Tithe: The Christian’s Ball and Chain II

Before I go much further in the tithe issue, let me make a few things clear.  There seems to be some that might think I am saying a Christian does not need to give.  If I were asked the question if a Christian should give, my answer would be absolutely yes.  Giving is what I feel may be a barometer to the condition of ones heart (I will deal with this later).  It is that because of some traditions and current thoughts on tithes, we have put unnecessary burdens and hardships on God’s people.  Please let me explain.

First, upon good hard study of the ideal of tithe as it is taught in today’s churches, teaching 10% of cross or net income is nowhere in the Bible period.  I would challenge anyone to definably find any such teaching in the Bible.  Yet we are told God will not bless us or we are under some kind of curse if we do not.  This is bondage plain and simple.  When one looks at today statistics we have a major problem. According to Newsweek, most church members give under 2%.  Then we find that it is the poor that give the most, and I will show you according to the scriptures this in its self is wrong.  In the law of Mosses the poor were not required to tithe, I will show you this when I get to that part of teaching.  USA Today (Oct.25, 1990) tells us that families earning less than $10,000 give 5.5% of their income to charity.  Families earning between $50,000 and $60,000 give only 1.7% of their earnings.  Can you see why I call it the ball and chain?  The way tithe is being taught today is not working and all it does in the long run, bring condemnation.

 Tithing as we have come to know it was formally recognized under Pope Adrian I in 787.  It was largely due to the fact that church was growing in power and numbers as far as the clergy. Large elaborate cathedrals were being built and all this needed to be funded somehow, hence tithe and other kinds of offerings.  Now once again it was not the rich that was burdened it was the common poor person that carried this load.

In the middle Ages the tithe expanded to Great Tithe and Little Tithe, all these were an expansion on the tithe.  All church members were obligated to pay the tithe if not there were collectors to make sure it was payed. In 1188 an obligatory tithe called the Saladin Tithe was instituted in England to raise money for the Third Crusade.  Over the many years there have been many kinds of tithe and teachings on the subject.

Today we have many teachers making all kind of claims of blessing for those who tithe.  Kind of a snake oil salesman of the old west, give and all your woes will be over.   Just the other day while channel surfing I stopped to hear a preacher tell a story during a special offering, of a illegal alien that gave an offering and how God help him from being deported.  Then the preacher began to encourage all illegal aliens to send an offering and God would keep them from being deported.  I could go on an on with many such stories.  I am sure you have heard a few yourselves.  The point is that no matter how you wrap it tithing has not changed over the centuries.  So many of us have just come to believe that tithe is scriptural and when presented with the truth we fight it because of the implications it presents.  Can we really come to the conclusion that we might have been wrong?

There have been times in my own life that if I were not so hard headed I could have made some of these changes much earlier in life.  There was a time when I had a preacher in my life that tried to teach me a different look at tithes and I rejected him.  Even though what he said made perfect since and had a good track record so to speak that showed what he was saying worked.  He tried hard to get me to let go of the ideal of 10% as law and move into the scriptural ideal of free will offering and giving to the poor.  He was the only preacher I met to this day that as a missionary, teaching the natives stewardship and training them in trades, sent money back to the States instead of needing money from churches.  To this day that man still benefits from the generations that show gratitude for what he taught them over 50 years ago.

Let’s now go back to the New Testament and take a deeper look at what is taught about giving.     

Since Paul does not say anything about tithes nor does any other writer, what is said about the law since later we will show you tithe is under the law.    (Col 2:16-17 NKJV)  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, {17} which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.  Since tithes were a part of the Hebrew laws of feast and Sabbaths and in a large part agricultural, we might also come to the conclusion that tithes were also done away with in Jesus.  Look at the events that took place concerning the early church in Acts 15.   

The Jewish leaders were demanding that the new gentile converts obey the law of Mosses.  Would this not also include the tithe that was in the law?   It is shown here that the law was a burden to them (Acts 15:10 NKJV) “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?   Then the counsel that met in Jerusalem sent a letter to the gentile believers asking them to only do a few things and tithe was not one of them.  (Acts 15:28-29 NKJV)  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: {29} that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.   I would think if tithes were an issue then they would have mentioned it.  You need to understand that all the gentile churches would not have known to tithe because it was a Hebrew law.

(Gal 3:1-3 NIV)  You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. {2} I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? {3} Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

The Galatians were being pushed into keeping the Jewish rituals, even after they have already received salvation through grace.  If you read the second chapter Paul, after telling his story of how he became the minister to the gentiles.  He tells of a meeting with some leaders and names those he met with, and only one thing was asked of Paul, that He would remember the poor (verse 10).  Many scholars agree that this was an offering he was asked to collect, note no tithes is mentioned here.  The church leaders of his time, which were all Jewish, were not requiring Paul to collect tithes.  I believe it was because they simply understood that since Jesus the Jewish rituals of sacrifices were done away with which tithing was tied to.  If the tithe was about an animal for sacrifice then where is the need for tithe.        

