Some thoughts on Spiritual Warfare by Joseph Mattera

WHY SOME BELIEVERS EXPERIENCE MORE SPIRITUAL WARFARE THAN OTHERS

There are some believers who falsely believe that if they have a lot of faith they will not undergo any suffering, severe tests or satanic attacks. Nothing can be further from the truth! Actually the opposite is true.

For example, in the book of Job chapters 1 and 2, God actually asks Satan if he considered His servant Job, Hence, God brought Job to Satan’s attention, not because Job was in sin, but because Job was the greatest servant of God on the earth at that time (Read Job 1:6-12; 2:3-6).

Furthermore, Acts 19:15 illustrates how Paul the apostle was not only known in heaven but also in hell! He had their attention! 1 Peter 5: 8-9 teaches that Satan roams the earth seeking someone to devour, which also goes along with the Job narrative (Job 1:7). When we read the context of all these passages, especially in regards to the satanic focus on both Paul and Job, we can come to the conclusion that the devil’s main focus is to thwart, divert, distract and disarm the servants of God who are promoting the rule of God on the earth as it is in heaven. Heaven is the only realm in the universe where everything is perfectly aligned under King Jesus, since the devil was displaced from there (Revelation 12:7-12).

Consequently, when someone on earth wants to bring the influence of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, Satan erupts with fear and anger against them since he doesn’t want to be thrown out of another place!

This is why it seems as though a person following the will of God will sometimes have the most difficult tests, trials and resistance, as opposed to some saints who are casual seekers of God. Satan is no dummy, why should he attack a Christian who is a bad example to others and who is already deceived and in his grip? He will focus the most on those who are the biggest threats to his desire to do a power grab from God over the earth realm! Remember, God gave Adam a commission to have His rule over the whole earth (Genesis 1:28), and immediately after that the devil came and convinced both Adam and Eve to disobey God and abandon their post as God’s vice regents over the earth (Genesis 3:1-8).

Since that time Satan has been jealously attempting to protect his control over the earthly realm he stole through subverting Adam, including its systems of government, commerce, media, the arts, science and education. Those who attempt to bring God’s influence in these realms will most likely experience some of the highest levels of satanic resistance. The apostle Paul had a messenger from Satan follow him everywhere he went that caused riots and persecution (2 Corinthians 13:1-8), only because he was turning the present world system upside down ( Acts 17:7).

So, if you are sold out for God, don’t be discouraged when you are attacked or allow yourself to be deceived into thinking that the only reason you are in intense spiritual warfare or tribulation is because you may have missed God. It may be the opposite. You are being targeted because you are hitting the divine bull’s eye! This is why Paul admonished believers to stand strong in the Lord, he said “our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers and the rulers of darkness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-13)”. Notice, Paul said “we struggle” meaning, he was including himself in this struggle. Every time there was an open door for ministry he had many adversaries, this is a biblical principle. (Read 1 Corinthians 16:9)

Do not ever think that just because God is calling you to do something that it will be easy. Jesus did the will of God and He was crucified and Paul was beheaded, church history tells us! It’s not how many years we live, but what we do with the years we live that matters! So, what do we do when we are in a time of spiritual warfare that Paul calls “ the day of evil “ in Ephesians 6:13? Paul tells us in this it passage to be strong in the Lord and to stand firm, in others words, do not quit (Ephesians 6:10-13).

The apostle Peter also tells us to resist him (the devil) standing firm in the faith (1 Peter 5:9). Peter knows firsthand that faith in God is the key to standing firm in the midst of the day of evil because when he denied Christ three times, Jesus prayed for him that his “faith” would not fail (Luke 22:31,32).

Yet more on Eating the tithe

 To see the context of this post you need to read the others in the series as well as the excellent comments by Helio on each of them.

Thanks Helio,

Again you give a very thoughtful response, thank you. However we are in danger of losing the main point of the original post – feasting in the presence of the Lord. But I still need  to deal with the particular points you bring up. I will deal with these after each quote I take from your post.

I am answering this as a separate post as it was to long for a comment on a comment which was limited to about  4000 characters

On one hand you say that “our financial giving is to be generous (absolutely more than a tithe) and given willingly and joyfully”. On the other hand you mention that “there can be no guilt associated with our giving.” I feel there’s a conflict in those statements.

