01/24/2020
Christian Theology
Beginnings.
Christianity is a religion of the word, anchored and preserved in scripture. The word is what separates mankind from common animals. None of God's creations can read, write and speak in words as a way to impart knowledge. Some might argue some birds can mimic words, but there is no knowledge being imparted through the thoughts of the soul, like mankind can.
You man are in a fallen state. How do I know? You are here on earth separated from the presence of God in his garden of delight. You made a choice of fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil instead of fruit from the tree of life. The first five books of the bible has a complete summary of knowledge of good and evil. There is not a single man born that fulfills the requirements of the law in order to be found blameless. We have all fallen short due to transgressing the requirements of the law. From here on out I refer to the knowledge of good and evil as the law. Without the law there can be no consciousness of evil.
The Old Testament of scripture is an accurate infallible historic preservation of how man had fallen, first from Eden, then as God's chosen people through the nation of Israel. You can always argue that it was Adam that had fallen and you wouldn't have done the same. But you did the exact same thing! Read the first five books of the bible and tell me you are righteous through the law, never transgressing, and you would be labeled a liar. For when you become aware of the law, you also realize you have broken the law and will break the law. The knowledge of evil is awoke in you. You in your current state are too weak to be perfect, you reside in the flesh like the rest of the animal kingdom. By becoming aware of the law, you have eaten the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, Adam (Adam is Hebrew for man) eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil in every one of us!
What if I told you the very words that make up the law, are actually God himself? The very words of the bible, Old and New Testaments, are the body of God! How can this be, if it is also the knowledge of good and evil? Simply put, God is greater than all and is not subject to his creations. God created good and evil. He never intended man to serve evil. Man saw his own shortcomings and allowed fear to guide him.
Lets use the law to establish good for now. In the record of Adam in the garden, there were 2 choices for fruit. The fruit of knowledge of good and evil (the law), and the fruit of the tree of life. Had the choice been the tree of life, man would have lived forever in the presence of God in Eden.
You have the same two choices. Christianity, which is the body of Christ, is the tree of life. Even though you have already taken from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you have been given another chance to take from the tree of life. This is your purpose for being placed on this earth.
Proving the Statements.
The word, both Old and New testaments are the body of God.
Luke 24:44 ESV Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”Luke 24:45 ESV Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, God in the Flesh!
John 1:1 ESV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 ESV He was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 ESV All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:4 ESV In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:5 ESV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:14 ESV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God created everything = Jesus created everything.
Proverbs 8:22 ESV “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Proverbs 8:23 ESV Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. Proverbs 8:24 ESV When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Proverbs 8:25 ESV Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, Proverbs 8:26 ESV before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. Proverbs 8:27 ESV When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, Proverbs 8:28 ESV when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, Proverbs 8:29 ESV when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, Proverbs 8:30 ESV then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, Proverbs 8:31 ESV rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
No one can surprise God. He knew we would fail. Therefore his very first act in the law (the knowledge of good and evil), was to reveal himself as Christ and light a way to salvation.
Genesis 1:3 ESV And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:4 ESV And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
John 8:12 ESV Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This was not the creation of the sun. The sun was created on day 4.
Genesis 1:14 ESV And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, Genesis 1:15 ESV and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. Genesis 1:16 ESV And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. Genesis 1:17 ESV And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, Genesis 1:18 ESV to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:19 ESV And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
Even the very thoughts of Jesus Christ dying on the cross were recorded over 1000 years before his birth in the book of Psalms.
Matthew 27:44 ESV And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Matthew 27:45 ESV Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. Matthew 27:46 ESV And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Psalms 22:1 ESV To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalms 22:2 ESV O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Psalms 22:3 ESV Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalms 22:4 ESV In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. Psalms 22:5 ESV To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalms 22:6 ESV But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. Psalms 22:7 ESV All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; Psalms 22:8 ESV “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Psalms 22:9 ESV Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. Psalms 22:10 ESV On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Psalms 22:11 ESV Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Psalms 22:12 ESV Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; Psalms 22:13 ESV they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. Psalms 22:14 ESV I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; Psalms 22:15 ESV my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. Psalms 22:16 ESV For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— Psalms 22:17 ESV I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; Psalms 22:18 ESV they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalms 22:19 ESV But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Psalms 22:20 ESV Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Psalms 22:21 ESV Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! Psalms 22:22 ESV I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: Psalms 22:23 ESV You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! Psalms 22:24 ESV For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. Psalms 22:25 ESV From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. Psalms 22:26 ESV The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! Psalms 22:27 ESV All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Psalms 22:28 ESV For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. Psalms 22:29 ESV All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Psalms 22:30 ESV Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; Psalms 22:31 ESV they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
The law (knowledge of good and evil) awoke evil in you due to your weakness.
