SLIPPERY AS

A Pastor of an Assemblies of God Church rang me and said he hoped that we could still remain on amiable terms. I explained that I was still a little angry and disturbed by his attempting to extract money from my wife and I through tithing. He denied any such thing. ‘I was merely presenting another point' of view’.

However, I was convinced then, as I am now, that his intention was to procure a verbal pledge from myself to hand over 10% of my weekly income to him. This ‘pledging’ was a common form of soliciting money from Christians in the 1970’s.

An intelligent, although naive Christian would often be convinced by a smooth talking minister of God that if they gave a set amount of money each week to God, they would receive at least double the amount in return as a reward for being ‘obedient to the Spirit’s leading’. Unbelievable blessings from the very throne of God would be their’s if only they would be obedient to his word.

Many Christians lost more than money to these pastors’.Besides giving their money, some gave and lost forever their HOMES. Some gave and lost forever PROPERTY. Some lost cars, boats and all manner of valuable assets to these individuals.

These crafty teachers know and use the Scriptures to intimidate God’.s people into parting with their money, by implying that God could very well curse them if they failed to comply in giving 'to God' 10% of their diposeable income. If you look into the eyes of one of these pastor' you may see the LUST for MONEY AND POWER shining from their souls.

He understands Scripture well enough to know that the Apostles NEVER TAUGHT THE DOCTRINE OF TITHING. He is also aware that Jesus never taught his disciples to SOLICIT MONEY IN THE FORM OF TITHING.

A combination of GUILT, FEAR OF RETRIBUTION FROM GOD’, and a belief that their Pastor has a ‘special’ relationship with God. is enough to coerce many new Christians (and sometimes not so new) into handing over their money and possessions.

However, when the bills start rolling in and there is less money to cover their own weekly costs; anxiety, disillusionment and an underlying feeling of resentment developes as they realise they have been CAUGHT IN THIS TRAP OF TITHING. Sometimes his or her life is in tatters financially and spiritually. Most will quietly fade from the christian scene and go back to their previous way of life.

New converts always available

The new convert presents the pastor with a challenge he just cannot refuse. This challenge is to convince by subtlety and guile that it is the CHRISTIANS DUTY TO PAY GOD 10% of HIS INCOME. AND IF THE NEW CONVERT IS OBEDIENT TO THIS ORDINANCE, GOD’S CURSE COULD WELL BE DIVERTED FROM HIS FAMILY. NOT ONLY THAT, HE WILL ALSO RECEIVE A BLESSING “THAT HE CANNOT CONTAIN.”

God will not reward bribery with a blessing. Under the Law of this land, bribery is a criminal offence. In the spiritual realm bribery is an OFFENCE AGAINST GOD'S SAVING GRACE WHICH CANNOT BE BOUGHT.

His blessings are freely given. It is the human nature of man to attempt bribery for the purposes of personal gain. To tithe is DISOBEDIENCE TO THE KNOWN WILL OF GOD WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD, OR THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

Elijah burning works of religious righteousness

“ANYONE WHO DOES NOT STAY WITHIN THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, BUT GOES BEYOND IT, DOES NOT HAVE GOD..” (2 John 1:9)

Take heed friend

Paul the apostle never taught anybody to tithe.

Jesus never taught his followers to pay himself 10% of their money.

I put you in remembrance of the words of Jesus:

“Many will come in my name and deceive many.”

And “Turn not my fathers house into a den of thieves.”

If one cares to consider carefully, the pros and cons of this tithing teaching; one will see clearly the evil it creates.

I suspect that there are some Pastors who have ‘considered carefully’ and gone ahead and preached this doctrine anyway.

I put them in remembrance of Pauls words:

“THAT NO MAN GO BEYOND AND DEFRAUD HIS BROTHER IN ANY MATTER”:

“The Lord is the avenger of all such, and we also have forewarned and testified.”

And finaly; to lay this matter to rest, there are some teachers of God’s Word who have robbed and defrauded themselves of their own conscience and are unable to repent.

david.taylor1@clear.net.nz