Christian Living

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Many Christians today, I believe, are living in bondage to giving. Let me explain what I mean. The traditional approach taught in many churches is to give 10% of one's income to the local church. There is nothing wrong with that in and of itself. The problem lies in the motivation behind the giving.

Most Christian pastors and leaders base the teaching on an Old Testament passage in Malachi.
Beginning in Malachi 3:8, here is what it says:
"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say 'How have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you."Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house,and test me now in this", says the Lord of Hosts "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing, until it over flows."

This passage is emphasized to the exclusion of a New Testament section in II Corinthians 9:7.
"Let each one of you give just as you have purposed in your heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion: for God loves a cheerful giver."

The choice should be clear. What would you prefer? Giving out of compulsion and fear of being cursed, or giving as you have purposed in your heart to give? One can lead to bondage and guilt. The other results in freedom. Besides, when you really study the Malachi passage in its Old Testament context, you begin to realize how grossly misinterpreted and misapplied it is, to today's church.

Why should Christians be governed by a particular percentage? Just give generously as you purpose in your heart.

TO BE CONTINUED IN A LATER ARTICLE

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