The Ninevite king led the solemn assembly and commanded no person, or beast to eat or drink anything hoping that the God of Israel would have mercy on them and spare their lives.                                                                                               

When God saw their penitence and contrition, he turned his wrath away from them and spared the city of Nineveh (Jonah 3:9). Remember true repentance from sin will always deliver one from God’s wrath. This should be every man’s pursuit!                                                                                       

In chapter four, we discover that Jonah is upset because of the Lord’s mercy toward his enemies. Jonah knew all along that God is rich in mercy and he couldn’t stand the idea of God sparing the lives of these wicked people. That is why he fled in the opposite direction to Tarshish (Jonah 4:2). How quickly Jonah forgot how gracious God was to him when he was rescued by the fish that God prepared to swallow him. The mariners lives were spared when they implored the Lord to help them on the tempestuous sea (Jonah 1:14-16). Jonah’s own life was preserved when he cried out to the Lord (Jonah Chapter 2). And now that God has loved and showed mercy to his enemies, he says he rather die than see his enemies spared.

What hypocrisy!                                                                                                                                            

God asks Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4). The narrative states that Jonah leaves and heads east of the city to see what would happen. Jonah still wants God to destroy Nineveh and he perhaps wants to be an eyewitness to it. This shows the angst of this troubled prophet      . Jonah creates a booth to shade himself from the heat. Also the Lord caused a plant to grow to cover his head and help him in his distress. The bible says Jonah was very grateful for the plant. Once the morning came, God prepared a worm to damage, probably devour the plant so it no longer protected Jonah’s head. In addition, God caused a fierce east wind which caused the sun to smite Jonah on the head. This angered the prophet who once again wanted to die.                                                                                                                                

God asked Jonah again, Is it right for you to be angry about a plant that came and went in a night?” Jonah had more pity on an insignificant plant than he had for hundreds of thousands of Ninevites. It was important that God put Jonah’s perspective in check which it obviously was not. The Lord has compassion on all of his creation, even the most wicked of sinners.

          

In this short but tremendous book, we see God’s providential care and loving kindness on display through out. Let’s review them:

1.     

      The Lord sent out a great wind on the sea to cause a tempest (Providential – Jonah 1:4)

2.      The casting of the lot falling on Jonah (Providential – Jonah 1:7)

3.      The mariners threw Jonah into the sea and it ceased raging

(Providential and Merciful ­-Jonah 1:15)

4.      God commanded a great fish to swallow Jonah (Providential and Merciful. Jonah’s life was spared – Jonah 1:17)

5.      The Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah on dry land (Providential – Jonah 2:10)

6.      God spares the Ninevites when they repented (Merciful – Jonah 3:10)

7.      God prepared a plant to shade Jonah from the heat of the day (Providential and Merciful – Jonah 4:6)

8.      God prepared a worm to destroy the plant (Providential – Jonah 4:7)

9.      God prepared a fierce east wind to blow which caused the sun to beat on Jonah’s head angering the prophet (Providential – Jonah 4:8)   

This story proves that God is ready and willing to forgive any and all that call on him in true repentance and mercy. The one distinctive about Jonah is that he’s the only prophet sent to a foreign country to prophesy against it.                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                   

 

                      

Is Jesus Christ Omniscient

There is a disturbing verse in Mark 13:32 that reads, “But of that day and that hour know no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son (italics added), but the Father.”

Now you as well as I believe Jesus Christ knows all things since he’s God manifested in the flesh correct? So why doesn’t he know the day and the hour of his return to the earth? I’ve come across some views for the reader to think about.

 1. Jesus is not God – This would be the view of non-believers and skeptics of the gospel. Looking at       the verse on the surface without further examination, would lead many to believe that this erroneous claim is true. Everything time Jesus uses the phrase, “I am”, he’s affirming his deity. He uses this phrase seven times in the gospel of John. Even the Father God calls Jesus God twice in Hebrews 1:8-9. View number one is thrown out.

2. Jesus chose not to know – Jesus in his humanity chose to reserve this knowledge to the Father alone. He recognized the Father God being greater than him in authority and rank submitted totally to the Father’s will. This is true in scripture (John 4:34; John 6:38-40).

3. Jesus willingly laid aside some of his divine attributes while on earth – We read in John 17:4-5 these words, “I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work which thou has given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify (italics added) thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

Here we just read where Jesus while on earth, laid aside his glory, which means his splendor, praise and honor. Jesus willingly laid it aside so that he could come to earth and redeem sinful man. Jesus didn’t come to earth to be glorified, he came as a servant of the Lord, to do his will, and ultimately to die as a suffering servant (Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:6-8).

In like manner, Jesus I believe chose, and reserved the knowledge of his return exclusively to his Father; totally submitting to his Lordship so that the Father may be all in all (I Corinthians 15:28). Jesus not knowing the day and hour of his return doesn’t diminish his omniscience, it actually amplifies it. How?

Jesus being the living Word of God, lovingly and willingly humbled himself and became like unto sinful man; being touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and also being tempted yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), shows his love and power in a divine fashion we’ll never fully understand. For God almighty to come to this earth, wrap himself in flesh, die, raise himself from the dead, and ascend to the Father, not only amplifies his omniscience, but also his awesome power. No man ever predicted what would happen to him in such detail and have it come to pass like Jesus did. If that’s not omniscience, I do not know what is.

In short, Jesus’ power was displayed in his humility which the aforementioned demonstrates. By Jesus while on earth, not knowing the day and hour of his return when studied closely, not only heightens and confirms his omniscience, but also amplifies his extraordinary power because of what he willingly chose to set aside for us; his glory and full knowledge (yet still fully God; a mystery).  No doubt Jesus has the knowledge of his return now as he has returned to glory and is seated at the right hand of God Almighty.

