God had given us a commandment the Tithes & Offerings. How people today followed the commandment?

[Rufflebug]

I didn't say give money to God, I said give to the church, the ministry, missionaries, outreach. Now tell me where the Bible says don't give.

It doesn't say that either.

Find a verse that says such a thing.

Church, tabernacles, cathedrals, altars were all done away with in God's Gift of His indwelling Spirit and our relationship with Him as His children. There is no place to go because God is with us and in us always as we are each the temple of the Holy Spirit. Protestant Christianity picked up on the Church thing from Catholicism that copied Jewish history and pagan worship to create the “church” of today and the last nineteen hundred years. Such a thing does not exist in the Bible. There is no place to go to “worship” God, as our relationship with God replaced worship. You cannot find the worship concept in God's gospel through Paul. Worship was old era and the four Jewish Gospels about the Jews was old era.

There are many religions about God, but only one relationship with God and that through His indwelling Spirit.

I cannot provide something that the Bible does not say. It does not say you must give as it does not say “don’t give.” Certainly, you have the freedom to give or not. The point is that there is no such thing as a command or instruction anywhere in the Bible that you must give or God that requires such a thing. That is nowhere in the Bible and God does not say such a thing.

The question is what are you giving to? Is your Church and religion biblically correct? Or do you support a religion that does not understand the Bible? Do your missionaries and evangelical efforts promote a false Jesus as many do today, or a false Mary, or a false spirit? Those are the questions.

 

[Beckworth]

You are correct! In the 30 plus year ministries of Peter, Paul, James, John, Jude and the rest, no one ever called themselves, their followers, or their church "Christian." The word Christian appears in the entire Bible only three times. In all cases, it applied to the Jews who believed Jesus was the Son of God. The term never applied to Gentiles and no one ever called Gentiles Christians. The Romans and the other Jews of that time labeled these Jesus believing Jews Christians. It was a verbal scourge and a pejorative term leveled at Jews that the culture of that time considered a Jesus cult who believed Jesus was God. Yes, you are correct, Paul was not a Gentile Christian or any other kind of Christian as that religion did not begin until the second century.

Wow! What is your source for this belief? This is so wrong. Acts 11 begins in the first verse saying the GENTILES had also received the word of God. Verse 20 says that some men came to ANTIOCH and preached to the GENTILES and a GREAT NUMBER (of GENTILES) believed and turned to the Lord. These were GENTILE disciples in Antioch. Verse 24 says a “great many PEOPLE ( not Jews only) were added to the Lord. VERSE 26 says that Paul and Barnabas stayed a whole year in Antioch —which by the way was a GREEK city—and assembled with the church there and “taught a great many PEOPLE. It doesn’t say JEWS, it says PEOPLE. Could there have been some Jews in that number? Yes, but this chapter is talking about Gentiles becoming disciples—not Jews. So, in verse 26 where it says “the DISCIPLES were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch,, all of the evidence suggest this was a mixture of Jews AND GENTILES. Not Jews only as you said. How did you arrive at the conclusion that this was ONLY Jews? The Spirit calls them DISCIPLES—not Jews. There were gentile disciples in the church at Antioch. The scriptures prove that. All disciples of the Lord were called Christians. At least that is what the Holy Spirit says in Acts 11:26. If you are using some source from a man or outside the scriptures then, I’m sorry but they are not an authority on this. Only what God says is authoritative.

When KingvAgrippa said, “ Almost you persuade me to become a Christian,” Paul says, I wish ALL that hear me might become…Christian’s …as I am except for these chains. You think he was in a courtroom of just JEWS?!? He was in a Roman court. I seriously doubt if there were ANY Jews there Except for Agrippa himself or some members of his family. There would have been a number of gentiles there. Paul nowhere ever makes a distinction when using the word Christian. Neither do the scriptures.

