*JOHN LOCKE- JESUS-
AND MONEY.
Today’s video [and
post] is one of those ‘spur of the moment’ ones-
I made the video/post
yesterday- ‘off the cuff’-
I’m at the ranch as I write- and have no WiFi out here- or
I’d post it now- I also don’t have my on-line concordance- so I’ll try and
remember exactly where some of the verses are and add them in [I do have my
on-line bible saved to the drive!]
This video/post is in keeping with some of the stuff I’ve
been recently teaching.
As Christians- we often look for the things we are supposed
to do.
Which is fine- but what I have learned in my experience of
doing ministry for many years- is many Pastors/ministers- learn a certain
pattern/form- early on-
And as well-meaning as these men are- they often
unconsciously do not realize they are violating scripture in their efforts to
do the right thing.
When people feel God has called them ‘to preach’ [ called into
ministry] most of the times they are taught that this means ‘starting a local
church’.
In the American mindset- this means starting a nonprofit 501
c3- either renting or building some type of structure to meet in-
And then teaching a form of giving- usually called ‘the
tithe’ [meaning 10 percent]-
And then saying ‘the local church is this place/501c3- the
storehouse- and you will be cursed if you do not tithe to the storehouse’.
And without realizing it- in the more extreme cases-
actually teaching people that they will fall under the curse of God- if they do
not put 10% of their income into the ‘local church’.
This verse from Malachi is often used- Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye
have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and
offerings.Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And this basic idea of ‘church government’ is then
propagated thru out the land.
I’ve discussed this recently- and for these short videos- I
just want to note that the New Testament churches we read about in the bible-
are talking about communities of believers living in your city/area.
The early Christians met in homes- and later on in church
buildings-
I am not against any of these formats- but we need to be
careful that we are not unconsciously telling people they will be under the
curse of God if they do not ‘tithe to the storehouse’ [then applying the
‘storehouse’ to the building- and it’s 501c3 status- as- quote ‘the local
church’].
The tithe was actually an income tax for the nation of
Israel in the Old Testament- and it entailed more than simply putting goods/money
into an ‘offering’ plate-
No- it was a system that supported 3 main things in the
Jewish economy-
The Priests [who were forbidden to own property].
The poor [meeting their needs].
And for banquets-
So- in short- the churches we read about in the bible were
communities of people who supported one another- and this included- yes-
financial support for the minsters too-
That’s all ok-
But the balance about money in the New Testament is it is a
tool to be used to help others-
And is never something we should seek after- sort of like
‘God has called me to become rich so I can fund ministries’ type thing. No-
that ‘calling’ would violate many actual teachings in the bible- that warn
against seeking to be rich- even for noble causes-
I’ve copied some of those verses the last few days-
So- as we continue to teach thru the bible in the next year-
look at the relationship we see in these New Testament letters between giving
and receiving-
How the early Christians viewed their roles in the church-
How the ministers related to the people-
The bible does give us guidelines about all of this- it
actually makes it quite clear-
Ok- enjoy the video/post- talk to you soon.
1To the elders
among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who
also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be
shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not
because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not
pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not
lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when
the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never
fade away.
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the
elders of the church.
Acts 20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye
know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been
with you at all seasons,
Acts 20:19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with
many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto
you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to
house,
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Acts 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have
gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure
from the blood of all men.
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the
counsel of God.
Acts 20:28 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.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Acts 20:32 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.
Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Acts 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have
ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Acts 20:35 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 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and
prayed with them all.
Acts 20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and
kissed him,
Acts 20:38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake,
that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Understand here- that
Paul is speaking to the leaders of the church- and he told them that for the 3
years he was with them he worked- supported himself- and those that were with
him.
He then says he did this for an example- to show them [the
leaders] that they too are not in ministry for the people to support them-
But for the benefit of the people-
We do read later in the writings of Paul that the Christians
should meet the needs of their spiritual leaders- that’s ok.