Romans 7:9 ESV I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. Romans 7:10 ESV The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. Romans 7:11 ESV For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. Romans 7:12 ESV So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:13 ESV Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. Romans 7:14 ESV For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. Romans 7:15 ESV For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:16 ESV Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. Romans 7:17 ESV So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Romans 7:18 ESV For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. Romans 7:19 ESV For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Romans 7:20 ESV Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Romans 7:21 ESV So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. Romans 7:22 ESV For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, Romans 7:23 ESV but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Romans 7:24 ESV Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:25 ESV Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
It wasn't just Adam whom fell, but all us.
Ezekiel 28:12 ESV “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Ezekiel 28:13 ESV You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.Ezekiel 28:14 ESV You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. Ezekiel 28:15 ESV You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. Ezekiel 28:16 ESV In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:17 ESV Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. Ezekiel 28:18 ESV By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. Ezekiel 28:19 ESV All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”
What Was Lost?
The previous passage was a prophecy written for the ruler of Tyre. It was an explanation of what he had lost. He too, fell from Eden. Before he was a man in flesh like animals, he was God's guardian cherub. When he was cast from Eden, he lost his spiritual position and became like every other man. You too were a guardian cherub fallen from Eden. Through faith in Christ you will be restored.
God commanded Solomon to build his temple in Jerusalem exactly to his pattern. The walls of his temple were made of cherub. The mercy seat of the ark of the covenant was covered with cherub. Your spiritul body, your perfect covering, will be that of a cherub. For what was lost through our weakness, will be restored through faith in Christ, who is God.
The pattern from God was given to Solomon through his father King David.
1 Chronicles 28:9 ESV “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 1 Chronicles 28:10 ESV Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” 1 Chronicles 28:11 ESV Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; 1 Chronicles 28:12 ESV and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 1 Chronicles 28:13 ESV for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the LORD; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the LORD,
The walls of God's temple were made up of cherubim.
1 Kings 6:21 ESV And Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. 1 Kings 6:22 ESV And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. Also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold. 1 Kings 6:23 ESV In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high. 1 Kings 6:24 ESV Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. 1 Kings 6:25 ESV The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same measure and the same form. 1 Kings 6:26 ESV The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub. 1 Kings 6:27 ESV He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house. And the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one touched the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; their other wings touched each other in the middle of the house. 1 Kings 6:28 ESV And he overlaid the cherubim with gold. 1 Kings 6:29 ESV Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms. 1 Kings 6:30 ESV The floor of the house he overlaid with gold in the inner and outer rooms. 1 Kings 6:31 ESV For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; the lintel and the doorposts were five-sided. 1 Kings 6:32 ESV He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.
The temple restored is the body of Christ, with you being a member!
1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
The author of the book Hebrews was attempting to explain how the temple worship of the Old Testament correlated to the body of Christ in the New Testament. His audience was Jewish converts that were very familiar with Old Testament theology. For some reason he refrained from speaking in great detail concerning the mysteries of cherubim. For this reason I thought it important to enlighten you, It is the reward, the eternal priesthood to come.
The author refraining from detail.
Hebrews 9:1 ESV Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. Hebrews 9:2 ESV For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Hebrews 9:3 ESV Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, Hebrews 9:4 ESV having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Hebrews 9:5 ESV Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Even the entrance to Eden, which is paradise, was guarded by a cherub.
Genesis 3:22 ESV Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” Genesis 3:23 ESV therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. Genesis 3:24 ESV He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
It was not just cherub that guard the way to the tree of life, but also a flaming sword. That flaming sword is the word of God!
Ephesians 6:16 ESV In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;Ephesians 6:17 ESV and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
The Two Edged Sword.
The two edged sword is the power of God who revealed himself to us as Jesus Christ. There is no separation, they are one and the same.