The Rapture And Second Coming

Often times the rapture of the Church and second coming are used interchangeably. That is a mistake. These are two distinct events in the future regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and his Church.  Let’s break it down.

The English word rapture does not appear in the bible. It’s a transliteration of the Latin word Rapio which means to seize, snatch away with force. The Greek term is Harpázō which contain the same meaning, to spoil, to seize, to catch away.

The verses that deal with the rapture are I Corinthians 15:51-53 and I Thessalonians 4:16-18.

I Corinthians 15:51-53 – Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (a euphemism for death), but we shall be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and the mortality must put on immortality.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to the meet the Lord in air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

The apostle Paul is the writer of both sections of scripture. He’s describing what sequence of events that will take place during what we call today, the rapture of the Church. For those of us who are pre-tribulationalists such as the writer of this article, we believe Jesus will snatch his Church out of the earth prior to the time of the seven year period called the Tribulation, or as it’s called by the prophet Jeremiah, the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

The rapture I believe is seven years before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The interim is the tribulation.  Here some passages that describe the Lord’s second coming:

1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalms 110:1-4 (KJV)

1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

Zech 14:1-9 (KJV)

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matt 24:27-30 (KJV)

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Jude 1:14-15 (KJV)

Other passages one can read are in the book of Revelation chapter 6, 11 and 19. 

The rapture is the catching away of the church into heaven. The dead in Jesus rise first; meaning their spirit will re-unite with their body from the grave which is now immortal, no longer subject to disease, sickness and death. It will be a perfect body; just like Jesus’ resurrected body (Philippians 3:21). That’s the blessed hope of the believer! If one died of cancer, the cancer is gone forever! If one died of aids, leukemia, diabetes, or any other disease, you’re forever healed. 

The living believers’ bodies will be changed instantly, and they’ll be caught, snatched up to meet the Lord in the air.  Jesus will not subdue his enemies and set up his kingdom at this time. The seven years to follow will be the most horrific in human history. The likes we’ve never witnessed before nor will ever see again (Matthew 24:21). It’s the time of God unleashing his holy wrath against the world for their sins. After this period is over, the Lord Jesus will return to destroy his enemies, and set up his kingdom on earth forever with his saints [(Revelation 19:11-21; Matthew 25:31-46) (i.e. the Church and those who believed and were saved during the tribulation, i.e. the seven years)].

Prayer For Our Young Ladies

Dear Heavenly  Father,

I lift up our ladies this evening. I pray that they'll understand that their allurement isn't just what they can provide for a man physically only, but they'll understand that their value is their virtue, character and modesty. Help them to realize how wonderful they are and fearfully you've created them for your glory. Apparently some of our ladies have no sense of value for themselves and their priorities are out of whack. They're not being taught by older women how to behave when they're in the presence of adults or how to properly  respond to boys when they're girls and how to respond to men when they're grown.

Help our ladies to understand that a man does not complete them and not to settle for any man just for the sake of saying they have one. However, a good godly man can compliment them and ad spice to a healthy relationship that can blossom into a lifelong love affair that can bring fulfillment to their lives.

I understand the need for our young ladies for intimacy and tenderness with a man. It's important that parents teach our young ladies that what they desire is good and healthy, but only within the confines of marriage.

Let's not teach our girls that "safe sex" is permissible, but abstinence is the only way to go until marriage. Fornication is the easy and ungodly way out which produces unhealthy, risky relationships along with guilt and shame because of disobedience. We don't want to encourage our girls to engage in having multiple partners, and living a life of promiscuity.

Lord help us to teach our young ladies the right and wrong about sexual relationships, the good, the bad and everything in between. This way, they'll make informed, intelligent decisions regarding men, and spot the genuine from the sinister through prayer and supplication with wise counsel.

In Jesus name,

Amen

THE RELEVANCE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TODAY FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY 11/2/05

The question was recently asked, “Since the Ten Commandments were instituted under the Mosaic Law, do they have relevance today? The answer to that question is a resounding YES!!. Here are some reasons why.

When reading the commandments or Decalogue, one must keep in mind that all of these commands have universal application for all people for all time. For example, Exodus 20:13 says, “Thou shalt not murder”. This command obviously is inclusive and man knew if he committed murder he was guilty and had sinned against the Lord no matter whether he was a Jew or Gentile. A perfect example of the violation of this command was when Cain killed Abel. This account occurred before the written Mosaic Law (Genesis 4:8). So this command once again has exclusivity. Cain knew what he had done was sin because when God asked him where Abel was, he was sarcastic and pretended not to know. So he lied (Genesis 4:9). Even a child knows when he/she has done wrong even though they don’t know the written statues of the law (Proverbs 20:11).

Another important reason why the commandments has relevance for today is because the inward witness. For in Romans chapter 2 we read in verses 14 & 15: , “for when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do the things in the law, these although not having the law , are a law unto themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.”

The Lord through Moses simply canonized and codified these commandments in words and emblazoned them on the hearts and minds of all so that we can obey his word and teach our children to obey. It’s also the perfect way for God to hold man accountable for his actions just in case he tried to justify his sin by saying, “there is no law saying I can’t do thus and so.” The Decalogue then becomes a mirror of instruction to us all – letting us know what we are to do and not do. The commandments although given to Israel, apply to all men. These commandments are the outward manifestation of an already existing inward reality that God has innately placed in of all mankind’s bosom. They indeed do apply to us today unlike the Levitical sacrificial system which was contemporaneous to Israel’s time and was ultimately fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross.

IN CONCLUSION

The commandments are a hybrid in the sense they place a vertical and a horizontal requirement upon man. The vertical is man’s responsibility toward God – i.e. Exodus 20:3-4;7. And the horizontal is man’s responsibility toward man – i.e. Exodus 20:12-17.