Worry About Tithing NOT JUSTICE AND MERCY??!! Monday, Dec 14 2009

WELL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT’S TIME TO BE SHOCKED AGAIN BY THE CULT OF BETHANY WORLD PRAYER CENTER, PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO BLIND GUIDES LEADING OUR CHILDREN INTO DITCHES!     

      

     

“Jesus Said DON’T WORRY About Justice, Mercy, And Faith(30:23) if you ain’t even learn to tithe”, Joel Stockstill.

      

Joel’s latest sermon has confirmed that his Black Remnant is either illiterate or or place Joel Stockstill in a holier place than their Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Joel Stockstill has received complaints that Christ Jesus didn’t command us to tithe. After assuring his Black Remnant the answer is “YES”, Joel asks for Matthew 23:23 to be placed on the big screen. I’ll use the EXACT SAME english version of the greek text that Joel used to quote from.   

(Please note:  Please read it carefully and slowly and allow the context of the oppressive nature of the Pharisees and Lawyers on the poor that Christ constantly chastised their group for. Also cross reference other situations where Christ rebuked the leaders like Joel for burdening the people with unmerciful demands instead of helping them;  Here it is:     

      

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but YOU IGNORE THE IMPORTANT THINGS OF THE LAW – justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things(Mt.23:23, NLT).     

      

Now Joel’s Version”(Minutes 30:16-26). He’s saying DON’T WORRYABOUT JUSTICE, MERCY, AND FAITH(30:23) IF you ain’t even learned to tithe”     

      

Joel’s version of Jesus claims that Christ IS NOT CONCERNED about:     

1. JUSTICE-The principle or ideal of just dealing and right action
2. MERCY- Compassion or a blessing that is an act of divine favor
3. FAITH– Complete trust.

      

This is Amazing!! Right before their very eyes, Joel misquotes Scripture to prove to them Jesus stated that TITHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUSTICE, MERCY, AND FAITH! Poor Christ and His true words.      

Leaven and Burdens of The Pharisees:

Christ condemns the Pharisees in Joel’s proof-text because they  not only required the tithe BUT REQUIRED TITHES ON OTHER agriculture NOT LISTED in God’s law.  The (U)nited (B)ible (S)ocieties’ (T)ranslators (H)andbook informs potential translators:     

[Page 716] According to Deuteronomy 14.23, grain, wine, and olive oil were required to be tithed, though there is no mention of the requirement to tithe seasoning herbs such as mint and dill and cummin. It is possible though that this regulation was imposed by the Pharisaic interpretation of the Law. Newman, B. M., & Stine, P. C. (1992). A handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. Originally published: A translator’s handbook on the Gospel of Matthew, c1988. UBS helps for translators; UBS handbook series (716). New York: United Bible Societies.

      

Christ warned the crowds ahead of time of these burdens in the EXACT SAME CHAPTER(using Joel’s version of the greek text again)     

      

Mt.23:4 They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden.     

      

These Pharisees forced people to give over and beyond what the Bible teaches YET THEY DON’T PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH! Just like The Stockstills who:     

1. Require The Poor To Make Financial Sacrifices BUT THEY TRAVEL ABROAD and SPEND WITHOUT DISCRETION
2. Require The Poor To Tithe(their version not the bible) money even if they can’t afford it, yet they claim to tithe from the church’s abundance.
3. Coerce The Poor To Tithe every paycheck not just the first[fruit]
4. Require the poor to tithe and never question what Bethany is doing with it
5. Require the poor to tithe even if they flush it down the toilet!

      

Christ condemned such Pharisaic oppression on the people. Again, the U.B.S. Translators Handbook informs potential translators:     

 “They bind heavy burdens is a figure that suggests that the way the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees required people to do many difficult things to fulfill the law was like giving them heavy loads to carry. For some the biblical form will be relatively well understood, as in TEV: “They tie onto people’s backs loads that are heavy and hard to carry.” Other translators will use comparisons of some sort; for example, “They force people to obey difficult rules that are like burdens on their backs.” Another possibility is to drop the image altogether, as in “They oblige people to do very difficult things” or “They give people many obligations that are difficult to carry out.” TEV Today’s English Version Newman, B. M., & Stine, P. C. (1992). A handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. Originally published: A translator’s handbook on the Gospel of Matthew, c1988. UBS helps for translators; UBS handbook series (703). New York: United Bible Societies.     