In my opinion the issue of guilt is associated with the law. The law requires the tithing as a requirement and that’s where the compulsion comes from. But again, I stand by 2 Cor 9:8:

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The moment you set a minimum amount to giving you are indirectly adding a requirement. It’s like saying “you are free to give as long as it is more than the tithe”. I am not so sure about this type of freedom.

I obviously have no argument with Paul’s call for cheerful giving but there is also the matter of  generosity as seen in the wider context of your quote:

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV
[6] Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. [7] Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. [9] As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” [10] Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. [11] You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Generosity is not being shown if the giving of a particular Christian is only 10%. Surely everyone can afford more than this irrespective of their circumstances. One of the reasons people do not give generously is that they have been taught that giving according to your means involves considering themselves first rather than the Lord, and others, first. There is a poverty mentality in many people that convinces them that if they are on a very low income, or social service payments, that they cannot give to others. This is a major problem in our society where there has developed a dependence mentality. I write this as one who only has the aged pension to live on, yet gets great joy from giving generously.

Why are we setting the law as a starting point for our actions?

I am not setting the Law as the starting point, as tithing was in force well before the Law as I mentioned earlier.

The comparison between tithing and circumcision that you make is an invalid comparison. 

Circumcision is certainly a matter of the Law and showed the separation between the Israelites and the other nations. This form of showing separation is certainly not required of us as the point of physical circumcision had now been replaced by circumcision of the heart. I have written much on this before, and will again, but it is a distraction in this discussion.

Tithing is a matter for ALL people, Christian or not. It is just that we are meant to be faithful and recognise our tenancy of this earth which is owned by God.  Humankind has been given this earth to ‘rule over’, or manage on behalf of the owner, God. This creation mandate has limits, of course, and everyone is held responsible to uphold the mandate to look after creation. The parable of the tenants, mentioned earlier, is but one of the New Testament indications of this.

So my argument is that tithing is fundamentally different from matters of the Law. Tithing is a token of the generosity required from us for the earth we have been given by God.

The law brings bondage but we believers are urged to walk in the freedom that Jesus has given us. (Gal 5:1) We are encouraged to walk by the Spirit. Those who are led by the Spirit, are not under the law (Gal 5:18). The law is a tutor to bring us to Christ, but now that we have found Him there is a new way of living.

Remember the entire law is summed in love for God and love for others. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to satisfy the underlying motives of the law of God instead of being tangled up with the written code of the law.

I totally agree with you. Jesus lifted the Law to a much higher level.

Matthew 5:17-22 NIV
[17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [19] Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. [21] “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' [22] But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

The law is now on our hearts and we automatically want to keep the law in its fullness, out of love for Jesus, as empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is no longer just ticking off the matters of the law, but a passion to be like Jesus in all things: true love, not forced obedience.

I have heard from people in church leadership justifying their badgering people to give on the fact that unless they compel people to give the congregation would not do it otherwise.

I have also seen behaviour like this. There can be no justification for the behaviour you describe. The motivation for this behaviour comes from the ‘need’ that many pastors feel to increase their offerings, and protect their own income. This is a further reason for a total change in the way ministry is supported. That is the wider debate about the way we do church. We still have the pattern of a Constantinian Church, rather than a Christian Church. You know my passion for this  and this is the reason for this blog site.

As Paul talks about circumcision I also like to refer to tithing:

See my comments above. Circumcision is certainly a matter of the Law, whereas tithing comes from Creation and not the Law. The two spring from totally different bases. This has been abused in the past in England and elsewhere where he local council levied the tithe for the upkeep of the 'parish', which we would call the municipality. We now do this by different means, council rates. This practice was abused in medievael times, but that has nothing to say about our present discussion. In fact there could be an argument for LIMITING taxes and rates to 10%!!!!! But that is not for now and could be far too controversial to pursue.

Let’s see what happened in the Ananias and Sapphira case: 

You comments here are spot on. The matter at issue was the fact that they lied to the Holy Spirit and so were judged for that, not for what they gave, or ‘should’ have given. I wonder what would happen in many churches if the Holy Spirit acted likewise now. People think they are being generous but, in many cases, are only offering a ‘tip’ to God.

One can’t force someone to be generous – this has to be the result of a transformed life by the power of Jesus Christ. One of the most astonishing and glorious things I’ve found in Christian living is seeing believers responding to the law of the Spirit written in their hearts and minds and not to the law written on tablets of stone. How refreshing to see believers responding willingly and living according to their new nature. What is the new nature? Isn’t it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control? Those who live in such a way do not need the law for they fulfil those requirements right from the heart.

