Who Is Your Pastor?
In a previous series related to finances in the kingdom I wrapped up with a post called “Now, To Put It All On the Stove” which was my way of creating a kind of wrap up post. After I finished and posted it I realized it was an avalanche of challenges and insights that may have been hard to digest all at one time. So, I have decided to take each bullet point from that post and treat each one over the next many posts. I plan to remain casual in each of these treatments, as I don’t think each one is really that academic. I think this stuff if farmer logic for the most part.
The first bullet point read: “Taking care of your actual pastor is a real joy. Your pastor is someone who watches after your soul, little sheep, and cares about your health and life (this might be different from the person who teaches every Sunday and basically manages the affairs of the fellowship on a broad scale.) When you have a heart to thank them and honor them for their work in your life, then you are already tithing in your heart.”
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Now, to Put It On the Stove
I think it is a good idea, now, to take the ingredients from the previous post and put them together, pour in some chicken stock of common sense, and begin to bring it to simmer. These ideas of the tithe, offerings, honor, storehouse, and ministry career work all go together just like Carolyn’s beef stew, but you have to get them all together in the same pot over heat for a while for it all to taste right.
Some of my first thoughts on this particular stew, is that it is very filling and it is very nutritious. (For those of you who have some concern about this food metaphor, be sure that I will not drag it out much longer.) An understanding of how kingdom giving and receiving gives us energy for living, and how it answers so many basic needs in our understanding of God’s provision for all of us, is easily enjoyed if a person will choose to consume this as a basic revelation. I am going to downshift into super-practical thoughts that are so reduced to the daily basics of life that you won’t be able to miss the practical outcomes of understanding the sustaining values in what I have been teaching:
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Tithes Vs. Offerings
First, a simple review: tithes are for people.
“He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.” (2 Chr 31:4-20)
In our previous articles we went into this point in a bit more depth, but in summary, God required a tenth from Israel so that one of the tribes, the Levites, could be asked to serve in ministry works, temple service, worship leading, and all the things that showed the whole nation’s willingness to honor God and follow him. Without a tithe they would have been left to figure out how to buy and sell, engage in commerce in some form, sell lands, etc. in order to make a living, but God new it was a losing proposal to be set apart to do the work of the ministry full time and to not have a special financial provision available for them. This provision is referred to as the tithe in the Old Testament...
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What is the STOREHOUSE?
You have heard it said: “The tithe belongs in the storehouse.” Ok, so where is that from? It is from Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Usually, we hear that sermon once or twice a year when offerings are low at our fellowship and the leadership, or key leader, feels it necessary to remind everyone to put the money in the bank on behalf of building and staff needs. We don’t want to be cynical, but this predictable sermon has become fodder for cynicism over time and the hardest part is that we are not sure why it makes us feel the way we do. It makes us feel manipulated, but why? It makes the presenter of the argument feel as those he is selling a used car, but why? If the storehouse is equivalent to the bank account of each local fellowship, then why does this sermon make our conscience wrinkle?
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The Basics in Church Leadership, Podcast 6
Ben Pasley shares an article with us entitled "The Basics in Church Leadership" over a series of 6 podcasts. It is a dive into the fundamentals of understanding the family model of growing healthy Church based on simple insights from the Bible. Enjoy. www.churchthink.com
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The Basics in Church Leadership, Podcast 5
Ben Pasley shares an article with us entitled "The Basics in Church Leadership" over a series of 6 podcasts. It is a dive into the fundamentals of understanding the family model of growing healthy Church based on simple insights from the Bible. Enjoy. www.churchthink.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Basics in Church Leadership, Podcast 4
Ben Pasley shares an article with us entitled "The Basics in Church Leadership" over a series of 6 podcasts. It is a dive into the fundamentals of understanding the family model of growing healthy Church based on simple insights from the Bible. Enjoy. www.churchthink.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Basics in Church Leadership, Podcast 3
Ben Pasley shares an article with us entitled "The Basics in Church Leadership" over a series of 6 podcasts. It is a dive into the fundamentals of understanding the family model of growing healthy Church based on simple insights from the Bible. Enjoy. www.churchthink.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Basics in Church Leadership, Podcast 2
Ben Pasley shares an article with us entitled "The Basics in Church Leadership" over a series of 6 podcasts. It is a dive into the fundamentals of understanding the family model of growing healthy Church based on simple insights from the Bible. Enjoy. www.churchthink.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Basics of Church Leadership, Podcast 1
Ben Pasley shares an article with us entitled "The Basics in Church Leadership" over a series of 6 podcasts. It is a dive into the fundamentals of understanding the family model of growing healthy Church based on simple insights from the Bible. Enjoy. www.churchthink.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download