I would encourage you to read Romans chapters, 5, 6, 7, and 8.  Read the book of Galatians and how Paul addressed the law issues and how the church is free from the law of the Hebrews.   Then in Hebrews chapter seven tithes is used only in showing the priesthood of Jesus, and through Jesus we are all priest onto the Lord. (1Peter 2.5-9) Since the tabernacle of the Old Testament is done away with, then so is the Levitical order.  Then we should also come to conclusion so was tithe done away with since it was tied to the Temple, Tabernacle, Levitical order and sacrifices.

So the question should be what does the scripture tell us about giving?  Jesus had a lot to say about giving and so did many of the New Testament writers.  One might even be surprised at what is taught and what these offerings were for.  If you have read some of my earlier bloges you might even begin to understand how things got so twisted around.  We will take a look at how God looks at our giving and then later deal with what is truly said in the Old Testament.

(Luke 18:18-30 NIV)  A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {19} "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. {20} You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" {21} "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. {22} When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." {23} When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. {24} Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! {25} Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." {26} Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" {27} Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." {28} Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" {29} "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God {30} will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

I like this one and I want to point out a few things and then move on.  We find that this ruler said he was a keeper of the commandments. (Note if one were to study the commandments, tithing is not one of the ten.) Jesus was quick to point out the real heart condition of this man; his money was the indicator not the problem.  Simply put the man was challenged not to tithe but give all, and not to a group or to the temple but to the poor.  I believe what Jesus was telling his disciples that if one are willing to sacrifice for the kingdom of God that in this life there is reward and in the coming age.  One can not trust in riches, must consider the poor and be a true follower of Jesus.

Despite what we may hear from some teachers today, Jesus was not a rich man.  Upon historical records of his time you will find that Jesus could not have crossed those social barriers and attracted the following he did.  He was raised by a tradesman, and in those days that was the lowest class of people just short of servants.  Jesus would have understood what it was like to earn every penny to survive.  How they would have worked hard just to make ends meet.  Some writers believe that the reason Joseph is not mentioned later in Jesus’ life, might be because he was already dead.  The life expectancy of the hard working class was often short.  This will help us understand some of Jesus’ other teaching.

 (Mat 10:8-10 NIV)  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. {9} Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; {10} take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

As Jesus sent out the disciples to preach he instructs them not to do it for money.  Freely they have received from the Lord and they should give it freely.  Yet the ideal that one earns what they get is in place in the phrase “the worker is worth his keep” this is called stewardship as we will see later.  Yet in Matt 17.27 he has Peter fish for a miracle provision, Jesus does not tell him to pay tithes but pay the taxes for them both.

  (Mark 12:42-44 NIV)  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. {43} Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. {44} They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

In the context of this scripture you will find that Jesus was coming down hard on the teachers of the law.  You might notice in verse 40 the words “devour widows’ houses”.  You will find places in the Old as well as New where God is very displeased with leaders that take advantage of the poor.  So Jesus takes the time to commend the widow in her giving of all compared to the abundant giving of others who had much more.  This was a free will offering box that was supposed to be used for the poor and Temple needs.  This woman showed a great heart to give all she had for those who might not have as much as her.

    (Luke 6:35-38 NIV)  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. {36} Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. {37} "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. {38} 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."

This is also a good teachable moment about giving.  When we read the full context of the message we see a parallel of how we deal with others.  So is Jesus just talking about money or how we give to others?  Such as giving of kindness, forgiveness, mercy, as well as giving of money.  The measure is not set and left to the giver, but how you give in life is how it will be returned.  Let me use my little brother for example.  According to how we were raised my brother missed the mark.  He did not do the things the way we were taught.  Even I at the time did not fully see His heart.  My brother did not go to church like mama wanted him; He did not give like the church wanted him to.  Yet at his death as I met all those people whose lives were touched by my brother.  I heard stories of how out of the goodness of his heart gave to those who had less than he, how he took care of the widows around him.  I saw his bible clearly used and marked up.  Then at the visitation and funeral the place was packed and overflowing with all those my brother had touched in some way.  I then saw that my brother Mathew lived the gospel according to Jesus not mamma and the church.

Let’s not stop here, wait until next week!   The Bible says a lot more about giving.

Tithe: The Christian’s Ball and Chain

The Tithe issue, yes I have to go there!   If we are going to confront any dilemmas and untruths in today’s churches we have to face the truth about our giving.

First of all if you have been reading and following my blogs you might think I am against the church.  That could not be further from the truth; I am a leader of a group and also active in ministry.  How one has church or what kind of church you may be comfortable with is up to you,   as long as you are not blind to the truths of the Word of God and history.   I am not saying that the way I may do things is the only way.  However if I were to be looking for a church to be a part of there are some things I would make note of and need to see.

