Satan appears to be dividing RCC academicians from their bishops. Satan appears to be dividing certain highly-placed RCC politicians from their bishops. Satan appears to be dividing RCC members (especially single females) from their bishops. Satan appears to be dividing unborn RCs (via contraception, abortifacients, abortion and sterilization) from their RCC mothers.
Of course, this would be Satan merely keeping up appearances. Satan would never want word to get out that none of these divisions really exist.
In short, there's no war on the RCC. Satan and the RCC are really kissing cousins, according to those who read their Bibles.
Rufus2 wrote: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." - John Jay
And so the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. ... ... Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them." ..
good stewards wrote: Matt 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." SermonAudio sermon... Sermon on the AMount: What the Bible teaches about Tithes and Offerings
The fulfilment of the law is judgement day Good Servants. The law does not pass away because in the future lies judgement day. If the law passed away there would be no judgement under it. On the contrary there remains judgement under the law - HOWEVER - Grace has been made available. That is a 'free pass' for the unrighteous into righteousness so that the Law can not condemn you. In this way the law is NOT destroyed and Grace still abounds.
You might spare a prayer for us over here on the other side of the world. Two volcanoes erupting in the same week. We woke up to the smell of sulpher. An island of pumice discovered by our navy, the size of Bulgaria (apparently). Another under sea volcanoe? And ... we've had so much rain the water table is just below the surface - forcast - torrential rain tomorrow. Yea. We sure need a reminder at the moment of His immutability in this fast changing world.
"Apparently in some "churches?" today the response to these verses is to quote, 'getreal' and keep your hands firmly in your pockets, and your wallet firmly zipped and locked." - 'good stewards'
At no time have ever I said the above.
I would sum all my posts up by: Give more than your your measely tithe! Keep out of other Christian's wallets.
So, tithing then, the practise of setting aside a tenth of your income for the local church, which in appearance seems so godly, is not godly at all! It can not please God, but only men. It intrudes on the Christian's personal response to the generosity of God, seeks to legislate the Christian's sense of gratitude, and in doing so robs the Christian of a right attitude toward God and the exent of His providence toward man. It provides hypocritical Christian's with a certificate in holiness, embarrasses the poor while disregards ing them, and is incapable of compassion though is often sold under that label.
"The gracious Christian knows that when he gives he will be well taken care of by the Lord" Notice the Christian gives first and then the Lord rewards his giving?
No good stewards, the GRATEFUL Christian gives because God gave everything to him/her first. The Christian knows he is already taken care of, abundantly. He has eternal life. The Christian gives from a sense of gratitude, not because 'when' or 'if' he gives then God will take care of him.
Gods provision and your tithe: God has shared everything with us, he has provided all that you have, Christian and unbeliever alike. All your resources are His. It is his day you are breathing in. He has gone even further - he has provided a sacrifice for your sin, not so that you could become a slave, but so you could become a friend and even making you an heir - He has given 10/10 ths. Go and do likewise.
Mike wrote: As for the staging of "mistakes by the other candidate..." they needed no help. What in the world does this mean?: "its staged like the shooting r staged actors nasa stagged scam for more money more control"
You'll follow the show, argue on cue over all sorts of things, have your heart-strings pulled, be entertained, be shocked, get angry, be amazed and then you'll vote. Then you'll begin complaining all over again about government intrusion.
It's perfectly clear to me what the Australian is saying. He's saying hardly anyone trusts their governments. Could there possibly be a reason for that?
You see .. unscupulous men have taken the law of tithing and turned it into an abomination. People have been robbed blind. Do you care? Or is it just the letter of the law you care for?
Reduce the tithe to 7% in a recession, exempt beneficiaries - be compassionate WITH the law. Your god won't mind.
Advocates of tithing are concerned that others aren't tithing enought, but more importantly that they themeselves might be giving more than is absolutely necessary. Give whatever you have. Church - say Thank you.
The Christian church treats everyone OUTSIDE the church like special precious victims. Superiorty complex? Anyone who happens to answer the invitation of churches is then treated like a naughty child, not only do you now have to pay taxes to the government but now to your church - for the poor? Mostly for their upkeep. There isn't ANY GENEROSITY in that. Not only is a Christian required to obey the law of the country they happen to be born in, but now a whole lot of other laws are loaded onto their backs, who lifts a finger to help - THEIR NEIGHBOUR? A neighbour is the one right next to you. The first mention of tithing in the bible, is when Abraham gave 10% of the spoils of war to Melchizadek. There was no law, rule or persuasion that bound him to do this. It was VOLUNTARY and was 10% of the profit he made. The cream off the top of the profit. He did this so that others wouldn't say his fortune had come by the providence of men. The church preaches quite a different concept. Ten per cent of your wage. Are beneficiaries generously made exempt? No. The government does not factor in a 10% 'donation' to your church. Its an abomination. Not godliness.
Volunteers. By your OWN choice. Generosity can not be legislated. Gods Providence is voluntary.
I'm going to do what I want with the money God has provided me,which has been made possible by the orderly governance of the country in which I am blessed to live. Clearly God has entrusted me with discretion. The point isn't 'shall I give to those poorer than myself?' The point is: Shall I be ordered by legalistic Christian's to part with my wage so that they can re-distribute it on my behalf - much the same as UNICEF.
The clue is in the word 'should'. Should Christians. There are two systems. Must and SHOULD. Should is related to MUST. The purpose of Should is to passify Must.
The more honest question is "Is tithing a legal requirement for Christian's." The answer is no. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
The reason is this. LEGALLY NO CHURCH in your country or mine, is able to stop a citizen from attending services and meetings at their church because they DONT give 10% of their income to the church they attend.
If you recieve generosity in the form of exemption from tax in your country, and you pass on this 'weak' law to those showing some interest in the One True God at this time in human history where any god will do, having no ability even to enforce it on citizens, then you might find the state passively becoming less generous toward you. Think about it.
12/4/12 2:50 PM
