Keeping I Corinthians 9 in Context

Context can be an inconvenient thing. It keeps us from taking words, phrases, clauses, or even entire verses from scripture and using them for our own purposes. Context makes us look at the paragraph, chapter, and book for meaning. When we are faithful to the context, we usually arrive at the meaning of the author. That's the key. If we are looking to prove a point that is not supported biblically, then we must ignore context.

I bring this up because of a semi-controversial post I wrote last week entitled Cake. In that post I asserted that the job of the professional pastor is relatively easy. The comment string is interesting. Not surprisingly, that post led to discussion on this blog and other responding blog posts about whether or not pastors should be paid salaries at all.

Those who defend pastoral salaries usually go to two primary texts to defend this practice. I Timothy 5:17-18 is the first. This is appropriate since Paul is dealing specifically with elders; elders and pastors may not be the same function, but there is certainly overlap. Looking at those verses is in context for dealing with the issue of pastors and salaries. Click here if you'd like to read about what I believe "double honor" refers to in I Tim. 5.

The second passage often cited by those supporting pastoral salaries is I Corinthians 9. Verse 14 is the point of key interest. Paul writes in that verse, "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel."

The problem in using I Corinthians 9 to support pastoral salaries is that it takes the chapter completely out of context. (I'm taking much of this part of the post from one I wrote in late 2010 around the time of my resignation).

The reality is that this passage does not apply whatsoever to pastors. Nowhere in this verse or the entire passage does Paul even mention elders, overseers, or pastors. Simply put, elders do not appear here.

Paul is discussing those who travel from location to location proclaiming the gospel. He has apostolic workers and (possibly) evangelists in mind. Since they travel around, they need financial support. Elders, since they come from local congregations where they live, do not need this support. They can have regular jobs. Ephesians 4 makes it clear that apostolic workers and pastors, among others, are distinct functions within the church.

We should also keep the broader context in mind when studying this passage. Paul is discussing the issue of Christian liberty. Paul is not willing to use this liberty, as it relates to receiving financial support from the Corinthians, because he does not want it to in any way hinder his proclamation of the gospel.

We know that Paul received financial support from the Philippian church, thus showing that it was acceptable for apostolic workers to do so.

Back to the issue of pastors/elders. When Paul wrote this passage, he did not have elders/overseers/pastors in mind. The context excludes them altogether. Therefore, this verse should not be used to justify pastors receiving any sort of financial support.

God and Kingdom

On Memorial Day I'm once again reminded that it is an odd thing to live in the USA and also be a follower of Christ. I'm thrilled to have the political freedoms that we do, but I also realize that political boundaries mean nothing within the Kingdom of God. I'm grateful to the service men and women who have died defending these freedoms, but at the same time I cannot personally justify the taking up of arms to kill another human being for political reasons.

I choose not to celebrate patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Veteran's Day because this nation is not truly my home (to clarify, I enjoy the day off from work, but I don't wave the flag). My ultimate citizenship is not here. Rather, it's in heaven. I've written previously here and here about not loving my country.

As opposed to the phrase "God and Country," we followers of Jesus should be thinking in terms of "God and No Country." A more positive way of saying that is "God and Kingdom."

Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than just about anything else. It may have been his favorite topic. For example:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Mark 10:14

"I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." Luke 4:43

"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand." Luke 8:10

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

Those of us who are in Christ are also in His Kingdom. We have the daily privilege and duty of living out Kingdom life in whatever place we call home.

The Kingdom of God is not constrained in any way by political boundaries. There was a time when this was, to one degree or another, not the case. God dealt specifically and uniquely with the nation of Israel from Abraham until the time of Christ. Upon Jesus' coming, the kingdom began to spread to the Gentiles. We see this in rapid fashion in the book of Acts. Political boundaries, while a reality of the day, no longer mattered.

Christ's commission (Matt. 28:18-20) to us as the people of his kingdom is to make disciples of all nations. This refers to people groupings, not political states. In Acts 1:8, his followers are told to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. In Luke 24 Jesus says, "Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations." Again, our Lord is referring to people groups.