First, is there room for those in attendance to be a part of the service, and obey God?  Is the pastor open to let others share before or after he speaks?  Can those in attendance ask a question for clarity in what is being taught?  Is the service tightly organized where there is no room for the spirit to move or is there opportunity for all of God’s gifts and manifestations to work?  Does the pastor put off the feeling that it can’t be done without him or does he understand he is there to facilitate the presence of God’s spirit. If there is no room for God’s people to grow in their gifts and the manifestations then I wish to have no part.

Second, how do they teach giving, and how much emphasis do they put on ones tithing?  Do they spend a lot of time on offerings making you feel like you have to give?   Do they use the word cursed if you don’t or that is the only way to be blessed?  Do they use stories and examples to play on your emotions, to get you to give?  Do they make you feel like the church is not going to make it if you don’t do your part?  Does prosperity and money seem to be the center of most of the messages? This kind of church I wish to have no part of.  (These are not the only things I look at but they are a large part of it.)

 Don’t miss understand me, there is room for us to make the needs known and we should have liberty to do so.  There is nothing wrong in the New Testament church with blessing the leaders in giving.  (1 Cor 9:9-11 NKJV)  For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? {10} Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. {11} If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? I will deal a little more on this later.

I will not condemn any church if they take up an offering, just don’t make a whole service out of it. In our services I have made the choice not to take up space in an already short service for offerings.  The basket is at the door for those to give as they come in, and at the front for those who give during worship time.  Some may scoff at this but we have never lost any revenue from those that were properly taught in giving.  As a matter of fact at times the giving increased.  In the church where I was the pastor in Missouri I did not like to take up the offerings and would not make it an issue.  I let elders and others take up the offerings and they knew I did not want anyone feel they had to give to come to our services.  There were no stories or emotional pulls to get people to give, and at that time my belief in New Testament giving was still evolving.  I was still finding answers to my own personal questions around tithing.  

I can hear now all those traditional teachers telling me that one must tithe to be blessed.  I remember sitting at a round table discussion of ministers a few years ago and this issue came up.  I wanted so bad to speak up but after hearing the quick responses of those still hung up on the Old Testament teaching I just felt it would be better to keep my thoughts to myself. 

The first challenge I would make to anyone is, where in the Bible are we taught to keep any Hebrew laws as Christians. The word tithe is not even used in any New Testament context concerning our giving.  The whole New Testament was written by Jews who understood the Laws of Mosses, and not once do they teach the church that they should tithe.  I know that there are some of you that would bring up Hebrews chapter seven, but if you closely examine the context of the chapter, giving is not the point.  The writer was proving the priesthood of Christ.

Then there have been whole messages on Peter taking 3 hours to receive an offering to justify how some take offerings.  Sometimes throwing in that God killed a husband and wife for lying to the spirit in an offering.  (Acts 5. 1-11)  If one would carefully read the last part of chapter 4 and then chapter 5, they would see there is no mention of a service or an offering being taken.  In line with chapter 4 people were giving out of the generosity of their hearts, selling anything they did not need and bringing the proceeds to the apostles.  Nowhere in this setting do you see anyone asking or telling them to do it.  It was because of the deceit of the mentioned couple, trying to gain recognition for something they did not do, they were killed.     

Before I get into the scriptures let me share what began this changing of mind in me.  About 25 years ago I was a part of a traditional church that preached tithing on a regular basis.  I, even at that time was solid in my belief in tithing and how I was blessed and approved of God. (Boy did we miss the grace of God and I was sure hard headed).  My wife and I gave faithfully our tithes and for the most part way over 10%.  Yet it did not seem to guarantee my success in life, I still had to deal with sickness and anything else life dealt out.  I was doing what I thought was right at the time, even to the point of not only giving of my money but a large portion of my time to the church.  I was working for the Lord and paying to do it so to speak.  

During this time I was making an effort to go full time in ministry.  I had worked on an outreach program for months.  I did all the ground work and provision for a tent crusade in or city.  We had many guest speakers and many in our church preached for us.  I spent nights with it and even days watching our equipment.  Yet I was not allowed by my own pastor to preach myself.  Yet I was faithful to see the project completed though yet it was met with complete failure as far as I was concerned.  When I look back and consider the taxing it was on our church, and the families that were lost verses people that might have been blessed it was a failure.

While doing this outreach which I basically worked full time for two or more months, I received no pay other than God providing groceries for me to feed my family.  Needless to say we were behind on all our bills, including our mortgage payment.  I went to the church for help and because of the great expenses of the outreach I was told they could not help.  We were facing forcloser on our home if I did not make at lest one payment.  That very week I received a call to fix someone’s roof and mad just enough money to make a payment.

