| HOME | info@BibleEd.org |
| PAGE 2 |
|
Church leaders think that they do God’s will when they finance building projects through loans. Usually, church members do not question this practice, because the individual members have taken out loans themselves to buy a house or a car. But is it biblical? Read an article we found on the web and draw your own conclusion. Click here. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Exactly what does fulfill mean? I believe a report released at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary gives a good understanding of this verse. To see the part of the study referencing this topic, click here. God's commands to tithe are found in Leviticus 27:30-34 (the Lord's tithe), Deuteronomy 14:22-27 (the festival, or feast tithe), and Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (the tithe for the poor). In Leviticus 27:30-34 the tithe is "of the land" whether seed or fruit, and the tithe of animals in herds or flocks. In Deuteronomy 14:22-27 the tithe is on the increase of thy seed. And in Deuteronomy 14:28-29, the tithe of thine increase. In every case where the word "increase" is used with tithing, the Hebrew word translated to "increase" means increase of the crops. The crops come from God, not man. So in effect, the increase is referring to God's increase, not man's increase. Church leaders incorrectly refer to "your increase" when they teach and collect tithes and offerings. The Lord's tithe was part of the Mosaic law and therefore, ended at the cross with all the other Mosaic law. For those who disagree and believe the tithe is still valid, God's command to tithe was always on God's increase and NEVER on anything that man made or earned. Tithing was never on "man's increase." Tithing was never on income. There are those who will say that tithing was before the law, and therefore it valid today. But tithing before the law was always voluntary, not commanded by God. And there is not one example in the Bible where anyone tithed on their own income or wealth before the law of tithing. For those wanting the facts about tithing, study the material presented at www.Tithing101.com. |
by Gary J. Arnold, Certified Professional Money and Finance Minister There's a lot of controversy over credit cards and the church. Many churches now have an ATM machine located in the entry hall. Others allow donations using credit cards. Is this biblical? Obviously we are not going to find the topic of credit cards in the Bible. However, we do find a lot about debt, and we can also use some plain common sense. Church goers in favor of using a credit card for their church offering say the following: Technology has changed and we are now in the digital age. I make all my purchases with a credit card. It's more convenient. It's easier to bring my credit card than cash or my checkbook. I don't actually have to make the payment until the bill comes, and then I don't have to pay it all at once. I get money back, or points credited when I use my credit card. And the rationalization and excuses go on and on. Church leaders in favor of allowing credit card offerings say: Some members forget to bring their checkbook. We collect a larger amount when members use their credit card. We don't have as big a problem with checks bouncing. And the list goes on and on, always with the amount of money collected being the motive. 2 Corinthians 8:12 (KJV): For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. When using a credit card, a loan is made. In other words, the bank is giving the money to the church, and the credit card user now owes the bank. Is this giving according to what one has, or is it giving according to what one has not? It really isn't necessary to go deep into the scriptures on this topic. All through the Bible debt is always a negative, never a positive. Look at the economy today. What caused the U.S. economy to fall apart? Greed. Over extending credit. And the greed goes both ways. The seller's greed by making it too easy for the buyer to purchase, and the buyer buying what they really couldn't afford. Consider each local church as a "little economy" of its own. If enough members use a credit card "to purchase" their offerings, and if enough of those members seldom if ever pay off their credit cards in full each month, a time will come when those members credit will be maxed out and they will have little if anything to give. At that point, the local church economy will fall apart. It's just a matter of time. If church leaders properly taught stewardship and finances, they wouldn't have a need to make it easier for members to give, and there wouldn't be any bounced checks. Those who are good stewards of their money won't give any more using a credit card than if giving cash or by check. Since statistics show that those using a credit card for offerings give more, common sense should tell us that there's a need for more stewardship and finance training. It's all a matter of lack of teaching, or poor teaching. Many church leaders have turned into money changers. The focus seems to be on money instead of Jesus. When was the last time you heard a preacher lecture his members on robbing God because the members weren't giving enough to the church? And by the way, have you ever found even one scripture in the Bible that says when you give to the church you are giving to God? When was the last time you heard a preacher lecture his members on accepting Jesus? The "hard sell" is always on money. In my opinion, church leaders who accept credit card donations are not only compromising the Word of God, but putting church finances ahead of the welfare of their own members. Some final thoughts by way of scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV): For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Romans 12:2 (KJV): And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. |