When Peter says “ If ANYONE suffers as a Christian —not just Jews— ANYONE!! The Bible does not support or teach what you are teaching. Acts 11:26 was a church in a Greek city, made up of probably a large number of gentiles and some Jews. The word Christian used to describe the DISCIPLES in that church does not apply only to the Jews.

Acts 26:27-29 Paul is in a Roman court with probably gentiles present and says he wishes everyone who can hear him would become a Christian. You believe there were ONLY JEWS there that day?

1Peter 4:15, Peter says if ANYONE—not Jews only—that includes gentiles, suffers as a Christian… that means Gentiles are called Christian, too. Can’t gentiles suffer or are Jews the only ones who can suffer as Christian’s?

If you don’t abide in the doctrine of Christ, you don’t have God. 2 John 9

 

[Beckworth]

God in this New Age of Grace took everything out of the way including giving money. In this age we are not governed by anything except God's one and only bullet point He gives to us today through Paul: Salvation By God's Grace Through Our Faith. It is such a simple message that has been so befuddled by religion and its need to create laws to follow. No such things exist.

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

Church, tabernacles, cathedrals, altars were all done away with in God's Gift of His indwelling Spirit and our relationship with Him as His children. There is no place to go because God is with us and in us always as we are each the temple of the Holy Spirit.
.

The Christian has the indwelling yes, but the church, the true church, is about evangelism, reaching the lost. My father was invited to church as a young man, heard the Gospel and was saved that day. Yes, there is a purpose for a church. Churches have Sunday schools where children whose parents aren't saved can learn about Jesus, and many parents are saved because of their children. Musical concerts, plays, visiting missions all ways people have come to the Lord, in church! Yes, there is need of a church today.

I cannot provide something that the Bible does not say. It does not say you must give as it does not say “don’t give.” Certainly, you have the freedom to give or not. The point is that there is no such thing as a command or instruction anywhere in the Bible that you must give or God that requires such a thing. That is nowhere in the Bible and God does not say such a thing.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Obviously, God expects us to give.)

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

The question is what are you giving to? Is your Church and religion biblically correct? Or do you support a religion that does not understand the Bible?
Do your missionaries and evangelical efforts promote a false Jesus as many do today, or a false Mary, or a false spirit? Those are the questions

There's nothing wrong with my church, the preach and teach the full Gospel.

 

[Beckworth]

As mentioned earlier in this blog, the Jews of Peter's only Jewish church gave all for the common good and awaited for Christ's return, ....which did not happen. These Jews in the early chapters of Acts soon ran out of resources and fell into poverty. Paul took a collection for these Jewish "saints."

This is neither a command nor instruction for all people of all time to give money to God and does not apply to all members of the Body of Christ throughout time, nor does it have anything to do with Gentile Christianity.

Can you provide another verse? No such verse exists in the Bible.

1 Cor. 16:1-2 IS a command. The Holy Spirit says Concerning the COLLECTION.. as I have given “ORDERS”to the other CHURCHES ( in Galatia) “so you MUST DO also. What about this verse and this language do you see as “ not a command” or not instruction”? If God wanted to give a command or instruction, how else could he have said it to make it a command or instruction? Please respond concerning this verse.

Paul says in verse 4:17 of this same book that he teaches the same thing IN ALL of THE CHURCHES. So I know that this is not just for the church in Corinth. He has already said that he has already taught the churches in Galatia ( a province) to do this in fact he has ORDERED them to do this. And you think that is not a “commandment” or “instruction”? I believe the scripture proves you wrong.

I Cor. 4:17 Paul says that the things he teaches “ARE THE COMMANDMENTS of THE LORD”! But you think this is not a commandment of the Lord. How do you prove that from the scriptures? Human reasoning won’t do here since this is from the Holy Spirit. Neither will what some important man says nor some source outside the Bible. Only God, the Holy Spirit and the scriptures are authoritative. Show me from the scriptures that 1 Cor. 16:1-2 is NOT a commandment from GOd and is NOT instruction. I have shown you from the scriptures that it is— using such words as “ordered”; which when I looked up the definition for that word means “a COMMAND to do something” or “instruction to do something.” Look it up. It DENIES the very words you are using. Paul says you MUST DO this also. How much plainer do the scriptures have to be?

