All Resources

It has been said that “the proper study of mankind is man.” I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God’s elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.” — Ephesians 5:25 What a golden example Christ gives to His disciples! 

We do not long for non-body, non-earth and non-culture, but for new body, New Earth, and new culture—without sin and death. This is all part of longing for the resurrection, which is at the heart and soul of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15).

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. 

While on a recent family vacation I pulled out an advance DVD of the first episodes of Phil Vischer’s “What’s in the Bible” (whatsinthebible.com). I asked my five-year-old grandson Matthew Franklin if he wanted to watch something by the guy who created VeggieTales.

Jiang and her mother-in-law knew the risk of spreading Christian literature in Communist China. 

From The Discovery of Genesis, C.H. Kang and Ethel Nelson.

Tithing is done on profit—what you have truly made, how much you’ve actually come out ahead. That wouldn’t include all gross business income, since much, usually most, of that must pay for the business goods, employees, etc., which are providing the services making the money in the first place.

Ask yourself “Why am I in debt in the first place?” Is God responsible for my unwise or greedy decisions that may have put me there? And even if I’ve come into debt legitimately, isn’t my first debt to God?

I would recommend caution on this. On the one hand, I’m hesitant for church leaders to know how much anyone gives because of the temptation to violate James 2 and treat big givers with favoritism and ignore lesser givers.

I would tithe on gifts and scholarships because they are true income.

There are two sides to the issue of savings. Scripture tells us that the wise man anticipates future needs, while the foolish man spends and consumes all his resources with no thought for the future.

While getting out of debt is a high biblical priority it is as much a wisdom issue as a righteousness one, and requires discernment and good strategy not just a single act of obedience.

Over the last ten years, I’ve been suggesting that we learn how to share testimonies about giving in order to help the body of Christ grow in the grace of giving.