Show Me the Money

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

If this is an argument against get rich pastors I am for it, if this is an argument against them being compensated for spending all their time ministering, I am not

And nor am I against them being compensated, but I think you and I agree already that no Pastor should get $8 million to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

But it also says the offering of Judah and Jerusalem. Clearly this chapter is not aimed soley at the Levites. God says they were to bring the tithes into His store house. In fact it says the whole nation is guilty

Mal 3:1 "I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming," says the sovereign Lord.
Mal 3:2 Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like a launderer's soap.
Mal 3:3 He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering.
Mal 3:4 The gift of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.
Mal 3:5 "I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me," says the sovereign Lord.
Mal 3:6 "Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.
Mal 3:7 From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them! Return to me, and I will return to you," says the sovereign Lord. "But you say, 'How should we return?'
Mal 3:8 Can a person rob God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and contributions!
Mal 3:9 You are bound for judgment because you are robbing me — this whole nation is guilty.
Mal 3:10 "Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter," says the sovereign Lord, "to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all.
Mal 3:11 Then I will stop the plague from ruining your crops, and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest," says the sovereign Lord.
Mal 3:12 "All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in a delightful land," says the sovereign Lord.
Mal 3:13 "You have criticized me sharply," says the Lord, "but you ask, 'How have we criticized you?'
Mal 3:14 You have said, 'It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before him?
Mal 3:15 So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape.' "
Mal 3:16 Then those who respect the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respect the Lord and honor his name.
Mal 3:17 "They will belong to me," says the sovereign Lord, "in the day when I prepare my own property. I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.
Mal 3:18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one

Bump for DA

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by J-Roc

And nor am I against them being compensated, but I think you and I agree already that no Pastor should get $8 million to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

No way. In fact this is MY OPINION ONLY, but even a saint that has a ton of money might have trouble. If it were me I think I would try to spend most of my money somehow in the gospel.

Paul said, remember the poor....surely there are better things to do with 8 million dollars.

BTW in the temple it was not the high priest that got it all. They did not own property. They did not have their own inheritance. There are thousands of priests that lived off of what was given, It would be or should be impossible under those conditions for one man to get wealthy off of the gospel. Getting wealthy was never the intention. Having needs met was.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Bump for DA

Interesting that you post scripture in a hit and run fashion ....

the exegesis was posted and you refuse to examine that context given ... but simply want a summary for the same verses you posted

Please examine the context of verse 4 which you have referenced ...

Cause and effect ... my dear Praxeas ....

Mal 3:3 He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering.

Mal 3:4 The gift of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.

God simply says that when he cleanses the sons of Levi ... who we all know presented the sacrifice of all of Israel ... the offering will be proper and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will become pleasing again...

His issue throughout the book is w/ the sons of Levi. Its all linked.

The curse brought upon Israel by their mishandling is addressed in my previous posts ... Try reading it in detail my dear Praxeas.

Originally Posted by Brother Strange
It is always timely to be warned of the Balaams among us who are nothing by cheap hucksters of "uncommon seed for an uncommon harvest" for the purposes of enriching themselves even at the expense of the curse of God upon His spiritual nation.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Here we go again. I have a question, this "uncommon seed" was this implied to be money given to the person who gave this false prophecy? Because the implication seems to be this is in kind with what the WOF people do, but when they ask for money it goes into their pockets. What was this uncommon seed for? How do we know this person was saying this for the purpose of enriching himself? And how does the curse happen in this case upon everyone else? Let's do this in public too. I want everyone to see your answer and judge for themselves if it is the truth or not. Simple question BS. I am not attacking you or anything.

Prax...

You jump to too many conclusions far to quickly.

I did not even have the former incident which was discussed, world without end, in mind when I wrote this. This is a general statement only. Just take it, or not take it for what it is worth at face value.

Originally Posted by J-Roc

Show me where money was used to give tithes....you wont find it.

Just for my own edification J, since I missed it somewhere in all of this discussion, how would you suggest that the ministry be supported and missionaries sent out if the tithe in the form of money is not supplied to the ministry. Surely you would not suggest supporting the ministry with a bushel of turnips and missionaries by a sack of corn? Or would you?

Just wondering how that would work.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Interesting that you post scripture in a hit and run fashion ....

What do you mean by hit and run fashion? I posted these earlier and nobody replied...how am I running? I don't even know why you have to take an attitude if you are a honest individual who wants to discuss scriptures and wants the truth. I didn't post anything about you personally

Please examine the context of verse 4 which you have referenced ...

Cause and effect ... my dear Praxeas ....

Mal 3:3 He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering.

Mal 3:4 The gift of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.

God simply says that when he cleanses the sons of Levi ... who we all know presented the sacrifice of all of Israel ... the offering will be proper and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will become pleasing again...

His issue throughout the book is w/ the sons of Levi. Its all linked.

As I pointed out before I point out again. This is not JUST to the levites. Notice it refers to the gift of Judah and Jerusalem. Notice again it says the WHOLE nation was guilty and notice again it speaks of bringing IN the tithe so the store. It was not the Levites job to give tithes.

Mal 3:10 "Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter," says the sovereign Lord, "to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all.
Mal 3:11 Then I will stop the plague from ruining your crops, and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest," says the sovereign Lord.

The Levites LIVED off of "the food in the temple". Why would God be telling the Levites to pay tithes for themselves to have food in the temple?

The Levites didn't have land and crops and cattle to raise and offer.

1Co 9:13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings?
1Co 9:14 In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.

The Levites didn't have crops. The verse in Mal says "YOUR crops". So Mal 3 is not just to the levites, but to those too who brought tithes to the temple, into the store house, so the levites could live off of the temple work they did

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

Prax...

You jump to too many conclusions far to quickly.

I did not even have the former incident which was discussed, world without end, in mind when I wrote this. This is a general statement only. Just take it, or not take it for what it is worth at face value.

Well gee, it does seem awefully familiar and very soon from the thread you started where the little prophet said those exact words. You have to admit the irony

[Ferd]

It blows my mind that folk will trust a preacher with their eternal soul but with 10% of their income.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Well gee, it does seem awefully familiar and very soon from the thread you started where the little prophet said those exact words. You have to admit the irony

Well golly shazaam...

When you do jump just make sure it is not near the edge of a cliff. But, since you are so jump happy, always jumping to conclusions, you might well remember that "the little prophet" if indeed he is a "little prophet," is not the only one around. The wood is teaming with little prophets. They all have little "Blessing Packs" whereby you can drop a dollar on God (meaning them) and reap a fortune. It makes God out to be a can't-lose slot machine. It is much better than the stock market and many times greater than Vegas.