That Sunday as I always did, I sat on the platform, because I was on the praise team.  Our Pastor got up to receive the tithes and offerings.  He started out that morning with the famous scripture in Malachi, stating very forcefully “you are cursed with a curse if you do not pay your tithe”.  My heart broke that morning and the weight of those words pierced my heart. I have been taught this scripture for years and believed it was true for us. But, that morning my faith was shaken.  I had just enough money to pay my mortgage payment; if I gave I would be short.  My home was on the line, would God curse me because I was going to provide for my family.  I wept to myself and asked God “would you curse me if I did not give this morning”. 

What God spoke to me that morning started me on my journey in the study on tithe. (Now this is still an ongoing process.) I heard the voice of God so clearly and lovingly, “No son what good father would curse his own children, you are my son and not under a curse.  Go pay the house payment for I provided it for you”.  I did just that.

  The reason I call the article the ball and chain is just that.  Many ministries and churches use the scriptures out of tradition and for the forceful means of getting people to give.  No matter if by good intentions or not this is wrong.  There have been and still today many ministries that through twisting scripture get people to give largely to their ministry.  They tell stories and parade people in front of use like a good infomercial, playing on our emotions getting us to give our last dollar to their ministry. (What they are selling is God’s blessings.) All of this is not scriptural and I believe they will have to give an account for their lies.  In my time because I try to minister to the heart of people and know their condition, I have found that for about every success story about giving there is about 10 that ended in heart break and anger. (Note there are a lot of reasons for this and my point is this, giving is not a cure all thing.)  The way tithes and offerings are taught in most modern churches, brings God’s people into a bondage, hence the ball and chain.

 How is this bondage to the church and believers?  I personally know so many churches and ministries that use this to control their members or meet their budgets.  Ever since that day when I was struck in the heart, I made it a point to the best of my ability never to make anyone feel as I did that morning.  Many churches have made people feel of less value because they do not give what is expected of them.  There are churches will not let anyone serve unless they have a clear record of tithes.  Like a score card is kept so they can use it against them.  Only those special people who give regularly get help and blessings from the Lord or church.  I have heard judgments passed on those who are struggling because they don’t tithe, no matter how much they may have given in the past.  I have even seen pastors refuse to even pray for individuals because they did not tithe.  I find all this wrong and nowhere in scripture, had God poured wrath out on individuals just because they did not tithe, especially in the church of Jesus Christ.  Before you bring up Malachi, read the whole book and get understanding who he is talking to in the context of the group God was addressing.

In the Old Testament, wrath and curses where often directed more towards leaders than the rest of the people.  The blessings and curses were not tied solely to ones giving, but the keeping of the whole law.  Under the law ones giving were just a part of a whole system of worship and could be summed up in the faith of the Hebrew people.  It was called the Shema; every Hebrew was taught this from their youth and could quote it.  (Deu 6:4-9 NKJV)  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! {5} "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. {6} "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. {7} "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. {8} "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. {9} "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Jesus himself quoted it in Mark 12.29-31.  Everything they did was based on their understanding of God and doing what was commanded out of love.  Now this is another whole subject and may we will look at it later.

  

Now let’s look at the word of God concerning this matter.  First in the New Testament church, the four gospels are still under the law and so was Jesus until he fulfilled it at the cross.   Like I said earlier tithe is not taught by the New Testament writers.  (1 Cor 16:1-4 NKJV)  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: {2} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. {3} And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. {4} But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.  Tithe is not mentioned here and this was a collection for the poor in Jerusalem.  Please do not get me wrong, I am not telling you that you should not give.  But, as you will see believers should be great givers from their heart.

(2 Cor 9:6-15 NKJV)  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. {7} So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. {8} And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. {9} As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." {10} Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, {11} while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. {12} For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, {13} while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, {14} and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. {15} Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 

Here Paul is teaching us to be good givers and in our giving, the needs of others and the ministry is met.  It is evident that the church at Corinth was good givers, and did not hold back. Yet there is no mention of tithe and blessing and grace is shown to all.  Some today try to teach a thing about seed giving and this scripture does not support that.  Two points are made in sowing and reaping.  The first is you get out only what you put in, this is a simple farming principle, and if you do not invest you can’t expect to get increase.  This principle works in all areas of life.  The second point is, that it is God who has blessed us all and gives each one the ability to prosper, and if that is not working for you, then get with the Father and find out why.  One other thing about those who are asking you to sow into their ministry saying it is good ground.  I come from a long line of family farmers on my mother’s side, and as a child spent a lot of time on the farm.  You don’t sow your seed in someone else’s land unless you have a contract agreement, other wise you lose your rights to its harvest. In a farm agreement one may sow seed into another’s land and the land owner only gets a portion of the harvest.  Think about this before you give to someone who says sow into their ministry.

