What if Christians Could End Poverty? Would We Do It?

(Image courtesy Wikimedia, public domain.)

Anywhere you go--on any street, highway, and back road--you'll see church buildings. Sometimes several on one block. In an earlier three-part blog post on tithing, I discovered that as little as 0-8% of the money we give to our local houses of worship actually goes to help the "orphans and widows in their distress" (James 1:27), despite that the New Testament does not teach that Christians need to tithe--rather, they are primarily supposed to use their wealth to help the widow, orphan, and foreigner. Instead, though, we've consumed our own resources, spending them on church buildings, clergy salaries, and programming that mostly serves us.

So, now, as I drive past all these churches, I can't help but wonder how much we've spent on ourselves and, if we were to spend that amount on the needy people of the world, would it make a difference?

According to The Borgen Project, it would cost us $175 Billion per year for 20 years to end global poverty. Get that? GLOBAL poverty, not just poverty in the US or Canada.

According to the article, 14 Church Statistics You Need To Know for 2020, by Reach Right, despite reduced church attendance, "Donations to churches and other types of religious organizations rose by 3.3% in 2019 to $131.5 billion. This number is in the United States only.

So, Americans are giving $131.5 Billion and the worldwide financial need is a mere $43.5 Billion more. What does that tell us? That if ALL believers worldwide stopped paying for church buildings and clergy salaries, we could end poverty... for EVERYONE.

Granted, this is a rather simplistic perspective. Since poverty is a multifaceted problem, which includes a variety of cultural and social phenomena, it's a bit naive to assume just throwing money at the problem would solve it. True enough. However, if Christians:

... no longer just slapped a check in the plate

... stopped passing God's command to help the poor onto others

... set aside our religiosity (that is so often used to disguise our sin)

... learned to personally reach out to real people in the midst of their pain and suffering

... learned to trust the Holy Spirit to use us to meet the needs of others

... and used our resources--not just our money, but also our compassion, time, skills, wisdom, and grace--to show this severely hurting world God's love and mercy, we wouldn't just have the power to end poverty. We could end human trafficking, pornography, abortion, jail overpopulation--and a host of other terrible things.

But would we?

Or are we too dedicated to doing things the way we always have? Is it too easy to simply show up at a nice building, listen to a religious performance, shake hands with a few respectable people, place our 10% in the plate, and go home feeling like we've done our Christian duty?

10 Things Religous Leaders Say to Secure a Following

Photo by Shelagh Murphy from Pexels

Spiritual manipulation and abuse comes in various forms. What we tend most to fear is the evil, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing type of person who purposefully weaves a web of lies and half-truths, in order to promote himself (or herself) to a position of power and "spiritual authority" so as to be able to control people for their own benefit--all under the guise of following God's will. We've heard of the #ChurchToo movement that has exposed hundreds of abuses, and many of these have been just this sort of thing--vicious, concerted efforts to undermine, manipulate, and use people for the power, pleasure, or greed of the closet-narcissist in power--the one person we thought we could trust.

However, I suspect that what most often happens is something less overt and intentional, but often no less dangerous. After all, manipulation can start off as something sincere and purely motivated. The monsters of today weren't born like that. Something happened to bring that about. And people who have an unhealthy need for constant affirmation are often drawn to positions where that need is filled.
Religious leaders receive pats on the back, public accolades, and praise from the congregation, in addition to having an audience of devoted followers showing up to listen to his thoughts and opinions with rapt attention for an hour every week. Even if he didn't start off with an ego issue, this kind of thing can quickly create a kind of celebrity goggles that makes us believe we're more important, more wise, less fallible, or even more "called" and "gifted" than we actually are. It also strips us of the normal checks and balances (pastors often complain they have no one with whom they can discuss their own struggles) and provides an environment where our darker desires and motivations have a place to grow unchecked.

My purpose here is NOT to suggest that every pastor or religious leader is out to manipulate you so they can go on to use or abuse you for their own selfish gain. Certainly, I've known many wonderful spiritual leaders, both male and female, who are completely others-centered and who lead and serve simply because they love Jesus and want to share His love with others. These kinds of people are approachable, teachable, humble, wise, encouraging, considerate, respectful, and full of integrity. They are open to honest discussion, welcome difficult questions, refrain from favoritism, avoid self-promotion, and readily admit mistakes.

The point I want to make here is this: the religious hierarchical organizational structures that have become part and parcel to how we "do church" often require manipulative tactics to succeed. Religious leaders of traditionally-styled, audience/performer church organizations regularly utilize them in one way or another. Not all of these tactics are particularly harmful (like playing "Come As You Are" during the alter call). However, it's important for those in attendance recognize the underlying subtext of what is spoken or done from the church's stage, so we can make informed decisions and avoid getting sucked into a commitment that doesn't come from the heart or that serves a purpose that isn't truly Christ-centered or Holy Spirit led.

I could make similar lists about nearly every aspect of "church life" (if that's what we want to call the spectator sport going on in most churches), but here I'm just going to point out a few common phrases I've heard repeatedly from pastors and lesser religious leaders who are trying to gain or maintain a following. My reason for listing them here is that they are often manipulative, at least at some level--meaning that the subtext and purpose behind them is, at base, to secure your allegiance, support, trust, admiration, and/or pity for the leader himself and his goals for the group. And though many leaders (like bosses, politicians, and teachers) may say these kinds of things, when a religious leader says them, there is always an underlying claim that God Himself is blessing, ordaining, or driving the show. So, if you disagree or question the leader, you're disagreeing with or questioning God. And THAT is the manipulative part.

So, here are a 10 examples of things pastors/religious leaders might say to their congregation/audience to secure a following for themselves (as God's representatives and/or "called" leaders.)

