Here's today's response from Jason, and my response back to him:
"On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 11:33:30 AM CDT, Jason Bruns <XXXXXXXXXXX> wrote:
Hello XXXXXXX,
Thank you for your email. I’ll be glad to discuss with you more about this in person, or over the phone.
I’m not sure where you saw tithing on our website. Could you put me to that place?
But yes I do believe in giving to the church. I think a tithe is a great place to start.
I don’t put people under the law as far as telling them it is necessary to be right with God. But I do think that we should give to God. There are far to me scriptures in the Bible That tell us to give.
Once again I’ll be glad to visit with you more about this over the phone or in person.
Thanks for reaching out!"
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The senior 'pastor' doesn't even know what's on his own organization's website?
That would be quite concerning to me...
My response:
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"Greetings, Jason.
The page where it talks about Jesus endorsing tithing is at the following link to your organization's website that I quoted verbatim:
https://evidence.church/what-we-believe
I fully agree that Jesus did indeed endorse tithing. Please don't get me wrong. It's just that the distinction is that He was addressing a people who, at that time, were still under the lawful requirement to tithe, even from the increase from their gardens. That belief statement didn't establish that distinction. Giving and the tithe are not at all the same thing, because the OT tithe, again, never had anything to do with earned, negotiated, monetary wages. Not even Jesus tithed since He did not own any producing lands or livestock. Not even fishermen were required to tithe from their daily catch, nor carpenters from what they made with their own hands.
So, giving and tithing as defined in scripture are not the same thing, and for anyone to tell another modern believer such things as, "A tenth is a good starting point..." That's an intrusion and its an attempt at taking captive the hearts and minds of the gullible. Paul of Tarsus said this about our giving:
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
It's about attitude, not percentages. Fixating on a percentage, even in a suggestive manner, is an undermining of the freedom each one has in Christ, and it foists, perhaps inadvertently in some cases, a measure of guilt, intended or not, upon the gullible listener.
So, where I personally am concerned, I give first and foremost, to meet the needs of people, not buildings, lawn care, programs and all the other stuff church organizations and their members lavish upon themselves as luxuries. The line of distinction between necessities and luxuries have been greatly smeared with all manner of false teaching and intellectual intrigue. So, were I to join up with your organization, my giving to it would likely not ever come close to the level of a tenth of my income since there are far greater priorities in meeting needs than for something from which I would personally benefit. We can give of time and talent, as I'm sure you would agree.
Now you know where I stand personally as a biblicist. The Bible defines for us ALL what should be our priorities in giving, and handing it all over to local organizations, most of which are known to expend the majority of it all on the facility, bills, lawn care, staffing, etc., no. That is not giving to God. When I give to the poor man, woman, family, etc., needing groceries for survival, THAT is giving to God with no earthly return and benefit to me as the giver. THAT is a part of storing up treasure in Heaven. Also, giving to meet the needs of the itinerant minister of the Gospel out there pounding the dirt and pavement to bring the Gospel to unbelievers, THOSE are the direction of my primary giving, not to support luxuries from which I personally benefit. A number of local 'pastors' have told me that they have no use for me becoming a member if I don't hand it all over to them, with only the remainder of what's left for me to give going elsewhere as I so choose."
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Something just doesn't set right with me when a 'pastor' doesn't even know what his own website says to the world around him. When delegation gets to the point that one can disavow responsibility for what is disseminated to the public, that's the mark of a man who isn't fit for leadership. However, in this case, perhaps he will state his agreement with what that statement says that I quoted to him from his site, which then shows the lack of understanding in the man and his blind followers. Christ's endorsement of the Law still being in effect for those people at that time, that doesn't at all translate over to us today, and using that as a basis for "giving" to him and his organization, no. That's just dead wrong.
MM