When he made major career changes, including retirement and then a return to
professional football, he claimed that God had told him to do these things. This
is not at all unlike the claims made by Christians every day. Shortly before his
premature death, White took it all back:
Contrast that with the White who
emerged shortly before his unexpected death nearly two years ago. "When I look
back on my life, there are a lot of things I said God said. I realize he didn't
say nothing. It was what Reggie wanted to do. I do feel the Father ... gave me
some signals ... but you won't hear me anymore saying God spoke to me about
something — unless I read something in Scripture and I know."
Serge goes on to talk about two ladies having the peace of God about decisions to 1) get an abortion and 2) start an abortion clinic.
Derrick Bright
Hat Tip: Life Training Institute
Update: I wanted to add one of the points Melinda makes that "an anecdote doesn't disprove a decision making model anymore than anecdotes prove it." and that "What White's honesty does demonstrate is how saying "God told me" can be easily manipulated, and how easy it is to project our own thoughts and desires on God when we're seeking specific, personal guidance from Him that the Bible never encourages us to do for our decisions."
4 comments:
I happened to watch a variety of television broadcasts on a variety of christian based hosts and topics. These are long standing hosts with shows that have been on television for years. I was amazed at the number of shows that seem to turn their broadcasts into a tithe marathon. It's not the tithe issue at all, but the manner in which the hosts extract this money from the television audience. Oh yes, the wonderful " love gift ", seems to by an integral piece of this offering prize. ' God Told Me " came from many of these hosts. The circus style sideshow barker razzle dazzle was one that was almost fear based. In other words, EITHER you send money or this or that may not happen in your life. Granted, there are many fine christian broadcasts and hosts to enjoy on television. My ppint is that we only need to be cautious as to the message and the messenger. Some are not quite legitimate in my mind.
Some are, indeed, not quite as legitimate. Though I would say it has very little to do with the tithe idea. Very often their theology on more important issues does not line up as nicely.
Many of your televangelists are pretty ridiculous, but I don't fault them for asking for the money because I have spent enough time seeing the behind-the-scenes of a church. And churches, like many ministries do not bring a lot of money in (TBN, of course, is in a different category), and most are "listener" (churchgoer) supported.
The NT, it seems does not teach tithing, per se (as Koukl has suggested-I have not studied this extensively myself). It seems to teach that we bring all we have and share it with the Body, that is, the Church.
All that said, tithing is simply one way to give to God. And I have heard the challenge that we ought to give 10% of everything. Not just our money, but our time and gifts...but the money does help the local church and parachurch organization.
Derrick
Indeed, a church cannot properly function unless funds are available for it to do so. I had an interesting class through Azusa Pacific where we discussed what a proper definition of a tithe is. I ( as usual ) came from WAY out in left field with a small part of what a tithe can be. When I was still doing my daily commute to Downey from Apple Valley over a nine year span, I made a special stop each and every Friday. At the Hiway 138 Exit, at the end of a dead end road, sat a broken down bus that had been converted to substandard living quarters. There, a mentally challenged man lived with his four dogs. His dogs were better cared for than he was. They were his only friends. I was fueling up my car one day when I first spotted the bus at a distance. My curiousity had me investigate. Each Friday, I brought a fifty pound bag of dogfood, bottled water, and a few groceries to this nice man. I shared with the man how The Lord had blessed me and I was only sharing the blessing. One day, the bus was gone, having been towed away due to a local business complaint. I never found out what happened to the man or his dogs. In class, I felt that the offerings to this man could be considered a tithe, at least in part. I must admit, I was in a minority being that only two other people agreed with me in class.
And I'm afraid I am going to have to agree with the majority in the class. While this gesture was nice, and helpful, I do not think it lines up with the Biblical idea of a tithe.
Helping the poor. Yes. Sharing one's blessings. Sure. Tithe. I don't think so.
I would ask that you demonstrate using some reasons, from Scripture, why this could be considered tithe, in the Biblical sense.
I don't think the challenge I spoke of in a previous comment is a tithe in the Biblical sense. Good idea, sure. A challenge. Yes. But not a tithe. At least I don't think so.
Unless you can show otherwise, from Scripture. Because I could be wrong. I have not studied this completely, so I do not know all there is to know about this subject.
Derrick
Post a Comment