I totally agree with you. Let us all encourage people to live a sold out life to God under the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has shown the greatest generosity to us by His selfless life, His atoning death, His glorious bodily resurrection, and His ascension to the Father so that the glorious Holy Spirit could now live in all of us who have been truly ‘born again’ into the new life of Jesus.

Thank you Helio for your faithfulness and example in our midst. All glory and praise to Him who was, and is, and is to come.

I will upload a separate post soon to bring us back to the initial issue I raised.

More on "Eating the tithe"

If you have not read the comments on the previous post, I encourage you to do so. The summary I gave of tithing in general did leave me open to justifiable criticism. I certainly do not want to imply that we are still under the law in the sense that Paul uses this phrase. The idea that we are to tithe as an obligation under the Law is not held by me. I make the point that the Old Testament laws have principles behind them that we are to embrace with joy and gladness. The New Testament teaching on giving is about being a cheerful, generous giver since everything  belongs to the Lord.

The task of finding the principle behind many of the Old Testament passages, and indeed of the New Testament as well, calls for an enquiring mind under the control of the Holy Spirit. Our minds are to be renewed (Eph 4:23, Col 3:10), not ignored. If we now have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) then we will be able to ask the right questions and get the right answers. We must not fall into the trap of anti-intellectualism.

A tithe is a token. It is the baseline if you like, of our giving. We are called to go beyond that and give all that we have to the Lord; to ask ‘what can I keep’, not ‘what can I give’.

Translating this into our time and space leads us along an interesting path. 

Firstly, If we are to bring the WHOLE tithe into the storehouse, then where is the storehouse. I used to think this was the local church, but now I am convinced that the storehouse is Jesus himself. We are to bring it to Him so He can decide where the needs are that need to come out of that storehouse.

Secondly, what are the practicalities that come from this?

This takes us back to the Book of Deuteronomy.

Deu 14:22-29 HCSB  "Each year you are to set aside a tenth of all the produce grown in your fields.  (23)  You are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, in the presence of Yahweh your God at the place where He chooses to have His name dwell, so that you will always learn to fear the LORD your God.  (24)  But if the distance is too great for you to carry it, since the place where Yahweh your God chooses to put His name is too far away from you and since the LORD your God has blessed you,  (25)  then exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place the LORD your God chooses.  (26)  You may spend the money on anything you want: cattle, sheep, wine, beer, or anything you desire. You are to feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice with your family.  (27)  Do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.  (28)  "At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your gates.  (29)  Then the Levite, who has no portion or inheritance among you, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come, eat, and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

There are several points to note here:

• 1.       They were to eat the tithe, or its financial equivalent, in the presence of the Lord and where He decreed.

• 2.      They were to learn the fear of the Lord through this.

• 3.      There was no restriction on what they were to spend the money on.

• 4.      We are to rejoice with our family in this activity.

• 5.      The tithe that went to the Levites was for their support and for the relief of poverty.

The question of the third year distribution has been discussed by scholars for some time, and it seems that they believe there were two tithes, possibly at the beginning and end of the harvest. The first was for the Levites alone to receive and the other was the one we are discussing here. I think this is speculation based on Rabbinical teaching. However I don’t want to get caught up in this. I will stick with the five points above.

It seems to me that we can distil the following principles for us from this passage.

• 1.       Serving and giving to the Lord is a joyful thing.

• 2.      God’s love is so great, and His mercy so strong, that what we give to Him, He gives back to us, and even more.

Even in the question of the Sabbath, Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Joy is such a common word in the New Testament. Those of us who love Jesus with a passion know how joyful this is, even in the midst of trial and difficulty.

• 3.      We are to remember Him around the table. That was the original point of the Lord’s Supper, not a ritual to be carried out symbolically. This should be done every time we gather around a table for a meal. But especially so, as a grand event, at certain times of the year.

After all, the Sabbath Seder was a recounting of the Exodus each week in Jewish homes. This was a full meal and a joyful occasion every week, in the family, and still is today. The father took time to teach the household about the Lord and His provision for them.

Family is in the forefront here, and the teaching of God’s ways is done faithfully in the family, each week, at this meal.

