The Tentmaker

[maxmammon]

Down through the years a Mardi gras of methods has been used to extort money from people for the business of religion. Pyramids, temples, cathedrals and shrines with their artwork and altars have been built using slaves, taxes, indulgences, tithes and plunder. Compare that to what Christ left behind. His followers abandoned the Jerusalem temple and met in homes. The Apostle Paul traveled the Mediterranean area speaking wherever he could: at city gates and at schools, in synagogues and in houses, on hills and on islands, in ships and in prison, and before kings.

Paul wrote and documented from OT Scripture that those who dedicate their lives to serving God by helping others can accept support to do their work. I believe he was referring to the necessities of life, not mansions, limousines and caviar.  He himself set an example by working as a tentmaker while he traveled and he paid for his own expenses. He reminded the Ephesians at Miletus he had taken no gold, silver, or clothing from them, but had worked with his own hands to support himself and those with him. Yet the King James translators brought down the Greek word diakonos as minister when it referred to men, but servant (correct) when it referred to a woman near the end of Paul's letter to the Romans. It was part of their 1611ecclesiastical bias with a hierarchy of male priests, bishops, etc.

Paul was not dependent on others. He acknowledged near the end of his Philippians letter that they had supported him while he was in Thessalonica, but he desired fruit abounding to their account, not the gift. Now compare that to today's religious leaders: reverends, popes, and rabbis. You will see quite a contrast. Paul was often beaten and scourged by religious people who hounded him, and was even stoned to death at Lystra in Lycaonia. Yet God thought it profitable to raise him back to fleshly life, to continue on, which Paul promptly did. Instead of spending time in high-rise hotels, Paul spent time on foot or riding horseback; instead of swimming in a heated pool, he swam the Mediterranean after a shipwreck while on his way to Rome in shackles.

If the Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee, wanted people to "tithe," why didn't he tell them so in the letters he wrote? He did ask them to give from their abundance, not out of necessity or obligation, but from generosity, yet not to him, but to others in need. He wrote to the Corinthians that God loves a happy giver, and to Timothy that those who are rich in this world should learn generosity. As he quoted the Lord Jesus at Miletus: "it is a greater blessing to give what you've received," as opposed to hoarding it.

If you want to examine the generosity of modern-day "saints," then follow the money; see where it goes and how it's actually used. Some actually serve God by helping people; unfortunately, others run dog and pony or magic shows to keep the business going and the money flowing.

[sheila]

 :thumbsup: Max...Judas priests that betray the gospel of Christ[righteous]for silver..or hired Balaam priests who curse what God has blessed for money[et/ed]

I behold no iniquity in them[sin taken away at cross] the 'saints'were overcome...and though satan wrecked the Lord's church with evil motive...God usedit forthe

good..the churches fall mean's salvation for all and  no flesh shall boast :2c:

[jugghead]

To max, sheila, rose and others who continue to post on this site:

It is a wondrous, glorious and awesome sound to hear the heavenly host singing the authority of Christ through the tongues of His Saints

Keep it up, for we are a peculiar people

Blessings

[sheila]

 :girlheart:

[marie glen]

Praise the Lord, I totally agree with all of the above! :thumbsup: Very good post and summary Max.. I do think tithing is part of the Old system which was of the state as well as faith.. Taxes supposedly are supposed to do what the tithing system did.. Now if it's voluntary, what a church decides and agrees to do for the sake of the gospel or to aid folks who need aid, that's their right, too. But as a commandment for the church, I never thought of it, but I have to agree Paul would have certainly mentioned all the while he was setting up 'churches' and writing letters about the order of the churches! :doh: :faint: :thumbsup: