response to jeff>>> If Christainity offends you do not read
My answers to you questions are in His Word.
Tithing is before the covenant of the Law. Abraham tithed.
The Tithed is the Lord's you can't give it you can only return it back.
That's why I said "good Church"
the churches I attend the pastors would take no salary at all. They are forced to take a salary per IRS guidelines. There are accounting and auditing standards for the size and the city the church is in and the churches I attend the pator takes the guideline salary.
The Pastor I had in Houston got in trouble for not taking a salary.
A good church means the leadership doesn't abuse the donations.
In addition to the tithe , it's appropriate to give alms and offerings these are all scriptural.
But, if you are going to a church that over stresses this or forces this then you are going to the wrong church.
Mine don't do this and I trust them.. Besides that they have outside accounting firm review church records.
NO one is forcing you to give.
Jesus only abolished the Law.... tithing was before the Law and is referneced in the new testament too..shall I find the references.
Cornelius's giving was so great that it made a temple to the Lord.
The tithe isn't yours to do anything with. It belongs to the Lord.
If you don't want to help the poor with your money then don't.
The only reason I have money is to help. The only reason I invest is to help. The USA has enough riches. I prefer to help foreign missions.
You can build a church in Mexico for 15k. We just finished one and now we starting another.
God gave me the money in last months options so..we off to complete another one. In fact He is giving to much now. We are stressed to find good pastors in Mexico and we will be behind soon on places that need a physical building.
There is no correlation between wealth and christianity.
But, if you love money then God cannot give you money since it would
be giving you an idol above Him.
Jeff...where did you draw a conclusion that I was advocating not going to doctors. half the body of Christ would be dead w/o doctors.
I use my faith all the time. God's word says "it is impossible to please Him w/o Faith"
Christianity is not a disneyland.. I could die like Stephen and would die like Stephen at the drop of a hat.
So, why you started all this don't see doctor stuff ....I have no idea how what I said meant that.
But, if doctors told me they couldn't help... I would pray.
If doctors tell me they can help... I still pray and use me faith.
So where all these comments come in ..I do not know.
The Centurion had tried doctors ..they couldn't help so he tried Jesus.
That's what I and the churches I go to beleive. In fact, our pastor's wife is a doctor.
btw...Job ended up in great health and all his wealth returned.
Job did not have the Holy Spirit in him either. scripture says that Satan is under our feet by the power of the Holy Spirit.
My prayer for you is that God will get you a cpq p133 loaded.<g>
You can serve God better with good equipment.
Jeff...the one point that you didn't get out of this is that God isn't going to help you in investments if you desire money.
money is not the root of all evil... scripture says "that love of money is the root of all evil" There's a difference.
Unless you have God clean your heart out of desire for money then
he will not bless your investments.
In fact if you love money and you are successful then "YOU DID IT
WITH YOUR OWN ABILITIES" God cannot bless someone with money if they love money.
This would be breaking His first commandments.
The ten principles have work for me for over 15 yrs. they aren't
just a throw it at the wall 10 ideas.
But, my motivation is concern and helping others...
not getting rich. You cannot fool God. If your heart doesn't really have this as a motivation then GOD WILL KNOW IT. And, He will not help you achieve the lust of your flesh. This is what point no. 2 meant.
I redid this again in point No. 7. God can cleanse our hearts of the desire for money....but when that is done then cars and houses and etc. mean nothing. My financial wealth is enough to own any of the luxury cars... but I drive a 7 yr old merc station with over 100k miles and a 3 yr old mazda with 50k miles....
I repeat the point of the 10 points is God isn't going to load you up on money just to feed your flesh luxuries.....
Mother Teresa got mega bucks for her nobel peace prize..she didn't say
throw it in the gutter God doesn't need to give me money.
She feed the poor, those in need , those in bondage.
God can drop money from the sky but He chooses most of the time to
give it to people He can trust to build the Kingdom.
peace my friend and I hope I cleared up you comments..
especially the don't go to doctors<g> that's a dangerous one. |