I remember with gladness the times when our children were very young, how Elizabeth and I had structured times each week teaching our children. In our case it was not over a meal, unless you call “Poppy’s  pancakes” a meal. But it was a structured time when I inputted to the children at least as much as I did to the church I pastored.

• 4.      There was to be  a real provision for the poor. I can hear clearly Paul’s admonition in  Cor 11.

1Co 11:18-22 NIV  In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.  (19)  No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.  (20)  So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat,  (21)  for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk.  (22)  Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

The Corinthian Church did not even seem to notice the poor in their midst as they feasted in the presence of the Lord. There was to be a special provision made for those people who are often not even noticed.

Let me try to pull this together.

1.       Our financial giving is to be generous (absolutely more than a tithe) and given willingly and joyfully.

2.      There can be no guilt associated with our giving. Giving to the Lord is one of the ways He wants to bless us and how He wants us to enjoy our giving in many ways, some of which are:

a.      In our gatherings to remember Jesus for all He has done for us, we can use what the Holy Spirit has given us and what we have ‘given’ Him, to have a joyful meal at whatever level we decide is most appropriate. Remembering Him in this context does not mean a cursory saying of ‘grace’ before the meal, but a meal centred on Him. Our conversation is to be about Him, teaching &/or testimony, worship, prayer, etc.

Maybe this can be one new form of ‘church’, held entirely within the framework of a meal.

b.      These are not to be exclusive gatherings and should include those who have little or nothing, without expecting them, or anyone else for that matter, to contribute anything at all to the meal.

After all this is a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb!

c.       Outside of all of this we are also to use our giving to the Lord to alleviate poverty and suffering.

There are so many calls on our financial resources today, that we cannot give to everyone. This is where we need to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit to show us where this money is to go.

d.      In all of this we must be led by the Holy Spirit, otherwise it will all become carnal and meaningless as it seems to have become in Corinth.

Commentary Notes on Deuteronomy 26:12-13

Keil & Delitzsch

The delivery of the tithes, like the presentation of the first-fruits, was also to be sanctified by prayer before the Lord. It is true that only a prayer after taking the second tithe in the third year is commanded here; but that is simply because this tithe was appropriated everywhere throughout the land to festal meals for the poor and destitute (Deu 14:28), when prayer before the Lord would not follow per analogiam from the previous injunction concerning the presentation of first-fruits, as it would in the case of the tithes with which sacrificial meals were prepared at the sanctuary (Deu 14:22.). לַעְשֵׂר is the infinitive Hiphil for לְהַעֲשַׂר, as in Neh 10:39 (on this form, vid., Ges. §53, 3 Anm. 2 and 7, and Ew. §131, b. and 244, b.). “Saying before the Lord” does not denote prayer in the sanctuary (at the tabernacle), but, as in Gen 27:7, simply prayer before God the omnipresent One, who is enthroned in heaven (Deu 26:15), and blesses His people from above from His holy habitation. The declaration of having fulfilled the commandments of God refers primarily to the directions concerning the tithes, and was such a rendering of an account as springs from the consciousness that a man very easily transgresses the commandments of God, and has nothing in common with the blindness of pharisaic self-righteousness “I have cleaned out the holy out of my house:” the holy is that which is sanctified to God, that which belongs to the Lord and His servants, as in Lev 21:22. בִּעֵר signifies not only to remove, but to clean out, wipe out. That which was sanctified to God appeared as a debt, which was to be wiped out of a man's house (Schultz).

Matthew Henry

Concerning the disposal of their tithe the third year we had the law before, Deu 14:28, Deu 14:29. The second tithe, which in the other two years was to be spent in extraordinaries at the feasts, was to be spent the third year at home, in entertaining the poor. Now because this was done from under the eye of the priests, and a great confidence was put in the people's honesty, that they would dispose of it according to the law, to the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless (Deu 26:12), it is therefore required that when at the next feast after they appeared before the Lord they should there testify (as it were) upon oath, in a religious manner, that they had fully administered, and been true to their trust.

More comments and interactions please.

Eat the Tithe - a Discussion Paper

I can almost hear the groans from some of you at the thought of yet another blog on tithing, but I have a different slant that I would like you to consider and dialogue with me.

First let me summarise what I have understood up to now.

Many have said that tithing is an Old Testament concept that Jesus eliminated. This does not stand up to even cursory examination. Jesus is quite clear that we are to continue tithing but to recognise that there are greater things we are to worry about.