 

[Rufflebug]

Wow! What is your source for this belief? This is so wrong. Acts 11 begins in the first verse saying the GENTILES

If you will read my post... The word Christian appears only three times in the entire Bible, not the word Gentiles. Gentile Christianity and Gentile Christians do not appear in the Bible.

Acts 11 begins in the first verse saying the GENTILES had also received the word of God. Verse 20 says that some men came to ANTIOCH and preached to the GENTILES and a GREAT NUMBER (of GENTILES) believed and turned to the Lord. These were GENTILE disciples in Antioch.

As mentioned, after Acts 9 the story turns to Paul and the Gentiles and away from the Jews and Peter's Jewish only church. These Gentiles in Paul's ministry were the Body of Christ and the Jews believed these Gentiles should follow the Jewish law. These people are never called Christians. This is the scene at the temple as they discuss Peter and the Gentiles leading to Peter's recounting of Cornelius. Often, the Bible doubles back to an earlier time or another scene and this happens here.

and assembled with the church there and “taught a great many PEOPLE. It doesn’t say JEWS, it says PEOPLE. Could there have been some Jews in that number?

This is Paul's ministry to the Gentiles. Paul repeatedly went to the Jews and we see that throughout His ministry. The Jews always rejected Paul and by so doing, rejected God again as their fathers rejected God's prophets. God subsequently hardened and spiritually blinded the Jews as they remain to this day. With this, the Age of Grace and the gift of God's Spirit to the Gentiles became a Gentile event. Even today the Jews are returning to the land in unbelief as foretold in the Scriptures. The Jews never received the indwelling Spirit of God and missed God's message through Paul.

Act_13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Notice:
Act 11:19 Now they (Jews) which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. These were not Gentiles and had nothing to do with Paul and the Body of Christ.
Act 11:20 And some of them were men (Jews) of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians (Jews), preaching the Lord Jesus. (That He came from God) (The Spirit of God had not yet been given)
Act 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number (of Jews) believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Act 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem (Jews): and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Act 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord (They - Jews - believed in Jesus).
Act 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples (Jews) were called Christians first in Antioch.

This part of Acts reflects on the Jews who became disciples and were called Christians. Barnabas- a Jew- sought Saul. This was not Paul's ministry. It was the Jewish ministry of Barnabas who was sent by the Jews. These are not of the Body of Christ, nor does it have anything to do with the religion that began post-apostolic a century after Christ's ascension who called themselves Christians. There is no connection in the second century religion with the first century church of Peter.

When KingvAgrippa said, “ Almost you persuade me to become a Christian,” Paul says, I wish ALL that hear me might become…Christian’s …as I am except for these chains.

Paul was on trial. Aggripa was familiar with the Jews and them being called Christians - the pejorative meaning of those who believed Jesus was God incarnate. What Agrippa did not understand was Paul and the Body of Christ. Agrippa's mention here was a sarcastic comment. He did not see or understand the distinction between the Jews and Paul's ministry.

When Peter says “ If ANYONE suffers as a Christian —not just Jews— ANYONE!!

Peter always and only wrote to the Jews about the Jews for the Jews without mention or consideration to the Gentiles, let alone the Body of Christ. Paul writing "anyone" referred to the Jews to whom he wrote, not Gentiles and not "Christians." Nor does this mention have anything to do with the second century religion called Gentile Christianity.

You believe there were ONLY JEWS there that day?

This was a Jewish-led trial as they accused Paul before Agrippa. Paul, as always, proclaimed what he called "My Gospel" and yes, he went repeatedly to the Jews and would have all men turn to God. The Jews never did. Paul would have Agrippa and everyone else turn to God.

