The Marketplace, The Storehouse and the Tithe

I have a thought today that I want to throw out and let you chew on. Those of you who've known me for any length of time know that I take a pretty strong stand against the controversial and un-scriptural teaching the tithe belongs to the local church you attend.

Pastors who promote this teaching use Malachi 3:10-12 to prove their point of view. They say the local church is equal to the "storehouse" in this passage. Aside from the fact I believe this is an extreme stretch of interpretation of scripture, let me add this thought to debunk their theory.

If the local church is the storehouse, funded by your tithe, why is it the flow into the storehouse is only one-way? Why is it the storehouse won't help you fund a business venture? Or invest in a proven Christian business that wants to expand?

I'll tell you why. Because the church today is outdated. They continue to hold onto the old tradition that came from the Dark Ages that separates the sacred from the secular. Hand in hand with that tradition is a separation from the clergy and the laity. The "full time" ministers, those who are paid by the people's tithes and offerings, do not consider anyone who is not in their elite club as true ministers. Furthermore, their concept and ideology of ministry is it's behind a pulpit within the four walls of the church.

This is wrong and not New Testament Christianity as revealed in the Book of Acts and forward to the end of the Book. Ministry takes place everyday, everywhere. Not just on Sunday. Ministry is supposed to be accomplished by everyone in the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"

Ministry is a whole lot more than preparing a sermon or acting as an usher for a church service. A whole lot more.

If you can accept the fact your job, your business is a ministry, it will change the way you think and it will enrich your faith from just a Sunday thing to an everyday, life-changing fact!

More than 99% of the Body of Christ spend a better portion of their day, whether its in an office, on a job site or in the home raising children, "on the job". That's where our ministry is, "on the job" and "in the marketplace".

The storehouse, in ancient Jewish culture, was a place to help people from. If the pastors of today want to call their churches a "storehouse", perhaps they should begin to help people with more than just a sermon and a handshake.

Why Men Hate Going to Church

It's Sunday morning. Where are all the men? Golfing? Playing softball? Watching the tube? Mowing the lawn? Sleeping? One place you won't find them is in church. Less than 40 percent of adults in most churches are men, and 20 to 25 percent of married churchgoing women attend without their husbands. And why are the men who do go to church so bored? Why won't they let God change their hearts?

David Murrow's groundbreaking new book reveals why men are the world's largest unreached people group. With eye-opening research and a persuasive grasp on the facts, Murrow explains the problem and offers hope and encouragement to women, pastors, and men. Why Men Hate Going to Church does not call men back to the church-it calls the church back to men.

Book Review
According to the author, American men hate going to church, as evidenced by a wealth of statistics that point to an ever-widening gap between female and male churchgoers. Regardless of denomination, it appears that most Christian churches are unintentionally designed to appeal to women and children. How to solve the growing gender gap in congregations of every type? Murrow advocates injecting a strong shot of testosterone into the proceedings to restore the masculine spirit to the church. Churches need to provide a more challenging and confrontational approach to religion and spiritual issues instead of concentrating on more traditional-- and female-oriented--calls for conformity, control, and ceremony. Whether or not you fully buy into his somewhat simplistic hypothesis and solution, Murrow does provide some provocative food for thought on a hot-button topic. Margaret Flanagan
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The Kingdom of God and Marketplace Ministry

An integral component of the advancement of the Kingdom is Marketplace Ministry. Why? Because the expansion of the Kingdom of God into all areas of society includes the marketplace, the economic sphere of society. Perhaps one of the most influential spheres, yet the least understood by Christians.

John Garfield has written two unique and highly targeted books, Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace and From Desire to Destiny: Seven Keys to Your Marketplace Ministry.

Garfield says, "Marketplace ministry is the passion that starts when God connects your job, business, ministry, and life purpose into one package."

Too many Christians are falling short in the economic arena. Either we live from paycheck-to-paycheck or we're behind on our bills and unable to make ends meet. What is the answer?

Here it is: God wants to bless you so you can bless others. Yes, God's plan for us is to literally bless the nations. For far too long the sacred calling has been separated from the secular workplace. Finally, Christian entrepreneurs are connecting vocation, ministry, and life purpose; marketplace ministry has started another reformation. Passion is fueling entrepreneurs in the workplace, they're full of optimism, dreams and hope of a better future. Moreover, Marketplace Ministers are helping others to achieve their dreams and impact their generation through mentoring and practical coaching.

Join the reformation!