Published by The TV preachers and traveling prophets and church minstrels of today who travel from church to church and solicit funds for various causes are no new phenomena. They date back to at least the early 1800’s when itinerant preachers roamed the country telling how they would bring the gospel to the pirates if only they had the money. It is possible that there were more preachers looking to save pirates than there were pirates, or maybe there were two groups of pirates, one preying on the ships at sea and the others preying on the flock of God. There is nothing I can find recorded that indicates there was ever a significant ministry to the pirates.
Over the years I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly in the church. I have seen even more than a few more in the last few years. And in recent weeks God has shown me these in a different light. I knew it before. I just didn’t recognize it. I was looking too hard. I missed the fruits or better the lack of them in their ministry. Jesus told us not to judge, but he did commission us to be fruit inspectors.
Matt 7:20
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(KJV)
What are the fruits we should look for? Dynamic preaching? Great music? Prophecies? Intense end time study? I think not. And more important than what I think is the question, “What does the scripture say?” The scripture defines for us the fruit of the spirit. And I will show scripture that defines it well. And bear with me. The chapter and verse references are not inspired so I will ignore them at times. But I want you to read this passage in context first.
Gal 5:22-6:6
- 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
- 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
- 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
- 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
CHAPTER 6
- 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
- 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
- 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
- 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
- 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
(KJV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Why is there no law against this? Because one who exhibits these fulfills the law of love. If someone does not exhibit these they are not exhibiting the fruit of the spirit. I must then ask what fruit they are exhibiting. And if they are exhibiting some other fruit then what right do we have to give money to support them? Let me just be blunt and ask what they are presenting.
“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
If they are being exalted by their ministry are they exhibiting this fruit? If they are demanding honor are they exhibiting this fruit? If they are contending with one another are they exhibiting this fruit? The ones that exhibit that fruit will show love. Without that love we are nothing more than a bunch of ridiculous noise.
1 Cor 13:1-3
- 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
- 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
(KJV)
And what are we to preach? What message are we to bring? What message should we look for? I can give that to you in many scriptures. I will cite only a few of them here.
Acts 5:42
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
(KJV)
Rom 10:8-9
- 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
- 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(KJV)
1 Cor 9:16
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!
(KJV)
2 Cor 4:5-6
- 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(KJV)
Gal 1:9
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
(KJV)
2 Tim 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(KJV)
We are commanded to preach Jesus. And I weigh the message of these who wander through York by the focus and center of their ministry. If it focuses on Jesus, on being close to Him, on learning to know about Him and learning how to present this glorious gospel to those we meet, then I say he does well. But if he fritters his time on fables, tales, gimmicks, and the like, I part with him. If the message is too weighed to soliciting money then I part with it. The focus of any valid message must be Jesus.
1 Tim 1:4
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
(KJV)
1 Tim 4:7
7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
(KJV)
2 Tim 4:3-4
- 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(KJV)
Titus 1:13-14
- 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
- 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
(KJV)
2 Pet 1:16
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
(KJV)
And what about those who come to us with the teachings of the tithe? What about those who come with stories of how bad it is somewhere and how they need money to go there? And what do we do when those tales and stories take more time in telling than the teaching of the gospel? Let me give you a balanced answer. Paul said in his writings.
“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”
Again I say that the one is to focus the message on Jesus. And elsewhere Paul says.
1 Cor 9:9-11
- 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?
- 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.
- 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
(KJV)
Paul says the one who teaches those good things is worthy of support. But that support is for the one who teaches Jesus. Let me address another thing. The tithe is mentioned many times in the Old Testament, under the law. The word “TITHE” appears only twice in the New Testament in the KJV and NAS. The NAS shows the two verses shown below in almost the same words and with the same meaning. The word “tithe” never appears in the NIV, but the word “tenth” replaces it for the same and clearer meaning in these verses.
Matt 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
(KJV)
Luke 11:42
42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
(KJV)
The tithe is also mentioned in Hebrews but is a historical account not a teaching on the tithe. Let me ask why the early church leaders did not collect money to build buildings. Let me ask why they didn’t get up and ask for pledges to send Paul on his ministry journeys? Why didn’t Paul’s letters to the churches have a couple chapters on tithing? Why didn’t James have a chapter on tithing? Why didn’t John talk about it in Revelation 2 and 3 in the letters to the churches? Why didn’t John write a fourth Epistle on tithing? Why were ALL of the New Testament writers silent on the tithe? Why?
I think you see it if you look at the words of Jesus. Remember that the memory of His words still burned in the minds and hearts of these men who wrote the scriptures, other than Paul who had a special revelation of Jesus. Let me paraphrase His words from the scriptures above. “You are so concerned about the legalism that you make sure your check in the offering is exactly one tenth of your income, rounded to the nearest penny, yet you miss the matters I have told you are important. You miss the matters of judgement, mercy, faith, and love. You miss opportunities to carry my love because you are bound in the matters of the law. And worse you justify yourself not by my blood but by your works.” If we are in tune with Him, we will give to those who are carrying the gospel. But there are other areas we will show love with liberality.
Look at how Paul taught this subject. Remember, here is the Hebrew of Hebrews teaching.
2 Cor 9:6-7
- 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
- 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(KJV)
Look at the words, “or of necessity”. Doesn’t this mean giving that is enforced by some rule rather than out of a heart of love?
Paul talks of GIVING not TITHING. It is giving out of love, not out of necessity. It is giving into every need. And the need in 1 Corinthians 16 was the saints at Jerusalem who were going through tough times.
1 Cor 16:1-3
- 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
- 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.
- 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
(KJV)
John states it in another way. He talks of our having compassion for one another. I have concern about the church when I see most of the dollars going to buildings and salaries and little of it to helping people. Don’t get me wrong. Not every church is doing this. But too many are doing too much of it.
I Jn 3:17
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
(KJV)
And not everything we do must be giving money. I have a friend in the church who gives money liberally, he has it to give. And I have seen him and his wife use the things God has blessed them with to bless others. One way I have seen this is interesting but it has blessed more than a few others. If they want to upgrade a piece of usable furniture or a working appliance to something better they first find someone the old one will bless and give it away. I have seen him going down the road on a Saturday and see a friend working on his house. He will stop, help and when done just get in his truck and drive off.
And who in our society takes care of the widows and orphans? The state. Out of our taxes. Somehow our tax money is giving but only if that money is given cheerfully. Ouch.
Let me show it in another way. Look at how we portray Christ through our lives. In the restaurant are you miserly with the tip? In a store you see one who could use some help and you have it to give. What do you do? This does not have to be money. Have you ever seen someone in the grocery put back an article they couldn’t afford? There are many ways you can sow God’s love into this world. There are few blessings that exceed what comes when you bless someone who thinks they don’t deserve it and don’t know why you did. The right way to do this is hand it to them and say, “God loves you, he told me to do this.” And let it at that. Walk away unless they ask for you to present the gospel. You planted. Someone will water. God will bring the increase. The key question is this. “Do you trust Him to do His work in lives or do you think you have to do His work?” Let me ask you this. “Do you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God?” I don’t want the answer. I want you to settle that with God.
