When you run a part of the relay and pass on the baton, there is no sense of unfinished business in your mind. The hope is to pass on the baton to somebody who will run faster and run a better marathon.
- N. R. Narayana Murthy
There is much to commend modern Christianity. Yet sadly, with so many divergent sects offering various versions of Christ and the gospel, it’s clear that many of today’s doctrines are at odds with Scripture. The reasons for such controversy and errors are many. Among them is the challenge of reconciling the Old and New Testaments into a cohesive whole.
Just as a baton is passed, so too the message of the patriarchs and prophets continues. As a butterfly emerges, so too the caterpillar lives on in new and exciting way. Yet this raises a question. When it comes to Old Testament laws and regulations, to what degree does New Testament Christianity embrace or replace Jewish commands and practices?
It’s been rightly noted by those fully appreciating the Divine inspiration of Scripture that the New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New. Accurate as it is pithy, such an observation leaves much to the imagination. While aspects of this important interplay are addressed in dozens of GodBlog articles, how the old covenant is incorporated into the new in general is worthy of additional consideration. Which requirements are set aside and/or superseded? What if any Jewish directives are brought forward into Biblical Christianity by New Testament authors? Particularly in regards to Gentile believers.
Among more than 31,000 verses containing over 750,000 words, it’s been estimated that the Bible contains more than 1,000 promises qualified by as many as 6,000 commands. The wealth of such a storehouse of Godly wisdom and instruction is abundantly clear. As should be the kind of diligent study required to avoid doctrinal misunderstanding and even heresy. Little wonder the Apostle Paul cautions:
- “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC
- “No one sews a patch of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” Mark 2:21-22 AMP
- “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working. Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.” Matthew 5:17-20 MSG
- “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22 NIV
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30 NIV
- “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 NIV
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42 NIV
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
- “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4 NKJV
The passages quoted thus far are a perfect sampling of Scripture to demonstrate that New Testament believers are indeed called to be above the law. The commands of Christ supersede those of Moses and the prophets by exponential increase. From forbidding murder to anger. From adultery to lust. From revenge to unforgiveness. This list goes on… Clearly those who by the power and fruit of the Spirit walk in such love are far ABOVE murder, lust, revenge… so long as we continue to live as radical disciples. To prevent misunderstandings of positional and conditional righteousness Paul expounds:
- “Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately, understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11 AMP
Jerusalem Council
Passing the baton from Old to New Testament believers grows in complexity when adding Gentiles, the non Jewish world, to the mix. So much so that the first only Church Council recorded in Scripture dealt with this very controversy. In the Book of Acts Peter and Paul were used to open the door to the Gentiles. This created confusion as how best to assimilate the pagan world into the Kingdom of God. As Acts 15 records:
- “When they got to Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were graciously received by the whole church, including the apostles and leaders. They reported on their recent journey and how God had used them to open things up to the outsiders. Some Pharisees stood up to say their piece. They had become believers, but continued to hold to the hard party line of the Pharisees. “You have to circumcise the pagan converts,” they said. “You must make them keep the Law of Moses.” The apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the matter. The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated.” Acts 15: 4-6 MSG
- “James broke the silence. ‘Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets: After this, I’m coming back; I’ll rebuild David’s ruined house; I’ll put all the pieces together again; I’ll make it look like new So outsiders who seek will find, so they’ll have a place to come to, All the pagan peoples included in what I’m doing. ‘God said it and now he’s doing it. It’s no afterthought; he’s always known he would do this. So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. We’ll write them a letter and tell them, ‘Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians—blood, for instance.’ This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath.’ Everyone agreed: apostles, leaders, all the people.” Acts 13-22 MSG
- “We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” Acts 15:24-29 NIV
The following seems to be directly and indirectly implicit from the above passages:
1. Idolatry: Forms of idolatry, common among pagans, were to be abandoned.
2. Immorality: Scriptural morality was to be implemented within the Gentile church.
3. Dietary Restrictions: Other than issues dealing with the consuming of blood, Jewish dietary restrictions were off the table.
4. Sabbaths and Religious Rituals: Not making the cut of necessary things, Gentile if not Jewish believers were freed from observing religious and temple sabbaths and rituals.
Regarding “diet, worship services, or holy days” Paul as a leader of the Jerusalem Counsel explains why Christianity, particularly for the Gentile church, is exempt from Old Testament observances:
- “Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It’s not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you’re already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it’s an initiation ritual you’re after, you’ve already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets. So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.” Colossians 2:11-17 MSG
- “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:5-12 NIV
- “For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].” 2 Corinthians 5:10 AMP
It’s quite likely that every New Testament author was a participant of the First Church Council in Jerusalem. Clearly Peter, Paul and James were among the leadership. Thus it is reasonable to assume that the directives of the gospels, particularly Mark’s account widely held to have been dictated by Peter, as well as the 16 New Testament epistles of Peter, Paul and James were written with the decision of the Jerusalem Council in mind.
Furthermore, the rule of emphasis uses 8 criteria to determine to what degree the Bible is emphasizing or deemphasizing the importance of a certain topic or principal. It’s been noted that God says what He means and means what He says. By logical extension, the more serious an issue or directive, the greater the emphasis. All the more so since, for a variety of reasons, Scripture is not written topically.
