tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1182081152082839450.post1131671186073739242..comments2023-10-14T10:10:40.469-04:00Comments on From the Desk of Murray Lincoln: The Most Dangerous Viral InfectionMurray Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575721571270874732noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1182081152082839450.post-19011075906256969282009-11-28T05:56:01.814-05:002009-11-28T05:56:01.814-05:00Yep, we do love our stuff. Have our hearts truly ...Yep, we do love our stuff. Have our hearts truly gotten so calloused to the enormous need that we can't hear the cry of the poor?<br /> <br />I was actually quite surprised when I did a study on tithing in the OT to discover that only those who owned the harvest or livestock actually tithed. The poor didn't tithe. In fact the oft quoted Malachi 3 passage which is used to get people to give to the local church was actually referring to the storehouse tithe (the third tithe), which was to be used for the care of the poor. <br /><br />And then when I looked at a very well known passage in the NT in 1 Cor. 16:2 about taking up an offering on the first day of the week, I realized once again how we had misapplied this passage to fill the coffers of the local church. Verse 1 actually informs us that this offering was for the poor/persecuted in Jerusalem. But at least we don't have to lose heart because the Corinthians didn't care about the poor either. We know this because Paul had to write to them a year later and remind them of God's desire for equality on a global basis. 2 Cor. 8,9. I can't remember hearing many sermons on equality. I certainly didn't preach or practice this.<br /><br />So going by church budgets that I am aware of, I don't think we have to fear anyone caring for the poor this year. After all, if church budgets only reflect token amounts to be given to the poor, and God's people approved the budget, then obviously that is what the Spirit is saying to them.David Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14602374868453497065noreply@blogger.com