If you don’t abide in the doctrine of Christ, you don’t have God. 2 John 9

True Statement.

 

[Rufflebug]

but the church, the true church, is about evangelism, reaching the lost

No. You have been repeatedly told these things in religion and mostly in Evangelicalism. The concept that everyone must evangelize the world does not appear anywhere in the Bible. It is a creation of some Christian sects. You will not find anything of the sort in God's message to man through the Apostle Paul. Not one mention. What you find repeatedly is our adoption for all who turn to God and chose, called elect, predestinated, et cetera. I am not Calvinist.

Yes, there is a purpose for a church. Churches have Sunday schools where children whose parents aren't saved can learn about Jesus, and many parents are saved because of their children

The same is true in the Charismatic churches, the Mormon church, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Catholic church and many others. Being "saved" always follows the question, "To What?" The Question is whose your Jesus? The Jesus today is often not the biblical Jesus.

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Old era and this law does not apply to the Body of Christ who do these things organically, not by compulsion in following a law.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

All old era under the law, replaced by God's indwelling Spirit. When Jesus spoke these things to the Jews, they did not have the indwelling Spirit of God. Had they the indwelling Spirt, what Jesus would have said to them would have been exponentially different to what He did say.

There's nothing wrong with my church,

Says the Catholics, the Mormons, Pres USA and the rest. Whose your Jesus? Do you understand the Bible? Do you know the truth?

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

No. You have been repeatedly told these things in religion and mostly in Evangelicalism. The concept that everyone must evangelize the world does not appear anywhere in the Bible. It is a creation of some Christian sects. You will not find anything of the sort in God's message to man through the Apostle Paul. Not one mention. What you find repeatedly is our adoption for all who turn to God and chose, called elect, predestinated, et cetera. I am not Calvinist.

Well Calvin would consider you a Calvinist. The Bible doesn't say God created an elect for heaven, if that's what you're saying. If not I haven't a clue what you're talking about. Why wouldn't you tell someone about the Gospel?

The same is true in the Charismatic churches, the Mormon church, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Catholic church and many others. Being "saved" always follows the question, "To What?" The Question is whose your Jesus? The Jesus today is often not the biblical Jesus.

Right and I could say the same of whatever belief you believe you have right. My Jesus is in the Word, I can read, I assume you can do the same. What the "us four and no more" attitude. You might even find, gasp, a Christian in heaven you believe shouldn't be there.

Old era and this law does not apply to the Body of Christ who do these things organically, not by compulsion in following a law.
All old era under the law, replaced by God's indwelling Spirit. When Jesus spoke these things to the Jews, they did not have the indwelling Spirit of God. Had they the indwelling Spirt, what Jesus would have said to them would have been exponentially different to what He did say.

Nonsense. The entire Bible talks about giving, front to back. That's why charities survive, because Christians believe in giving. It's not atheists keeping soup kitchens going, coats for children in winter, unwed Moms on and on. If you don't thing this is the work of a Christian you've missed the message. Saved by grace for good works.

Whose your Jesus? Do you understand the Bible? Do you know the truth?

The Bible is there for anyone to read and understand, with the indwelling Spirit you're talking about correct? I can read why wouldn't I know Jesus and the truth?! And why does your status say not Christian?

 

[Rufflebug]

1 Cor. 16:1-2 IS a command. The Holy Spirit says Concerning the COLLECTION.. as I have given “ORDERS”to the other CHURCHES ( in Galatia) “so you MUST DO also. What about this verse and this language do you see as “ not a command” or not instruction”? If God wanted to give a command or instruction, how else could he have said it to make it a command or instruction? Please respond concerning this verse.

Again, this is a single event without other scripture support to suggest it is a permanent fixture in the Age of Grace. This is Paul coming to the aid of the Jews in poverty, not a for all and ever command. If such a command applied to all people of all time, you would see other corroboration in Scripture, which you do not. It was a specific time on Paul's ministry and not found anywhere else. The rest of Scripture does not go in this direction and that is how we know.

