All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Biblical or Pharisitical?
I was thinking this morning (yes that is always a very dangerous thing). So I just posted a blog: http://www.allaboutgod.net/profiles/blogs/beating-negativity-to-death
So based on the scripture I've quoted in that blog, is "God won't help you unless you speak positive" a Biblical concept or is this a Pharisitcal teaching?
What about the concept of tithing a tenth? There were those in the OT who were said to have tithed a tenth. Abraham tithed a tenth. The Pharisees were all about tithing a tenth. And notice it's always money. What about tithing your time to help those in need? 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that each one must give as he has decided in his heart...not a set percentage. Luke 12:33 tells the rich man to sell his possessions and give to the needy, not the tithe. We're called to give and to be generous, but are we placing a weight on the shoulders of those in poverty when we ourselves are better off by demanding this percentage they may not have?
I wonder if this was a lot of the issue with the Pharisees. They laid heavy burdens and demands on people that they themselves could not always carry out. And these demands can be so discouraging to those growing in Christ. So how do we determine when it's scripturally based? Even for every quote someone can throw out about paying a tenth to tithes or about not getting anything from God if you're negative, I can show scripture that refute it. I think it comes because we don't take scripture as a whole but only cling to individual parts to make a quick point.
There are many others I've heard that I just don't have time to touch on at this time and cannot recall them all, but are there some that you've heard? What do you feel God has shown you on certain issues that have been preached and taught but that you feel you get a different view of when you read the Word?
So to summarize all this rant:
- Would you say the concept of "you must give the church a tenth of your income" is Biblical or man-made?
- Would you say the concept of "God won't/can't help you if you're negative" is Biblical or man-made?
- What other quotes have you heard that you feel may be man-made rather than Biblical and why? Use scripture please.
- If you feel these concepts are Biblical, can you provide scripture that is not refuted by any other scripture that shows it's applicability in all situations?
I'm interested in what really is from man and what's from God and do not want to be deceived by anything. There's so much muddying of the Word from what I read in it and just trying to figure out where such concepts come from.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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Pharasitical --is that a word? :)
I think you mean pharisaical, which means marked by hypocritical censorious self-righteousness, and I'm somewhat familiar with it. Lol
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharisaical
Does God help those who don't even believe? Does God do good things for unbelievers?
Matthew 5 NIV
Love for Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbori and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
When are God's enemies ever speaking positive towards God? Yes, God still helps them. God helps sinners, whether they believe or not, no matter what they profess.
Psalm 25 ESV
8Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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Hmmm I can't take it. It doesn't play the words. My speaker is up, but nothing.
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LOL Ok I wondered about that. I looked it up and found that spelling, but went with it anyhow. ;-)
And cool. I wasn't even thinking in the aspect of unbelievers, but people who feel like nothing good will ever happen or wonder if God cares since all the bad keeps happening. People who have been conditioned to believe they're worthless. They get a mindset of that and yet they believe. But what you posted even goes a step further.
And it also reminds me of the times I've heard people say of how satan would've taken them out at birth if he could've had his way. I think about my heart defects and things I went through from birth and up that could've (and perhaps should've) taken me out and how there was always this "protection". Like God saying satan could do all that to Job but not kill him. Doctors discovered a serious issue with my heart (aside from those I was born with), by sheer "chance"? almost to the last moment. I was 11 at the time and they said I wouldn't live to see 14 had they not found it. And they only found it because I'd pleaded with my mom to let me attend camp...for which I had to have a physical. And I just happened to get a caring enough nurse who thought my pulse was too weak that started the ball rolling.
So I was not saved then and yet God was helping me. And it makes me wonder when they claim God didn't let you die or something, then you get saved and they say God won't help you if you're negative...isn't that a bit like talking out of both sides? :-o
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