As we live for Christ, most of us will remain in the political states where we were born. This is just the nature of life. In ultimate terms, where we live is not significant. We could reside in the USA, Russia, Indonesia, Egypt, Andorra, North Korea, Chile, or any other country. The circumstances of our lives certainly differ based on where we live. For example, Christians in North Korea face vastly more persecution than anything we deal with here. Despite this, Christ expects us to live for him and him alone wherever we live.

Some of us will no doubt cross political boundaries to share the gospel. This is a beautiful thing. We must remember that we do this and/or support others in doing this in order to take the gospel to those who haven't heard it - regardless of political entity.

Political nation-states do not matter in God's Kingdom. This, quite simply, is why I do not love my country, I feel no duty to it, and I no longer say the Pledge of Allegiance.

My allegiance is to Christ and him alone. It is his kingdom that has eternal significance.

What I Used to Believe About Membership

I began blogging about five years ago. Over that time, my views have changed a great deal on a variety of things, especially the church.

My first blog was entitled Hammer and Nail. In early 2008 I wrote a series on church reform. I still believe most of what I wrote in the series. However, there is one post that now makes me chuckle. It is entitled Church Reform - Membership and Discipline.

My emphasis in the post was that church reform would come about through increased stress on local church membership and discipline. The comments, mostly gracious challenges from friends, are fascinating.

The big difference between my beliefs now, when compared to then, is that I now think of the church as a family as opposed to an organization. This led to a dramatic change in view of church membership (see here and here). I'm glad God is merciful with us as our views change.

To read any or all of the church reform series, click here.

For What This Is Worth (Hint: Not Much)

Created by Gift cards online at GiftRocket

Does it matter what a blog's reading level is?

What level do you prefer?

People Groups and India

People Groups.org

Psalm 96

Why We Do and Don't Have a Statement of Faith

I know it sounds confusing, but our church family both does and does not have a statement of faith. While that sounds like it breaks the law of non-contradiction, it really doesn't.

Although we've never written it down, it's safe to conclude that our church family's statement of faith is a simple yet profound one: Jesus is Lord!

What we do not have is a lengthy statement of our beliefs. The reason for this is that we don't all agree on many of what we might call secondary doctrines. For example, I'm sure that we see differently on the doctrine of predestination. Our views of eschatology don't all line up. Our views of women's roles do not all fully correspond. If we had a statement of faith that demanded agreement, it would automatically force a wedge between us. It would create division.

That said, I wouldn't mind a statement of faith that focuses on core truths. If I had to select one, it would likely be The Nicene Creed. Core doctrines, by definition, are things that all Christians should agree upon. Therefore, a statement with only these should not be a problem.

The real difficulty becomes the secondary doctrines. This is what has led to the multitude of denominations we have today. Many of these newer (post-Reformation) statements of faith are solid documents; however, if adherence to one of them acts as a separator between Christians, then "Houston, we have a problem!"

As individuals, it is important for us to know what we believe. However, we may be in a place where we honestly do not know what we believe on certain issues. For example, I'm currently working through what I believe about women speaking during church gatherings. I'm in flux, and that is acceptable.

My encouragement to all believers is to know what you believe, but don't use this as a force to divide. Especially on secondary doctrines, it is fine to believe differently from other Christians. This is no reason for division.

Regarding statements of faith, focus on the essentials.

If you'd like to read through some statements, try this link.

What do you think about statements of faith? Do you have one? How does this affect your unity with those in your church family? What about other believers?

Better Than Cake

What's better than cake?

Better is when Jesus Christ is acknowledged as the only Head.

Better is when everyone is the church serves according to his/her gifts.

Better is when all are recognized as equals in the church.

Better is when there is no clergy.

Better is when money is given freely to those who are in need.

Better is when the church gives its money away.

Better is when elders lead through being godly examples.

Better is when preaching is to the lost instead of the saved.