1."I've gone through seminary, been ordained, and have been in ministry for 11 years." In order to be hired into modern, organized, religious institutions, ministers have to "prove" to an elder board that they are sufficiently qualified to perform the functions of the job. Others are lone wolves, planting churches under their own authority. In both cases, they may repeatedly list their credentials and experience and/or tell inspiring stories of how God has mightily used them in past spiritual ministry situations. Though this may all be true, the reason religious leaders do this kind of self-promotion is so that the audience/congregation will trust them and choose to accept their leadership as God-ordained.

2. "I'm not the lead pastor of this church; Jesus is." Though it's honorable give God glory, this phrase does way more than that. First, and despite the disclaimer, it reminds the congregation that the person talking is, in fact, the lead pastor (that's a legal title complete with a pay package, job description, and hierarchical authority). If you were a visitor at that church, you would immediately know he was the lead pastor. Second, it cites Jesus Christ Himself as the source of the religious leader's authority over YOU, the congregation, and over everything that happens in that church or by the decision of the person making this statement.

3. "God orchestrated it so that you would be here today." This one is particularly clever, as it claims that God Himself wants you to be there, giving that person your attention and, hopefully, your allegiance. God Himself divinely intervened to prevent you from doing anything else (i.e. babysitting for the single mom next door, having a conversation with your daughter about the boy who broke her heart, helping that young couple jump their car in the Wal-Mart parking lot, etc.) because it was that important that you be here to hear this man speak and promote himself and his ministry to you. Hmm....

4. "I finally gave in and accepted God's call to be your pastor." What a guy, am I right? The best kind of leader is the reluctant leader--the person who doesn't want the accolade and the spiritual responsibility, but who eventually "follows God's call" to ministry. This is a guy you can trust, because he's not in it for the wrong reasons. After all, it was God Himself, who had to convince him to take this position of power and authority over you, so surely he's the right guy for the job. He didn't pick this; God did. ...Please forgive the thinly-veiled sarcasm. I do believe many a good-hearted person has had this kind of spiritual experience. However, a statement like this can easily be faked, and an experience like this may not be from God at all. Maybe God was actually saying "no," but the guy needed accolade so much that he spiritualized his power-grabbing journey. At base, this kind of statement is a way for the religious leader to, in a few short words, tell you he is a humble person and that it was God's idea that he be your leader. (So, if you don't follow the pastor, then you're not following ____. Can you guess? God! That's right. You're so smart.)

5. "As God called and directed Paul, He has also been calling and directing me to be a light in dark places." Now, most pastors are a little more subtle than this. But it's not unusual for a pastor to find some Bible hero--someone you already trust and admire--and compare themselves to that individual for the purpose of elevating themselves or spiritualizing their life experiences so that they appear to have been called or equipped or led by God to have authority over you.

6. "I have been working long hours and have been stretched very thin. My family sees little of me and I get very little sleep--all so that I can lead this ministry." This statement may indeed be true. But here's the rub: On the one hand, it reveals an unhealthy lack of balance in this person's life. If the "call" to be a pastor requires that he/she sacrifice family responsibilities or even healthy respite, that's a problem. Secondly, it's an appeal to you for pity, at the very least, so that compassion will further align you with this servant of God who is suffering so much on your behalf. It is also a veiled request for you to volunteer your time to help out, and it distances the pastor from his "flock" by implicitly telling you he is too busy to deal with you or your problems directly. Don't bother calling.

7. "Everything that happens in this church is based on Scripture." Certainly, any Christ-loving person looking for a church home wants this to be true, but consider the great many churches who claim to be "based on Scripture," yet can't seem to agree on even the simplest things. My point with this one isn't to disparage attempts to follow Biblical standards, rather, I merely want to encourage the church seeker to search Scripture itself and follow the Holy Spirit above whatever the guy behind the mic says. Every church I've visited has made this claim, but I've also spotted many a megalomaniac who has skillfully manipulated Scripture to gain power for themselves, engage in abuse or overlook it, and condemn any who oppose them. Buyer beware.

8. "Won't you catch the vision?" Whenever I've heard this type of statement, it was either from the lips of a new pastor, from a pastor whose following was slipping, or at the launch or promotion of some program or ministry effort. It's simultaneously a reinforcement of the speaker's validity as your inspired and God-ordained leader, a request for your compliance with the plan, and a call for you to donate your time, skills, and money. When you hear this one, just make sure you're clear (for yourself!) on whether or not the Holy Spirit is actually in charge. I once sat and listened to a lengthy pseudo-sermon about "kingdom building" (in which Jesus was never once mentioned) that culminated in the cry, "I'm on the boat! Are you on the boat?" I just thought, "Not if Jesus isn't on the boat."

9. "I'm not the minister, you are. I've been called to equip you to be ministers." This is a popular one and sincerely meant by a great many wonderful religious leaders; however, I'm not actually sure how biblically sound it is. Did New Testament churches actually function this way? They didn't have the church hierarchies, paid staff, or titles we have today. There was no "lead pastor" or weekly sermon or worship team. They didn't face front and watch a spiritualized performance; they faced one another around a meal. Pretty much nothing we do today resembles the Christian experience Paul and the other apostles set up. At that time, "church" didn't refer to an activity or a place or an event. It was the people, and every member was expected to exercise his or her gifts as equals. So, though this statement massages your egos as being God's ministers (which you are), it also makes a powerful claim about the speaker: God Himself has given you this intermediary person to teach you and train you to do God's work. Therefore, in order to be in line with what God wants of you, you must be willing to learn from and follow this person. My concern is not so much about where this particular ministry is going, but how did we get so far away from genuine New Testament modeled practice without anyone seeming to notice?

