Jesus Christ vs the Evangelical Tithe
Jesus Christ vs the Evangelical Tithe
# 29: In # 27, I spoke of young, complying dads who were not allowed to lead the congregation in prayer for their little infants during the dedication ceremony. The evangelical way dictates that it is the responsibility of a salaried pastor to lead in public prayer. That account was reality, and now we enter into the imaginary. Okay? Imagine, if you will….
One of the young dads, when his turn, says to the pastor, “No, no, no! It’s my child, I am the head of my family under Christ, it’s my place to lead the people in prayer for my baby!” And that’s what he does before the visibly flustered pastor – a heartfelt prayer of dedication of his infant child unto the Lord Jesus Christ. This imaginary scenario gets crazier….
You (yes, you!) are seated in that congregation. Jolted by the young man’s grit and remarkable passion for Christ, you are reminded of that time you were equally fervent – before religion usurped the lordship of Christ. No more! you silently shout. No more passivity! No more compromise! I refuse to be programmed, overwhelmed, coerced, directed, treated like a ten-year-old! And… no more tithing! No more financing the pastor’s salary! He can get a job, just like me! From this day forward Jesus gets my donations, every penny!
Oh, if only the imaginary became reality!!