Archive for the ‘news’ Category

Rebellion against tithing: lashing out at legalism?

Thursday, December 6th, 2007

I just read a news article written by Ken Walker on ChurchCentral.com. The title of the article is Rebellion Against Tithing: Lashing Out at Legalism? This article comes in response to the news article on Wall Street Journal – Backlash Against Tithing.

Here’s a quote from the article on Church Central:

“While there may be criticism of tithing, I have a feeling that it stems from a desire to throw the legalistic baby out with the generous bathwater.

In other words, those who teach tithing as an ironclad law reap the fruits of rebellion against something that wasn’t meant to be a barometer of our spirituality or salvation. Generous giving is a spiritual principle, not a Pharasitical law intent on binding people’s hearts.

After all, points out financial author and pastor Brian Kluth—whose materials are distributed in more than 100 nations—the idea of tithing to God’s work is accepted historically, across denominations, and around the world.”

My response is, “you bet were throwing the legalistic baby out with the bath water.” Their baby is tithing, and i’m sorry it is not adorable and not cute. Also, if my rebellion is in response to wrong, then that means i am doing what’s right. There is no rebellion my friend. If rebellion is part of proclaiming the truth then i’ll be the first claim myself guilty.

It’s so obvious how people are blinded by tithing. For instance Walker goes on to say that “generous giving is a spiritual principle not a Pharisaical law”. I say they are blinded by tithing because they can’t see that the backlash against tithing is not a backlash against generous giving. Generous giving is not about tithing. How much more plain can i say it? Just because i don’t believe in the tithing mandate does not mean that i am throwing out the generous giving baby out with the tithing bathwater. I just want to throw the tithing bath water out. I don’t want to throw the generous giving baby out.

Is tithing the bath water or is it the baby? This is another misconception in Walker’s analogy. He thinks that tithing is the baby! Is tithing the part that you are suppose to keep, while you throw out generosity with the bath water No! you are suppose to keep the baby, which analogously is the generosity, and throw out the water, which is tithing.

Why can’t people like Walker see the this picture clearly? It’s because they think my response to the tithing mandate is in rebellion against generosity. But his vision fails when he doesn’t see that my response to the tithing mandate is actually in response to what’s wrong. I am an advocate for sacrifice and generosity.

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Faith First: Translating The Tithe

Saturday, December 1st, 2007

I read a news article from the author, Bridgett Williams-NBC Augusta titled, “Faith First: Translating The Tithe”. You can view the article here. There was a video on there interviewing two pastors, and i want to quote one of the pastors. He said,

“Those that feel that they can’t afford to tithe are those that will remain in poverty for the rest of their lives.”

I guess there’s two ways to take that. Does he mean that they’ll be in spiritual poverty or does he mean that physically, you’ll be in poverty? I’m guessing he’s one of those people who have been suckered into the health and wealth gospel, so he probably meant physical poverty. So for those of you who are making over $130,000 a year, and you feel that you can’t afford to tithe just remember that you’ll remain in that poverty until you start tithing. I don’t think most people could live on $130,000. Do you?

There’s been some big time media coverage lately especially with the article just written by the Wall Street Journal, “Tags: , , ,
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Embattled Oral Roberts President Resigns

Saturday, November 24th, 2007

Oral Roberts UniversityLots of scandals going on in the Church lately but here’s the latest news written by Justing Juozapavicius in the Associated Press – “Embattled Oral Roberts President Resigns”. The link to the news article is here. There were allegations brought up a few months ago that Richard Roberts, the president, had used some of the University’s funds to support his lavish lifestyle. Some of the allegations brought forward are, “a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for Richard Roberts’ wife, Lindsay, a $29,411 Bahamas senior trip on the university jet for one of Roberts’ daughters, and a stable of horses for the Roberts children.” I’m one of those people that think our leaders deserve a bountiful reward and compensation, but i gotta tell you, 29,000 for a Bahamas senior trip, and a 39,000 shopping tab at only one store? I hope they were just shopping for a car.

It’s bad enough that Britney Spears is in the news for her shopping habits let alone a Christian evangelist. I’m glad that the faculty and chair members had enough guts to stand up for what’s right. This extortion of charitable funds in order to support lavish lifestyles needs to end inside the Christian community. I have nothing wrong with Christians having money, just don’t hoard it all. There’s just something wrong with a Christian group calling themselves a charitable organization, when the presidents and directors are living a life of luxury in the top 1% of the world. It’s practically an oxymoron to say that they are a charitable organization but yet, their biggest charity is to themselves.

