Posted on 08/30/2010 3:42:03 PM PDT by SouthDixie
Okay, I'll be honest, I am not a great follower of Glenn Beck yet I am trying to understand what exactly his message is. I try to understand by listening to what others have to say and by watching his shows and rallys.
Today on his show, Glenn said, "If you don't believe in giving 10% tithe, why are you going to that church?" I about had to pick my jaw off the floor. I was not aware attending church was about a 10% tithe and if you didn't have the funds, why attend?
In my minds eye, this is NOT how to attract people to church or to the word of God. God is about Love, Compassion and Unity. In these economic times people are barely able to care for their families let alone give 10% of their income to churches that havn't exactly set a very "spiritual" example.
I am not sure I enjoy where Glenn Beck is taking us.
I think you’re taking him too literally. A 10% tithe is old testament law. Under the grace of Christ, we’re free to give whatever we can afford to the work of the church, be it 1%, 5%, 10% or more.
The issue he raises is a good one - if you don’t believe enough in the work of your denomination/congregation to support it to one degree or another...why go?
The tithe is one of the areas where God tells his people to test him. While I understand the point that tithe is to God not a church, and I am fully aware that tithe can be spread across several churches, non-profits and direct giving, there are two things to keep in mind.
1) Cheerful giving - God loves a cheerful giver
2) giving money to an organization that does not recognize God or give glory to God for the offering and/or does not advance the Kingdon, is of little use and in my opinion, does not qualify as tithe.
Tithing is 10%. You can’t say you don’t have 10% unless you make 0%. Of course you say you don’t want to tithe, or that you can count your tithe in different ways (in kind work, all donations, help to family, offering plate, etc.).
Beck’s message is extremely simplistic. Our rights are given to us from God. If you want to preserve your rights, you first have to acknowledge God.
Atheists can also claim natural rights, but it has no greater authority that the natural right of Darwinism. That is, why shouldn’t the stronger make the rules? Its only natural.
Where is that reference?
Under New Testament law, Peter asked the members of the Church to give 100 percent, and some were killed by God for lying about withholding some.
The word tithe means tenth.
Tithing is 10%. You can’t say you don’t have 10% unless you make 0%. Of course you say you don’t want to tithe, or that you can count your tithe in different ways (in kind work, all donations, help to family, offering plate, etc.).
Beck’s message is extremely simplistic. Our rights are given to us from God. If you want to preserve your rights, you first have to acknowledge God.
Atheists can also claim natural rights, but it has no greater authority that the natural right of Darwinism. That is, why shouldn’t the stronger make the rules? Its only natural.
Tithing is 10%. You can’t say you don’t have 10% unless you make 0%. Of course you say you don’t want to tithe, or that you can count your tithe in different ways (in kind work, all donations, help to family, offering plate, etc.).
Beck’s message is extremely simplistic. Our rights are given to us from God. If you want to preserve your rights, you first have to acknowledge God.
Atheists can also claim natural rights, but it has no greater authority that the natural right of Darwinism. That is, why shouldn’t the stronger make the rules? Its only natural.
Now to answer Beck’s question / challenge, sometimes broken hearts need a place to mend and get right themselves before they can mature enough to help others.
Good point. Also, if you don’t trust God enough to believe what he says about our giving, you probably need to do some serious praying. All the promises He made in the Bible, He has kept.
I may be wrong, but I don’t believe “tithe” is mentioned in the New Testament at all. 10% is a guideline.
This is where he is taking us:
Malachi 3:
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
I’m guessing he was talking to someone who said their particular church had a 10% tithing rule, and they didn’t want to follow it. In that context, it would make sense for him to ask why they were still going to the church if they didn’t agree with the policies.
Preview twice. Preview thrice if ya gotta. But post once.
Talking about whether to tithe or not always reminds me of the man who tithed when he made a small amount but wasn’t sure he could afford to tithe when he made a larger amount. God’s reply: Well, I can always fix it where you don’t make so much if that’s a problem.
>>I think you’re taking him too literally. A 10% tithe is old testament law. Under the grace of Christ, we’re free to give whatever we can afford to the work of the church, be it 1%, 5%, 10% or more.
The issue he raises is a good one - if you don’t believe enough in the work of your denomination/congregation to support it to one degree or another...why go?<<
This nails it. Tithing is strictly an “old testament” thing. Even look at what Jesus had to say about it.
GIVING, on the other hand, is VERY Christian. And it is not a specific percentage. The rule of thumb is, if it is not sacrifice, it is not enough.
In any event, what Glenn Beck says is not the all ending. Everyone seems to be bashing him for one reason or another, I suspect it is because he is Mormon. I am not a Mormon, I just think he is a good man trying to help America. He has certainly not tried to proselytize anyone.
Really? According to whom?
Is that based on a quote from the Gospel of St. Marx? "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
It's in the Old Testament. The 10% is to care for the poor. With charity, you don't need Caesar.
The churches used to do what the government is doing now. Back then, charity was given from the heart. Today, "charity" is forced on people by the point of an IRS rifle.
See the difference? The old way is better. The freeloaders had to get their own jobs, and the truly needy had more than enough.(There's a big difference between the "the wanting" and "the needy.")
If your church isn't using it's funds to bear good fruit, support another Church. Think about where your money is going. Make sure it's going to the right place.
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