I just read an article on crosswalk.com on tithing, one of the core teachings from the Bible. The article states that tithing (giving ten percent of your gross income) is on the decline in recent years. In fact, according to a survey in 2000 sited in the article, 80% of an average church's budget if financed by 20% of the attendees with the remaining 20% of the budget being financed by the next 30% of attendees. The remaining 50%, according to the 2000 survey give little to nothing at all.

The article says one of the reasons in the decline of "tithers" is because some cannot afford to give 10% of their income away, instead spending their money on other important expenses such as medical costs.

I come from Indiana. The church I attended before moving to Arkansas in 2005 had just built a new sanctuary. The church borrowed the money to build the sanctuary from a bank and used pledges from attendees as proof they could afford to make payments. I forget how much the building cost exactly, but it was in the neighborhood of $1.5 million.

In contrast, we attended a church here in Arkansas that had just completed a multi-use facility. The building was paid for in cash with the church accumulating no debt with building it.

Both churches have beautiful new buildings but only one is debt-free. Both churches tithe off of their offerings. The church in Indiana tithes to their missions programs where the church in Arkansas tithes to many different programs, some of them missionary.

I offer these two churches as examples of tithers today. The ones who supposedly cannot afford to tithe are those who are making bad choices thereby living above their means and getting into debt. This makes their budget get eaten alive by all those minimum payments credit card companies love. Plus interest expenses are big budget killers. This is what is happening to the church in Indiana and to givers who cannot afford to tithe today.

If you think you cannot afford to tithe, then your heart is not right with God and you need to repent. Take a step back and make a sacrifice for the kingdom. If the only thing standing between you and making an offering that includes the tithe is $5.00 a week, stop spending that $5.00!!!

I wonder where people get their ideas from. I knew Catholicism held the idea of a "purgatory," a middle-place between heaven and hell. But now I find out there's a spiritual concept of "limbo." In purgatory, according to Roman Catholics, a soul receives purification so as to enter heaven. In contrast, limbo has two functions: (1) to hold those who were righteous before Christ's death and resurrection and (2) to hold the souls of infants who died before receiving baptism.

To enter heaven, all one must do is receive Jesus the Christ as their Savior. He paid the price for all mankind's sins on the cross 2000 years ago. Their is no purification one's soul must go through in order to enter heaven. Being made clean through the blood of Christ is all that's required. That's why Paul calls salvation of our souls a gift in the book of Ephesians. The Apostle John tells us to continually test the spirits in order to ascertain the truth. This spirit that created "limbo" is a false one.

Brian

In times such as these, I know beyond any doubt that we are living in what the Bible calls "the end times," or "last days." However you call it, I'm talking about the second coming of Jesus the Christ to rapture His church out of the earth before the 7-year tribulation begins.

Now I am not one to speculate about times, dates, or persons, but I will give my views on what the Bible teaches. But that's for later. Now, I feel it's time to do first things first. If you are reading this, it's not because of chance. It's not because you sat down at a computer and typed this specific address. It's because you were led here for a reason: to read the plan of salvation for your soul.

First, we're sinners, all of us. You, me, everyone. The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." You must realize this. It is the most important thing for you to do right now. You must admit that you are not perfect. You've heard of the Ten Commandments? Find them in the Bible. If you have violated just one commandment one time in your life, you're a sinner. That's the truth. It gets worse.

Second, there is a price for being a sinner. I'm not talking about being caught in doing something wrong and being punished. I'm talking about dying in your unforgiven sins and your soul being sent to hell to be punished forever. And there is no end to this punishment. It is called eternal, as in neverending. The Bible says "the wages (cost, price) of sin is death." What death means is what Jesus calls "the second death." It's eternal separation from God in hell. You would no longer be able to call to Him for help. No more chances. You'd be banished from His presence forever.

But we don't have to fear this "second death" nor the first death if our hearts are right with God. If your heart is right with God, you know that God's Son, Jesus of Nazareth, died on the cross 2,000 years ago. You know His death paid that "death price" that was on your head for your sins. If you don't know He did this for you, pray this prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I know I'm a sinner. I know you paid the price for my sins. I want to live the rest of my life for you. Show me by Your Holy Spirit what you would have me do. My heart belongs to you now. Thank you for saving me.

In Jesus's Name.
Amen.

Please email me with any questions you may have. An awesome resourse for all christians is 1-800-NEED-HIM. Please call that number. They have helped me in times past.

Stay strong and in the Word of God and remember our strength comes from the joy of the Lord.

Brian