The two edged sword of power, the Old and New Testaments.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:13 ESV And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
God is the Word! Both Old and New Testaments.
John 1:1 ESV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is God, the Word.
John 1:14 ESV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is God the creator. His sonship is him the invisible God revealing himself in the image of Christ.
Colossians 1:15 ESV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:16 ESV For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Jesus is the one God over all.
Romans 9:5 ESV To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Jesus is the Father.
John 14:8 ESV Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” John 14:9 ESV Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Angels worship him. God reveals Jesus as God by declaration!
Hebrews 1:6 ESV And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.”
Hebrews 1:8 ESV But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
The Apostles worshiped Jesus because they knew he was God. The wise men worshiped him at birth and those who he healed bowed down to him.
Luke 4:8 ESV And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
Matthew 2:10 ESV When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.Matthew 2:11 ESV And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 14:26 ESV But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. Matthew 14:27 ESV But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:28 ESV And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14:29 ESV He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. Matthew 14:30 ESV But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:31 ESV Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:32 ESV And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:33 ESV And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
The reason the Jews crucified Jesus was because he claimed to be God.
John 8:56 ESV Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” John 8:57 ESV So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” John 8:58 ESV Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Genesis 17:1 ESV When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, Genesis 17:2 ESV that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”
John 5:18 ESV This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
John 10:31 ESV The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. John 10:32 ESV Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” John 10:33 ESV The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
Mark 14:62 ESV And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:63 ESV And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? Mark 14:64 ESV You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. Mark 14:65 ESV And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
The Deceivers.
The nation of Israel ceased to exist around 70 A.D.. It was that year that the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and executed and enslaved the remaining people. All records were destroyed proving ones ancestral lineage to Israel. This was prophesied in Zechariah.
Zechariah 11:10 ESV And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. Zechariah 11:11 ESV So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD. Zechariah 11:12 ESV Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:13 ESV Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. Zechariah 11:14 ESV Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
The last tribes remaining of Israel at that time were Judah, Benjamin and part of Levi. The Apostle Paul declared himself to be from Benjamin. The name “Jew” comes from Judaism, the religion of Judah. They murdered God and rejected his divinity.
All this is obvious because scripture tells us. A part that we must now consider is the false preachers, those teaching Christianity for money alone.
John 10:12 ESV He who is a hired hand G3411 and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
Hired hand G3411 μισθωτός misthōtos mis-tho-tos' From G3409; a wage worker (good or bad): - hired servant, hireling.
A hired hand describes the intent of the heart, meaning the true purpose of their work is to earn a monetary wage. It is different then supporting one another through love and charity. It is described as peddling the word of God for profit.
2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV For we are not, like so many, peddlers G2585 of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Peddlers G2585 καπηλεύω kapēleuō kap-ale-yoo'-o From κάπηλος kapēlos (a huckster); to retail, that is, (by implication) to adulterate (figuratively): - corrupt.
The current state of affairs have made these type of false ministers quite common. There are many religious denominations that claim to be Christian. The problem is that Christianity is the religion, not the denomination. Christianity is a united body of Christ that is saved by faith in Jesus, who is God. It is not a building or physical address. It is not a denomination. It is not a man made statement of faith. Christianity is an admission that Jesus is God and is able to save me from damnation. Any add on rules, customs or laws are subtle ways to reintroduce the knowledge of good in evil (law) and damn the soul of the follower.
I have been to many denominations that require a tithe (which is a man made law). A tithe is 10% of your first fruits set aside for Levites who had no inheritance in Israel. First, the tithe is for the nation of Israel. Second, Israel has not existed for almost 2000 years. No one can claim to be a Levite, the temple records do not exist. The religion for the tithe was Judaism, the same religion that murdered God. By trying to force a non believing religious law on Christians, you nullify the faith. A law is the knowledge of good and evil. The practitioner is a false Christian believing in a righteousness that can be bought by a tithe.
If you see another in need and feel compelled to assist them out of the love in your heart placed there by Jesus Christ, then this is true Christianity. I wouldn't define need as purchasing a million dollar building to hold services, hiring a choir to entertain and then robbing the members through the guise of a tithe. This is not anything resembling Christianity. Do not let peer pressure drag you into fellowship with the practitioners of evil. They are the ones who murdered our savior.
