Love or expose

What do we say on social media?  Why do we say what we say?  Do we think about the people we mention?  Do our words become gossip?  Do they give rise to malice?

Personally, I felt challenged while studying Luke 11:17 with some friends.  We were considering Jesus' words "every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls", when our study guide asked how that applies to our home and our fellowship.  I thought about that more broadly, and some of the things that Christians have been discussing on internet social media.

Things like Joel Osteen's beliefs about homosexuality.  Like Rick Warren assimilating Islamic doctrine with the Christian faith.  Like Brian Houston's income and tax-fringe benefits.  (I am guilty for having discussed this last one on my blog.)

Why do we talk about these things so openly?  Are we jealous of these celebrities?  We shouldn't be.  Are we exposing something sinful publicly?  (If so, then we shouldn't.  We should confront the person privately first, then bring it before the elders of the church, but not to the world-wide public.)

Is it because these guys are false teachers and the Church needs to be warned about them?

Is it because we do not realise the potential damage we cause in the public discussions that we have?  Maybe somebody outside the Church started on a topic, and Christians continued it by forwarding, liking it or sharing it.

Maybe we might have been more sensitive if the issues were brought up at church, or if the contact had been more personal, but we have not been as careful on internet social media.

Or maybe, because these guys are such big celebrities, and we are so used to every media trashing celebrities that we joined in.

Maybe the ethics of the issue were worth bringing to public light and discussing that we have been doing so - without realising the harm we heap on those people and on the Lord.

Or might it be some other reason?

What do you think?

Should sin be brought to light?  Or hidden to protect the sinner?  How much of each should we do?  What is the right balance, if there needs to be a balance?  How do we handle these, and other similar issues well, as people who wish to honour God?

Does it hurt God and the Church's credibility to discuss such things in public?  Does it hurt more if we didn't?  How does love play into these issues?

Ten percent

We read in the Old Testament about the practice of giving a tenth back to God.  This practice is often called "tithing".  We see examples and commands about tithing in Leviticus 27:30-32 and in other parts of Scripture.

What do you understand about the practice of "tithing"?  Is it something in the Old Testament that does not carry into the Church's practice today?  Or should the Church still continue to practice tithing?  If not a tenth, then how much should one put into one's offering?

Some people believe that churches should not teach about tithing as a current day practice.  A summary was put together by Russ Kelly which said that:

• The New Testament teaches that we should give generously, and not be bound by 10% rules;
• Old Testament practice of tithing was in relation to food within Israel only;
• Other offerings were given to God, eg. first fruits, not just tithes;
• No minimum amount was set in giving;
• Levites received tithes but were not allowed to own land;
• There were four tithes - religious/Levitical tithe, feast tithe, poor tithe, and tithe to the ruler;
• The poor did not tithe;
• Tithes were a form of political taxes;
• New Testament did not teach tithing but generosity;
• Church growth happened as church shared everything;
• New Testament teaches cheerful giving, not unwilling calculated giving.

Kelly had a few more points in his list.  Do you believe his exposition, though?

A criticism of tithing was found in Steve West's write-up about the practice of Hillsong.  Apparently, Hillsong is a church that teaches and practices tithing.  The church's leaders and the church consequently rakes in a lot of money, and even then, asks that tax-free concessions that are intended for poorer, struggling churches be applied to them.

But is that church not prosperous because of God's blessing to them?  Is the criticism warranted?  Or is it an abuse that has been exposed?  Is it wrong for church ministers to be financially well-to-do?

What do you think?  What do you believe?  How much are we giving to the Lord through the churches?  Is it 10%?  More?  Less?  How do we be generous back to God, who has blessed us with everything we have and so much more?

Political statistics

Some friends told me about drug rehabilitation centers last night.  Among their comments was the fact that they think the government are not the best people to administer such centers.

Their logic goes is as follows.  Drug addicts look for rehab.  The government looks for statistics.  The government do not really care about the people.  They care about looking good to the community.  The statistics look better of the numbers are larger.  It does not matter to them if the drug addicts go back for rehabilitation many times.  So long that they do not report that these are the same people, their statistics for the numbers that have passed their doors and receive aid would look better.

These friends think that the church would do a better job with the rehab centers.  Churches look for changed lives.  Church would call on God prayerfully to help the people who need help.  Church would want people to meet Jesus, who can give people deliverance and new life.

Would you agree?  Why or why not?

In what ways do churches succeed where governments do not?  In what ways do churches fail?

Please share your thoughts.  Thank you.

Defecting from religion

Why do people give up their faith?  Why do they change from one faith to another?  From having a faith to not having one?  Or from not believing in God to believing in God?

Then, does one remain with one's convictions?  Or does one change one's mind after a matter of weeks, or months, or years later?

http://learnislam1.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/defecting-from-religion-new-trend.html carries some insights into this question.  It describes such changes as a "new trend".  It tells about people who have been dissatisfied with church.  Some of the reasons for feeling dissatisfied has been

• unequal treatment
• not agreeing with policy
• feeling confused about what to believe
• needs not met
• expectations not met
• did not feel God close to one
• not happy

How should church change so to address these issues?

Should church change to suit the people?  Or should people change to suit the church?  How about changing to be more like God, in spite of what the church thinks?

How about changing to fit in with what God expects, rather than what church or religion expects?

Does defecting from church to a religion address these issues?  Or will one still end up feeling dissatisfied after a while?

What do you think?

Retention

How does one retain supporters for one's political party?  How does one keep one's customers?  Gets the visitors to one's website to keep coming back?

Colin Myles' blog post spoke well on this topic.  What do you think of it?  Does it challenge you?

I think the same principles apply to churches.  We wish to get people to come to attend church.  We wish to have these people come back and attend regularly.  But the hypocrisy turns visitors away.  Older members die.  Families with children move away.  How do we grow churches in these circumstances?

(At least the internet and multinational corporations are accessible from almost everywhere ... churches with physical addresses are not as accessible when one is overseas.)

I think the real aim of the church is to introduce people to Jesus.  What do you think?

Are churches out for conversions or for retentions?

How do we keep people interested enough to keep coming back?