The Biblical New Testament Local Church

(Part Three)

Tithing

This is yet another problem with modern churches. Most of them that I have ever attended have put an undue emphasis on giving. The problem that I mentioned in the first part of this series of posts concerning the failure of most Christians to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) is of great importance. The example I gave before is concerning dispensational salvation. Now we are looking at a problem just as vital as that which concerns church pastors who lord over their flock unscripturally. Many pastors take the oversight of the flock of God by constraint for filthy lucre.

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Paul doesn’t mention tithing one time in all his epistles for the church. He does talk about giving but not tithing. The twelve apostles said in Acts 6:4 that they would give themselves “continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” The thing that an elder should constrain his flock to give (if anything at all) is “themselves”. There really shouldn’t be constraint laid on Christians but the point is that the first and main thing that God wants from you is you, not your money. If fact, if God has you, you will give as the Lord lays on your heart to give without having a pastor taking old testament scriptures out of their contexts in order to rob you of your money.

Acts 7:38 says that Moses “received the lively oracles to give unto us:” Paul mentions “the oracles of God” in Romans 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12. And then Peter said, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;” (1 Peter 4:11). Here I think is the responsibility of local church elders and pastors to give the oracles of God to the people of the church.

When Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, he called the elders of the church (Acts 20:17). At this time he gave them the following warning:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:28-35)

He said to “take heed” of a few things. 1) to feed the church of God, 2) grievous wolves shall enter in among you, 3) perverted men will “draw away disciples after them”, 4) watch and remember. Then, he said, “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.” And when he finally mentions giving, it is in reference to supporting the weak not supporting the church pastor.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Ephesians 4:28).

“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;” (Titus 1:7)

As I said before, Paul never even mentioned ‘tithing’. And from what I see, when he talks about giving, it is in reference to “Distributing to the necessity of saints” (Romans 12:13) or in support of Paul himself, being an apostle, a traveling minister (Philippians 4:15).

And also Paul indicated in Romans 12:8 that giving is a gift that possibly not everybody would have.

“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” (1 Corinthians 16:15).

Paul discusses the ministry to the saints in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 (two whole chapters) and the whole time it is about giving “to the necessity of saints” (Romans 12:13); “the want of the saints (2 Corinthians 9:12).

In conclusion, I see that Christian tithing is unbiblical and especially pastors beating their congregation over the head with verses that don’t apply to them and trying to constrain them to give their money for unbiblical purposes. I don’t believe that Christian giving should be used to build a beautiful building and buy a bunch of junk to put in it. It seems that most of the modern churches and pastors are much, much more concerned with building a pretty and comfortable building to attract lost people and baby Christians than they are concerned about “edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

[If necessary, I might add more to this about tithing and giving in a later post.]

The Denominational System is Unscriptural

“Where in the Bible is such a religious structure found? If a denominational system is so good and needful, then why didn’t God think of it and establish it? Why didn’t Jesus say, “I will build my denomination . . .” in Matthew 16:18 instead of saying that He would build his church?

Denominationalism was introduced to Christianity, not by the Bible, but by men. Rather than follow the simple Bible pattern of respecting the autonomy and independence of separate local churches, men have traditionally given into the temptation to “become stronger and better” by linking churches together into associations, fellowships, hierarchies, and denominations. First, it was the Roman Catholics, then the Greek Orthodox Church, then all of the Reformation groups.

In the book of Acts, there are various local churches established, but there are no denominations or associations. In his epistles, Paul addresses local assemblies, but no denominations or associations are mentioned. In Revelation 1:4, we read these words: “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” We do not read anything about denominations, conventions, or associations. Jesus then goes on to address letters to each of the seven churches independently in chapters two and three (Rev. 1:4, 11; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). The Bible simply does not support denominationalism. New Testament churches are independent, autonomous, assemblies of Christians, and nothing more.”

[From “The Sick Southern Baptist System – 13 Reasons To Get Out and Stay Out of the Southern Baptist Convention”, 35 page booklet, Copyright © 2006 James L. Melton - http://www.biblebaptistpublications.org/southernbaptists.html]

(An additional note: the biblical new testament churches didn't have names either.)

Entertainment in Church

(1) Handel was so spirit-filled when he wrote The Messiah that he said he didn’t know if he was in the body or out of the body; (2) every word to the Hallelujah Chorus was taken straight from a King James Bible; (3) Handel was quick to correct a British Lord who commented that The Messiah (Handel’s masterpiece) would make excellent “entertainment” for the people. The dear saint said that he wanted to HELP the people, not entertain them; (4) three thousand people attended the funeral of George Frideric Handel, and he is buried at Westminster Abbey near a statue of himself. The statue is holding a music score reading “I know my Redeemer liveth.”