It's A New Season

Wow. It's been a long while since I made my last blog post. November 4, 2021 to be exact. It was my intent to resume blogging in January of 2022. Yet I did not do that. 

What happened, you may wonder?  In a nutshell it was due to health reasons as well as our schedule. Prior to that November, we were still in the COVID -19 Pandemic. Yet we carried a heavy schedule. In 2021 we sang 115 times, did 3 sings via Zoom, preached 14 times filling pulpits, conducted 2 church services at a supported living facility, sang with Cindy "Live from our Living Room" via Facebook Live 26 times, I taught a Fruit of the Spirit Series via Facebook Live that went 9 lessons, I taught a series on The Names & Character of God that went 14 lessons, I taught a series A Closer Walk With God that went 14 lessons, we jointly did a Bible Study via Zoom for a supportive living facility 19 times, we hosted a Zoom Bible Study 19 times, I blogged 44 times, did a vlog 3 times, did 40 podcasts, we did 12 variety shows, performed 4 baptisms and 1 funeral. Cindy and I did these things on top of the health issues we were dealing with. We remained busy in 2022 and added even more things in 2023. 

I didn't share all of this for accolades. Trust me we do not want, nor do we need them. We do what we do because we love to do it. However, at that time to be quite honest I was feeling overwhelmed. Something had to be put on the back burner for a while. 

Fast forward and here we are in January of 2024. Where did all the time go? We have taken some time to reevaluate the various things we are involved in. 

In the Bible, even Solomon (known as the wisest man to live) told us "To everything there is a season, and a time for to every purpose under the heaven". So, there are seasons for things. That is, some things run their course. They are a part of our lives for a season - for a time. After they have run their course or time and purpose then there comes a time to step back and reevaluate.

We are now in this phase. Some decisions have been made. Some changes are on the horizon. There is even a new ministry door that has opened for us to do some one-on-one ministry. 

One thing I felt strongly about was that I wanted to resume blogging. It is something I enjoy...even if no one reads these posts. I find that it is good for me. I hope to resume blogging once a week but if not, it will be every other week. 

We also feel at this stage in our lives we need to slow down on some things. Take time to smell the roses, so to speak. Slowing down and taking time for self could very well improve quality and longevity of life. 

There is always a need and there is much to do. We would love to see others catch the vision and get involved in serving. If you have a desire to serve let me know. Contact me and we can arrange to get together and share some opportunities that are open right now. 

As our season is ending in some things perhaps your season is about to begin. Serve strong. Serve well. The harvest is ready. Just need laborers. Will you be a laborer for Jesus?

Until next time, 

Enjoy the journey!

Ray

rayspellbrink@gmail.com

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IS TITHING BIBLICAL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH?

Is tithing biblical in the New Testament church?  Wow!  What a subject.  You talk about a hot topic!  So what's the answer?  In a word, "NO!"  I can see it now - some of you may have just spit whatever you was drinking or eating right at your computer monitor.  Now you have a mess to clean up.  

I want to address this issue in a serious manner.  Tithing does appear in the Bible.  So one could say tithing is biblical.  While tithing is biblical it is certainly not Christian.  You see, tithing was an Old Testament law that belonged to Israel.  It was basically like an income tax.  You don't find New Testament Christians tithing. 

Let's take a look at what the Old Testament tithe was. The word "tithe" means "tenth part".  God actually instituted three tithes for Israel as part of their taxation system.  First, there was a tithe of the produce of the land that was to support the tribe of the Levites. The Levites had no inheritance in the promised land.  This was God's means of provision for them.  Secondly, there was a tithe of produce to sponsor the many religious festivals in Jerusalem.  If the produce was too much for the family to carry to Jerusalem they were permitted to convert it to money and give the money in place of the produce.  Thirdly, there was a tithe of the produce of the land that was collected every three years for those in need.  These tithes consisted of crops, livestock and/or flocks, not money (except as previously mentioned).  When you add all these tithes up they average 23.3 percent of their income every year, not just the 10 percent we hear preached about today.

All these ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant were nailed to the cross at Jesus' crucifixion.  That's why we don't see Christians tithing any more than we see them sacrificing animals to cover their sins.  We're under a new covenant - a better covenant!  I praise and thank God for it!

Giving is taught and encouraged, but there is no mention of the tithe in the early church.  When it comes to giving, we see the New Testament Christians giving cheerfully according to their ability to give.  It wasn't a duty to them (2 Corinthians 8:1-13, 9:5-13). They didn't give out of a command.  They gave voluntarily to help other believers as well as to support the apostolic workers who were planting churches.  

Some today believe we should tithe to support our clergy system.  Of course, most who believe that are the so called clergy!  The argument they use is that the tithe should be used to support the ministers today just as it was used in the Old Testament to support the Levites.  Here’s a newsflash – today the Levitical system has been done away with!  We are all priests now.  Remember the priesthood of the believer?  Do you realize that ministers were unsalaried for the first three centuries?  The elders (shepherds) in the New Testament church were men with jobs.  They had their own vocations.  They gave to the church rather than taking from it.  So paying pastors really has no foundation in the New Testament.

The Bible does teach we are to give to support the Lord’s work and to give generously to the poor.  Beyond that, there is no support in Scripture for salaries, operational costs and building overhead.  And there is certainly no support for tithing in the early church.  Now if a Christian chooses to give ten percent or more out of a personal decision there is certainly nothing wrong with that.  You are free to give unto the Lord as you see fit.  The problem comes when tithing is taught as a commandment of God for the New Testament church.  That’s just plain wrong.

 

What about the poor?  Under the Old Testament system of tithing it was good news for the poor.  They benefited from the tithes.  In our day, however, mandatory tithing oppresses the poor even more as they are thrown into deeper financial debt as they strive to give their tithe.  The gospel shouldn’t be a heavy burden to the poor and needy – or anyone else for that matter.

In some institutional churches, today, if the church records don’t reflect that you tithe you cannot hold a ministry position in that church.  Never mind your love and commitment to God and the things of God.

 

Tithing has nothing to do with your devotion to God.  It was never reflected that way in the early church.  If tithing was an indicator of one’s devotion to God then the New Testament Christians must have not been devoted to God because all the biblical evidence we have shows they did not tithe.

God loves a Cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).  I've often told people, "Don't give if you're going to want that money back.  Don't give if you do so grudgingly."

Saying these things from the pulpit makes church leaders cringe!  That's good for them though.  It's fun to watch them.  At least I'm entertained by it. 

Let's be givers to God and His work.  Let's be givers to the poor and needy.  Give as you feel led to give.  You certainly won't hear me say anything about tithing!  I haven't believed in the tithe for many years.  

Let's enjoy the journey in the freedom Jesus means for us to have.

Ray

This blog post is another in a series looking at the practices of churches today and how they line up with the New Testament.  Perhaps this series could be better called, "Kicking Over Sacred Cows". For further reading and research, I recommend the book "Pagan Christianity?" by Frank Viola and George Barna.

I want to thank those of you who are sharing this blog with others.  I so appreciate it.  It's my desire to encourage and challenge believers everywhere to be the church Jesus has called us to be.  Leave the baggage of organize religion and serve Jesus in freedom following the leading of the Spirit as we gather in His name.  Please feel free to continue to post a link to this blog on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or even email it by using the icons below.  Let's see what God will do!