10. "God has called and gifted you in amazing ways to do the work of the Gospel." This statement is true, of course. In normal contexts, I have absolutely no problem with it. However, when spoken from the pulpit, I have a few questions: 1. Great, but what is this "work" you are wanting me to do? 2. I'm a female. Are you sure you actually believe that? Or is there a hidden caveat for me like, "As long a you stick to women's ministry, the nursery, or the kitchen?" 3. If we're ALL "called and gifted in amazing ways," why do only two or three of us have a voice in this Christian "family?"

I limited my list here to 10 statements that, when made from the pulpit, can be manipulative and, even if they don't turn out to be ultimately damaging, they most definitely reveal the speaker's intent to gain a following for himself (or herself.) There are many, many, MANY more, of course, but hopefully this list and explanation will help you identify some of those for yourselves.

Now perhaps you've heard some (or all) of these things before and your response is something like: "But I know Pastor Bill, and even though he's said some of these things, he is a wonderful man who loves God! You're just being hyper-critical and suspicious!"

Well, I am happy for you and certainly wouldn't argue with you. But note that what good, honorable religious leaders say to gain a following are often the SAME things self-centered, narcissistic, religious leaders say. And here's an interesting question for you: If Pastor Bill wasn't trying to appeal to an audience, earn a paycheck, or please the elder board but, rather, was just a wise, compassionate member of a family of believers (like in a small group or house church where every person was a fully-functioning member), would he ever NEED to say any of these things?

As far as being hyper-critical and suspicious, you're absolutely right. I am critical--at least, in the sense that I actively engage my ability for critical thinking. And I am suspicious. Unfortunately, I have to be in a world and culture where so many spiritually-veiled abuses have occurred, and you should be too. Just because someone has the title "pastor," doesn't mean you can trust that person. And it's not certainly ungodly to withhold your trust until you have gotten to know that person well. In fact, Scripture encourages this kind of wariness and scrutiny again and again. I'll leave you with the following passages to consider:

"These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so," (Acts 17:11) 

"Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them," (Acts 20:28-30). 

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned^. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words," (II Peter 2:1-3a).

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15).
 
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves," (Matthew 23:13-15).

"I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

"Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord," (Jeremiah 23:16b).

"My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations," (Ezekiel 13:9a)

"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect," (Matthew 24:24). 

"For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths," (II Timothy 4:3-4). 
 
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world," (I John 4:1).

Why Aren't Christians Better At Agreeing on and Following Biblical Principle?

"Jesus said, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). 

When I read these words, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I can remember many times when I have been shown love and support from my Christian brothers and sisters. Even today, I rely on the relationships I have within the Christian community to help guide me, encourage me, and correct me. I think of these individuals as my extended family. And I have seen the organized church do some amazingly, sacrificial things for the world in the form of charity and support. Most charitable organizations are Christian. We are in the world adopting the orphans, feeding the widows, encouraging those in prison, rescuing the captives, freeing the slaves, and welcoming the alien.

On the other hand, I also have been greatly hurt by other Christians. I have witnessed pride and greed and lust and fearmongering and hatefulness and violence. "68 percent of church-going men and over 50 percent of pastors view porn on a regular basis. Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76 percent actively search for porn" (Reference). And the #churchtoo movement has brought out many stories of priests, pastors, and church leaders grossly misusing their power to abuse those who trust them, and then of the demonic coverups and victim-blaming. (e.g. Protestant Abuse Scandals & Coverups, Catholic Church Abuse Scandals & Coverups)

When I look at these things, my heart hurts. I have to remind myself that Jesus warned us, saying, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15) and He encouraged us to be as "wise as serpents and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

The part of me that wants to just go to church and trust those in charge to follow Christ authentically and lead well is checked by the reality that positions of power (even within the church) often breed narcissism and abusiveness. And it is commanded by God that I, as a believer, be aware and critically examine all those who would seek to be my spiritual teachers. And Paul gives us the following example to follow: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11).

Unfortunately, Christians who regularly practice and apply critical thinking skills in the church (by asking tough questions or challenging traditional beliefs) are often demonized and labeled difficult, rebellious, having a "Jezebel" spirit, divisive, critical, and/or uncooperative (especially if that person happens to be female). Granted, there is a constructive way and a destructive way to go about challenging the status quo, but institutionalized religion, by its very structure and culture, discourages any and all critical examination. Indeed, the excuse of "protecting the ministry" has been used again and again to cover up terrible abuses, making it necessary for the victims to suffer in silence and, in some cases, carry all the blame. It is little wonder then that so few people are willing to voice opposition to false or dangerous teachings and practices within their churches (preferring just to leave), and why these evils are allowed to remain and worsen.

In this way, modern power structures associated with organized religion often create situations where wolves are bred, thrive unchecked, and destroy the flock. And while many believers think of their local churches as safe places (and perhaps they are) and call their churches "New Testament churches" or "Bible-based churches," the organized church structures we follow today are NOT based on sound biblical principles. 

I will be exploring this startling claim little by little in future posts, but basically: though the principles of loving one another, generosity, supporting one another, and gathering with other believers are Christ-centered, the way we go about practicing these things is often formulaic instead of Spirit-led and based on pagan or worldly organizational paradigms instead of on how Christ and the apostles set up the early church. We don't recognize this reality because we lack culturally and historically accurate translation and interpretation of Scripture, we refuse to do the research on our own or think critically, and we trust and value Christian tradition far more than Holy Spirit led relationship. When we allow what Jesus intended to be a Holy Spirit led relationship with our Creator turn into a religious, formulaic obligation, we completely miss the point, and we allow in evils that have no place in the body of Christ.

