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Principal Principles

Thursday, September 24th, 2009 | Author:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Yeshua HaMashiach set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

Law – Sometimes it seems like Sha’ul could have written about Alice in Wonderland.  One pill makes you bigger (one law gives you life) and the other pill makes you small (one law gives you death).   Of course, Sha’ul isn’t speaking like Alice or singing like Grace Slick. He’s talking about two different principles; two types of nomos (rules). One lets you live; the other kills you. The principal difference between these two is life and death. One held us captive to inevitable death. The other set us free to live. These two are the most important governing rules of human existence. But if we don’t know what they really are, we will flounder around trying to come up with our own principles for living, and that is almost always disastrous.

Sha’ul sets these two principles in opposition: freedom and life on one hand; sin and death on the other. We know Sha’ul’s thinking about the sin and death principle. It’s the attempt to operate on our own terms. It’s being disobedient to God’s revealed instructions. It’s turning away from the source of life. Of course, with all the activity in the world it certainly doesn’t appear as though the law of sin and death holds so many hostage. It looks like they are just doing the best they can, accumulating what fulfills their desires and trying to be happy. The reality of sin and death is disguised as an angelic expression of light. Only God can remove the blinders and when He does the world looks like a very tragic place.

On the other hand, Sha’ul rejoices in the law of the Spirit of life in Yeshua. This law sets me free. It has the power to transform my tragic existence into a journey with Yeshua and peace with God. But did you notice that it does not set me free from rules? It sets me free from the rules that kill me, but it doesn’t set me free from every rule. I still am under the law of the Spirit of life. And what is that law? It should be obvious what Sha’ul has in mind. He is a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a Torah-observant follower of the Messiah, a scholar of the Tanakh, a sinner saved by grace, a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel. What law provides life to his community? It is Torah, of course. That’s what God said it would do, and that’s what it does. When we live according to Torah, God uses us to fulfill His purposes and we are filled with the Spirit – all because Yeshua redeemed us.

Sha’ul does not say the law of sin and death is removed because all law is removed. He does not say that the principle of “love one another” has replaced all of God’s previous instructions. He does not say the Torah was deficient and needed to be replaced, or it was temporary and has now been superseded. He says Yeshua got us out from under a rule that was killing us so we could live according to a rule that will fulfill us. How does the saying go? “If it’s good enough for Paul, it’s good enough for me.” Apparently, the law of the Spirit of life in Yeshua HaMashiach was pretty good for Sha’ul.  Keeping the rules results in life.  That’s what you think too, right?

Topical Index: law, principle, nomos, Torah, life, death, Romans 8:2

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Tithes and Offerings

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 | Author:

They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed, but each with his own gift, according to the blessing that the LORD your God has bestowed upon you.  Deuteronomy 16:16-17 

According To – “What does God expect concerning the tithe?”  This seems to be a perennial question once we determine to be more obedient to God’s instructions about living.  Those of us who have come from Christian backgrounds often struggle with the idea that the tithe is intended for the local church, especially when we find that our money goes to servicing debt instead of helping the needy in our own community family.  Does God really ask us to support the bricks and mortar, or does He expect something else? 

The Torah provides some of the needed direction.  In this verse we find a basic principle of giving.  That principle comes from an attitude toward all provision.  In other words, God asks for a portion of the blessing He has already given.  The assumption is that God has already blessed you, and now you decide, voluntarily, how much to give back in honor of His goodness.  Each male head of household comes before the Lord three times a year bearing a gift to be determined solely on the basis of blessings received.  No one could come empty-handed since everyone has received some blessing from God.  But the amount given was determined by individual assessment.  To whom much was given, much was expected, and how much was determined by the individual’s willingness to give, not by legislation.  After all, God loves a cheerful giver.

If we compare this verse with verse 10 in the same chapter, we see that the amount is a freewill offering.  It is our determination of generosity.  It is not governed by rule or regulation.  The only requirement is to bring something that represents your thankfulness.

This isn’t the final word on tithing, but it helps us to get the right perspective.  There are very few regulated tithes.  After all, God is interested in acts of devotion, not acts of servitude.  As the King of the Universe, He could demand our contribution.  Nearly every earthly King has done so.  But God is not a man and is not subject to the power-hungry greediness of men.  God owns it all.  Therefore, He has a right to all of it.  Instead of demanding what is really due Him, He allows us to demonstrate our thankfulness in an act of self-determination.  You decide how much God has done for you and what is an appropriate gift to bring.

This principle is extremely dangerous, for two reasons.   On the one hand, it leaves room for the legalist.  Those who don’t truly understand the magnitude of God’s blessings will use this principle to shortchange what is due.  They will bring something because some thing is required, but they won’t see that their offering is wasted and demeaning.  Nevertheless, God allows them to determine their own evaluation. 

On the other hand, the principle is equally dangerous for the righteous.  It places the burden for determining the value of God’s blessings squarely on our shoulders.  And if we really understand what God has done for us, we know that even 100% of what we have can never repay Him.  So, we bring a gift that is always far less than what we would desire, thankful for His grace but aware of our inadequate recognition.  This is the road to humility, and it is a self-determined one. 

Tithing may ultimately be a matter of some percentage, but the motivation begins here.  This is the place to start before any calculations enter the picture.

Topical Index:  tithe, offering, according to, principle, Deuteronomy 16:17

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