Better is when everyone works.

Better is when pastors work regular jobs to be examples to the body.

Better is when all carry out the one anothers equally.

Better is when the church looks to Christ as the only senior pastor.

Better is when the church follows God's plan for His church that we see in scripture.

Cake

Warning - it is not my intention for this post to come across as bitter or harsh. However, I firmly believe these things need to be said.

My main point is this: a professional pastor's job is mostly cake.

Please let me both explain and elaborate. By "pastor," I'm referring to the professional pastoral role. By "job," I'm referring to the duties that the local church that employs him expects him to do. By "cake," I'm referring to the fact that his job is easy.

I'm in a pretty solid position to make this claim because I've been on all sides of the issue. For many years I put money in the offering plate, thinking that pastors worked really hard and deserved what they were paid. In fact, I even bought into the idea that pastors are underpaid. Then I was a paid pastor for about 2.5 years. My income depended on the people in the pew putting money in the plate. Now I've been out of the system for about a year and a half.

When I pastored, I repeatedly heard people in the church talk about how hard I worked and how busy I was. They asked with reverence if I could possibly spare the time to visit them. Frankly, I have no idea what they were talking about. There is no reason for a pastor to be all that busy. He's got more time and flexibility than just about anyone else.

In what other job do you get to sit in a coffee shop and study the bible for hours per week? In how many occupations can you literally set your own schedule each day (except Sundays of course)? What occupation outside of pastoring encourages going on missions trips and attending theological conferences while the church pays for it?

Seminaries are partly to blame for this situation. Pastors-to-be repeatedly hear how difficult it is to be a pastor. They are told that there is much suffering involved and that it will be a very difficult task. However, since they are "called to preach," they must walk down this painful, lonely road.

To be fair, there are times when pastoring is difficult. Performing weddings is stressful. Funerals are also difficult. Times of crisis in general are tough. However, these are relatively few and far between. Much of a pastor's time involves studying and teaching. Those things are enjoyable. I loved studying the bible for hours each week and then lecturing about it twice on Sundays.

When compared to a regular job, professional pastoring is easy. While there are spikes of stress, in general it is relaxing. Some things are just plain annoying, like budgets and committees, but overall these do not take up too much time. Some pastors spend tons of time talking with folks in the church, performing a sort of Christian counseling. This is for the most part enjoyable.

Some pastors are extremely busy, but much of the activity involves unimportant (at least as far as the Kingdom is concerned) administrative stuff. Other pastors are busy with volunteering, but this is both something they want to do and something that goes beyond the bounds of what they are paid for.

I'm not sure why, but Christians in general believe that pastoring is a very difficult job and that pastors should receive higher salaries. Most professional pastors agree.

I strongly disagree on both fronts.

Professional pastoring is mostly cake.

Missions in II Thessalonians

"Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith." II Thessalonians 3:1-2

Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians is one that we don't generally pay much attention to. When it comes to world missions, is there any connection at all? If so, what is the key thing Paul has to say? (To read the first post in this series, click here).

Paul writes something significant for missions in 3:1-2. The apostle addresses the importance of prayer as it relates to world missions. Paul, who was a gifted man, realized that anything good he could accomplish would come through the grace of God. His giftings were from God, and anyone's changed heart was from God. Success for Paul came only through Christ.

Paul makes some specific requests of the Thessalonian believers. First, he asks for prayer that the gospel message would move effectively to those who need to hear it. He's hoping for no roadblocks. His desire is that the word be honored through acceptance of it. Second, Paul hopes for delivery from the wicked men who are opposing him. We know, based on other passages (for example this), that Paul is not scared of suffering for the gospel. In this verse, he appears to desire deliverance so that his efforts won't be slowed down through imprisonment, etc.

It is somewhat ironic that when we attempt to share our faith, we sometimes take our eyes off Christ. We learn from Paul that it is only through Christ that anything good can be accomplished. This is a solid reminder that prayer should be the first missions activity of the church. We see this in Acts 13 as the church in Antioch first sent out Paul and Barnabas.