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The Backlash Against Tithing

Friday, November 23rd, 2007

tithing backlashI’ve heard through the grapevine that this news article was coming out in the Wall Street Journal, and have been long awaiting it. Finally here it is. You can visit the link here. This news article titled, “The Backlash Against Tithing” was written in the Wall Street Journal by Suzanne Sataline.

As i was reading the news article i have a mixed emotion. I am really glad that the awareness is getting spread about the truth of tithing, but at the same time, i felt like it didn’t speak a clear and concise message about why tithing is not right. It spoke about people’s feelings and personal situations that they have gone through because of the misuse of the tithe. People’s feelings and mistreatment are not great biblical support for truth. I’m not saying that they don’t speak the truth, they just aren’t stating solid, biblical fact about it.

The main benefit of that article is that it increased awareness. It’s still up to the those of us who know the details of the truth to share it. A majority of this website is dedicated to sharing the detailed truth of tithing. Probably the greatest tool that i can share on this website is a long list of top arguments used for tithing and my rebuttal to them. The link is here: Tithing arguments
 It is in a bullet list, so i list the main argument first and then state the rebuttal with supporting verses.

The next biggest resource and link is available here: Top Questions to Ask Tithers . It is just a list of 12 questions that are excellent to stump those who believe in tithing. After presenting these questions the tither will more than likely tell you that you’re robbing God, a heretic, or a devil helper. They will think of anything to say back to you except solid biblical truths that can answer these questions.

P.S. I give credit to Dr. Russell Earl Kelly for pouring his time and energy into providing information that made it possible for the Wall Street Journal to publish this news article. You can see his work on his website, www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com/

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Couple’s Christian board game guides people to prosperity

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

prosperity board gameI Just read a news article written by Meg Hibbert on OurValley.org that wrote about a couple who developed a board game to help teach Christians prosperity. We’re Americans. Aren’t we prosperous enough?

They said the game is much like monopoly, and that players do some things to work their way into the winners circle, including tithing. I can hear the windows of heaven opening right up.

You know what the most ironic thing about this game is that it costs $125.00! That is ridiculous! If you can afford a $125 game, i can tell you right now that you do not need to learn any more prosperity. I do not know the actual cost of the game for the couple to manufacture it, but it seems that they understand that prosperity always comes at the expense of others. I mean for them to charge $125. Either they need to figure out how to cut the cost by 70% or they need to cut their greed down a little bit. I wonder if overcharging is one of the goals to prosperity in this game? This is almost funny. Yeah let me teach my kids prosperity by blowing $125 on a game, i think there’s much more efficient ways of learning prosperity.

The title of the board game is called, “Living Life Abundantly”. You know why the name is given a lucrative “Abundant” title is because the word “stewardship” isn’t fun for people. I can’t stand this whole greedy mentality anymore. We’re so consumed with (our) life and (our) abundance. It’s sad that we don’t want to live the life of a steward because we love God and want to do what’s best. Through this board game you can see that most people force themselves to be stewards in hopes of reaching the abundance. Yeah, yeah, they included tithing in that board game, which is pretty selfless, but that doesn’t mean our prosperity multiplies just because we gave some money.

All i can do is speak for myself, but i wouldn’t touch that game. Do you think the game is worth it?

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Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

Well, it looks like the senate committee in the national government is getting more involved in the matters of the church. CBS news talks about this story here.

I have been saying for some time that this was going to happen. If the church doesn’t put itself above reproach then the government will find any reason they can to mettle in the matters and control the Church. Ministries and lifestyles of Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn, just give the government an excuse to investigate.

I am so frustrated at the opportunity that these ministries have given the government to mettle in the matters of God’s children. What do you expect the governmental world system to do? Sit around and let these obese ministries be swept under the rug? I don’t care if you have the Christian liberty to be rich. I don’t care that God has given you the freedom to prosper. I don’t care that your ministry is following the laws of the IRS. I don’t care! I don’t care! I don’t Care! Do you think God looks at these ministries and smiles just because they are staying within the bounds of the tax code?