But here he is showing them- leaders- that ministry is not
about collecting a bunch of money for ‘ministry projects’.
It’s giving your life for others.
1Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as
I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of
you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
when I come.
1Corinthians 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by
your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
1Corinthians 16:4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go
with me.
This is also a common
verse to teach tithing-
Often times when ministers take offerings- they clap- do a
sort of celebration-
But here Paul is saying ‘when I get there- I don't want to
waste time making a big thing out of the offering- so take it up before I get
there’.
This money was simply used as a charitable donation for the poor
Christians living at Jerusalem- it was in no way a ‘tithe’ and it was not money
for Paul.
1Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not
seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
1Corinthians 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless
I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
1Corinthians 9:3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1Corinthians 9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Corinthians 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife,
as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Corinthians 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to
forbear working?
1Corinthians 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges?
who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a
flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Corinthians 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law
the same also?
1Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt
not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care
for oxen?
1Corinthians 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our
sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and
that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it
a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Corinthians 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you,
are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all
things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Corinthians 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about
holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar
are partakers with the altar?
1Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which
preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Corinthians 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither
have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were
better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
1Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing
to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach
not the gospel!
1Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a
reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto
me.
1Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I
preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse
not my power in the gospel.
Here Paul clearly teaches them that they should support their
leaders- yet he then goes on to say he himself would not use ‘this right’-
And he used strong language- making it sound like he would be
charging them for his services- which- to him- would be wrong.
I could give more examples- but what I want you to see is we never
see a type of ‘tithe or you will be cursed’ mindset when the New Testament
talks about giving.
The Storehouse verse has nothing to do with the Ecclesia- it was a
room in the temple- not a spiritual community of people.
John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew
that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the
Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the
end.
John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into
the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into
his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and
took a towel, and girded himself.
John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to
wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was
girded.
John 13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him,
Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest
not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.
Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
John 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but
also my hands and my head.
John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save
to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
John 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he,
Ye are not all clean.
John 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his
garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done
to you?
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I
am.
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet;
ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I
have done to you.
John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
JOHN LOCKE-
Locke taught that each man has individual rights- and he empowers
government- an elected designated body- to have rule-
Yet- that government exists solely for the benefit of the
people- and when/if that government ‘forgets’ this- the people have a
right/duty to revolt.
Locke’s ideas were formed at a time when his own government
experienced a sort of revolution [1600’s- England].
The people revolted against monarchy- and replaced it with a
sort of Democratic Parliament-
Referred to as the bloodless revolution or the glorious revolution.
The king [or today- queen] would still play a role- like a
figurehead- but the power was in the people- willingly given over to a Parliament.
The political ideas of Locke influenced our founding
fathers- and our Declaration of Independence and Constitution are in parts almost
word for word taken from the writings of Locke.
Locke believed in natural law- that morality was indeed a
universal reality [some scholars/thinkers will say that Locke does not fully
embrace the Christian concept of natural/moral law].
He taught that knowledge comes from man’s experience- the
things he interacts with thru the 5 senses.
That man is not born with innate ideas [like the early Greek
thinkers said] but his mind is a Tabula Rasa- or blank slate at birth.
This is an Empirical understanding of knowledge.
Locke also believed in the concept of the separation of
church and state- this idea was not unique to our founding fathers- no- they
got it right out of the writings of Locke [his parents were Puritans- and they
obviously influenced their son].
Locke’s political views were-
Individualistic-
Egalitarian-
Contractual [social compact]-
These ideas differed from the early Greek thinkers
[especially Aristotle] who held to a naturalistic view- meaning that nature
itself ‘intended’ for certain individuals to have rule over others [the smarter
should have rule over the ‘less smart’- and of course Aristotle saw himself in
the more nobler crowd!]
Locke also believed in religious toleration- a view held by
most in the Western world today.
He saw the Right to private property- as a natural right.
He believed that denial of the existence of God would lead
to anarchy in the long run.
He believed that the cosmological argument for the existence
of God was valid [called teleology].
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