Tuesday, April 16, 2013

More Hypocrisy (January 28, 2012)


A man was sitting in a new church, visiting for the first time. After the praise and worship service, the pastor announced that it was time to take up the tithes and offerings, and he started quoting the following Old Testament Bible scripture:
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.” Malachi 3:8 NKJV
The pastor continued to explain that the tithe is 10% of the gross income and that that part belongs to God and should be given to the church. If anyone doesn’t heed this message, they will be robbing God.
As the man was hearing all this, he thought to himself: “What??? Am I really supposed to pay God 10% of my income? If I don’t, am I really cheating or robbing God? If so, am I now as a follower of Jesus Christ in danger of going to hell since the Bible says that no thief will enter the kingdom of God?” Slightly panicking, the following scripture went through his mind:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God1. Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV
By quoting the Malachi scripture, the pastor was actually telling the man that he would go to hell if he doesn’t tithe. The man started to feel guilty and condemned and wondered by himself, “What if the pastor is right about what he is saying?”
Then suddenly, he felt like somebody tugged at him, telling him in his ear: “What a bunch of hypocritical nonsense!!! This not me! I do not condemn you like this and send you to hell for not tithing! This pastor is lying to you. Tithing was never money, and doesn’t apply to My New Covenant followers.” The voice spoke with strong authority and at the same time full of love and compassion, as it revealed the real truth to him through His Word:
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 NLT
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever." 2. Corinthians 9:7-9 NLT
The man felt relief and was greatly encouraged by what he heard from Jesus Christ as he left the church and went his merry way. On the home, he decided to tuck a hundred dollar bill into the vest jacket of a war veteran without legs, who was painstakingly wheeling his way down the street in his wheelchair. The vet looked up at the man with beaming eyes and thanked the man as a tear gently strolled its way down his bearded cheeks.

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