These are some of the frustrations I have with organized religion, as it is today (and I suspect why so many people are leaving the church). So I must ask myself:

Why Aren't Christians Better At Agreeing on and Following Biblical Principle?

After much thought and study, I've identified some of the issues that impede our proper understanding and application of biblical principles:

1. Lack of cultural understanding.

We simply do not understand how biblical people lived and interacted with one another. We don't understand the power structures, the unspoken manners and social skills, or the implicit references. Though much more of this information is available for study, the research is intensive and time-consuming, and few Christians take the time to do it, preferring instead to be spoon-fed by others. So the default position is to read the Bible and interpret it based on our modern, Western culture, which has created a great many flawed or blatantly false teachings. 

EXAMPLE: I have heard it claimed that Jesus and His disciple, John, were involved in a homosexual relationship, based on John 13:25 where it describes John "leaning back against Jesus." To the hyper-sexualized modern American observer, that kind of behavior would indeed indicate sexual intimacy. 

However, it was the custom of Jewish people, while celebrating the Passover, to gather with their families and follow a traditional ceremony of sorts. That ceremony included the washing of hands and feet, sitting down to a meal that consisted of some very specific foods, and gathering around the father to hear him tell the old story of God's deliverance. During this last part, the youngest child would sit on his/her father's lap. 

Jesus had designed His group of disciples like a kind of family--an early example of how the body of Christ (the ekklesia) is supposed to function. And at this final Passover meal, Jesus, a man in his 30s, was acting as father of this family. John was the youngest (probably in his late teens/early twenties). So, when John (by his own volition) leaned against Jesus, he was doing so out of filial devotion and affection and respect, not out of sexual desire. He was honoring a long-held tradition and behaving in a culturally acceptable manner for men of their positions and ages. 

Even today, other countries maintain cultural attitudes about acceptable, hetero-sexual male behavior are vastly different from ours. Heterosexual men in India, for example, hold hands while walking along. Italian men aren't afraid to greet one another with a kiss. Russians kiss one another three times on alternate cheeks in greeting. None of these behaviors are understood to be homosexual advances.

2. Lack of historical understanding.

The biblical people who wrote and received the Scriptural texts were part of a historical time period we will simply never experience for ourselves. They followed different religious and governmental structures. They had different lifestyles and responsibilities. They grew up with different stories and values and perspectives. To assume, then, that what they wrote (for one another, mostly) merely needs to be translated into English for us to fully understand it is incredibly short-sighted (especially given the fact that we rarely even read entire books or passages at a time, preferring instead to dip in for a verse or two at a time.)

EXAMPLE: Most modern churches (both Catholic and Protestant) uphold the stance that women should not be allowed to teach or have authority in church or in the home, and they believe it is a biblical teaching meant for all people, in all places, and at all times. They base this view on I Timothy 2:12. The NIV translates this verse: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet." However, the modern interpretation that negates women from leadership positions is mistaken in at least two ways, and both of these mistakes have to do with a lack of historical understanding and the very specific, historically-centered purpose of this particular passage.

The first mistake is the assumption that early believers belonged to organized churches that resemble ours today--complete with hired pastors/clergy, church buildings, 40-minute sermons, tithing, and a regular order of service. They didn't. In fact, the function of pastor wasn't a hired & trained position. Pastoring (meaning shepherding) might be performed by men or women, and it was fluid--something they did for a while and then moved on to another function, like evangelizing or prophesying or sharing a worship song. (More on that in a later post about pastors and clergy.)

The second mistake we make is by mistranslating and misinterpreting the verse by taking out of its historical context. The passage wasn't a prohibition against any and all women speaking or teaching during the gatherings of believers (which would contradict a great many biblical examples of women praised for doing just that), it was most likely directed at a specific person who was abusing her freedom and bringing pagan pre-gnostic teachings into the body of believers. Given the rest of the letter, the historical setting, the religious atmosphere, and the other textual references, this makes the most sense. Here's a great article by Marg Mowczko that explores this further.

3. Lack of literary understanding. 

Many believers simply don't have a good grasp on what the Bible is. We tend to think of it as one book instead of as 66 different writings by 40 or more authors. We think of it as an English text for modern readers instead of an ancient Hebrew, Aramiac, and Greek text directed at very specific audiences. We think of it as literal and instructional when, in fact, most of it is made up of historical record, poetic pros, parables, and letters. We think of it as "having been written for me," when, in fact, only certain parts were intended as direct messages, and those were addressed to specific people or groups. 

Not all of Scripture is directly applicable today or intended for all groups of people in all places and at all times. Though the facts are generally trustworthy* and teachings about how to be godly and Christ-centered are universally applicable and we can learn a great deal about God's character by reading about how He interacted with biblical people, much of Scripture is bound by culture, time, and place. (So, please don't build an ark or storm Jericho or try to find a donkey colt for Jesus. Those words weren't directed at us.)

4. The language barrier. We do not speak the kind of Hebrew or Greek or Aramaic that was used to write the Bible. And due to our lack of historical and cultural understanding, not one of our modern English Bible translations are 100% accurate. They all contain mistranslated and misleading passages. As a bi-lingual person who has served as a translator on numerous occasions, I am fully aware of how easily this can occur. Those individuals who have translated Scripture and/or created commentaries to interpret Scripture are not one of them without flaws, biases, or prejudices. Though I believe those who have taken on this task, on the whole, have intended to honor God's Word, subconscious errors can and have been made.

