A Message for all the God-robbers

[shag]

Indeed u and what u bring to the table have been missed AWB. Good to see u again. I believe I recall doing some reading on your website a few years back.

[A.W. Bowman]

My personal position is quite simple. If an assembly is spending more money on salaries, the building, its furnishings, upkeep, insurance, utilities, etc, than it is in supporting what Jesus commanded us to support (e.g., see Matthew 25:34-46), then one is engaged in idolatry. This is robbing God.

If one wishes to, give your annual half shekel (equivalent value) for the support of the building (not a biblical commandment), and provide such support (money, time, service, etc.) for the church ministries as you and the Lord have agreed upon. Also see Matthew 17:24-27 for insight into how Jesus viewed such obligations.

If the local congregation cannot, or will not support its self, perhaps it should revert to a "house church" or just dissolve, as many churches have throughout history. Reference the seven churches in Asia.

If an individual or even an entire congregation agrees among themselves that they shall tithe their income to the church, for whatever purpose, then so be it. If that is a congregational requirement for membership, so be it. There is no law against giving whatever one (or a group) decides upon. However, giving/paying under intimidation, or because of accepting unearned guilt, is not the bases for acceptable Christian giving.

A final note: Taking a scripture out of context and miss applying it to support something it was never intended to support, is doing violence to the word of God. To support mandatory tithing today, one must first actually rewrite the word of God (adding to and/or removing from scripture given by God), and that is direct violation of Deut. 4:2 & 12:32. The breaking of the Law of God is a biblical definition of sin (1John 3:4).

Okay I am done with this subject - again. I guess I can go away for another five years. :-)

[shazeep]

thus abdicating your service due to the trolls anew, sigh; i will be the poorer for it, but what about the many, many lurkers who will die? hmm?

Originally Posted by A.W. Bowman

...congregational requirement for membership

Gag. Wherever is that verse on not being a Joiner? peace to you

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by A.W. Bowman

My personal position is quite simple. If an assembly is spending more money on salaries, the building, its furnishings, upkeep, insurance, utilities, etc, than it is in supporting what Jesus commanded us to support (e.g., see Matthew 25:34-46), then one is engaged in idolatry. This is robbing God.

If one wishes to, give your annual half shekel (equivalent value) for the support of the building (not a biblical commandment), and provide such support (money, time, service, etc.) for the church ministries as you and the Lord have agreed upon. Also see Matthew 17:24-27 for insight into how Jesus viewed such obligations.

If the local congregation cannot, or will not support its self, perhaps it should revert to a "house church" or just dissolve, as many churches have throughout history. Reference the seven churches in Asia.

If an individual or even an entire congregation agrees among themselves that they shall tithe their income to the church, for whatever purpose, then so be it. If that is a congregational requirement for membership, so be it. There is no law against giving whatever one (or a group) decides upon. However, giving/paying under intimidation, or because of accepting unearned guilt, is not the bases for acceptable Christian giving.

A final note: Taking a scripture out of context and miss applying it to support something it was never intended to support, is doing violence to the word of God. To support mandatory tithing today, one must first actually rewrite the word of God (adding to and/or removing from scripture given by God), and that is direct violation of Deut. 4:2 & 12:32. The breaking of the Law of God is a biblical definition of sin (1John 3:4).

Okay I am done with this subject - again. I guess I can go away for another five years. :-)

Bro. Bowman... glad to see you on here again...

Very much agree with the above

[A.W. Bowman]

Shag & KeptByTheWord

Well, I guess I did not alienate everyone on these boards! LOLOL However, should I continue posting I am confident of loosing what friends I still have as well as being banned from the forum.

The old mountain man is getting more crotchety every day. I am sick of man made doctrines created by and for men to satisfy their own religious agendas. I am tired folks taking one liners out of scripture and using them as an excuse to control the lives of others. I am sick and tired of preachers and teachers (church leaders) standing in positions of spiritual authority expounding about things that they, themselves, have no clue about.

Debates? They are, for the most part, exercises in futility; playing religious right/wrong games and attempts to demonstrate one's spiritual superiority over others. In the end what was accomplished? Most often is is simply a greater, more intrenched division between brethren.

Crotchety? I haven't even got started.

BTW, while we are still on speaking terms, thank you for the welcome back! I also hope you found something of value on my site. I am really working to getting back and posting there. Really neglected it.

Over the past five years I have to modify some more of my thinking and alter some of my doctrines. Striving toward spiritual maturity can sometimes be a real "challenge" to one's ego (pride), and I really don't like the process!

[Sasha]

Bro. Bowman! I love you, man!!!

[A.W. Bowman]

Originally Posted by Sasha

Bro. Bowman! I love you, man!!!

Ah, you warm an old man's heart.