Preaching the Gospel of Christ Without Charge

Making increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love.  This is how the body is increased, by edifying itself. Like the living organism it is.  It doesn’t need money.  I understand it’s necessary uses and things like that, but money has become way to centralized in our manners and serivces at this point.  

Edification; it’s how the body, the working organism is established to work. Not preaching for money to build churches and ministries gallore and making the gospel of Christ with charge, but allowing money to flow through the body like blood flows through our veins, working where there is a need.  Not where needs are created.

Not just all the funds going to every ministry or minister under the sun.  Not just all the funds going specifically to just the men in position.    Not most of our money going abroad to men we don’t know, blindly casting our pearls before swine.  I bet you have never thought of that phrase the other way? These sorts of things that we do today, they were never practiced in the NT! Why do we do it today?

Churches today take up thousands, most going abroad, about 80-20.  I think it should be exactly opposite.  The local body and their needs 80, the foreign field, 20.  I know I know, "string em up! he is anti-missions..."

Cha-ching!

Regarding tithes and offerings, some common sense, factual observations.  The words tithe or tithes is only found in the OT and in Matthew, Luke and Hebrews in the NT.   In these passages where it is mentioned, there is no association with the “body of Christ”.  Giving to the “body” was all together different.

The word “Collection” is mentioned three times in the Word of God.  It was mentioned twice in the OT referencing the “the work of the service of the house of the LORD”, which was the temple in the wilderness.  The other time, the lone NT reference, is in 1 Corinthians 16:1 where Paul had previously asked the churches to take up a specific collection upon his arrival so there would be no offerings when he was there.  

He then took this “collection” to the poor saints in Jerusalem.  This collection is not specifically money, but it was a specific offering.  Nowhere in the text does it indicate this is a weekly practice or Pauline tradition to be followed.

The words “treasury” or “treasurer” is only found in the OT or the four gospels.  The word “Storehouse” is only found in Malachi and Luke.  The church is not the storehouse, and the church does not have a treasury.  These were temple structures or rooms within the temple court. 

“Offerings” are mentioned in abundance in the OT, but only five times in the NT, with three of these times referring to burnt offerings.  Offerings in the OT are always exclusively  agricultural.  Of the 265 times “offering” or “offerings” are mentioned, only two incidences, Luke 21 and Acts 24, can be referenced to something monetary.

What is the Sense?

Make me understand, explain it to me like I’m six.   Don’t hand me a book by some established evangelical or fundamentalist.  Talk to me!  Show me.  Spend time in prayer and study with me longer then the 5 minutes in the Pastors office after Sunday church.  Show me in the scriptures!   Make me see it as you see it!  

Why do we tithe again?  Seriously.  Aside from running to Genesis, Leviticus, Malachi and Hebrews, what grounds do we have to ask any one today, removed from Temple worship and affairs, to tithe?  How can we possibly lay this at the sheep’s feet? Stop with all the explanations and attempts to Christianize it.  I can read!  It is a new practice in this country dating back to the 18th century, so don't tell me we have "always done it".

Why do we adhere to gimmicks like Faith Promise?  Do I even need to waste my time on this one?  If you want to live in Charismatic fantasy land and carry this on with the prosperity gospel nonsense, help your self, but quit distorting the scriptures in a feeble attempt to make it look biblical.  You are lying to your people!  I don't care how much fruit or money you are getting.  Our blessings are spiritual, not physical.  Don't be deceived.

Why do we keep talking about the great commission as if it is something handed down to the church?  Please people!  The gospels and Acts are not play books on outreach.