When God spoke of tithes in Mal 3:10, his idea was 👉that there may be food( Provision) in His house).
It was not to provide ministers with the means to live extravagantly, buy the most expensive cars, build multi-million dollar mansions, purchase private jets and spend on expensive holidays, etc.
God’s idea was for his house ( community of the saints) to have a functional economy that facilitates its operation and provides a support base for God's people when the need arises.
When there is no (Provision) in the house of God, its functionality will be impaired. Ministers and God's children in need may not find help in the house of God ( Community of the saints), exposing them to help from the ”worldly, which at times brings ridicule to the name of the Lord.
It is a fact that adventures and opportunists masquerading as ministers and some modern preachers have abused it for self-aggrandisement. However, the idea is still valid, and the house of God in every era will always need provision.
Throwing away a divine concept because of its abuse is the same as throwing away a $100.00 because of an existing counterfeit $100.00 bill.
People shouldn’t be intimidated to give tithes or any other offerings. They should be taught and allowed to act based on knowledge, not fear.
Some of the attacks against tithes and offerings due to their abuse by charlatans and some modern preachers are playing in the hands of lukewarm churchians who don't care about God's interest, and the overall strategy of the devil is to defund the institution of the church.
I'm not into pastoral ministry, so we don't have a tithes system in Global Faith Coalition. I didn't write this for us but to correct an error gradually finding its way into the mainstream, and the devil's end game is to defund the church at a time when so much financial strength is required for the engagements of the last days.
Paying tithes and giving offerings doesn't make one a better child of God than those who don't, but it reveals where our hearts are and who we are serving; God or mammon. Matthew 6:21. Mark 12:17, Matthew 6:24.
That said, giving tithes and offerings to ”yahoo, yahoo boys” masquerading as gospel ministers is an activity in futility. Give to ministers and ministries which are after the kingdom of God. May the Lord give us discernment and wisdom.
It is okay for Pastor Creflo Dollar to repent of the errors in the way he taught on tithes through the years, but presenting his newly found grace message as truth that makes giving tithes and offerings obsolete is a greater error that only helps Satan but hurts the church and impairs the economic viability of the church.
Christ didn't only come with Grace but with grace and truth. Matt 23:23, John 1:17.
I am afraid of today's emphasis on grace, which ignores Truth. It is already landing many honourable men and women into error.
May God help us all
DrBenard Etta
Comments