5. Pride, Bias, and Self-Centered Motives. Though we may not be aware of our biases or self-centered motives, they are a form of pride and have negatively affected the accuracy of our modern translations. Indeed, even overt, purposeful errors have been made in an effort to make the Bible align more closely with what we think it should say, so that our prejudices and greedy desires can find support in Scripture. This has been going on for millennia. Jeremiah records these words: "How can you say, 'We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,' when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?" (Jer. 8:8)

EXAMPLE: A recent edition of the "unapologetically complementarian" English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV) has actually added the words to "contrary to" to Genesis 3:16, changing the text from, "Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you" (NIV). The ESV changed it to "your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you." And they did this to make the passage appear as if it is man's God-given responsibility to master naturally wayward women.

(Crossway has come under a great deal of criticism for the ESV and has changed their minds on keeping this edition permanent, but little has actually been done to fix the problem. As I write this, the ESV online versions still contain this flaw and many more. More on that HERE.)

MORE EXAMPLES: In the 13th century AD, Aegidius, Archbishop of Bourges, Junia's name to Junias (in Romans 16:7), the masculine form of the name. And in the 16th century, Tyndale's Bible and Theodore of Mopsuestia changed Euodia and Syntyche's names (in Philippians 4:3) to the male forms, Euodias and Sintiches.

6. Reading too much in or leaving too much out.

Reading much in is when we assume the text means far more than it actually does, or that certain writings are far more authoritative than they actually are. We may even go so far as to take abstract principles and turn them into concrete, legalistic practices--in the hope that following extra rules will make us better Christians.

EXAMPLE: During the "400 years of silence" between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament, the Jewish religious elite worked feverishly to supply to the people what they thought God would be saying, if He would've been willing to say it. They created what we call the Mishnah, a collection of oral traditions and writings that dictate and prescribe precisely how Jews were to behave in order to accurately follow the Torah and please God. These intensely legalistic rules were accepted as inspired an authoritative. More on that HERE. We have done the same thing today by creating ridiculously restrictive dress codes (especially for women and girls), by dietary restrictions, or by assuming the denomination we attend is God's favorite.

We also tend to leave too much out. The main way we do this is by simply failing to read or apply Scriptural teachings in their appropriate contexts. We also make this mistake when we don't study the Bible and what it shows us about God's character as a whole.

EXAMPLE: Certain congregations believe it's wrong to use musical instruments to worship God, forgetting that this was a common, biblical practice, and that if God appreciated it in Old Testament times, He would probably appreciate it today. They also seem to forget that biblical teachings on worship in both Old and New Testaments focus on the condition of the heart, not on the style of music itself.

7. Loyalty to tradition. Tradition is an extremely powerful force. It connects us with our past, binds us to our families and communities, and helps us function as full members of the society in which we live. Christianity has incorporated many traditions in the last couple thousand years, some of which have biblical roots and some which do not. Though following tradition can be a very positive thing, sometimes tradition can obscure the fact that the Holy Spirit might be calling us to something different, deeper, and more authentic.

Jesus managed to follow some traditions well (like the Passover, although He certainly made it His own), while completely ignoring others. Being so counter-cultural made Him a target for some pretty nasty treatment, and we each intuitively know that the same thing could happen to us--even within the church--if we question long-held Christian traditions and teachings. Often, the first reaction we will encounter is defensiveness and, in extreme cases, a full out attack.

Our loyalty to our traditions can be so strong that we actually value and trust them more than we trust God's Word or the Holy Spirit's leading. And you will find that many times, the responses you get for asking tough questions are rebukes, pat answers, and proof-texted explanations instead of genuine dialog, biblical research, or prayer. Our loyalty to tradition and our own human-centered understandings often create an inability to humbly consider that the Holy Spirit might have more to teach us in that particular area.

8. Lack of critical thinking skills and logic. The human inability to be impartial and objective or apply logic in a charitable, reasonable way is absolutely epidemic. We argue about everything from which essential oil is the best to who has the most right to hate whatever president happens to be in office. Our arguments are emotional, intellectually dishonest, biased, ignorant, and logically flawed. We allow our pride and desire to win usurp God's call to listen well, be compassionate and empathetic, and hold to the truth. The outcome is a mess of confusion, frustration, and hatefulness that solves nothing and keeps us from learning, building healthy relationships, or hearing from God.

So How Can We Make it Better?

These human failures often lead to grossly mistaken understandings of God's purpose and message in the Bible. This is why we have so many different biblical translations and denominations. This is why formula and tradition has been allowed to usurp Holy Spirit led relationships and authenticity. This is why there is so much division in the body of Christ and such a lack of love and compassion for those outside the body of Christ.

However, I have to remind myself that God is capable of using flawed people to accomplish His purposes. There is still good in the world (His name is Jesus) and eventually He will help us see clearly. In the meantime, if I continue to chase after Him, He will keep showing me more of Himself and He might even use me to bless others along the way. One of my favorite passages is I Corinthians 1:26-31: 

^"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

At the same time, though God can use us despite our flaws, we are NOT called to perpetuate or defend those flaws. II Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." And, Galatians 5:1 reads, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." And, even in the midst of a discussion on the value of submitting to legitimate authorities (such as government law), Peter tells us: "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves" (I Peter 2:16). 

Some principles I've landed on through studying God's Word are as follows (in no particular order):

1. Recognize that God is ultimately in control and will have the final say.

2. Do not confuse evil or injustice or favoritism for God's will.

3. Though God can use flawed people and flawed organizations, the flaws themselves are not godly and should be identified and corrected. 

4. Study God's Word, its history, its people, its culture, and its languages, don't force it to say what it doesn't, and don't make assumptions based on modern, Western thinking. 

5. Value one another. Don't bicker about things that don't matter, but don't be afraid to discuss and tackle difficult topics in a charitable, honest way.