Let's all be praying missionaries. All success for Christ comes from and through Christ.


To read any or all of the posts in this series, click here.

ATTENTION ALL BLOGGERS: If You Want a Lot of Comments, Just Write about This!

If you are a blogger, well done.

If you are not a blogger, please start. It's not difficult. Just write about what you know and interests you.

Most bloggers, including myself, enjoy the discussion/comments aspect of blogging just as much as writing the posts. I've found a way to help with this. If you desire a boatload of comments, there is a topic that you can write about. This is almost guaranteed to bring in a tidal wave of discussion.

What is the topic? (Drum roll in background.) The topic is whether or not women should speak during church gatherings.

As far as I can recall, I've written about this twice. Both instances have yielded many more comments than normal.

The posts are entitled:

House Church - What About Women?

One Good Reason for Women to Speak

The fascinating aspect of all this for me is that I receive comments disagreeing with me from both sides. I take what could be described as a "middle-of-the-road" position on this issue. My hope is that this is a biblical position. While I do believe that women are permitted to speak during gatherings, I do not believe that they ought to take on any sort of teaching role.

Some commenters believe I'm incorrect in thinking that women should speak at all. Others believe I'm wrong to place any restrictions on women speaking in any way. It all makes for thought-provoking discussion.

To sum up: if you desire comments, simply ask if women should be allowed to speak when the church gets together. Give your position and then wait for the comments to flow in. You won't be disappointed.

Tradition Says...

"I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day Sunday, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, 'Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.'" Revelation 1:9-11 (TAV - Traditional Altered Version)


Idea inspired by Alan Knox.

Should Elders Teach in a Different Manner than Other Men in the Church?

In a previous post, I asked whether or not elders should teach.

Now I'll ask a related question: Should elders teach in a different manner than other men in the church?

In looking at the church in general today, we see that in most instances the elders/overseers/pastors do in fact teach in ways that are different from everyone else. The sermon is the primary example of this. But is this how it should be?

Should elders teach in a different manner than the other men? In a word: No.

When we look in scripture, we see relatively few instances of elders teaching. When we read about teaching in the bible, we get the sense that all of the church was doing it. Col. 3:16, for example, exhorts everyone to teach.

In light of passages such as I Tim. 2 and I Cor. 14, it is fair to say that women should not teach men. Despite this, women should certainly be teaching other women. Teaching like this ought to occur every day of the week. It could be in the form of bible studies, but more frequently it ought to be in the everyday happenings of life.

What about during larger gatherings of the church? Elders will likely do some of the teaching. However, non-elder males will also teach. While elders will defend and shepherd the flock, non-elders will do the same. There is no scriptural warrant for elders teaching in a different manner than others.

That said, it does make sense that elders will be heavily involved in the teaching. The reason for this is that elders have been recognized as godly men. Also, elders have a decent amount of life experience (thus the term "elder"). When a passage of scripture is being discussed, it seems logical that elders would have much life experience to share with the group as it relates to the situation.

As far as teaching with authority is concerned, this role belongs to the Holy Spirit. Elders do not have an authoritative role; rather, their role is one of being godly examples to the people. Their teaching does not tell people what to do, but rather encourages them to do what God has said. They guide through their own obedience and service.

The topic being discussed at any particular time will likely have an impact on who speaks. There are times for elders to teach and there are times for them to learn (as with all of us).

One great benefit to elders teaching just like the other men is that it helps the body see them as part of the body. When elders teach in a different manner from others, it causes them to stand out and stand apart. This makes it tough for them to be a real part of the body.

One great benefit elders can give is in encouraging the younger men to teach. They may be able to instruct them in this. Younger folks have many excellent things to say, but may feel uncomfortable or unprepared to speak. Elders can help with this.

Paul makes it abundantly clear in I Cor. 12-14 that the church is one body that benefits from mutual interaction and upbuilding. When everyone is involved, the body is healthier than if there is an imbalance in any facet of church life. This includes teaching.