      

Joel’s version of Jesus has once again sided with the oppressing Pharisees and Teachers of The Law. The IVP  Background To The New Testament agrees with Christ, ” his point is that they should have learned justice, mercy and covenant faithfulness first “(9:13; 12:7 Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament (Mt 23:23). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.”     

THE TITHE RE-DEFINED AGAIN!

When was the last time the tithes and offerings were brought from The Stockstills' Storehouse and Sent To God? According to Scripture it should be burnt to send up in smoke! In fact, when has The Stockstill followed ANY OF GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS ON how to consume the tithes, offerigs, sacrifices?

As noted in the first post on Bethany’s version of the tithe, they’ve redefined it to mean ONLY MONEY given weekly and/or monthy. Yet have neglected on what God’s words says about who enjoys the tithes. It’s not the Priest alone! Again, for an exegetical study on the tithe and it’s abuse by televangelist like Joel, read the informative study by Russel Earl Kelley(PhD) at http://www.tithing-russkelly.com/     

A final reminder and confirmation that Christ was NOT TEACHING his disciples to neglect Justic, Mercy, and Faith:     

  Warnings About Experts in the Law(NET VERSION, GOSPEL OF MARK)     

  ^12:38 In his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, ^12:39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ^12:40 They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”     

  ^12:41 Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. ^12:42 And A POOR WIDOW CAME and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. ^12:43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. ^12:44 For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”

   

  

      

Christ is NOT CONGRATULATING THE PHARISEES and LAWYERS for oppressing the poor widow! Christ forewarns his disciples how the Pharisees and Lawyers oppress the poor(Mk.12:38). The term “experts of the law” represented the leaders who were suppose to interpret God’s Word for the people. Yet, out of their greed like JOEL STOCKSTILL “THEY DEVOUR…(v.40)”     

      

Joel forgot the advice Paul gave to the Overseers of The Church,i.e., it’s better to give than receive. These words weren’t addressed to the congregation, THEY WERE TO THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH!     

^Acts20:28 Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. ^20:29 I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ^20:30 Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. ^20:31 Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.     

 ^20:32 And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ^20:33 I have desired no one’s silver or gold or clothing. ^20:34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. ^20:35 By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”    

       

I understand that many of my brothers and sisters are unable to afford the commentaries and other works by the translators who produced our english bible. So I’ll add one more for your benefit to motivate you to conduct your own research:     

 23:23 “you tithe mint and dill and cummin”     

“NT believers must be careful of turning Christianity into a new legal performance oriented code (Christian Talmud). Their desire to be pleasing to God causes them to try to find guidelines for every area of life. However, theologically it is dangerous to pull old covenant rules which are not reaffirmed in the NT and make them dogmatic criteria especially when they are claimed to be causes or promises of prosperity!     

In their legalism, they counted even the smallest spices so as to give precisely ten percent to God, but they neglected justice, love, and fidelity. The New Testament does not speak of tithing except here. The heart of New Testament giving is not found in a percentage (cf. II Cor. 8–9)! Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 9: The First Christian Primer: Matthew. Study Guide Commentary Series. Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.     

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Joel’s Tithe And Abuse of Authority Thursday, Dec 10 2009

I PRAY THAT YOUR DEDICATION IS NOT TO THE COERCION TACTICS OF MAN BUT TO SOLA SCRIPTURA  AND ITS AUTHOR!!

 

Joel's Version Of Jesus Has Once Again Congratulated Him On Perverting The Scriptures And Coercing Christians Out Of Their Money!

 

  BEFORE YOU OVER-BLESS YOUR FAMILY, BLESS MINE….

  Well, it’s that time of the year again at Bethany. The time when people start focusing on blessing their children with gifts, spending extra on big Family Meals, traveling in and out of state for re-unions, donating to charities, and for the unfortunate paying those high utitily heating bills. The Stockstills, Joel in particular, has presented another sermon on tithing just in case folks dare not bless his family more and before they start re-directing their 10%. See Here, “The Test”, Joel Stockstill’s Sermon

DON’T QUESTION ME ABOUT YOUR TITHES….

WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU QUESTION JOEL RIGHT? REMEMBER HIS BRAGGING ABOUT A BEATING DOWN SOMEONE IN CHURCH! SO....TAKE HIS ADVICE LITERALLY, DON'T QUESTION HIM! https://225br.wordpress.com/joel-almost-beatdown-during-service/

One of the most disturbing points of  Joel’s sermon comes at the minute marks (14:28-15:22) where He instructs the Tithers to give without holding ministers accountable?! You will not find a Church with intergrity who will agree with that! That is a red flag that your money is being misappropriated and abused for personal-enrichment. Any NON-PROFIT Organization(churches, charities, hospitals, etc.) will and DOES PROVIDE their donors with:

1. HOW MUCH WAS COLLECTED
2. HOW THE DONATIONS WERE DISTRIBUTED
3. THE COST SPENT ON TRIPS,  DINNERS, PLANE TRIPS, HOTELS
4. PASTORS’ SALARIES
5. UTILITIES

 

Our historical civil-rights churches practice this type of honesty and  not the DOUBLE-STANDARD that Joel’s predominately Black Congregation submits to.  Joel’s only defense, which he provides no biblcal reference for, is that

“(14:10-14:47)…THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNTING TO GOD FOR THEIR STEWARDSHIP.”

 

 

 ***WARNING****AGAIN, TAKE JOEL’S COMMANDMENT NOT TO QUESTION HIM LITERALLY. HE ALREADY BRAGGED ABOUT HAVING BIG MIKE BEAT DOWN A BROTHER IN CHURCH(CLICK HERE). IF YOU’RE NEW, YOU MUST REALIZE THE CONGREGATION SEES HIM AS A BIBLICAL PROPHET WHO IS NOT TO BE QUESTIONED OR APPROACHED WITH CONCERNS. *******WARNING**********

 

 

JUST TRUST ME, I HAVE MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS:

He goes on to give his just-trust-me promise that he stays up at night trying be honest in his spending. IF HE WAS THAT WORRIED, WHY NOT SIMPLY(like other churches) PRODUCE A BREAKDOWN AS NOTED ABOVE(1.-5).  I remember attending the HEALING PLACE Church near Blue Bayou and in the main entrance they had A FULL COLORED BROCHURE ON ALL THEIR COLLECTIONS AND A PIE CHART on how it was distributed.

They don’t oppress AND dominate their congregation with “Do As I Say Without Holding Me Accountable“. In their honesty, they publicly published their total financial contributions and distributions. The shocking thing, it was not isolated for MEMBERS ONLY, it was in the main entrance FOR ANYONE TO READ and even had a way to contact someone if you had CONCERNS!!  In contrast Joel States:

 

Joel, God's Untouchable Prophet??!!

“But whether or not THE MONEY IS FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET OR NOT, should have nothing to do with our willingness to be obedient to the commandment of God(15:11-15:22)

 

A GOOD STEWARD DOESN’T INVEST BLINDLY:

WOW….Joel told his congregation whether he chooses to flush the money “…DOWN THE TOILET OR NOT” should not prevent them from obeying God’s commandments on giving him 10% of their paychecks. Ironically, that’s just what’s happending to their money! Joel says they SHOULD OBEY God’s commandments BUT he has another standard. Why doesn’t Joel let the congregation be accountable to God like he does?

Joel has contradicted his own sermon in a mere 15 minutes. He used the Bible to coerce 10%  out of the majority black congregation but THEN ABANDON’S THE BIBLE AND CLAIMS HE’S NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM, ONLY GOD!!!  Since Joel knows that to be untrue he can not find a Scripture to back up his Give-Blindly commandment. So, he tells a  tale about correcting someone for challenging their preacher.

Obviously, this is a TOTAL CONTRADICTION IN BEING A GOOD STEWARD. A Good Steward knows how his donations are being used and ensure that He/She is not contributing to a deliquency. THERE’S THAT DOUBLE-STANDARD AGAIN,  Do as I say…..not as I do! If God sees us contributing to a ministry that claims to be UNTOUCHABLE PROPHETS and are abusing donations, that’s a TOTAL CONTRADICTION in good stewardship. Joel make up your mind…be a good steward or not? If we are called to be good stewards, your give-blindly sermon shows the congregations needs to stop!!

