Tough Talk...

Sunday's talk was a rather tough one. Not only did we discuss Hell, in our current series "So You're Dead...Now What?", but I also touched on giving / tithe. How do Hell & tithe go together? Let me explain it this way...

During our talk yesterday I said that "...If I were the devil...my number one priority or strategy would be to convince people that Hell wasn't real...or at the very least...Hell wasn't that big of a deal." By convincing people of that...2 things would happen: 1.) Unbelievers would continue to reject Christ & believers would not fear (be in awe / have respect) for God and ALL His commands. 2.) You wouldn't feel the need to share your faith. - - I'd submit this because of the way that most of us live our lives...we don't fear God (we don't obey ALL his commands) and we don't share our faith...which means we must not fully believe in Hell. That's hard to teach and hard to hear isn't it?!?!

In America we have a "cafeteria" approach to Christianity. It's like we walk through a cafeteria line picking and choosing the things from the Bible that we want to believe and live out in our lives...while leaving the things we don't want to believe or follow sitting on that "cafeteria" counter.

I was VERY CLEAR THAT NOT TITHING WON'T KEEP A BELIEVER OUT OF HEAVEN. However, I pointed out that all to often the tithe is one of the things we decide not to put on our tray as we go through the cafeteria line...and by doing so I was also perfectly clear in stating that "...by not tithing...you may be keeping someone else out of Heaven." Let me explain...

When we are not obedient in EVERYTHING that God calls us to do...which includes the tithe...churches won't be able to function...churches all over America close every week because of the lack of finances. And when churches close...well, that means fewer people are likely to hear about the amazing love and grace of God...thus missing a chance to have a relationship with Christ. Again...it's hard to hear, isn't it?! We've all got to do our part...not just in the easy things (like showing up to a service, giving of our time & energy)...but in the things that we as Americans find so hard...giving of our finances.

Tough talks are hard to teach and hard to hear. But when those tough talks come (and they will)...we have to remember that reaching people who are far from God is what we are called to do. That's what it's all about...LOVE WINS.

Hope to see you Sunday.