(Phil 4:15-20 NKJV)  Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. {16} For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. {17} Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. {18} Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. {19} And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. {20} Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Paul is thanking the church at Philippi for their giving.  Here we can understand that Paul did not ask for it, and how God was pleased with their generous giving, and understands its sacrifice, yet tithes are not mentioned.

Continued next week, don’t miss it!

Zombie Land

I know that the title for this article may sound strange but bear with me as I hope to play on the words of the title of this article.  I have been giving my blogs a lot of thought this week and hope to draw you in with some insight and bring about some discussion.  I met with a long time friend this week at a conference service and afterward had a little discussion about my blogs. 

  He shared his insights, desires, and concerns, wanting to make sure that I was not sounding too hard and harsh on our church systems.  He expressed his understanding and knowing where I was coming from and to which I am very thankful.  I take to heart  to what those close to me think and weigh what is spoken.  I have not taken lightly what I have shared over the last few weeks and feel that it has been from my heart.  I know I am not skilled as some in writing.  I am also humbled by the very thought of how much God would love me and choose to use me.  I am so thankful for those that God has placed in my life and the events that have shaped me.  I am a man truly blessed of the Lord and consider myself rich in a number of good friends that truly love me and allow me to speak my mind.

  In the service I sat with my friend as the main speaker began.  My mind raced with many thoughts and wondered how I was going to receive after what I had been sharing over the last few weeks.  The church we sat in was set up like any other church and I knew that they were much like the average spirit filled church.  I will also consider the fact that they genuinely wanted the presence of the Lord in their services.  Yet in all aspects they were no different than any other church with a few songs a special and preaching.  A well orchestrated service was conducted and the people sat as the speaker spoke. 

At first I struggled with the speaker as he spent time on things that was typical of many main stream professional speakers.  Yet I paid close attention to what was being said.  Was I being judgmental, have I become hardened by experiences? As He spoke I was drawn in by things that made me think.  Over all there was a wealth of things to chew on and research in my own studies.  He spoke on things I generally believe and agree on, I was glad to be there to receive.  The service ended much in a way one would expect, with a call to the front, yet without any fan fare. Yet this all got me to thinking, (dangerous I guess).

  Now I know that my thoughts and words are not fancy and may never be full of click speech or slogans.  I may never fit in the main stream of ministry yet I know what is in my heart and I want to know the truth.  I too truly want to have a move of God in my life.  I want a true God experience outside of man made systems and programs.  I am not looking for another revival or a place where someone claims to have it happening.  I want a God thing that revolutionizes my entire life and those around me.  I am looking for the very thing that will usher in the blessed hope for all believers.  I am eagerly a waiting for the kingdom of Christ to come in this world, to free us from the bondages of death and corruption that is in this world.   

Each day I want to draw closer to God my Father, to know His very heart beat, living wholly for Him.  I know that I am not there yet; I still struggle with things in my life.  There are battles yet to be won and purposes yet to be fulfilled.  I am not perfect and I do not write as one who is.  I have to deal with myself on a daily basis and thank God He has given me the power to overcome.  I am so thankful today for where God has me, yet knowing I have not yet arrived at where I am going.

  With all this said I want to get to our topic.  Over these last few weeks there have been some events in the news that has caught my attention and feel they fit with much of what I am addressing with church.

 It seems that one now days cannot speak their own mind if it does not fit with the thinking of others.  Let me quote from a book I am reading by the author Anthony Buzzard, “Once a belief has been accepted both intellectually and emotionally as truth, any challenge to that cherished tenet is liable to almost automatic rejection.  The very human desire of all of us to conform to the group which has nourished us and the lifetime patterns of thought learned from sincere teachers we trusted and respected tends to create barriers which secure us against all objections and can blind us to the most obvious truths.”

 I have read a few news articles about well known people that have spoken out about homosexuality, abortion, war, and some politics of today.  These people did not say any thing wrong, even saying it with love and respect.  But yet they have been criticized for making a stand for truth.  I will not spend a lot of time on who theses people are that is not my point.  The point is they spoke out and it does not fit the public norm.  They have been called many names and accused of hate and outdated with the times.  There may even be a few lawsuits being filed for their speaking out.  I have even read responses by the church community and they have spoken condemnation of various types.   Some saying their language was not strong enough; to they should have kept their thoughts to themselves, and need to get with the times.  This is nothing new when you see how many of our own modern church leaders handle these issues.

 I remember having a conversation with a very liberal self proclaimed agnostic a few years ago.  After much conversation back and forth and that person get very frustrated with me when I would not change my views, or concede.  What she spoke next shook me but I would not let her know.  “You wait and see the church will come around to accept homosexuality and these  views over time, just like they have done with many other views of the past”  She did tell me what those things were that the church at one time had stood strong on and now have changed.  In my heart I knew she might be right if God does not do something in this generation, and we are already seeing the beginnings of this.  The sad thing is this young lady grew up in church and I knew her parents and grand parents who were Christians. 