Matthew 23:23 NIV
[23] “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices---mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law---justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

 Jesus condemns the legalistic adherence to the minutiae of the law (tithing of even the herbs and spices) but ignoring the crucial matters of the law (justice, mercy, faithfulness). So Jesus certainly draws attention back to the important issues, BUT, they were not to ignore the tithe.

Tithing is mentioned in the time of the Patriarchs, if not earlier. Abraham offered the tithe to the mysterious figure of Melchizedek. I take from this and other passages that tithing comes from creation rather than from the  Law of Moses. In other words it belongs to the Kingdom of God.

I will not detail the many references to tithing, or first fruits, in the Old Testament, but will go straight to the oft quoted verse from Malachi.

Malachi 3:6-12 NIV
[6] “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. [7] Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, 'How are we to return?' [8] “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' “In tithes and offerings. [9] You are under a curse---your whole nation---because you are robbing me. [10] Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. [11] I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, ” says the Lord Almighty. [12] “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

Many, including me, have written much on this, usually concentrating on the ‘storehouse’. I have usually interpreted this to mean that we are to pay our tithes into the place where we get our spiritual nurture. This I interpreted, at that time, to mean the local church. However I now believe that Jesus is the store house. Jesus made it very clear that 100% of what we have and earn is from Him and belongs to Him. This is seen in the sermon on the mount and elsewhere.

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
[19] “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [27] Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? [28] “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you---you of little faith? [31] So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The tithe was originally, so I have taught, equivalent to the rent we pay to God for the environment within which we live: the sun, air, soil, etc. As such it is to be PAID and not seen as an offering, which is what we are to give above the 10%. However now we see that the tithe is 100%. Everything we have belongs to God. The only question we have to ask is “how much can I keep, and what do I spend it on?”

There is much more to say about these basic matters but the new emphasis I have seen recently is found in Deuteronomy 14:22-29

[22] Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. [23] Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. [24] But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), [25] then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. [26] Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. [27] And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. [28] At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, [29] so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

What hits me here is the matter of how the Israelites were told to deal with the tithe. They were to use it for themselves while remembering the Lord. They were to eat the tithe, or its financial equivalent, in the presence of the Lord and so remember Him through the ages.

They were to use the tithe themselves for two years, but the third year was for the support of the Temple and the Levites.

This came as a real revelation to me. The tithe is to be used by us for 2/3 of the time. The other 1/3 is for the support of those who are living by faith for the propagation of the Gospel. This last point is still being thought through by me. In other words, do the Levites represent the clergy (I think not), or faith based ‘missionaries’, or who?

For the moment I am wrestling with the first 2/3 of our base 10% ‘giving.’ We are to EAT it ourselves in a situation that enables the Lord to be remembered. Can this mean that we celebrate the Lord in some way with other believers over a banquet, or something else.

Watch this space!!!!

Straight Talk or Safe Talk?

Luke 11:37-39 NIV
[37] When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. [38] But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. [39] Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.


Jesus is such a straight talker. There is no beating around the bush, whatever needs to be said is said with no possibility of being misunderstood. This Pharisee had been listening to Jesus along with the crowd which had gathered. There must have been some interest in what Jesus had been saying, and so this prominent man invited Jesus to come and eat with him. Presumably he wanted to hear more from Jesus and to ask questions.

However things went wrong right from the beginning. It was customary to wash your hands before eating, not just for cleanliness, but as a ritual. After all they ate with their (right) hand just as you do in many countries today.

It would not seem to be an unusual comment for the man to make. After all when I eat with the Santal tribal people in India I do just the same. The host brings round a jug of water and a basin and he, or more usually she, pours the water over your right hand, catching it in the basin. It is a matter of hygiene, but there is also a ritual element in it.

So why do we find this interchange with Jesus. At face value Jesus is being rude. However there is a deeper issue at stake here. Jesus had been speaking earlier about the need for true inner cleanliness rather than ritual cleanliness, and He clearly wanted to continue this debate. Why do I say this?

This was not going to be a private conversation. Also present were “teachers of the law.” These are the guardians of the ‘purity’ of the Word of God, largely the Pentateuch. It was clearly a setup.

Luke 11:45-46,52-54 NIV
[45] One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” [

Here is where Jesus’ straight talking comes to the fore. There follows a series of ‘woes’ against all these religious leaders.

46] Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. [52] “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” [53] When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, [54] waiting to catch him in something he might say.

In our society you might expect this to be the time for a graceful exit, or for an apologia regarding these teachings. I can almost here the guest of honour re-explaining the issues so that the words are softened, with comments like “you know that we are really on the same side, and I was just ensuring that people maintained a pure lifestyle”, or some other softer comment. But not Jesus!

Jesus knows what is at stake here and doesn't mince his words. Woe to you. Woe to you. Woe to you. And so on.

There is no compromise here. We would try to maintain our relationship with these leaders. Jesus speaks the truth uncompromisingly, fully knowing the results that would inevitably follow. And follow they did.

Once Jesus had left they started plotting His death.

John 8:12 NIV
[12] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Mark 8:34-38 NIV
[34] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [37] Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [38] If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.” 

Where does that leave us? We compromise so easily. Often we use an excuse such as maintaining a relationship. But is that really the case? Could it be that we are not propared to suffer the cost of speaking up for Jesus in a forthright way? Everyone has to answer this for themself, but I hope I will be found faithful when I am put to the test. What about you?

Where are the Christian Philanthopists?

There has been a great shift in this generation where people of significant wealth have determined to give away their wealth (or a major part of it) while they are still alive. The greatest example is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. However it is much wider than this for bequests to medicine, education, science and the arts.

But where are the entrepreneurs in the Christian sphere? Where are those who are prepared to put their wealth to work in the service of the Kingdom of God?

I am not talking about the building of church buildings or other things which are of only occasional use. However there are projects which need large amounts of capital for their fulfilment.

Much of the money raised for the promotion of the Kingdom of God comes from those with least ability to give. This money goes by and large to the support of people on the ground, and this is very good. However there are large projects that can never be funded in this way.

To give just two examples from my own experience:

• 1.       Bendigo, the largest inland city in Australia, has contributed to the life of Australia way above its size. Politically it had a major contribution to the foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Economically, the gold extracted here exceeded, until recent times, every other goldfield in Australia and was the source of the capital for the building of Melbourne. Even more importantly, Bendigo saw one of the largest revivals in Australian Christian History at the turn of the 20^th Century.

At the moment Bendigo is becoming known as the site of the largest Buddhist Stupa in the Southern Hemisphere. Why can’t we celebrate Bendigo’s Christian History by the building of a major interpretive centre at the edge of the city as you drive up from Melbourne. There are already conceptual plans in place for this, but where are the funds to come from? There are many very wealthy Christian people who could fund this easily. Where are they?

• 2.       In North East India there is the largest tribal community in India, estimated at up to 12,000,000 people. They are known as the Santals, or “the people of the land” . They are ethnically related to the Australian Indigenous people, as shown by DNA analysis. They are an oral people whose history is passed on orally, like our indigenous people. They have a very large Christian component and are easy to bring into the Kingdom of God when they come into contact with more urbanised people.

The Santals are mainly subsistence farmers, or in the cities, day labourers, which is more correctly described as slave-like labour. There is a very active work among these people based in Madhupur in the State of Jharkhand. I have the great privilege of being involved with them. All work there is carried out within THEIR culture with their elders determining the forms of meeting, worship, etc. Several schools have been built to enable them to avoid the exploitation that has been their experience so far. Santal language and culture is maintained wherever possible.

Their culture, and their Christian culture, needs to be preserved in an interpretive centre there. Land is already available, but again there are no funds for the interpretive centre.All monies raised so far has gone into evangelism, social uplift, and the preservation of life of mothers and babies. This emphasis must not change but this does not take away the need for an entrepreneur to fund an interpretive centre. The alternative is the gradual erosion of an ancient and beautiful culture, much of which preserves the creation narratives found in the Bible.

They have 12 tribes in their culture and many of the tribal laws and living values echo the life of the Israelites. There is much to be done in investigating and preserving this culture. Where is the money for this?

More information on these projects and on the beginning of a Kingdom of God Foundation for the funding of capital works in the Kingdom of God and not just the building of more church edifices, can be obtained from John Steele at john@bendimar.com.au, or at www.bendimar.blogspot.com.au

 

Please share this with your followers and see if we can send this viral and enthuse the Christian wealthy who will join a coalition to fund these, and other, activities, without diverting funds going to living transmitters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.