New Testament Giving
The New Testament teachings on giving are unpretentiously simplistic involving the heart and not some law:
"…freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8b).
"Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not thou away" (Matt. 5:42).
"The churches in Macedonia and Achaia, you see, have thought it a good thing to make a contribution towards the poor Christians in Jerusalem. They have decided to do this, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the gentiles have had a share in the Jews’ spiritual good things it is only fair that they should look after the Jews as far as the good things of this world are concerned" (Rom. 15:26-27, J. B. Phillips Translation).
"Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…" (Luke 6:38).
"I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
"But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity [Gk: ‘compulsion’ as in a commanded law]: for God loves a cheerful giver" (II Cor. 9:6-7).
Follow these admonitions on giving and you will be blessed of God.
There is one more very important Scripture that should go in this group and that is I Tim. 5:8,
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and worse than an infidel."
Now I have emails and letters from elderly and disabled people who were told by their pastor that they are expected to tithe on their meager income regardless as to whether there is sufficient left over to care for the family. This is disgraceful beyond comprehension. .
Numerous times I have heard ministers intimidating TBN viewers to contribute money that they did not have. Even if they owed more money to creditors in monthly payments than their salaries could possibly pay, they were still asked to make huge donations to TBN. Some contend that the more money one needs to meet his already staggering obligations, the more money he needs to send in. They are even told to pledge huge amounts (TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS was the asking pledge when last I saw this reprehensible carnival sideshow chicanery) of money that they did not have, and then to send in ten percent of the pledge and pay the rest off in installments. Have they no shame?
"…freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8b).
"Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not thou away" (Matt. 5:42).
"The churches in Macedonia and Achaia, you see, have thought it a good thing to make a contribution towards the poor Christians in Jerusalem. They have decided to do this, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the gentiles have had a share in the Jews’ spiritual good things it is only fair that they should look after the Jews as far as the good things of this world are concerned" (Rom. 15:26-27, J. B. Phillips Translation).
"Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…" (Luke 6:38).
"I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
"But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity [Gk: ‘compulsion’ as in a commanded law]: for God loves a cheerful giver" (II Cor. 9:6-7).
Follow these admonitions on giving and you will be blessed of God.
There is one more very important Scripture that should go in this group and that is I Tim. 5:8,
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and worse than an infidel."
Now I have emails and letters from elderly and disabled people who were told by their pastor that they are expected to tithe on their meager income regardless as to whether there is sufficient left over to care for the family. This is disgraceful beyond comprehension. .
Numerous times I have heard ministers intimidating TBN viewers to contribute money that they did not have. Even if they owed more money to creditors in monthly payments than their salaries could possibly pay, they were still asked to make huge donations to TBN. Some contend that the more money one needs to meet his already staggering obligations, the more money he needs to send in. They are even told to pledge huge amounts (TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS was the asking pledge when last I saw this reprehensible carnival sideshow chicanery) of money that they did not have, and then to send in ten percent of the pledge and pay the rest off in installments. Have they no shame?
Comment
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Comment by Micah RaSun-Vann on December 2, 2009 at 4:46pm
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God did not deliver his own from Eygptian bondage to lead them into bondage. God's principles do not place burdens too heavy to bear. Even more so He says that whatever is not of faith is SIN. Most of the elderly give out of compulsion, ignorance, fear and unmerited obedience to the Leader and not faith. We are required to obey when what is asked of us does not explicitly violate scripture. Giving that would leave one in a worse condition, homeless, in lack is not commanded of God nor is it a lack of faith if one uses common sense.
These leaders will have to answer to God for this form of extortion.
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