solving theological conundrums via skype…

// August 1st, 2008 // Faith, Inspiration

Just been skyped by a friend with a theological conundrum to be answered – I liked my response so much I thought it’s worth posting on my blog. Feel free to add any further comments or questions on this issue in the comments below!

Friend:

I have a theological question thats hurtin my head chris would you care to give an insight?
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Chris:

indeed
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what’s your question?
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Friend:

christ gives us more than we abundantly ask for…….. so should we accept more because surely that contradicts the situation
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and how do we live by faith knowing that God is going to give us all we ask for
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Chris:

good question
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a key passage is that God is “ABLE TO DO more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power at work WITHIN US”… (Ephesians 3:20)
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the thing here is to understand the relationship WE have with God
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God has an abundance that he wishes to pour out
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but we also have a responsibility to engage with the power at work WITHIN US
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so God doesn’t just give us what we ask for… there is a transaction between faith and blessing
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Friend:

How does that work then?
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see Malachi 3:10
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God was ready to open up the STOREHOUSES of heaven and pour out more blessing than you could imagine on the people…
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but the people had to bring the WHOLE tithe into the house
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God’s blessing – meets the people’s faith…
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Friend:

So is it just a case of tithing properly then?
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Chris:

tithing is one aspect of expressing your faith in God – trusting him with your finances and being obedient.. but God’s looking for faith in every area of our life
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so you ask God – I need a job…. he’s looking for the faith in you to go knocking on the doors of great jobs…
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you ask God – I need a car…. he’s looking for the faith in you to pray and believe God can provide a miracle… he may also be looking at the motive of your heart too!
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Friend:

ok thank you
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much better than the answer someone else gave – lol he confused me a lil
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Chris:

My pleasure…

4 Responses to “solving theological conundrums via skype…”

  1. danneh says:
    August 2, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    Ive been interested in your blog but it appears to have a problem. Its about time people brought theology into peoples thinking but surely tithing is an old testament practise? I know giving is new testament biblical but tithing was in fact the national Tax system for israel and apart from not living in israel but sheffield, it was fulfilled in practice by christ. i agree the principles from the old testament are part of our lives but if youre gonna tithe then we need to also bring a few lambs with us on sunday and a sharp knife? Paul the apostle said we should give as we are led without compulsion. When tithing is introduced as a form of giving it not only re-introduces an old testament practise but also compells the people to give as in law. Im sure you know in the new testament we are led by the spirit as opposed to bound by law? hope its clear.

  2. Chris Denham says:
    August 2, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Hi Danneh – thanks for commenting.

    There are about a billion blogs and websites out there arguing over the issue of tithing so there’s no way we could cover it in the simplicity of a comments section…

    but here’s some food for your thoughts…

    - Tithing dates BEFORE the old Testament Law – it was instigated by Abraham who acted out of his faith to bring a tenth to Melchizedek. So it was in place BEFORE the Law – during the LAW, Jesus spoke of it and affirmed it, and there are evidences of a giving culture throughout the New Testament to imply it was still in place AFTER the Law.

    - people argue that there is no Biblical precedent for New Testament tithing, but the exact reverse can be said as there is no Biblical precedent that tithing ceased. Whereas issues of change between the OLD and NEW testaments – ie. Sacrifice, as you mentioned above, ARE dealt with in scripture – Jesus is seen as the once and for all sacrifice.

    - the redeeming nature of Christ as our once and for all sacrifice is a completely different aspect of our faith to the concept of bringing the FIRST FRUITS to God which has been in place since Creation (the whole story of Cain and Abel is built on this). One is about what God has done for us – the other is about our devotion to God.

    To be honest – The problem a lot of people have with Tithing comes from the fact they don’t like to give away their money – because as I said there is no absolute New Testament reference to build on either argument… when it comes to Tithing a 10th of our income we date this back to Abraham.

    However, if you want to live a New Testament way of life than I suggest that you follow the practices of the early Christians who “were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 2:44-45). The New Testament says that ALL we have belongs to God… which is why I believe Tithing is really only the lowest common denominator of Christian giving… it’s jut the start to “excelling in the grace of giving” (as Paul puts it).

  3. shelley groves says:
    August 3, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    great answers chris, so direct but simple and easy to understand.

  4. surely I have better things to do than blog? | www.chrisdenham.co.uk says:
    August 6, 2008 at 9:25 am

    [...] posted a skype conversation the other day and someone challenged me on the whole issue of tithing. I loved it because it [...]

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