Hoops or Holiness?

What if?

What if you knew something that made every difference in your own experience with the Lord Jesus, something that your friends and loved ones didn’t know? What if this truth you understood was solidly biblical and had been affirmed by every faithful saint in history? What if your life had changed dramatically from the day you embraced this truth?

What if, though you knew this truth was exactly what your friends and loved ones needed, you failed to tell them because it was somewhat controversial? What if, in spite of this principle’s biblical accuracy and effectiveness in every serious disciple’s heart, a lot of Christians felt as if it were a private matter? What if more than that, many believers really became angry if someone mentioned the subject?

Would you feel that in spite of the tension, you should tell your friends and loved ones about this powerfully liberating truth?

Then I have to say…

If your answer to that question is “yes,” then you can understand why I challenged the congregation of Church of the Open Door to trust God enough to commit 10% of their income to His work.

Notice I didn’t use the word “tithe.”

There is no “magic giving percentage” that makes you a “faithful steward.”

The Old Testament “tithe” was required, but it didn’t lead to righteousness. Like the rest of the law, most Israelites disobeyed it. New Testament believers are not “law-givers,” we are “grace-givers.” Because of our new identity in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we have the capacity to do what the Old Testament believer could not do. The New Testament assumes that church-age saints would go beyond the minimal requirements of the law in every area of life.

Still, if you asked the question, “Is there any threshold in Scripture or in the experience of the saints of history I should begin with?” the answer would be 10%. Before the Law, both Abraham and Jacob responded to God’s grace with a freewill offering of 1/10 of all they had. (Genesis 14:20; 28:22)

Randy Alcorn says, “I’ve interviewed many givers. In the great majority of cases they mention [ten-percent] as the practice that first stretched them to give more… and then watched God provide.”

I agree with Randy. But as soon as I teach this, someone is going to say, “You’re just trying to control us!”

Hoops or Holiness?

No I’m not. I’m trying to fulfill my responsibility as a shepherd in a community of faith. Loving shepherds never withhold critical information from their flock, no matter what the flock might think of them. Mature believers in a community of faith are commanded to care for, teach, and encourage the less mature from the Word and from their experiences with the Lord Jesus.

I’ve noticed over the years that when we try to tell a believer a difficult truth we feel is best for them, the first charge is often, “You’re just making me jump through hoops!”

• If we tell a young couple we won’t marry them until they go through premarital counseling.

• If we tell a missionary candidate he or she should submit to a lengthy training and equipping process before we can send them to the field.

• If we tell a husband he should take a break from ministry because his family is hurting.

Love doesn’t control, but it does express itself in wise counsel in a loving community.

It’s not about jumping through hoops; it’s about moving toward holiness.

These aren’t petty demands; they’re indications of deep affection.

Before you react…

Just because they feel like arbitrary requirements when you and I don’t want to submit to the love of God and others doesn’t mean they aren’t the exact reason Christ has put us in relationship with Him and others.

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).