While all Scripture is Divinely inspired, common sense makes it clear not every one of its over 31,000 verses is of equal importance. With this mind it is reasonable to assume that reoccurring themes and commands with clearly stated significant benefits and/or warnings were designed for the sake of emphasis. Even more so when reiterated and reinforced in additional if not all Biblical Books by additional if not all authors.
New Testament Tithing
Understanding the topic of tithing is an excellent example of the need for Biblical rules of interpretation such as usage and historical background, context and emphasis. Doing so reveals that contrary to popular belief, tithing is not a requirement of New Testament Christians. In the King James Version the word tithe is used 32 times. There are 25 Old Testament and 7 New Testament occurrences. Of these, the word tithe is used 3 times in the gospels and 3 times in the Book of Hebrews. All these passages are contextually addressing the Jews in regards to Old Testament religious and temple observances. There is not a single directive regarding tithing to New Testament Christians, much less Gentile believers.
On the flip side, the same version uses the word “give” 358 times in the New Testament. Most of these observances reference a variety of types of giving. Nevertheless, the New Testament clearly emphasizes giving rather than tithing:
- “The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need. Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.” Acts 4:32-37 MSG
- “Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]. Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 AMP
- “James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.” Galatians 2:9-10 NIV
- “You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.” Philippians 4:15-17 MSG
- “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” James 2:14-17 MSG
- “This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.” 1 John 3:16-17 MSG
Interestingly, there are no New Testament passages regarding financial support for buildings and inter-church programs. Also tellingly, verses regarding support of the clergy are far fewer in number than those directly and indirectly referencing giving to the poor. Paul’s instructions to Timothy should suffice:
- “Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18 AMP
While many of today’s ministers are caring persons often with servants hearts, this can hardly excuses gross doctrinal and lifestyle errors ubiquitous within Churchianity . By definition, paid leadership is greatly responsible for the deplorable condition of Churchianity highlighted by issues including but hardly limited to Biblical illiteracy and prayerlessness, entitlement and worldliness, immorality and abortion, assumed salvation and cheep grace, inadequate fellowship and inappropriate worship, presumption and even profanity.
Charles Finney, arguably the most spiritually powerful and insightful man to walk the earth since the apostles, played a key role in America’s “Second Great Awakening.” So seriously did he view the sacred charge entrusted to the clergy that he laid responsibility for both the church and society at their feet: “If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.” If Finney is this indignant regarding conditions in the 18th century (romper room sinners by todays standards) one can easily imagine his stinging rebuke of the pulpit for the state of the 21st!
The New Testament commands believers to learn to judge and discern rightly. Thus in regards to current patterns of monetary support, might millions if not billions of dollars given by an almost equal number of believers be better spent? Foreseeing this eventually, many if not all New Testament authors warn of our current condition:
- “But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.” John 10:12 AMP
- “These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough. But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.” 1 Timothy 6:2-10 MSG
- “But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They’re only out for themselves. They’ll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you.” 2 Peter 2:1-2 MSG
- “I’m fed up with them! They’ve gone down Cain’s road; they’ve been sucked into Balaam’s error by greed; they’re canceled out in Korah’s rebellion. These people are warts on your love feasts as you worship and eat together. They’re giving you a black eye—carousing shamelessly, grabbing anything that isn’t nailed down.” Jude 11-13 MSG
- “Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!” Luke 21:1-4 MSG
Of course in Christ’s day, paying a tithe and/or temple tax was both one’s Old Testament religious and civic duty. With only “one game in town” there were few if any options. Modern Christians have a dizzying array of choices in regards to the amount and regularity, purpose and organizations of their support. Thus in the area of finance, as well as all others, it behoves believers to do their homework, making sure that their gifts are appropriate and recipients worthy. No small task given the myriad of mutations across the board throughout Churchianity. With temptation and deception at all time highs, attending or writing a check, volunteering and/or rehearsing the party line is far from adequate if one hopes to genuinely follow Christ along the rigorous path of salvation.
In light of the pandemic of worldliness and sin inherent in modern life, it’s both reasonable and apparent that believers are daily crossing forbidden lines taking little or no notice. If true, we 21st century Christians face far greater condemnation than when Jesus judged our 1st century counterparts. Such a desperate dilemma, inside and outside of modern Christianity is deserving of our greatest attention and bests efforts, which unfortunately far too few seem willing and able to give.
What is needed is a large scale divestment from worldly pursuits and reinvestment in the authentic Kingdom of God to meet the growing global insensitivity to and grieving of the Holy Spirit in all matters of life. Far from obeying Paul’s directive to study to show ourselves approved learning to judge all things, the average church attender is Biblically illiterate (unable to quote 5-10 verses in a row much less correctly interpret and apply them) and prayerless (daily stopping less than 10 minutes a day for serious prayer).
Sadly tithing and/or regular forms of financial support, most often to facets of questionable forms of Churchianity, has gone a long way in supplanting the more costly demands of the New Testament. Such financial propping up of so many misinformed pulpits allows deceived denominations to spread their influence while the consciences of their constituents are assuaged, even in the face of a gathering storm of judgment in both time and eternity.
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