Oh you foolish Baptists!

Murph,

If someone uses the verses about "living Holy" to explain thier reasonings for practicing the examples listed in this post, then I can deduct that they are saying that to do such things is "practicing Holiness".

The word "tithe" is not used by the NT church and to use it indicates that you are using a system that was of the law.

Someone else in that same thread seemed to question whether or not you meant we were required to give 10% or give cheerfully. If I misunderstood, I was not the only one that was unclear.

The posting rules indicate that "it would be unrealistic not to expect at times to be misunderstood or even ridiculed."

I am not the only one that misunderstood you.

I couldn't post in the thread in question, because, although I feel that I am a fundamental, I won't be subject to another's definition of what that meant.

The statement in question did indicate you considered the line of reasoning unbiblical. The scriptures you used in your defense were not speaking of tithing. By saying "give and it shall be given unto you" means you will reap a tangible blessing from tithing is a dangerous thing. We have enough people out there motivating people for the wrong reasons already. Hence, we have the point of this thread.

You questioned my motives and I answered them. You called them a "cop-out". I answered again and you said you still didn't believe what my intent was. What was I supposed to think you were implying when you refused to believe what I had said?

By insinuating what you did and then saying, "But if I am wrong forgive me" is not Biblical. Where does the Bible say you may accuse your brother falsely if you ask for forgiveness if you are wrong in doing so?

Again, this post is not an attack on any person. It is challenging what some people have said. I am using the Bible to back up what I believe.

Is that clear enough? Can we now get back to the topic?

~Lorelei

 

Speaking of the tithe, I wanted to share this.

Not too long ago I would have said we were still supposed to tithe. It wasn't until after some healthy discussion at this very board that I changed my belief.

All the churches I had attended preached that we should tithe. Until people on this board challenged this beleif, I didn't think about it much.

I never really thought about the silence of the tithe in the NT, until it was mentioned. I studied further and found this to be true. Our only commands on financial giving are to do it cheerfully and not out of necessity. We have examples of sacrificial giving, not a required amount of giving.

I also never really thought about what the purpose of the tithe was for in the OT. I had read the laws and knew it, but I didn't put much thought to it. I had no reason to. People on this board were kind enough to point these things out, which again, made me study this further.

Thanks to all who shared these beliefs and challenged my own. This caused me to examine the Word more thoroughly, and that is always a good thing.

I just wanted to share how a healthy discussion can be beneficial.

~Lorelei

 

Aaron,

You say that some things are not lawful, so are you saying we are under the law?

What happens to a Christian who breaks the law?

~Lorelei

 

I am asking you what you think will happen if a Christian breaks the law that you seem to be implying that we are under.

Are we or are we not under the law? If so, what happens to us when we break it?

~Lorelei

 

A Christian is sanctified by the Spirit and by walking in the Spirit they will lay aside sin. The laying aside of sin can never come apart from Spirit.

Yes, but as the first part of that verse says, "therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law."

We are not bound by the law any longer, our obedience to the law comes only from walking the Spirit.

~Lorelei

 

If this is living by the Spirit then why did Christ have to come and die in order to send it to us? This psalm was written while they were still under the law.

Apart from the Spirit we can not live in accordance with His Word. To say that obeying the Word IS walking in the Spirit is like saying that WE are able to keep the law.

The law was not only there to show us what sin is, but to also show us that we can not uphold the law on our own. It reveals not only sin, but our inability to conquer sin. If we say that we do not sin we are a liar and the truth is not in us.

I don't want to live a restrictive life when Christ offers me freedom. I want to live a life led by His Spirit that will lead me to do things by His power, not my own.

Again, YOU may understand that it is the Spirit that is giving you the power to obey His Word, but that isn't what you are saying. Many people are being led astray unto the burden of the law again because they hear these statements and think that all they have to do to walk in the Spirit is obey the law. They try and try all day on thier own and they fail. When they come to the church for assurance and help all they get is reprimanded for not obeying this law or that. No one tells them that they need to stop trying and just let God do it for them.

Jesus said that he is the vine and we are the branches. The only thing a branch does is stay in the vine. The vine produces the fruit, the branch does nothing but remain there. All we must ever do is remain in Christ and HE will produce the fruit. WE can do nothing apart from that, NOTHING.

For the last time, I am not saying a Christian will not show fruit. I am simply saying that Christ must produce the fruit or else it is no longer a fruit, but a worthless work.

~Lorelei