The only people that can destroy the freedom of religion is religion itself. I’m sick of it! The investigation of these ministries are just the tip of the iceberg in the near future. The government will be more involved, and regulate the church more and more with laws in years to come. These ministries make me sick! Maybe not the ministries as much as the personal lifestyles of these evangelists. These ministries have no right to point a finger at the government and complain about their invasion privacy, because its actually the devil at work here destroying the governmental safety net that these ministries have. Also, part of the investigations is a warning from God, saying, “watch out, straighten up, because the government is only going to make it harder and harder for the church to practice their liberty”.

How can any non-profit ministry have the audacity to squeeze a few tax dollars out of the federal government, and then call themselves a charitable organization while sitting their fat butt on their obese estate. Wasn’t it Jesus who said in Luke 3:11, ““He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” But here are these evangelists not only do they have 5 or 6 luxury cars sitting in their enormous garage, but they are flying around in jets.

These ministries have given the government every reason to go in there and investigate. How dare these ministries just sit there with the nose up and lifting their clean hands, without being humiliated.

Children of God, why aren’t you humiliating these people? Why do you support them? You are destroying our liberty! If you gave your child an inch and you saw them stretch it out to a mile wouldn’t you enforce newer laws to limit their liberty? This is exactly what the government will do with the church.

Am I alone in my thoughts here?

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Church Tithes Continue to Decrease

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

giving pennies to the churchI read an article by Monday Morning Insight titled, “Church Tithes Continue to Decrease”. The evidence of this statement is based on the research done in the publication, “The State of Church Giving through 2004″, by Empty Tomb inc.

I know what you’re thinking. Probably something like this, “Why are people giving less and less to the Church?” That is a valid question, and i’m sure there are many answers to that. Can we actually narrow the behavioral habits of the saints down to one cause? I doubt it. But i want to twist that question for you and prove that you’ve been brainwashed. Why did you first come to the conclusion that Congregation is giving less and less to the church? Ahh! That first thought ran through my head as well. But what if you read it this way. Your church continues to give less and less to others outside of its own walls. Hmmm, that’s an interesting way to say it. Yeah, Yeah, i know the church are the people and the people are the Church, but let’s not put the congregation on the stand today. Let’s put the organization itself on the stand.

Our churches are giving less and less to the poor, the needy, and the hungry than ever before. Let’s face it, your church organization is decreasing their tithe more and more by percentage each year. Yeah it might be up this year from the past, but let’s look at the grand scale of decline. A chart will show that your church is spending more on its own wants than it is spending on the needs of others.

I did write a comment on the comment section of the monday morning website, and i said this, “It’s no surprise that the congregation is withholding more and more for our own wants, when our pastoral leaders teach them to do the same by withholding more and more for our church wants.” Let me explain that in relative terms. A church does need programs and buildings to operate. but when we compile these expensive programs and buildings together, most of the time it turns out to be a hefty price. A majority of the church staff’s creative ideas, called “programs”, will be annointed and considered as Spirit led. But when i want to spend money on family vacations, a safe, nice secure home, a nice safe vehicle, good education for my children, all of a sudden it’s like the Spirit’s annointing on these important things are gone.

Why should the congregation give more from themselves when the church organization is keeping it for themselves. This is not what God intended for his Church.

You can read the article from Monday Morning Insight here
You can read the publication from Empty Tomb here

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Are Mega-Preachers Scandal-Prone?

Friday, September 28th, 2007

“Time” news just published this article, “Are Mega-Preachers Scandal-Prone?“, By David Van Biema. This article stems off of the recent events that had been occurring between Juanita Bynum and Thomas Weeks III. In my opinion many of these televangelists are the largest scam going on in the United States and around the world. It’s a good and bad thing that our constitution makes religion an untouchable.

What i’m saying is that these professional scam artists are not as pressured by the general public as other organizations are that are not religious. Our laws protect these people, and the media doesn’t attack them as much as they would a secular organization. Christians have to start standing up to these people. Here’s some practical steps that we can take to straighten out the mess that has been created by these evangelists.

1. Write about them
2. Promote others who write about them
3. Warn your relatives and friends about these people
4. Don’t buy their materials
5. Pray

If you have any suggestions that you would like to share about how we can change the mess that’s been created by these people, then please share it in the comments section

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