First and foremost we are not a Christian nation. In fact, America is so far from that reality.
There is a lot that I do agree with here but one thing stands out that wasn't brought to light. Jesus calls us to be cheerful givers and He allows us the opportunity to give as the Holy Spirit leads. Free will allows us to choose to give or not to give. Never in Scripture does Jesus ever demand that we give against our own will. That is where the gov't has overstepped its boundaries buy forcing charity through taxation. If someone has a heart for the poor then should be able to give to that cause, if they have a heart for prisoners then they should have the ability to give to that cause, if they have a heart for addiction recovery then they should have the ability to give to that cause, you get my point. But when the government forces charity through taxation and redistribution then you lose the ability to choose where to give... it is no longer charity and you are no longer a cheerful giver.
Really it boils down to the heart condition of people. If you are walking with Christ then you will be inclined to give to the things that break His heart. Like I said from the outset of this reply, we are not living in a Christian nation. There are many people who say they believe in God (but what God), but not enough walking with Jesus.
On a side note, if the Christians were actually giving to the church the way that God commanded, 10% tithe, there would be enough money to more than feed the impoverished, poor, and starving (on average the church receives roughly a 1% tithe worldwide). This would allow the church to do what it was intended to be, being the hands and feet of Christ to those in need, and getting the government out of the charity by force business and back to the initial purpose of Government.
Was Jesus a liberal democrat? No. Was Jesus a conservative republican? No. Pure and simple, Jesus was and is LOVE.
But some churches do receive the 10% tithe, which is an OT philosophy from what I remember, which many things have changed from the OT to Christ's ministry so I'm not sure the 10% is an accurate figure - but that is a whole other conversation, however, it could be talked about in the NT, I just do not recall, ANYWHO, my point was many of the churches that do receive money are building more buildings and creating more church programs and not giving it to the people who need it. Explain to me why the Lutheran churches and the Catholic churches and all the other churches have MILLIONS of dollars invested into their buildings, nice marble, stained glass etc...and then constant remodels when people in their same cities are dying of starvation. So I love the idea in theory, but it's not happening. In My Opinion of course.
First and foremost we are not a Christian nation. In fact, America is so far from that reality.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot that I do agree with here but one thing stands out that wasn't brought to light. Jesus calls us to be cheerful givers and He allows us the opportunity to give as the Holy Spirit leads. Free will allows us to choose to give or not to give. Never in Scripture does Jesus ever demand that we give against our own will. That is where the gov't has overstepped its boundaries buy forcing charity through taxation. If someone has a heart for the poor then should be able to give to that cause, if they have a heart for prisoners then they should have the ability to give to that cause, if they have a heart for addiction recovery then they should have the ability to give to that cause, you get my point. But when the government forces charity through taxation and redistribution then you lose the ability to choose where to give... it is no longer charity and you are no longer a cheerful giver.
Really it boils down to the heart condition of people. If you are walking with Christ then you will be inclined to give to the things that break His heart. Like I said from the outset of this reply, we are not living in a Christian nation. There are many people who say they believe in God (but what God), but not enough walking with Jesus.
On a side note, if the Christians were actually giving to the church the way that God commanded, 10% tithe, there would be enough money to more than feed the impoverished, poor, and starving (on average the church receives roughly a 1% tithe worldwide). This would allow the church to do what it was intended to be, being the hands and feet of Christ to those in need, and getting the government out of the charity by force business and back to the initial purpose of Government.
Was Jesus a liberal democrat? No. Was Jesus a conservative republican? No. Pure and simple, Jesus was and is LOVE.
But some churches do receive the 10% tithe, which is an OT philosophy from what I remember, which many things have changed from the OT to Christ's ministry so I'm not sure the 10% is an accurate figure - but that is a whole other conversation, however, it could be talked about in the NT, I just do not recall, ANYWHO, my point was many of the churches that do receive money are building more buildings and creating more church programs and not giving it to the people who need it. Explain to me why the Lutheran churches and the Catholic churches and all the other churches have MILLIONS of dollars invested into their buildings, nice marble, stained glass etc...and then constant remodels when people in their same cities are dying of starvation. So I love the idea in theory, but it's not happening. In My Opinion of course.
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