Who is Leading you into all Truth? Part 6- The truth about Christian giving.

Hot topic most of all these days.
My book" Pa$$ The Plate and Let Us Prey-My Search For Black and White Christianity in a Gray Nation" goes more into detail on this subject.
But lets explore the truth about Christian giving.
Do we tithe ?
Absolutely not.
We don't set aside 10 percent of our take to God.
No way.
This is not taught in the New Testament at all. When Jesus mentions the tithe in Matt23:23 it was in rebuke plus they were still under the law at that time.
Actually the Jewish tithe was around 22 percent.
So do we need to give?
You betcha.
And if you are a Christian you had better be ready to give it all if called upon to do so.
We are not limited to 10 percent.
What did the early Christians do?
Acts 2:44-47
"44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Doesn't sound very much like self centered entertainment driven American Christianity does it?
And to those who would say"Well that was Jewish or New Testament culture and doesn't apply today.
Wrong on all accounts.
It was biblical Christianity. We have just chosen to not follow Gods word and the true roots of our faith.
And because of that we bear the fruit we bear.

All our money is Gods anyway many of us just have not figured that important detail out yet. We are just the stewards who will one day have to give a account on how we used our resources money and time.
Do I encourage you to give to build bigger buildings and more programs.
No.
I encourage you not to give to these things.
Why?
We need more Jesus in the buildings we already have.
Plus what was the biblical focus of giving.
It was taking care of the poor (saved or unsaved), widows and those in need. The focus was not on a pastors salary or church staff salary.
And it was certainly not focused on bigger buildings or the entertainment we have in our churches today.
And it was certainly not focused on pastors or teachers making a profit or living better than everyone else.

2 Corinthians 2 :17 "17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ."

Yes there were even folks in Pauls day looking to make a buck off Christianity so this is hardly anything new.
We need to get our focus back on the poor in our communities.
And yes the mega churches do give to the poor but its not there focus. Its more like trickle down economics.
Whats left we can give to the poor.
Its a screwed up system.
We pay our pastors.
But we don't pay our Sunday School teachers.
We pay a worship leader (based on Old Testament verses).
But we don't pay our musicians (who were also to be paid according to the same Old Testament verses).
We have put Carl Jung type programs in place of Gods healing through His salvation and word to help the hurt and oppressed.
Its really messed up.
We will pay thousands of dollars to sponsor the latest Christian hot musical act for a feel good time but yet could solve the homeless problem in our communities and refuse in sake of our own pleasure.
What do you need to do.
Go back into Gods word and choose where and how to give to.
Don't let some manipulating self serving preacher lay guilt on you so he and his family can get rich.
Just say No.
Take care of the poor in your own community .
Search the scriptures to see if what I say is true.
Read 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 for more on giving.
The church should be the place, the best place where money is dispensed to the poor.
But here in America I think we have become bad stewards because the focus is more self centered on pastors and programs than the poor and missionaries who spread the gospel.
Money is to be given THROUGH the church not TO the church.
And if your churches are not 100 percent transparent with all their finances I would encourage you to find another source for your giving.
If your church rails against you or will not release financial information to you. I would encourage you to find another church.

My final article in this series will be about leaving church and finding Jesus. I will also give a update on what caused me to leave a church I attended here in Modesto (again).
It relevant to the article series.