6. Don't say false things. If you're not sure, don't say it. Just don't.

7. Ask God for wisdom regularly. He'll deliver. (James 1:5)

8. Never sacrifice authentic, Christ-centered biblical principle for tradition.

Got any more? Feel free to comment.

* Some minor inconsistencies can be found in certain biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments. However, these variations follow what is expected when gathering perspectives or recordings of an event by multiple witnesses or researchers. Therefore, these minute differences in detail actually lend credence to the veracity and historicity of the events themselves. 

Uncovering False Teachings: The Tithe (Part Three)

Misguided Teaching Six: If we trust God with our tithes and offerings, He will "repay" us many times over. Perhaps the car won't break down or my kid will get that college scholarship. Conversely, if I don't tithe faithfully, God won't protect me from financial struggles.

 

While I don't want to go so far as to call this a false teaching, it is certainly misguided. It's largely based on the Malachi passage above, but there are lots of verses that seem to indicate a kind of "reward system" for giving both in this life and the next, such as the following:

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done" (Proverbs 19:17).

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:24-25).

"Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered" (Prov. 21:13).

"The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor" (Prov. 22:9).

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward" (Matt. 10:42).

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).

However, let me point out that, since we aren't commanded to tithe, the part in Malachi about tithing is obsolete. And while there is something important to be learned here about God's character and the value of trusting God with our finances, the purpose of these passages is not to set up self-centered superstition. We are not to give to God out of the selfish desire to receive more. And we are not to give to God out of fear that something bad will happen to us if we don't. To give with either of these attitudes is to strip ourselves of the blessing of just giving.

Rather, these passages are about having faith in God with everything in our lives, and in particular with those things we tend to rely on more than God--those things we falsely believe provide us with security or power or pleasure, but which can quickly become idols in our lives (namely our wealth). These passages are about trusting God to fulfill His promise to love us and provide for us. They're about being willing to face hardship in order to put others first (as Christ later does). They're about having an eternal perspective and not holding on too tightly to the things of this world. They're about seeing others (even "the least of these") as better than ourselves, opening our eyes to the suffering and injustice around us, and letting that suffering break our hearts to the point that we MUST step in and do something. They're about love and compassion and training ourselves to become fully dependent on God alone. And when God says "test me in this" (which is the only place in Scripture He does so), His goal is to build these qualities of utter God-dependence in us--not to play on our greed or fears.

If we're not supposed to tithe, what does Christian giving look like? Where should the gifts go?

Glance again over the many Scripture passages in italics that I've included in these three posts. They come from all over the Bible and nearly all of them demand that we give generously to the poor. In this way, the primary biblical teaching about giving hasn't changed. We are to give to the poor and needy generously. 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Now try to find a New Testament passage that commands Christians to give to a religious organization, like the Temple, synagogue, or Christian church--or even references it as a Christian practice. You won't find any. That's because Christians weren't expected to practice Judaism, and there was no such thing as a Christian church organization--not for 300 years. Christ and the apostles did NOT set up the early ekklesia (the body of believers) as an organized religion limited by mandatory tithes and hierarchy and church buildings and mystical religious ceremonies and important vs. unimportant people. Sadly, we have all of that today, but it came out of paganism; none of it was taught by Christ nor practiced by the early Christians. (Want to learn more about this? Read this book.)

According to New Testament Scriptures, the early Christians only gave freewill offerings. These offerings were usually in the form of hospitality--room and board. Although, sometimes, they did liquefy their assets in order to give more as needed and as they were able.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:32-35).

The early Christians gave according to their ability, not according to a legalistic, prescribed amount. They gave with exceeding generosity and giving brought them incredible joy. They LOVED to give. Their gifts went almost exclusively to helping the poor and needy. When Jesus told Peter, "Feed my lambs" (John 21:17) He meant with REAL food. So the early Christians' gifts were either actual food  or actual shelter, or the money they gave went to provide these things--sometimes it was for those within their group, other times it was for strangers (II Cor. 9:5-11), other times it was for traveling missionaries (although Paul regularly refused it) (Acts 20:33-35), but not one denarius went to pay for a building or to pay clergy salaries or to fund self-centered programming. 

Now, perhaps some Jewish Christians still tithed to the Temple for a while before giving it up entirely, just as some Greek converts may have continued in their pagan practices for a while. Learning to follow God in a Christ-honoring way and learning to leave your past, obsolete or ungodly ways behind is often a process, after all. However, maintaining such practices is neither prescribed or praised anywhere in Scripture, rather, under Christ, we are encouraged to leave the old things behind. 

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved" (Matthew 9:16-17).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here" (II Cor. 5:17)!

"By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear" (Hebrews 8:13).

"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" (Romans 7:6).

But what if "needy" people just take advantage? Isn't it better to let the church decide how to help them so that I don't just become an enabler?

The fact is, Jesus never commanded the organized, Christian church to help the poor (since it didn't exist). He commanded YOU and ME to help the poor. Individuals. Certainly, joining together with other believers to pull our resources to provide for a particularly large need, as the church of Corinth did (II Cor. 9:5-11), is an excellent strategy. But handing over a large portion of our income to virtual strangers to be spent on who-knows-what-but-almost-certainly-NOT-the-poor is not what it means to "give to the Lord." This is not a New Testament teaching. It is not a Christian discipline or practice. It is not what godly generosity means. 

In fact, to just put a check in the plate--even if you mark it "benevolence" so that it goes to the needy (which is the only way I'll give in a church anymore, but that's my conviction)--creates a separation between you and those you are "helping." There is no relationship there. You are not walking alongside them. You are not seeing them, hearing them, or learning from them (or vice versa). You don't even have to love them. So, frankly, it's a spiritually lazy practice that maintains distance and social disparities often along ethnic/economic divides. You can go about your life as you always have without allowing Christ to change your heart or mind at all.