Paul says in verse 4:17 of this same book that he teaches the same thing IN ALL of THE CHURCHES. So I know that this is not just for the church in Corinth. He has already said that he has already taught the churches in Galatia ( a province) to do this in fact he has ORDERED them to do this. And you think that is not a “commandment” or “instruction”? I believe the scripture proves you wrong.

This is something many franchises of Christianity do: take one verse from here and connect it with some other verse way over there that has absolutely nothing to do with the verse in question. Chapter 4 and 16 do not speak of the same thing. What we see in Chapter 4

1Co 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

and following has nothing to do with chapter 16. Many Christian derivatives have been created using this logic that has no biblical truth.

Human reasoning won’t do here since this is from the Holy Spirit.

Miss-understanding and boot-strapping verses to make a doctrine is not the leading of the Spirit of God.

Only God, the Holy Spirit and the scriptures are authoritative. Show me from the scriptures that 1 Cor. 16:1-2 is NOT a commandment from GOd and is NOT instruction.

I cannot because it is not, as all the scripture as a whole does not validate your position.

I have shown you from the scriptures that it is— using such words as “ordered”; which when I looked up the definition for that word means “a COMMAND to do something” or “instruction to do something.”

Boot-strapping from 12 chapters earlier to make a point 12 chapters later is hardly proving your point.

How much plainer do the scriptures have to be?

My question exactly.

 

[Rufflebug]

Well Calvin would consider you a Calvinist. The Bible doesn't say God created an elect for heaven, if that's what you're saying. If not I haven't a clue what you're talking about. Why wouldn't you tell someone about the Gospel?

No. Calvinist's go in a very different direction. God's message to man does say elect, predestinated, called, chosen, foreknown, and the rest- over 70 times in Paul's letters. Would you call God a Calvinist? Nowhere does God in Christ through Paul say anything about missions for all and everyone and the church must evangelize. This is what Evangelicalism teaches based on a very few verses taken badly out of context. The emphasis some in Christianity place on the subject is just not there.

Why wouldn't you tell someone about the Gospel?

The question is what gospel? The gospel of Jesus: "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" applied only to the Jews in the old era and never applied to the Gentiles, does not apply today, and has not for two millennium. Peter's gospel to the Jews,

Acts_2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (the filling of the Spirit, as in tongues, and not the indwelling Spirit, God's gift to man that would not happen until later with the Apostle Paul.)

...does not apply to anyone today. Yet Christian religions teach and preach either or both out of context and in error, omitting God's gospel that He gave us through Paul: Salvation by Grace through faith. Water baptism has no part in this Age of Grace. Few religions understand this as most practice, preach, and teach this wholly Jewish ritual of the old era that never applied and doesn't apply to the Gentiles, nor is it valid in the Age of Grace. It was replaced by God's indwelling Spirit in a spiritual baptism that actually does something: creating in you a new spiritual creation and revealing the truth.

Right and I could say the same of whatever belief you believe you have right.

And that is the deception we see in religion. Anyone can say anything. There is only one truth, not many. Everyone is not worshiping the same God, just read the Bible. Everyone is not preaching or believing the same truth, just read the Bible. Without the leading of the Spirit there is no understanding of the Bible, God's one truth. Not all Spirits are from God. This is what the Bible says and this is the problem with religion today. Everyone specializes in whatever they believe they understand in the Bible and they fall far from the truth of the Bible and cannot recognize the truth. The Jesus of today in many religions is a manufactured God. All you need to do is look in the Bible. Nowhere does God through Paul tell us to follow Jesus, be like Jesus, conform to Jesus, have the love of Jesus, make disciples for Jesus, and many, many more. That is not in the Bible and that Jesus does not exist in the Bible. It is a religious Jesus meant to take us from God to worship a proxy. Just look in the Bible. The Jewish Jesus never in the history of man on earth ever ministered to or taught the Gentiles. In the new era, God in Christ sent a Jew named Paul to the Gentiles. The new Age of Grace has one feature and that being our relationship with God through Christ. When religions deviate from God for a false god by whatever name, it is error and apostacy and they do not have the Spirit of God to understand the things of God. That is the fate of many churches today.

