Post by philiprosenthal on Jun 22, 2006 8:16:07 GMT
Tithing: Are the personality cultists robbing God?
One of the most often repeated scriptures of the personality cultists when I was in His People was Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."But you ask, `How do we rob you?'"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
It was explained that the local church was the storehouse. Therefore you had to give 10% gross income to your local church otherwise you were robbing God. This was compared to stealing.
I think the scripture was interpreted incorrectly on several counts. Firstly it is Old Testament - not New Testament. There is evidence that scripture puts tithing in the same category as the Sabbath. i.e. Its a good principle, but it is not under the New Covenant a mandatory law. i.e. you don't need to get a guilt trip if you are not giving exactly 10% of your gross income.
Secondly, it refers to the temple - which is now interpreted as the local church. We could debate what the New Testament application of the 'storehouse'/temple is. But I would argue that it serves a broader function than just the local church. I believe it also includes for example various charities and non-profits that are doing good work for God - and those in need we help directly through our giving.
Nevertheless, my third issue is my biggest problem with the above in the personality cult context. So much tithe money is wasted on buying status symbols for the personality cult leaders - for the purpose of reinforcing the myth that they are an elite more important than anyone else.
For example, why does Rice Broocks need to live in a $2 million house? Why did Paul Daniel need to drive a new Pajero 4x4, while many of his faithful congregants who tithe can't afford any car? Why Do EveryNation leaders when they visit Africa need to stay at a 5 star hotel? Why do they need to travel first class by air - when the church claims not to have money to buy stationiery for their staff?
Is this really giving money to God? Or are the personality cultists stealing money from God to pay for status symbols to encourage people to idolise them?
Can you imagine the apostles Paul or Peter behaving like this? Did they use tithe money stay at the best hotel in town? Or did Paul work with his hands in order not to be a burden to anyone?
And is it just the top apostles who are guilty in this money wastage? No. There are many other leaders involved, who approve of their financial expenditures and keep giving them money.
Why do they do this? Is it that rich people are stuffed onto the financial boards, who are used to high living? Is it that some junior pastors secretly hope they will one day be the beneficiaries of such wasteful use of tithe money, when they get promoted eventually? Is it maybe that people idolise the leaders and so turn a blind eye to such money wastage? Is it that people are decieved to think that the leaders have independent sources of income and so are not wasting tithe money? Is it that they are hoping for more budget for their part of the ministry and so don't want to upset those handing out the cash?
Not only is the idea that those who don't tithe to these personality cultists are robbing God a lie. Further the personality cultists are the ones who are robbing God firstly of money that could be better spent on the gospel but secondly they then use that to buy status symbols to encourage idolatry of themselves - and thus rob God of worship.
One of the most often repeated scriptures of the personality cultists when I was in His People was Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."But you ask, `How do we rob you?'"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
It was explained that the local church was the storehouse. Therefore you had to give 10% gross income to your local church otherwise you were robbing God. This was compared to stealing.
I think the scripture was interpreted incorrectly on several counts. Firstly it is Old Testament - not New Testament. There is evidence that scripture puts tithing in the same category as the Sabbath. i.e. Its a good principle, but it is not under the New Covenant a mandatory law. i.e. you don't need to get a guilt trip if you are not giving exactly 10% of your gross income.
Secondly, it refers to the temple - which is now interpreted as the local church. We could debate what the New Testament application of the 'storehouse'/temple is. But I would argue that it serves a broader function than just the local church. I believe it also includes for example various charities and non-profits that are doing good work for God - and those in need we help directly through our giving.
Nevertheless, my third issue is my biggest problem with the above in the personality cult context. So much tithe money is wasted on buying status symbols for the personality cult leaders - for the purpose of reinforcing the myth that they are an elite more important than anyone else.
For example, why does Rice Broocks need to live in a $2 million house? Why did Paul Daniel need to drive a new Pajero 4x4, while many of his faithful congregants who tithe can't afford any car? Why Do EveryNation leaders when they visit Africa need to stay at a 5 star hotel? Why do they need to travel first class by air - when the church claims not to have money to buy stationiery for their staff?
Is this really giving money to God? Or are the personality cultists stealing money from God to pay for status symbols to encourage people to idolise them?
Can you imagine the apostles Paul or Peter behaving like this? Did they use tithe money stay at the best hotel in town? Or did Paul work with his hands in order not to be a burden to anyone?
And is it just the top apostles who are guilty in this money wastage? No. There are many other leaders involved, who approve of their financial expenditures and keep giving them money.
Why do they do this? Is it that rich people are stuffed onto the financial boards, who are used to high living? Is it that some junior pastors secretly hope they will one day be the beneficiaries of such wasteful use of tithe money, when they get promoted eventually? Is it maybe that people idolise the leaders and so turn a blind eye to such money wastage? Is it that people are decieved to think that the leaders have independent sources of income and so are not wasting tithe money? Is it that they are hoping for more budget for their part of the ministry and so don't want to upset those handing out the cash?
Not only is the idea that those who don't tithe to these personality cultists are robbing God a lie. Further the personality cultists are the ones who are robbing God firstly of money that could be better spent on the gospel but secondly they then use that to buy status symbols to encourage idolatry of themselves - and thus rob God of worship.