St. Paul's Christian Messenger News Letter, November, 2003

Congregational Meeting

SUN. NOV 16^that 11:15 AM

The congregation will meet to vote on the 2004 budget and elect members to serve on consistory.

The consistory is nominating the follow individuals to serve a two year term as ELDER: Chuck Gzemski, Shirley Hoppes, Tracy Horvath, Linda Jones(2nd term)

DEACON: John Breece, Gary Conger, Robert Ramsen(2nd term)

Nominations will be open to floor should you want to nominate someone. Please ask that individual before you place their name in nomination.

The 2004 budget is enclosed.

What Does the Bible Say
About Giving?

Gilbert Davis, tells about a “defining moment” he had in seminary. One day an elderly gentleman he had never met stopped Gilbert in the hallway. “Young man, are you studying to be a minister?” the man asked.

When Gilbert replied that he was, the stranger asked if he might talk with him a few minutes. Although unsure of what he was getting into, Gilbert consented. (Several weeks later, he learned that Arthur A. Everetts owned what at that time was the largest jewelry store west of the Mississippi.) After leading Gilbert into an empty classroom, Everetts asked him whether he preached tithing in his student church. Before Gilbert could reply, Everetts gave him a forceful set of arguments for the value of tithing, especially for a young minister who ever hoped to amount to anything for Jesus Christ. At the end of that several-minute sermon, Everetts issued an altar call. Would Gilbert begin giving ten percent of his income to God’s work?

Finally getting a chance to speak, Gilbert drew himself up to his full theological stature at that youthful age and said, “But, sir, we are Christians now. We are New Testament people, not Old Testament. We are not under the Law; we are under Grace.”

The old man replied with a question: “Young man, can you show me a verse in the New Testament that says less commitment is expected of a Christian under Grace than of a Jew under the Law? If you can, I will gladly subscribe to your position.”

Since Jesus spoke so often about the power of money to distract us from God, why do the four gospel writers report Jesus saying so little about tithing? He did not need to. Jesus spoke primarily to Jewish people who for a thousand years had assumed that they should give ten percent of their incomes to God.

However, in the one New Testament verse where Jesus mentions the tithe, he affirms its value. Upbraiding the Pharisees because they think they are “super-spiritual,” Jesus calls them hypocrites. They carefully gave God ten percent of everything—even their garden produce like dill, mint, and cumin. Yet, they failed to give their neighbors love, justice, and mercy. “These you ought to have practiced,” Jesus says, “without neglecting the others” (Mathew 23:23), referring to the tithe. The Christian faith is an attitude of the heart, not just a keeping of regulations. We give our money as an act of worship. We give our money as a way of seeking God’s spiritual kingdom first, not because a rule requires us to give it. Yet, if Jesus assumes that giving ten percent of your income is important, does it not seem wise for each of us to consider its value in strengthening our spiritual connection with God?

OOooPS!

The 4^thquarter offering envelopes were mailed out using a three year old address list.

This has caused problems for anyone who has moved, changed your name or martial status.

We are VERY SORRY for this mistake.

We have a limited supply of envelopes in the office if you want a set. Or you can use a blank envelope.

The problem has been corrected for future mailing of envelopes.