If you care about the Kingdom, be the kind of person who can be counted on in your own church. Join your church, pray for your church, tithe to your church, participate in your church every Sunday with wholehearted passion.
We build great churches the same way we build great marriages -- real commitment that makes a positive difference every day.
I understand what he is saying and Ray is an excellent scholar, but I would say that we work toward Kingdom growth by proclaiming Christ, by loving and serving one another and not by "tithing" to your local church organization or by joining in membership. I wonder what Ray would say the average lay member does to "participate" on Sunday's with wholehearted passion?
I would encourage you to read his post and post some thoughts.
5 comments:
I agree with you on this one. The Lord gives us gifts to build and edify the body of Christ, not a particular denomination or "church".. I hear stuff like this and I want to cringe. Must be my backround. :)
God bless,
gloria
I'm with you.
The "tithe" is a calculation.
Christians don't calculate their giving. (or shouldn't).
ONLY 10%? Do you think that pleases God when the widow gave everything and Jesus said, now that is a real gift!
Jews, Mormons, (?) tithe. We are free to give a whole lot more than that...or not.
Arthur
Left this comment on the blog of Ray Ortlund.
Seems it was removed. No explanation given.
Thought I’d comment here.
Hate to waste the words.;-)
Ray - You wrote to anonymous,
“Disagree, but don't hide.
Hey, we might even become friends!”
That would be great.
I was a part of what you talk about.
A “church,” with programs,conventions, crusades, tithes and offerings sermons,
guilt and commitment sermons,
bring your neighbor to church sermons,
submission to authority sermons, etc.
Tried giving all to “MY Church.” Ouch! { : - (....
Much disapointment, pain, tears, and money.
Found out that wasn’t “the church in the Bible.”
Turned out to be men kingdom building. Oy vey!
An expensive learning experience.
It was well worth it. ; - )
Now, my all is for Jesus, the Christ. Not man.
Now, I am “His Church,” His ekklesia,
and Jesus is the only head of His body.
Col 1:18
And he is the head of the body,
(the ekklesia, the called out one’s) the church:
Seems “the church” always refers to people.
Did Jesus shed His blood for a building,
a denomination, an institution, an organization,
a corporation? Nope, just people.
Should we call a corporation “The Church?”
You write;
“Join your church, pray for your church, tithe to your church, participate in your church every Sunday with wholehearted passion.”
How do you join “The Church of God,” the body?
Isn’t it by invitation only? Unless God calls, draws?
Isn’t it recognition of His blood cleansing my sin?
Isn’t it the recognition of His death for my life?
Ray - Tithe to your church?
Did anyone ever tithe to a church in the Bible?
Did anyone ever tithe silver, gold, or money?
Have you done your own study on the tithe?
Not what “your pastor” taught you. Or seminary.
Or “the traditions of men” that Jesus warned about.
But looking up every scripture with the word”tithe.”
Starting from scratch, no preconceived ideas.
Just asking Jesus
to show you what is in the scriptures.
Didn’t you ever wonder why the
New Testament has so little teaching about tithing?
With all the instructions Paul gave to believers,
he never asked them to tithe.
The Jerusalem council in Acts 15
never asks the new gentile believers to tithe.
Neither does Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Timothy, James or Jesus ask believers to tithe.
Hmmm?
And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd.
John 10:16
One Fold - One Shepherd - One Voice.
If Not Now, When?
In His Service. By His Grace.
Arthur, would you say that the "Heb 10:25 equals church attendance" idea unwittingly makes church attendance a Protestant sacrament, as sacrament is defined? Simply attending church seems to evoke receiving of God's grace. I've heard it said before that being there for the sermon is much more beneficial than listening to it over the lobby speakers or a recording. Why?
Steve (Scott),
I think that you are right on with that idea. There are certain acts of public piety that we equate with faithfulness and attendance is one of them, membership doubly so. I cringe when people refer to Sunday as the Lord's Day as if it is somehow a day when we should act differently. I think we should act like God's people every day, not just or especially on Sunday.
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