Now; let’s get to the reason for the title of this article “Zombie Land”.  Like the young lady I mentioned and so many in and out of church they don’t like their thoughts challenged.  They have drunk the cool-aid so to speak and recite, quote their favorite people, using the bible to fit their beliefs and ways of life.  Like a movie by the same title I once caught a part of while channel surfing.  Now I am not one to watch horror movies per-say but I stopped to see what it was all about.  Most of the world was destroyed by some kind of virus that made people living mindless dead people.  They went about destroying and making everyone like them by their biting on them. 

If I can make a liberal comparison here, this looks a lot like our society and churches today.  People have been affected by the virus of untruth and deception.  They have embraced it as fact and ways of life, Christianity, and the way all people should live. They go about devouring all those that disagree with them, consuming the life of God’s purpose out of His people. One is not allowed to speak out what is on their mind or to think differently.  They say we show hatred, and our language is inflammatory.  They reject all reason and any thought that is not like theirs.  Like zombies they go about with only one purpose, to make all those that are living just like them.  (I will acknowledge the church at times in the past has not done a good job of showing mercy and Love)

Jesus himself faced such things in his own time, confronting the religious systems of the day.  He was considered an outsider and rebel.  His teaching provoked thought and took the focus off of their man made systems and put it on the Father.   There was not a man who could have shown more love than him, yet he demonstrated strong action and words towards those who corrupted the truth.  He did not fit their image of the messiah they were expecting, and they tried to get him to conform.  Jesus just had to be who he was and stay true to the purpose his Father had given him.  He could not be bitten with their deceit so they killed him on a cross.  That could not stop him because the Father had given him life and He rose from the dead.        

(2 Cor 3:1-9 NIV)  Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? {2} You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. {3} You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. {4} Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. {5} Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. {6} He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. {7} Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, {8} will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? {9} If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

Now, like Paul I have nothing to boast, and have not any competence in myself.  I have had no formal education other than the training of others.  I am not full of insightful speech, and sometimes stumble with my words.  Yet I know who I believe in and am a lover of truth.  I have been given life that is in Jesus, and refuse to give it up.  I have been given a liberty in His spirit and will stand fast in that liberty. 

I do love the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and will make a stand.  Like a father that sees his young child about to step into the street, stepping into the path of a car.  I am not going to passively and softly speak so I don’t hurt the child’s feelings.  I am going to raise my voice to speak firmly and sternly.  I am going to take action yanking the child out of the path of danger, and not apologize for it.  The life of that child depends on my response and action.  One should not question my love for the child by my abrupt and drastic action (Jude, 22-23).  It is my love that demanded me to take action.  I love God’s people and His church, and I see danger around the corner, it’s time to take action.  Like in the movie Zombie Land, I refuse to be bitten and give in just so I can fit in with the rest.  I don’t want to be a part of a mindless group of people doing things just out of tradition or conformity.  I want to live the life God has given me. I want God to have His way in me and I am so hungry for a genuine move of God, not birthed out of tradition, and control of man. 

Just remember God wants His best for you, and don’t settle for less.  Begin to seek Him as never before.  Look for truth and don’t settle for man made traditions.  You are God’s chosen people and life is in you.  God gave Jesus His son to bring you a liberty free from laws and traditions.  He has given you power to overcome in this life and to live godly.  You can do it with His help, Jesus has paid the way. 

Final Word on Leadership

In my final part on leadership I want to bring what have been sharing to a close.  I could share so much more on the history of church leadership. But, for now I would challenge you to do your own research and study.  I want to close this segment out with ministry and leadership in our own recent history, and then share a little of my own experiences, and thoughts.

In the 19th century we have two great men of God that changed how we view church and ministry to this day.  Both of these men were considered two of the greatest evangelist of their time.  The first was Charles Finney (1792-1875), he was considered to be the one to give us the alter-call as we know it today.  He would have those who needed salvation to come forward and kneel and pray.  He also started laying hands on those he prayed for, and also had teams going to homes for follow-up.  Finney was considered a great revivalist, and by many a modern day reformer. 

The second person was D.L. Moody (1837-1899), the father of the evangelical movement and our modern day charismatic ministry.  He traveled more than a million miles and ministered to over 100 million people.  This was all done without media, modern travel, or electronics.  He came up with the door to door witnessing, and evangelistic advertising.  He also gave us the "gospel song" or "gospel hymn", and he popularized the decision card.  Moody was also the first to ask those who wanted to be saved, to stand up and leave their seats and he would lead them in the sinners prayer.  Many years later Billy Graham upgraded Moody's technique, having everyone bow their heads and close their eyes. 