But the fact still remains that there are those who will take advantage. Greedy, lazy people do exist. When free stuff is being handed out, they'll hop in line to receive whether they're in need or not. They don't mind taking from those who are truly in need. And they don't give back. 

So, how do we watch out for the wolves while feeding the sheep? 

God commands us to help the needy; but we will not be held accountable for other people's sins if they lie or steal or misuse what they receive. Ultimately, our job is to love God and one another, but we "see through a glass darkly" (I Cor. 13:12), and our judgment won't always be spot on. Of course, Jesus also said: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matt. 10:16). While this was spoken primarily in regard to persecution Christians might face for their faith, the implicit claim here is that being shrewd and having healthy boundaries is not sinful. It's wise.

Paul, Silas and Timothy understood this concept when they wrote to the Thessalonian believers and gave the the following advice: 

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.' We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer" (II Thes. 3:10-15).

Therefore, you can set limits and requirements and healthy boundaries as you give. You can require those in your shelters to pass drug tests, for example. You can supply housing for a homeless mother, but also require that she complete a degree or find a job during her stay. You can give your money to a soup kitchen instead of directly to an individual you don't know personally. However, the bottom line is GIVE! SERVE! BE PRESENT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED!

Sure, there may be those you will have to turn away. But do not let your excuses that "maybe they're not trustworthy" or "I would just enable them" keep you from figuring out a way to exercise generosity and find a way to locate and then genuinely help those who need help. Because this is how they will see Jesus in you.

"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" (Isaiah 1:17).

"This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place" (Jeremiah 22:3).

"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry" (Ex. 22:21-23).

"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4).

"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’" (Matt. 25:40).

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:17-18).

Are you saying the church and tithing is bad?

Let me be clear about something that has almost certainly gotten lost in what I've written so far: I don't believe that the church is evil.  I don't think Christians who attend church every Sunday are evil or foolish or lazy or lacking in gifting or calling. I don't think structure and organization are inherent evils, either.  In fact, it allows us to mobilize large groups of people to do some amazing good around the world, like Compassion International and Mercy Ships and Pregnancy Support Centers. However, what we do today is NOT the biblical, Christian example. Therefore, it's not sacrosanct and, as we discover flaws that interfere with Christ's example or call on our lives, we are free to make changes--even drastic changes to the way we've always done things.

Giving 10% isn't wrong; however, picking a number may simply allow you to just check a box on God's call on your life to be generous. If so, you're missing the point. You're not supposed to be able to limit your growth and character development to a formula. Life, like faith, is about relationship and intimacy and getting messy. It's about being led by the Holy Spirit and depending on Him to guide you to places where He can use you and show you something new along the way.

My Dad, Dr. Rev. David A. Brown, commented the following, and I want to share it here:
"Remember we are temples individually, and then we are to build a “spiritual temple” in a corporate sense, so that our love and unity will be a witness to the world that Jesus was God and did indeed come to make a difference among people. The Body of Christ can do things often bigger and in secret that individuals may not be able to do as part of that witness." 

I wholeheartedly agree with my dad in this. Together we are stronger and I do think the organized church (yes, largely funded by tithers) has been used of God to spread His Gospel (Good News) because it allowed us to mobilize large groups of people. However, with our modern technology I believe we are entering an era where we don't need to localize power in the same way as we have in the past. And I believe the Holy Spirit is calling us to trust in Him rather than in our man-made institutions. If we are truly doing God's work, shouldn't God be the one leading it?

Are you saying it's wrong to spend our money for spiritual gain?

Part of the reasoning behind the habitual demand for a tithe in the church is that we are all needy to some degree. We are all spiritually needy. In this way, God's call to help the needy is reduced to a spiritual metaphor rather than a practical, physical command. So, we can give to the church, sit and be "fed" by a preacher, partake of their programs, and conveniently forget that helping the needy should go beyond just dropping a check in the plate. 

Of course, spiritual and biblical training is valuable, but it tends to be more memorable and impactful when done on the job as an active participant in real-life ministry, rather than as a passive receiver of a sermon. 

My advice is three-fold:

1. Start really researching your Bible and New Testament history and culture to find out how Christ designed His body to function. And never settle for tradition over authentic Biblical, Christ-centered principle.

2. Instead of just dropping a check in the plate, ask God to lead you to someone who is genuinely in need, and then be generous. If that's too drastic, at least start giving your money to a ministry whose purpose is to help the poor or mark your offerings "benevolent fund."

3. Keep praying for God to show you His heart for the poor and needy--those who are mistreated and marginalized and voiceless. Learn to love them. And you will be amazed at how much more of Jesus you see.


THE EARLIER PORTIONS OF THIS POST CAN BE FOUND HERE: Part One, Part Two

Uncovering False Teachings: The Tithe (Part Two)

False Teaching Three: Our tithes must go to our local church. Our offerings can go to the church or to a Christian charity of our choice (or put in the benevolent fund at church.)

Many churches teach some variation of this. For example, they may say it's okay to split your tithe, with part of it going to the local church and the rest going to other Christian endeavors; however, most teach that supporting your local church with your money (10%, usually) is part and parcel to what it means to be a "practicing member of the body of Christ." You may have heard sermons preached that lean heavily on the Malachi passage in Part One where the pastor claims that the phrase, "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house," (Mal. 3:10a) means you must give first and foremost to your local church.

Again, since teachings on the tithe are false, so is this teaching. And, in fact, the collected tithes were sent to Jerusalem (where God would put His Name). Every 3rd year tithes were given in the locality where the tither lived. So, the concept of "we must give our tithes to our local church" is flawed on many levels.