You might even find, gasp, a Christian in heaven you believe shouldn't be there.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Doubtless, many Christians who follow a false religion and worship a false god in an era without worship will miss His coming and endure the Tribulation. Many today follow a Jesus of some sort. Look in the Bible and see if yours is there.

Saved by grace for good works.

This is a James message who was a Jew under Jewish law writing to only Jews under the law and never Gentiles. James never had the indwelling Spirit and wrote of works which is the essence of Judaism that failed. The Body of Christ does all these good things, but not because we follow a law of works, but naturally by God's Spirit who abides in us . We don't even know were are doing it and we couldn't stop if we wanted to. This is a major difference as all religious works are as filthy rags.

Works for work's sake are empty. Working to prove faith is not faith. These good works are filthy rags and can never please God.

The Bible is there for anyone to read and understand, with the indwelling Spirit you're talking about correct? I can read why wouldn't I know Jesus and the truth?! And why does your status say not Christian?

Many read the Bible without the Spirit to open their mind and we have a multitude of Christian religions as a result, all believing something different. Every single person says the same thing: I read the Bible and I understand. Apparently not or there would not be so many religions believing so many things that do not exist in the Bible. The fact is that people pursue a religion about God following the doctrines people taught them. But lining those doctrines up with the Bible you see the problem. What they believe is not in the Bible. The Bible is very simple and what you see in religion today is not in the Bible. Not even close and it really stand out.

 

[MsMediator]

You don't think that before you spend your pay check you should give to the church? Whatever amount you give? I believe in regular church giving. I regularly pay my phone bill, my cable bill etc. why not the church? Stats show that 5-10% are carrying the burden of the churches finances. I believe if you attend a church you should support it. If God loves a cheerful giver, why wouldn't the church be one of the first places you give?

The issue then is that when I give to the church on a scheduled basis it becomes just like another bill like utilities. This is why many people do automatic bank payments with church giving, to force them into giving without much thought. It is more painful to write a check. There is nothing cheerful about that. I am more motivated to give, and more generous, where is there more urgency and where I see results. Sure, keeping church doors open is important too. However, if the church has reserves or if the 5-10% are giving more than enough, I believe my amount given to the church could be less and I can donate more to more urgent needs. I am not saying don't give to the church, but give a combination to church and more urgent needs where the person is called.

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

No. Calvinist's go in a very different direction. God's message to man does say elect, predestinated, called, chosen, foreknown, and the rest- over 70 times in Paul's letters. Would you call God a Calvinist?

If your understanding is that God created a special class of Christians, or certain people to be saved you don't understand Paul. Your understanding is the issue.

Nowhere does God in Christ through Paul say anything about missions for all and everyone and the church must evangelize. This is what Evangelicalism teaches based on a very few verses taken badly out of context. The emphasis some in Christianity place on the subject is just not there.
.

Mid-Acts dispensationalist or the Grace Movement, you could have just said that and saved me the bother of looking it up.

. Nowhere does God through Paul tell us to follow Jesus, be like Jesus, conform to Jesus, have the love of Jesus, make disciples for Jesus, \ The Jewish Jesus never in the history of man on earth ever ministered to or taught the Gentiles.

Paul was not equal to or above Jesus in any way.

Working to prove faith is not faith. These good works are filthy rags and can never please God.

Never said it did.

Many read the Bible without the Spirit to open their mind and we have a multitude of Christian religions as a result, all believing something different. Every single person says the same thing: I read the Bible and I understand. Apparently not or there would not be so many religions believing so many things that do not exist in the Bible.

There is only one Christian religion, I think you mean denominations.