Somebody is generally going to win the lottery, and I would rather have it be a Christian than not.
I am pretty much in the 'morally neutral' camp when it comes to gambling. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is the Lord's."
I would like to point out one thing - that tithing is not a New Covenant concept. It was part of the OT Law that was fulfilled on our behalf in the death and resurrection of Christ. The tithe was not given to pay a pastor's salary. It was set aside to give the Israelite supplies or money with which to worship God three times a year at the feasts of God in Jerusalem. Every third year it did go into the storehouse, but there is no reason we should assume that storehouse = local church. That's an assumption made on the part of churches, but you will not even find proof that NT churches had buildings, let alone $12-million-a-year budgets.
If tithing is to be imposed on the NC church, Paul is at best irresponsible for not teaching Gentiles through the scripture what tithing was - he said to give what you've decided in your heart, and nowhere mentioned a tithe.
What Paul does teach is giving. Generous, abundant, heartfelt giving. Give as much as it's in your heart to give. Whatever you decide. What bothers me about this man is that he might think that because he gave 10% he's off the hook. You know what? Someone with 170 million ought to be able to chip in a bit more than 17. But I can't criticize his giving - nor will I. It's just that he's been taught the Law all his life when it comes to giving, rather than letting the grace of God prevail. So when it comes time to giving, he's now limited to that 10% because he's 'done his duty.' Something about that bothers me.
So I'm glad he gave, but I'm upset that he called it a tithe. That's wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
To anyone who disagrees, please read what the OT says about tithing before you yell at me. It's all right there in Deuteronomy. I'm happy to show you. But that's the part pastors never preach on - God forbid there'd come a day when they couldn't count on your 10%. They misquote Malachi as if it was said to the church and tell people to give before paying their electric bills, while the pastors wear suits and drive new cars and there are people in their congregations with no cars at all.
In my opinion giving is one of the most mistaught concepts in all of Christianity. I am sorry if I offended, but my position is biblical. We should be doing what the bible actually says, not what we think the bible says.
MG