 

THE TITHER ENJOYS PART OF THAT TITHE GIVEN

Joel’s sermon from the start heads in the wrong direction because he re-defined the biblical word.  The tithe was NEVER MONEY but produce for the Levitcal Priesthood’s sacrificial system where these offereings were enjoyed by the tither, his family, the orphan, and God. It should be noted the biblical definition of “giving to God” was SENDING THE TITHE/OFFERING/SACRIFICE UP IN SMOKE VIA FIRE. That’s right….it was consumed as an aroma into the heavens. It was the crooked Priests who kept the tithe for themselves instead of consuming it with fire to God. So Joel if you want to use bible-words then ensure you use bible-definitions. The words alone are just the SKIN OF TRUTH that Joel FILLS WITH LIES.

 

  14:22 You must be certain to tithe28 all the produce of your seed that comes from the field year after year.

 14:23 In the presence of the Lord your God YOU MUST EAT FROM THE TITHE of your grain, your new wine,29 your olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the place he chooses to locate his name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.

14:24 When he30 blesses you, if the31 place where he chooses to locate his name is distant, 14:25 you may convert the tithe into money, secure the money,32 and travel to the place the Lord your God chooses for himself.

14:26 ThenYOU MAY SPEND THE MONEY HOWEVER YOU WISH for cattle, sheep, wine, beer, or whatever you desire. YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD MAY EAT THERE in the presence of the Lord your God and enjoy it.

 14:27 As for the Levites in your villages, you must not ignore them, for they have no allotment or inheritance along with you. 14:28 At the end of every three years you must bring all the tithe of your produce, in that very year, and you must store it up in your villages.

14:29 Then the Levites (because they have no allotment or inheritance with you), the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows of your villages may come and eat their fill so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work you do.

 28 28 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, indicated in the translation by the words “be certain.” 29 29 tn This refers to wine in the early stages of fermentation. In its later stages it becomes wine (יַיִן, yayin) in its mature sense. 30 30 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “He” in 14:2. 31 31 tn The Hebrew text includes “way is so far from you that you are unable to carry it because the.” These words have not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons, because they are redundant. 32 32 tn Heb “bind the silver in your hand.” Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Dt 14:22-29). Biblical Studies Press.

So, we see from Scripture that the produce of the land NOT MONEY was to STORED UP. It was to help the Temple Priesthood in their daily blood sacrifices and burnt offerings….of which the tither also got to consume with his family, along with the orphans and widows. THEIR TITHES WERE NOT GIVEN SOLEY TO THE PRIESTHOOD BUT (((((((SHARED))))))) AND (((((((CONSUMED))))))). God did not allow the priest to convert the TITHES into MONEY! That defeats the whole purpose of the Communion meals! Only Joel wants money handed over without accountability!

Even the Apostle Paul identifies those who participate in the consumption of the Promised Land Produce at the Levitical Altar:

^10:18 Look at the people of Israel.¹² Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?

^{12 12} tn Grk “Israel according to (the) flesh.”

 Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (1 Co 10:18). Biblical Studies Press.

 

 

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IS NOT YOUR EXAMPLE(APPEALING TO HUMAN GREED):

Joel then goes on to  tesify that John B. Rockefeller:

11:08-11:12 MINUTES Joel testified that John B. Rockefeller “said he began by tithing on a $1.50 a week”.

First, John Rockefeller is not our example. Even so, John Rockefeller would  not  invest bad/blind investments. He was a very good researcher. In the days of John Rockefeller, churches made known their collections and distributions. Do you really think John Rockefeller would give to A CHURCH that condemned the congregation for holding their clergy’s stewardship accountable?! Regardless, John Rockefeller is not our example, this is simply an appeal-to-emotion(human greed for money) and not Scripture.

The reason why the naive are laughing and saying their Amens! is because Joel throws in comedy at the right moment, i.e., before anyone thinks about the shocking statement he just made. It’s the same way trainers dominate their animals. If the trainer gives a stern commandment to the animal it will bite back. However, if he creates a diversion of the mind at just the right moment, the animal will forget and submit to instruction. That’s just how Joel treats his congregation. Before they can think about his unbiblical traditions, he cracks a joke and the AMENS and HALLELUJAHS come out the naive congregation who is seeking entertainment over education.

 

P.S. JOEL, Abraham didn’t tithe his OWN PROPERTY, he ONLY tithed spoils from war ONE TIME not weekly or monthly or annually.

 

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

THE BIBLICAL TITHE, FULL EXEGESIS BY RUSSELL EARL KELLEY, PhD

 

 

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