Tithing & Dominion Ch. 5 Outline: Supporting The Kingdom

How does the tithe, and the subsequent support of the Kingdom, promote responsibility and stewardship? In chapter 5, Rushdoony brings attention not only to the connections between the tithe and the things mentioned, but also how ministries to idigenious people should function. Let's get reading!

Unfunded things come to end

• Rushdoony tells a story.
  • A farmer tried to save money by teaching his horses to not eat. The horses died.
  • Christians often have the same thinking as the farmer.
    • "They seem to forget that it takes money to fuel a cause. I have seen them pat a missionary, or a Christian worker in some cause, telling him, we will pray for you, and, if it's the Lord's work, He will provide, while never making a move towards their wallet." (pp 21)

The following principals from Matthew 10:9-15

First, Christian missions have to be indigenousness.

• As quickly as it is possible, a missionary should be fully supported by those who receive the blessings from his work.
  • Missionaries should be sent with little.
  • Workers should be supported by those they serve.
  • "We send them out; the field then must develop its own support." (pp 22)

Second, financially honored

• The support of the field should be substantial as they are serve others in the Lord (1 Timothy 5:17).
  • Those who work "worthily" should receive "double honor" (double pay).
  • God's faithful servant shouldn't live in poverty.

Third, worthiness as a principal of relationships

• God curses those who neglect supporting and receiving His work.
  • It is a duty and privilege to support God and His workers.
• "The word is worthy, axios, deserving, or merited. Thus, to give our tithes to the Lord, and gifts and offerings above that, makes us deserving in the sight of God of receiving His servants in our homes. It can thus be seriously asked if Christian missionaries, evangelists and workers should enter the homes of those who will not provide for the Lord's work as the Lord requires." (pp 22)

Fourth, funding ministry and worthiness

• Both the recipient of the funding, and the funder, are considered worthy or meriting.
  • Not everyone who says they care about God's Kingdom does, and not everyone who says they serve God does (Matthew 25:11-12).
    • "…members who have zeal in their mouth but not in their pocketbooks, hands, or feet. Such people stand up in meetings to declare that more needs to be done for missions, but they give as little as possible to anything." (pp 22)

Fifth, you get what you pay for

• Those benefitting from a faithful ministry will get back in equal amount to what they pay.
• The text says that God's servants should give freely (dorean; Matthew 10:8), but that service should move on if not received and well funded. (Matthew 7:6; 10:14)
  • "We receive by God's grace; we give with grace, and, if the response is not of grace, we move on. Thus, the merit is not in us. The worth or merit honored in us when we preach, or receive, is of God. We honor the grace of God by according to those who manifest and proclaim it the merit due to God's ministry. We similarly honor God and His grace by recognizing and blessing it in His faithful followers everywhere. The merit is in the grace." (pp 22)

The nature of the Kingdom and the necessity of funding

• The Kingdom of God is not a "beggar's agency."
  • Its treatment as such is seen in many common practices.
    • Financial drives
    • Door-to-door canvassing
      • All forms of extensive pleading.
• When we obediently give our tithes and gifts as commanded, in return, we gain God's blessing, government, care.
• The world-wide Kingdom victory (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25) should move us to funding God's initiative God's way, through tithing and gifts.
• Do not expect God to bless the Church when the Church refuses to bless His Kingdom.
  • "Scripture is very clear at this point: God will impoverish a people who impoverish His Kingdom (Malachi 3:8-12)." (pp 23)

Summary

The tithe trains the people of God to be self-governed under God. Every Christian has a responsibility regarding who (individual or institution) deserves to steward God's money (tithe) for the Kingdom of God (ministry). God's tithe is important because those using His tithe are doing important work. God's tithe is important because His victory in time and in our community is important. The law of the tithes is important because God's reconciling all things to Himself is a physical and financial reality.

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