Kingdom Business Journal

Once in a while, I come across a site or blog that really catches my attention. Today was no different, while I was surfing about Kingdom principles and business, I came upon Kingdom Business Journal. According to founder Rich Forster, Kingdom Business Journal's purpose is to promote, teach and share Kingdom principles for success and ministry in the Marketplace.

I couldn't agree more with Forster's purpose, more emphasis should be placed upon practical Christianty and how that fleshes out in the marketplace. Afterall, according to Forster, only 2% of North American Christians are in a paid position at a church.

With more than 20 contributing authors, Kingdom Business Journal will certainly have articles and resources to help you and your day-to-day life in the marketplace. I'm adding KBJ to my list of favorites, I believe this site will be a hit in the long run.

Postive Results of a Tithe

Malachi 3:10b "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Tithing opens the windows of heaven! Tithing releases financial blessings in a practical way in our everyday lives. Tithing opens the window of opportunity for your business or job. When we tithe, God opens the window of heaven and blessings come to us in the form of ideas, creativity and opportunities to prosper above normal means. Our businesses will prosper and bring wealth into the Kingdom of God for His purposes. Tithing keeps us "in season" with what God is doing.

Malachi 3:11-12 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, Says the Lord of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land, Says the Lord of hosts."

Tithing is a financial protection for believers. When we tithe, God rebukes the enemy for our sake so he cannot steal from and destroy our businesses. When these blessings are evident in our lives, it is a powerful witness to all nations!

More on Tithing

What I am about to say will be controversial, I'm sure. But this is what I beleive the Lord has revealed to me.

Mal 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

This verse from Malachi is perhaps one of the most misunderstood and yet important verses in God's economy. Before I share with you what the Lord has shown me, we must first see what the context was in which it was spoken.

The Word of the Lord from Malachi is the whole nation of Israel was backslidden from God and the priests were evil. That is the historical context and it was a word to the nation of Israel, and specifically, the priests of that time. The word speaks to us today, but we're not backslidden and were not practicing idolatry, right? We're seeking God with our whole heart and expanding the His Kingdom.

I know many pastors tell their people if they do not tithe and give offerings, they are cursed and they quote this verse from Malachi to prove it. I am sorry, but I do not agree and I believe those pastors are doing much more harm than good for the Kingdom. They are sincere, but they are sincerely wrong.

Christians are not cursed by God, even if they do not tithe. The Bible tells us in Galatians 3:13 "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us". Under the Old Covenant, the curse of the Law went into effect if you broke the Law. Christ Jesus came and fulfilled the Law for us and redeemed us from the curse of it! Praise the Lord! We're not under the Law of Moses, rather the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

In the Law of Moses, many different forms of tithing was instituted to provide for the priesthood, care of the temple and support for the welfare program to widows and orphans, generally speaking. The practice of tithing that many pastors teach in our time is not even close to the way tithing is commanded in the Law of Moses.

Am I encouraging New Testament Christians to not tithe? Absolutely not! I am pointing out the fact that tithing as taught by leaders, especially from North America is not scripturally sound.

Pastors and leaders should encourage believers to tithe in order that they may experience the blessings associated with that discipline. Fear tactics, telling believers they will be cursed, should never be used to motivate believers to obey God.

What I am saying is this: tithes and offering given as directed by the Lord release a very specific blessing in the lives of those who practice it.

Christian Giving

Last month I devoted most of the posts to showing why the tithe is not required for the church today. February will be devoted to teaching New Testament truth about giving and correct teaching about a tithe and offerings.