The True Spirit Of Grace-oriented Giving

"They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do"  (Gal. 2:10, HCSB).  
"One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor"  (Prov. 11:24, HCSB). 
"A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water"  (Prov. 11:25, HCSB).  
"Since you excel in so many ways--in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us--I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving"  (2 Cor. 8:7, NLT).
"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.  'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully'"  (2 Cor. 9:7, NLT). 

All believers have the privilege and honor of sharing their blessings with others and promoting the work of God by financial support.  It's not necessarily how much we give, but the Spirit that we do it in that matters:  Mother Teresa of Calcutta (recently canonized by Rome) has said that it's not what you do, but how much love you put into it.  What God notices is a cheerful giver (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7) and the willingness to give as unto the Lord.  We thank God for His provisions, as the "LORD who will provide" ("the LORD will see to it" (Jehovah-Jireh), and are worshiping God through this act of selfless sacrifice.  Giving is not giving if not done sacrificially and if it doesn't hurt, you may be withholding from God who owns it all it in the first place and has given it to you as a steward of His blessings.

The obedient giver knows that Christ's words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive [Acts 20:35]," is the ultimate reality in God's economy.  The Bible says that some withhold and suffer loss and some give generously and gain.  No one comes out any worse in giving, for the measure we give is returned unto us.  It has been said that when we look out for other's interests, God looks out for us and we will never be in need of doing God's work.  Generosity is the spirit of true Christian giving and this is an attitude, not a measure or percentage of income--each person must make up his own mind how and how much to give, according to the measure of God's blessings.

If we feel we are obliged to give, it is done legalistically and hypocritically, and God cannot reward it--we must want to give and share our resources (which also includes our time, resources, relationships, talents, opportunities, energy, possessions, and gifts).  No one can afford not to give unto the work of God and to help the poor; in fact, if we are having a hard time making ends meet, we may need to open up God's treasures of blessing and share what He already has granted us (i.e., all our provisions from God).  In other words, we all need God's blessing on our lives and labors.

If you love money, you will never have enough!  The key is to become content with what you have and not to desire to be rich, which will lead to temptation.  Paul learned to be content in all situations, whether facing lack or abundance.  Not lacking any good thing or blessing doesn't mean that we will have all things:  God blesses some in some ways, some in all ways, but all in some way.  In sum, God is good to all (cf. Psalm 145:9), and delights to show mercy and bless us.      Soli Deo Gloria!

Do We Earn Our Testimony?

If I told you that you had to earn the right to witness you might never witness, just like if I told you that you couldn't do it until you get your act together. All Christians are called to witness regardless of spiritual growth (don't ever be ashamed of Jesus). The witness or testimony that we have is God's gift to us; our "niceness" is God's gift to us not our gift to God. He is the potter, we are the clay. "...All that we have accomplished you have done for us..." (cf. Isa. 26:12). "Who makes you to differ? What do you have that you didn't receive" (1 Cor. 4:7)?

I realize that God expects us to bear witness to the world and let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works, but God the Holy Spirit does the convicting. It is the Father who draws us to the cross of Christ and we are only vessels of honor. If we were in the military we may have a "witness" to ex-service people but that is not because we earned that witness; it is because God opened the door (an open door is an opportunity). We must see it in a grace orientation. Soli Deo Gloria! (To God alone be the glory!)

There is an example in Acts 16 that tells of Paul witnessing to "anyone who will listen." Even Paul had to ask for prayer to have God open doors and make him a bold witness; much more we! Let us never discourage someone from witnessing just because we know better or are more mature--they will learn. Someone has said that the world wants to see the gospel in shoe leather--that means our life is a witness. We must be like Paul who spoke to anyone who would listen while praying for the open door.  In sum, we are witnesses for Christ whether we want to or not; it just depends on what kind of witness, good or bad.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Why The Consternation Over Reformed Theology?

There have been many Christians writers who have made it their mission to undermine Reformed thinking and to destroy whatever vestige of the truth they feel bitter about and want to avenge themselves, as it were, by convincing Calvinists they are wrong, and enjoying their argumentative writings.  Sectarianism is sin according to Paul in 1 Corinthians and we are not to look down on our brother just because we disagree with him. We are all in Christ!  Most Calvinists were Arminians at one time and understand their "ignorance."   They aim their guns at doctrines such as eternal security and predestination, denying their having biblical basis.

But there is much outcry in some churches over Calvinistic excess and the consequent prejudice and stereotype of them as having an ax to grind and having a one-track mind and being expert on minor points like splitting hairs or nitpicking doctrine that is just a doctrine that divides (the correct nomenclature should be doctrines of grace, not the five points of Calvinism known from the acrostic TULIP).  They seem to major on the minors according to Arminians, but they are wrong.

It is alright to be on a mission, but not to divide and conquer like the strategy of the devil.  Seek the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace according to Ephesians 4:3. Most Calvinists are not divisive, contentious, argumentative, nor judgmental as people think and John Calvin never made these points himself but wrote on hundreds of topics.  People don't know that Martin Luther agreed with the doctrines of grace even though today's Lutherans have strayed from his teachings.

But the time does arise when one must take a stand and say his piece and let people know his position so that there is no confusion or prejudice. In the meantime, Calvinists need to be wise not to push it and try to "convert" people to the truth.  Their motivation should be to enlighten people to grace-orientation and to set them free from legalism and self-sovereignty and trust in the Lord's providence--let God be God.

What amazes me is that there really are no Arminians in fact, only in theory, because they live, talk, and pray just like Calvinists most of the time!  ("O God, make this person see!)  They acknowledge God's sovereignty and control over all in their prayer and just don't know it!  The really insecure ones are the ones on a mission to prove they are right no matter what and to have a one-track mind majoring in one doctrine, for instance. We should never be preoccupied with a doctrine that we become unbalanced and think it is our mission to straighten everybody out.  God wants us to learn the whole counsel of Scripture not just our favorite doctrines.  We can readily diffuse a quarrel by admitting we could be wrong and not seeming like we know it all--no matter what our position. This is only a matter of personal humility and realizing that we are all part of the story and need each other as fellow body parts.

No one has a monopoly on the truth or has cornered the market and knowledge in itself as an end and not a means to an end leads to arrogance and spiritual pride--that one side is a cut above others or the others are poor specimens.  There are some Arminians who are great men of God and live holy lives and are faithful and some Calvinists who are carnal and worldly.  In conclusion:  At the Bema Seat, Jesus isn't ever going to ask us what school of thought we subscribed to but did we know Him and learn to love and obey Him.  Soli Deo Gloria!