Both of these men gave us the pragmatism of ministry and leadership.  Pragmatism is the philosophy that teaches that if something works, it should be embraced regardless of ethical considerations.  Basically, the end justifies the means.  This has greatly influenced contemporary Christianity.  The focus of the church had changed to more on winning souls than spiritual growth.  The early church ideal of mutual edification and every-member functioning to corporately manifest Jesus Christ was lost.

Now, these men and many that have followed them have created many different styles of ministry.  I will never question their love for the Lord or their salvation.  Many have done greater things in ministry than I will ever do. Yet, I will question many things they have taught over the years.  I will question how so many people could so blindly follow a man or a woman no matter what is done or said.

Then there came men such as Charles Fuller (1887-1968), who gain prominence through his radio program, Old Fashioned Revival Hour.  It aired from 1937 to 1968, reaching from North America to all over the world. At the time of his death, he was heard on more than 650 radio stations.  We also have Billy Graham, who in the 1950's working with Campus Crusade for Christ developed the four spiritual laws of soul winning.  These two men perfected the use of the sinner’s prayer and the term personal savior.  Now there is basically nothing wrong with such evangelism, but what was now lost and still is today, the teaching of biblical body of Christ and us being sons of God the father.  The primary focus of the church had shifted to Jesus our personal savior, and what were lost were Jesus our messiah and restorer of God the Father's kingdom.  That by grace we are restored back to God and his kingdom.

Through this pragmatism we now have today's leaders.  Now we have many well intended, good hearted men and women of God, who are legitimately serving God and his church.  Yet, we also have a great many professional preachers, (a list today that I will not go into) that preach and teach for their own gain.  We have Christian TV, radio, presses, and media, which are used to promote their ideals and ministries.  From small churches to large mega churches, a personality is promoted and a life style is gained on the backs of deceived followers.  They have become household names with many followers, sort of a celebrity status. 

We have had man made revivals, and so called movements.  In the last hundred years or so we have seen large ministries setting the stage and the course of the church today.  The pressure is on every ministry to be like them.  We have seen truth reduced to new revelations and emotionalism.  At times it seems anything goes as long as God’s name is attached to it.  You can watch a secular positive thinker and then switch to a modern evangelist and you can’t tell the difference.  Let’s face it no matter how you wrap dung and put perfume on it, at its core it’s still dung.  Then we still have the traditional legalist telling us we are all still going to hell, unless we do it their way.  All of these ministries are vying for our money to keep their ministry going.   

Don't get me wrong there are those that truly love the Lord, but I feel that number is far less than those who use the gospel for their own gain.  I will even question those who seem well intended but, then use someone that everyone knows is perverse and corrupt to help them raise money for their ministry.  They will allow these individuals to speak false teachings only because they raise large sums of money.  No matter what you say this is biblically wrong no matter what and I feel that even though the person may be well intended they sacrificed their integrity for money.  I believe God will hold them accountable for the people who have been hurt or deceived by such.

I guess I may need to get off my soap box here.  But, let's face it the system of today's churches and ministries is designed to fail and cause corruption.  Let’s look at our statistics.

There are over 500,000 paid pastors serving in the United States, now consider the following.

94% feel pressured to have the ideal family

90% work more than forty-six hours a week

81% say they have insufficient time with their spouses

80% believe being pastor affects their family negatively

70% have lower self-esteem than when they entered ministry

50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job

80% are discouraged or deal with depression

40%+ suffer from burn out and unrealistic expectations

33% consider pastoral ministry and outright hazard to the family

40% of the pastors resign due to burn out

Over 1,400 ministers across the United States are fired or forced to resign each month.  In the last 20 years the average length of a pastorate has declined from seven years to just over four.

You see our system of leadership as we know it today is based on how entertaining you are, how friendly, well dressed, how your family and spouse behaved, not solely on the truths of the word of God.  One can see how that a person may reach a certain lifestyle through ministry will often get caught up with doing whatever it takes to maintain that lifestyle.  What we need today is not more pulpiteers, but more facilitators of God's spirit, bringing ministry back to the body of Christ not the professional.

The New Testament word for minister is diakonos.  It means to serve, the minister is in the body to serve those they are associated with not to be served.  This is why I myself have chosen a different path and approach to ministry.  I have learned over the years that my preaching didn’t change much in people, but my letting them get to know me, and I just facilitate the spirit and truth, causes true growth in those around me.

What I have shared with you up to this point has been some history with my opinions inserted, with a few quotes.  Now let me share my own perspective.

Over the years I have looked at the word of God and seen what we where doing in today's churches and ministries raise more questions than to give answers.  One day I confronted a friend of mine over something I felt was biblically wrong in what they were doing.  Now this was something that a great many of preachers were also doing as well.  After a much heated exchange he said something to me that rocked my world and made me more determined to walk in truth.  He said "Peter you are just starting out, I have been doing this for over ten years and know this, I give you about ten years or more.  You will soon learn and eventually do it exactly like me if you last."