In the end, the scriptural model must be our guide. The bible never sets elders apart as men who teach differently from the rest of the flock. They should be able to teach. This teaching looks like the teaching of the rest of the body.

Ouch!

Tithing, Interpretation, and Confusion

Should Elders Teach?

Should elders teach?

This is a question that is rarely asked in the church today. The assumed answer is almost always "Yes, of course." Whether the term used is elder, overseer, or pastor, most folks in the church believe they should teach.

It is fascinating to look in scripture for examples of elders teaching. What stands out is just how little of it there is. In light of the amount of teaching by elders that goes on in the church today, it seems like it would also be splashed all over the pages of the NT. However, it's just not very frequent at all.

That said, there are passages that I believe indicate that elders should teach. For example, I Timothy 3:2 informs us that overseers should be "able to teach." Although this does not say that they have to teach, it implies strongly that they will be doing so.

In I Peter 5, Peter exhorts the elders to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you." Shepherding can include a fairly wide variety of activities. It seems that teaching would be one of these. Part of shepherding is guidance, and this often takes the form of some type of teaching.

In Acts 20, Paul warns the elders from Ephesus to protect the church against false teachers from both inside and outside the church. One method of doing this is to teach the truth to the people. Paul tells them that some of the false teachers will "speak twisted things." Paul reminds them that he "admonished them with tears." The implication is that the elders must continue to admonish the church by speaking against those who speak twisted things.

Equally important, elders are part of the flock themselves. Paul has commissioned all believers to teach one another. In Colossians 3:16, he writes, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." As part of the church, elders have this privilege and responsibility.

Whenever we discuss teaching, we must keep in mind that scripture does not limit it to speaking from a podium/pulpit to a relatively silent group of people. Rather, in the bible we see teaching take place in various forms throughout life. It certainly occurred as the church gathered in larger groups, but it also happened when just a few people got together performing normal tasks throughout the day.

Back to the question at hand: Should elders teach? I believe the scriptural answer is a clear "Yes."

In my next post I'm going to tackle a related question that is a little more controversial: Should elders teach in a manner that is different from the way other men in the church teach? Yikes. That should make for an interesting discussion.

Missions in I Thessalonians

What does Paul have to say to us about world missions in his first letter to the Thessalonians? Specifically, what is the most important thing the apostle has to say? What is the key verse or passage?

(To read the first post in this series, please click here.)

I believe the most critical missions-centered verse for us in this letter is 1:8. Paul writes, "For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything."

This verse is extremely important because it answers a very crucial question for us. That question is, "Does the Great Commission apply to us?"

Some well-meaning Christians believe that the Great Commission (See Matt. 28:18-20, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:8) only applied to the original disciples. Paul's statement in I Thessalonians 1:8 tells us otherwise.

I wrote about this topic in some detail a few months ago. In order to avoid redundancy, I'll simply link to my post entitled The Great Commission: To Whom Does It Apply? I encourage you to read it, and then comment back here.

To read any of my posts in this series, please click here.

Blogging Reality

It's good to be a humble blogger.

On Galatians 3:28

In light of a few posts I wrote last week (this and this), I'd like to briefly discuss Galatians 3:28.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

Galatians 3:28 is a verse that is frequently yanked out of context for a variety of purposes. Like most other verses, when the context is ignored, this verse can be forced to mean a wide variety of different things. In order to understand what Paul is truly saying, we must remember the broader context in which 3:28 falls.

