What
prompted you to write this book?
In late 2003, I set out to find answers to questions and issue
that plague the Church and contradict scripture. Five years of
research have led to the contents of this book and answers to
questions that the Lord laid heavily on my heart to find. In the
beginning, the more I tried to ignore these pressing issues and
questions, and as I threw them off as tricks of the enemy, the
more pressing these issues and questions became, and the more
the Lord began to reveal answers. Since finding the answers to
these pressing questions and issues, my family and I have undergone
a greater transformation. From this experience comes my latest
book, “Clever Lies and Assumptions from the Pulpit to the
Pews.”
My
book is accompanied by scores of quality references and resources
so that the reader can do their own biblical investigation into
the subject.
What
does the book talk about?
This book answers the nagging questions that too many are afraid
to ask. It will confirm using scripture what many, saved and unsaved,
have suspected about the Church for a long time. It clarifies,
presents, and reveals, what is truth from the smoke and mirrors
of Church traditions that have lead many to assume that this is
just the way the Church is.
Clever
Lies and Assumptions answers questions that lay heavy on the hearts
of many Churchgoers. It brings clarity to issues that plague the
Church and contradict scripture. For example: Why is Your Church
in Financial Debt? Controlling Ministries and Spiritual Abuse,
The truth behind Spiritual Coverings, What your pastor failed
to tell you and what your pastor won't tell you about Tithing,
Who was Malachi really talking to? Giving Under Grace not Under
Pressure - New Testament Giving vs. Old Testament Tithing, plus
much more.
Clever
Lies and Assumptions will encourage Christians in the area of
understanding the tithe and true, biblical, New Covenant giving
principles. It will help the reader to understand clearly when
tithing originated, why it was implemented in the Law and how
it has been fulfilled completely through Christ.
Five Chapters of your book deal with tithing and giving
why?
There are very few Seminary books that have been written
concerning the truth of tithing. That's because many denominations
go out of their way to hush the writers of these works. This is
one reason why most accredited seminaries do not teach on the subject
of tithing.The best theological book on this subject to date is
Russell Earl Kelly Ph. D. Author of "SHOULD THE CHURCH TEACH
TITHING?"His book was written for seminary Masters and PhD
programs and thoroughly explains the true history of tithing.
With
this in mind, I wanted to write on this subject in a way that the
average lay person would understand and with a less of a wearisome
read. To do this required historical back ground information about
the subject but without it being dry and boring. I had to deal with
the mis-information that many have been taught about the subject,
both intentionally or not. As well as to teach the difference between
tithe and giving. Most pastors have no idea that there is a difference
between the two.
I
specifily wanted five chapters on tithing and giving in order to
deal with all the main scripture texts used by pro-tithe preachers
to exposes the shallow, dishonest use of these bible verses and
how they are used out of the context. I wanted the reader to see
how the rest of the surrounding text actually dismantles their argument
so that they could cleary see how the New Testament does not command
or teach tithing at all.
So
why do so many pastors continue to teach and preach on tithing?
One, denomination protocols. Two, Tithing guarantees a
certain amount of revenue. New Testament giving does not. You have
to rely on faith when it comes to NT Giving. Most of all, the reason
why pastors continue to teach and preach on tithing, in the vast
majority of cases it is because preachers are naive about tithing,
so they just preach what they've heard others preach. The Church
today is not the Church Jesus intended. Unfortunately, many would
rather follow tradition than discover what God's Word truly says.
This book helps ease the transition to the latter.
What
are some of the problems you see with Church leaders?
In ministry, I have discovered that many church leaders do things
based on tradition and “Church” culture. They say and
do things that are popular with other leaders or the general body.
Their frame of reference is based on old assumptions they acquired
from the teachings of leaders who came before them or the old mothers
of the church. Rarely will they truly research the topics or issues
in which they speak about. This causes a lot of flawed information
to be dispensed to congregations. I always say that, “If your
foundation is flawed, your works will be also.”
Why do you believe that pastors should live a modest lifesyle?
In the book of Philippians, Paul gives us insight to the character
of Christ. Paul tells us that Jesus made himself of no reputation
and took upon Him the form of a servant. In other words, Jesus didn’t
make it a point to draw attention to Himself. Though He was and
is the King, His lifestyle was a modest one, unlike the Pharisees
of then and today. I have come to believe that many love the Pharisees’
lifestyle because the Church is the only organization where the
servant lives a lavish lifestyle.
What
do you hope to accomplish with this book?
My hope is that this book will cause the Church to look at itself
in the mirror and inspire new generations of leaders, who desire
to be the Church God intended.
I
believe this book has the potential to strengthen the understanding
of many pastors and evangelists who have commonly taught tithing
to the Church. If a person is teachable and eager to embrace the
simple Word of God, this book will be an exciting, fresh look into
the subject of Christian stewardship and right perspectives on biblical
giving principles. It is an absolute must read for anyone desiring
to better understand and embrace biblical truth and right doctrine
as it concerns the topic in which I have written about in Clever
Lies and Assumptions from the Pulpit to the Pews.
