We are Not Alone; We are Helpers of One Another

President Obama has found a new way to enrage the Right. In a recent speech, he said that "I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet."

Since he made those remarks, the internet has become filled with righteous indignation from those who think that the President was trying to steal the thunder of those intrepid brave individuals who own businesses. All of this, of course, is part of the President's plan to turn America into a Marxist utopia by stealth, since we haven't embraced the violent overthrow of our Federal republic sought by the radical Left. If we can't bomb Capitalism out of existence, then we'll disparage it away.

Personally, I have come to a place where I am, I think, ambivalent as to the outcome of this election. I feel that, if we really cared about the spirituality of our government officials, we would be more aggressive about encouraging mature Christians who display the gift of administration (1 Cor 12:28) to seek political office. What I hear from most commentators, however, are more utilitarian questions: "who has the best chance of winning," or "who would be the most supportive of business interests?" This makes sense coming from a secular humanist who was also a conservative, who is, after all, completely focused upon this life, with no thought given to the life to come. For a Christian, however, it should make sense that one would hear some mention of Kingdom values, along with a desire for truth above all other things, even if it has a consequence other than what one might desire in the short term.

I listened to the President's words, I read the transcript of the speech, and I came to the conclusion that either some people were not hearing what Obama was actually saying, or they were determined to put the most malevolent interpretation upon anything he has said or done. Thus, in this case, Obama was saying that rugged individualism, as nice as it might sound to our American sensibilities, is not the way that progress happens today (if it ever was). Instead, we are engaged in a community-wide dance involving owners, workers, and consumers, with government standing by to ensure that no one takes undue advantage over anyone else. I believe this reflects Paul's explanation of the role of Government in Romans 13. In the ideal function of government, it takes no party's side, but acts to endure that injustice does not prevail. Since we don't live in a perfect world, but in a sinful one, no one will behave perfectly, and we will all have our moments of integrity, and our moments of iniquity.

Whether former-Governor Romney is a better businessman than President Obama, my only concern is that he be a just ruler. The U.S. is not a company, existing to make a profit, but a union of citizens, formed to ensure domestic tranquility and promote the common defense. I do not believe that there are many who take literally Pres. Ronald Reagan's rhetorical flourish of "Government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem," at least, not to the point where they seek the total elimination of it. In like manner, I don't believe that there are many who think that only government can make the decisions that are necessary to sustain lives of the citizens. We are neither isolationists nor collectivists in an absolute sense. What we are, according to the Scriptures, is a body, consisting of many members, all of whom do our parts, within the real of our sphere, to help one another. That is Christ's prayer to the Father for us in John 17:11, that "they may be one, even as We are one." Those words pertain to the Body of Christ, but just as there is only one Body, so we have but one nation. Just as God desires only the best for us, so we should only desire the best for our nation, and not at the cost of others. As the days crawl slowly to our next election, I hope that we don't get so caught up in the hype of political intrigue and engagement that we lose sight of that. On the day after the polls close, there will still be only one United States of America.

Giving by a New and Living Way - the Beginning

I recently wrote an article about how Christians have responded to the current recession. Like some of you, in addition, I have heard about the $15 million settlement between Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and four young men who accused him of sexual misconduct. These two events, along with my becoming more open about my thoughts regarding Christian giving, have caused me to give thought to answering the questions that I have been fielding, so as to make my position clear. Above all, I want the Word of God to be understood, and rightly applied.

The Bible, especially the New Testament, is clear that we are to treat our fellow-Christians as if they were our own family (Gal 6:10). We are to love one another, showing that love, not only by what we say, but by how we treat one another (James 2). Scriptures abound that call us to care for one another, share with one another, and help one another. I believe that even the passages which talk about supporting those who are in ministry are rooted in this concern, rather than in any sort of entitlement that those in ministry may have because of their position or status. After all, if a person is committed to preaching the Gospel to the point that he or she forgoes the normal economic activities that could allow them to prosper economically, offering themselves as an instrument in God's hands to spread the message of the Kingdom, should not the rest of us, who are able to pursue the regular economic opportunities, sustain them in order that they might continue without care?

Recently, the practice of tithing has come under the light of scrutiny as some have questioned whether the Old Testament practice is binding upon Christians, and, if so, how? At one end are those who take the words of Malachi 3:6-12 as directly applicable to Christians, including the offer of blessing and cursing that are included. As a result, pastors and teachers encourage their congregants to set aside 10% of their gross income for the church, in order to reap financial and other blessings and avoid the specter of God cursing them with poverty. At the other end are those who argue that the teaching is flawed and inapplicable to Christians, who are encouraged instead to give generously as an act of ministry to help others, support their local church, and other ministries, as they have been blessed, but only after having met their family needs, and while living a lifestyle that is modest rather than extravagant.

I am not going to write anything today that will give cover for covetousness or an apologetic for avarice. If you are so in love with the money in your possession that the only way you will give it away is when "they pry it away from your cold, dead fingers," I cannot support you, and I implore you to repent immediately. I am suggesting that we have looked at the issue of money in a way that swallows a camel and strains out a gnat, when God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness through the presence of the Holy Spirit within us (Col 2:8-10). Instead of allowing the Spirit to lead us in the grace of giving (2 Cor 8:5), we pull out our calculators, demand to see w-2 statements, and make promises and utter threats in God's name that we will one day have to answer to Him for.

We are told in the New Testament that we are to be motivated by faith working through love (Gal 5:6), or not at all(1 Cor 13:1-3). This applies to our teaching, preaching, worship, prayer, and giving. The debate over tithing, however, seldom delves into this area, but instead is mostly focused on our obligation, the ministry's entitlement, and God's enforcement. In it, God becomes a loan shark, who loaned money to us, demanding that protection money be paid to His appointed agents in order to avoid horrific economic consequences.

I remember a conversation that I had with a pastor who told me that my questioning on this subject was putting my son in danger. Knowing how close I am to my son, he thought that the possibility of my son suffering behind my exploration would stop me dead in my tracks. It did stop our conversation, and I never brought it up with him again. It didn't stop my research, however. I have seen friends separate over this, people get rejected from service because they dared question it, and people engage in illegal activities in support of it (writing checks by "faith" is still writing bad checks when you know that the money is not there to cover it, saints). I believe that there is a more excellent way.

I will explore this issue over the next series of articles, and I want to hear from you. Pressent your view with your best arguments, avoiding personal attacks, questions of personal integrity, etc, and I shall do the same. In so doing, I hope to look at the impact that the Church has in the Community, and how people view the involvement, or lack thereof, by their local churches and its connection to the financial resources that members make available. I also want to look at the idea that the church gets to play surrogate for us in terms of reaching out to others who are in any trouble. It is this idea that undergirds many appeals to our generosity by both local and television ministries, but is it legitimate? Let's search it out together. The end result should be that we are better representatives of Christ's presence, walking in love, and supporting our ministries out of love rather than by compulsion.

It is my aim to present the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, regardless of the impact of that truth upon traditions, habits, practices and other relics to which we have grown accustomed and comfortable. Walking "by faith and not by sight" applies to everyone, both in the pulpit and in the pew. Above all, I want to help us to "grow in grace," and in the "knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." This is part of the practical aspect of fellowship, pressing towards the mark of God's upward call. So "don't be skerred," as I promise that I will still esteem you when we are done here, regardless of where we end up on this issue.