Paul is writing to Christians in modern-day Turkey. His audience is likely those in the churches Paul founded on his first missionary journey. Paul is aghast that these relatively new believers have, to one degree or another, turned from the gospel of grace to a message of works. Paul writes these strong words at the outset of the epistle in 1:6-9, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

Most of the letter carries the theme of salvation by God’s grace through faith. It is designed to contradict the false teachings of Judaizers who were proclaiming a works-based gospel of law following. The context of the vast majority of this letter is one of salvation. Specifically, 1:1-5:12 focuses on salvation. It is not until 5:13 that Paul transitions to a focus on sanctification, saying, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

We see, then, that 3:28 falls in the middle of a fairly long treatise by Paul on the topic of faith-based salvation. In chapter three, Paul writes about Abraham as the man of faith. Abraham was justified by faith, not law. After Christ came, both Jews and Gentiles of faith are counted as sons of Abraham. Paul concludes chapter three by writing this in verses 25-29, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Everyone in Christ, regardless of race, societal status, or gender, is an heir to the promise of salvation. In this great salvation, we are all the same in Christ. We all have the same value and receive the same gift.

The entire focus of 3:28 is salvation in Christ.

Please notice that 3:28 says absolutely nothing about the role that any Christ-follower is to play in the family, in broader society, and/or in the church. This is because the context of 3:28 is salvation as opposed to sanctification. There are plenty of other verses in the NT that speak to the roles God expects us to play.

Galatians 3:28 is frequently used by some to say that men and women have the exact same roles to play in the family and in the church. The problem with this is that it requires the text to be torn out of its context in order to make it say this. Simply put, it’s not what Paul meant.

The bible differentiates between worth/value and role. Some verses deal with one while others deal with the other. Galatians 3:28 is a wonderful verse that we should all cherish, but we must also be faithful to scripture’s intent. While Paul intended for 3:28 to be read for understanding of salvation, he had no plans for this to impact the way we think about the roles we play.

Let’s all remember that each verse belongs in a broader context. It is from this context that meaning comes. In order to know what God means in the bible, we must stay in context.

In Praise of Mothers

My wonderful wife Alice has written a blog post in praise of mothers on this Mother's Day. It's entitled Stream of Consciousness...On Mother's Day. She says many of the same things I'm feeling. Mothers truly are a gift from God.

Maybe This is Why Most Christians Don't Tithe

On many occasions I've heard it said that if all or even most Christians would just tithe, the church would have more than enough money. This lament has come not just from pastors, but non-clergy as well. I confess to have pridefully uttered this complaint in the past against brothers and sisters in Christ.  Ugh.

Every statistic I've ever seen indicates that most Christians do not tithe. This is traditionally (not biblically) understood to refer to paying 10% of one's income to a local church.

The main problem comes with the interpretation of why most Christians do not tithe. Those who do tithe usually say that the reason others don't tithe is simply disobedience. The reason behind the disobedience is said to be a lack of generosity. Pastors sometimes respond to this "problem" by preaching the always popular, guilt-inducing sermon series on stewardship. Sigh.

Let's back up a bit. What is the real reason for why most Christians do not tithe? I believe it has nothing to do with disobedience or lack of generosity. Rather, I believe the real reason most Christians do not pay the tithe is that they have never heard a convincing biblical argument for doing so.

My guess is that most of us have heard at least one person say that the tithe is still in force today. They usually provide reasons for making this claim. This is where the problem lies. What are the reasons? They all stem from Old Covenant practices and/or historical narrative events that have no bearing on us today. None of the arguments in favor of the tithe come from New Testament church practices. Not one.

It is amazing just how glaringly silent the New Testament is on tithing. The reason? It was a practice needed in ancient Israel to keep the country and temple functioning. We are no longer under any of those rules/regulations.

One glaring and somewhat startling truth to some: even in the OT, the tithe was never currency. Rather, it came from the agricultural yield of the fields.

Regarding the church, the idea of Christians paying a tithe to a local church is utterly, completely, 100% foreign to the entire New Testament narrative.

In light of these factors, it is no wonder that most Christians do not tithe. It's simply not a New Covenant practice.

Instead, let's follow the practices and teachings that we do see in the NT. Paul sums it up in II Corinthians chapter 9.

Brothers and sisters, we have been freed from the constraints of the tithe to give generously, sacrificially, and joyfully to those in need!


For much more helpful information on this issue, please click here.