And doesn't the entire concept of publicly placing a check or a wad of cash in an offering plate run directly contrary to Christ's teaching in Matthew 6:1-4?:

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Even in this passage, Jesus is talking about giving to the needy, since that's the only form of giving He actually endorsed for His followers. But one must point out that, since we do not practice Judaism (and don't have to tithe), neither do we have to support the Judaic Temple or synagogues. And, no, the local Christian church is not the modern equivalent of the Temple or synagogues. If you read your New Testament carefully and study history, you'll find that the early Christians were not required to attend the Temple or synagogue services. That was part of Judaism, and Christians were a "new creation" (II Cor. 5:17). In fact, many of the new Christians of that day were Greeks and Romans and wouldn't have been allowed in the Temple or in the synagogues at all. And even though Jesus went and spoke in the synagogues first, He soon left there and met with people in homes, in the fields, and on hillsides, where all were welcome.

Recall that Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19). He was speaking literally of His body, but also (I believe) figuratively of the ekklesia--the body of believers who would come after Him as His representatives on earth who would soon also be filled with the Holy Spirit. Recall that later, in I Corinthians 12:27, we read: "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it."

And consider the following teaching by Paul:  

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19-22).

We--those who trust in and follow Jesus Christ--are ourselves God's house! We do not need to "go to church" to meet God. We ARE the ekklesia. In fact, the phrase "go to church" isn't used anywhere in Scripture because it didn't make sense. There were no designated Christian meeting places. They met wherever they could (usually in small groups in someone's home), and when they met, there was no preacher and no single leader (at least, not once the body was flourishing, and not in the same style as we have today. I intend to write about this in a later post.). They all shared equally with every member of the body functioning and exercising their gifts. So, we need not "go to church" to meet with God. We can meet Him just as easily in our living rooms, on a walk in the park, while doing the dishes, in the midst of a funeral, sitting in a coffee shop with a friend, or even lying in bed with our spouses (perhaps with a toddler tucked between us). After all:

"...the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?' says the Lord. 'Or where will my resting place be'" (Acts 7:48-49)?

If a house made of wood or stone can't contain God and clearly isn't even important to Him, why do we still feel like we have to go there to find Him? So, no, even our offerings need not go to feed a church organization (which will use the vast majority of the funds to pay for the cost of the building, salaries for the clergy, and their local programs.)

Consider the following church survey graphic by Rollie Dimos, Internal Audit Director for the AG National Leadership and Resource Center:

Biblically, 100% of the money we give should go to helping the needy and spreading the Gospel. However, Dimos reports that only 21% of the money the surveyed churches took in went to those causes--that is, if we assume the nebulous category called "Ministries & Support" means helping the poor. However, it is more likely that 12% is just more church-based programming. Nowhere does Dimos actually spell out that any of the funds went to helping "the poor, the alien, the orphan, or the widow." So, if a church is following this model, they may not give anything at all to truly needy people, whether those people are in their congregations or not.

One of the women who took my survey (When giving to "the Lord," where should the bulk of the money go? To the local church? Or to the needy?), claimed she preferred to give her money to the church so that they could figure out how to help the needy with it. That way she didn't have to do it herself. Really? Is this kind of sterile, superior separation between "us" and "them" biblical? Is it Christ-like? And what if your church doesn't do anything for the needy? Are you still okay with slapping a check in the plate and trusting them with it?

False Teaching Four: It's also important to give of my time and to be hospitable, but that is separate from my mandatory financial responsibilities to my church.

Since we have no mandatory responsibilities to the local church at all, this teaching misses the point entirely. It's not just "important" to give of our time and be hospitable, a Christlike, self-less, others-centered generosity of spirit should characterize the Christian life in every possible way. 

Consider how the following Old Testament and New Testament teachings about hospitality and generosity align with one another:

"If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit" (Lev. 25:35-37).

"If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need" (Duet. 15:7-8).

"Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness" (Psalm 41:1-3).

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life" (I Tim. 6:17-19).

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Heb. 13:16).

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys" (Luke 12:33).

"Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses" (Prov. 28:27 and 37:26).

"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor" (Psalm 112:5-9).

False Teaching Five: Despite that this is mandatory, we must give our tithes and offerings with a good attitude, for "God loves a cheerful giver" (II Cor. 9:7). 

Though I don't want to say it's impossible to give a mandatory gift with a generous, cheerful heart, it certainly goes against human nature. I was raised to tithe and I never begrudged God of that 10%. After all, I believed it was all His, anyway (and the rest was mine, or so I thought, because this kind of flawed teaching begets many other flawed teachings), and in tithing I felt I was showing my gratitude. But, there was little joy in putting a check in an offering plate, seeing it whisked away to parts unknown, and never actually seeing it do any tangible good in the world. I bet I've paid a great many electric bills in my time, but how many single moms did I provide with shelter? How many babies were rescued from abortion? How many homeless men were given a meal? How many abused women found safety--because of what I gave? Probably not many. 

But I also remember a time when a friend confided to our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group that she and her husband were struggling because their only car broke down and it was going to be $150 to fix it and they just didn't have that much in the bank. I secretly wrote her a check for $150 and slid it to her. Now THAT gift is one that I remember and rejoice over because I know it actually filled a real need. I got more joy from giving that measly $150 than I've ever gotten from putting thousands and thousands of dollars into an offering plate. And, my goodness! What joy would be mine today if all those thousands of dollars I spent on my right to sit in a pew and listen to a preacher had been instead spent on building a safe home for victims of intimate partner violence, or purchasing a mobile unit for the local pregnancy center, or helping a family adopt a handicapped baby, or... or... or....?


THIS POST IS CONTINUED HERE: Part One, Part Three.