I drove home angry telling my wife how he dare think I would sell out.  I purposed in my heart that I would not submit to the ways of men.  After I had been a pastor for a few years I could easily see how my friend got to the place he did.  The position and pressure that others put on you creates a loneliness, and ownership that does not belong to a man.   Now, I still consider this man my friend and love him, I still disagree with his methods.

Over time I have often tried to move towards what I felt God had for his church in the New Testament.  I had an open mike in our services, for anyone in the service to share and obey the spirit.  I tried not to be the center of the service, but tradition is hard to change.  Not having a model to go by and pressure from others I would just find myself doing what we are all familiar with, and this frustrated me.  

When I traveled and still today, I will not take up an offering.  I let the church be the ones to determine what to give.  At one large church I made a pastor mad because he wanted me to take up an offering while I ministered to people and I refused.  He told me I would get a larger offering that way.  I refused and turned the service back to him to collect an offering.  Now what happened next shocked me.  He turned to me in front of the whole church and said “Peter if I have anything against you, is that you have too much integrity".  I asked my wife that night “how was I supposed to take that”, as a criticism or complement.  I decided to give God praise and never to go back to such a church.

Over the last several years my philosophy of ministry has change much.  I really struggle with today's modern ministries.  I no longer watch much Christian TV, or listen to radio preachers.  It just gets me angry to see what is done and preached today.  I do take the time through the internet to stream what I feel is a quality ministry and teachings.  I am consuming the word of God and have read more books in the last ten years than ever in my life.  I choose to be a reformer and seeker of truth.  I will not give false teaching the time of day or my money.  As far as I am concerned, if God's true people would stop funding much of today’s ministries there would be a great change in how ministry would be done.  I told our group one day that maybe the best thing that could happen to churches and ministry is to lose our tax exempt status and then we could truly operate outside of the worldly system.

 Now, I know myself that God has called me for a special reason and I am still discovering what that is.  I have many great friends in ministry and who pastor great churches.  Some of who are great joys to associate with and minister in.  I have one church where the leadership turned all the chairs from facing the pulpit to facing each other in a circle.  In that church the people have a greater openness to obey God and share with the rest in the service.  I love going to that church and seeing God at work.  There are many others I know that are trying to bring true ministry back to the body of Christ, fulfilling I COR. 12. I am not trying to be critical but, yet make a stand for truth.  I am not perfect but I choose to follow the one who makes us perfect.  I love to see God's spirit move through his body, and love to talk about his word, and not be afraid to ask the hard questions, in doing so I am not afraid of being asked the hard questions, and want to find answers together.

The New Testament church had no fixed order of worship; they had no paid staff, or a headquarters to answer to.  Believers gathered in open-participatory meetings, where everyone could share their experience of Christ.  There were no buildings to maintain, so funds were used to help each other and the poor around them.  They met to glorify Jesus and God his Father, and to edify each other in spiritual growth.  The leadership was from among them and was there to facilitate the God’s spirit, and order.  They were usually the older ones mentoring the younger, and sending out those who were set a side for ministry to further God’s kingdom. Every joint is supplying to the needs of others (Eph.4.11-16).  These meetings were informal and spontaneous in nature, Christ was truly the head.

Someone once said that “a rebel attempts to change the past; a revolutionary attempts to change the future.” Jesus Christ brought drastic change to the world. Our Lord came to bring radical change to the old order of things, replacing it with a new order.  He came to bring forth a new covenant, a new kingdom, a new birth, a new race, a new species, a new culture, and a new civilization.

“If Christianity is to receive rejuvenation, it must be by other means than by what now is being used.  If the church in the second half of the (twentieth) century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher.  The proper, ruler of the synagogue type will never do.  Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting. Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne.  When he comes ( hope there will be many not one) he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear.  He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom.”

-A.W. Tozer, Minister and Author

I want to challenge you to get into the word of God and dig out its truths.  Read I COR. 12-14, Hebrews and I Peter 2.  All believers are called into ministry and are priest unto God.  We all have a place in God’s kingdom, building, church, body, and ministry.  God never designed it to be a man headship but, Jesus to be the head of a functioning body.  Yes, he has set leaders in the church, to serve and not to be professionals. Take your place in the body of Christ; refuse to be denied the right to ask questions.  Expect answers and turn from men who make you feel less than what the bible says you are. Seek truth and do not be afraid to hear from God.  Make worship a part of your daily life and do not expect a man to deliver a revival, movement, or way of worship.  God created in all of us a free will and when you expect another to give you what God has intended for you to have through him, you sacrifice your free will.  We need more fathers in the Lord who will encourage us and pull out of us our God potential, not more preachers that work up our emotions.