Your Money or Your Eternal Life! – Conned Out Of £60,000 – Voluntarily Gifted or Coercion?

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“Why is it necessary to use scripture to justify Pres. Snow’s words anyway?”

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim.3:16-17)

It is necessary because God has given us Scripture for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. It is there to make us competent in God’s kingdom work. It is by Scripture that prophets are tested.

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.” (Acts 17:10-12)

Even the Lord Jesus appealed to Scripture to authenticate his ministry: Mk.12:10; 15:28; Lk.4:21; 22:37; Jn.2:22; 7:42; 13:18; 17:12; 19:24, 28, 36, 37. But let me draw these two texts of Scripture to your attention:

“Scripture cannot be broken” (Jn.10:35) That is why the Bereans in Acts 17 were commended, because they so respected the Scripture as to make sure this prophet (Paul) wasn’t breaking them.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (Jn.7:38) When we enjoy the promises of faith – living water – it is because we have believed and the Scripture has been fulfilled.

Did you notice that correct doctrine, fulfilled prophecy and the Christian walk is “according to Scripture.” To ask what Scripture has to do with authenticating – or testing – Lorenzo Snow is to challenge the established authority of Scripture it self, the “living and active” word of the living God (Heb.4:12) Are you comfortable with that?

You also wrote:

“Nothing is as senseless as taking scripture out of context to “prove” a Godly piece of doctrine, consider the irony. No decent expert on the Old Testament backs the idea of taking a concept, having NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY but caring for the Levites who DIDN’t have the benefits of land and property enjoyed by the other tribes. That’s the context of Malachi.”

Well, maybe you should take it up with Mormon leaders who regularly use this inappropriate text to connect tithing with giving money:

“Tithing is the great equitable law, for no matter how rich or poor we are, all of us pay the same one-tenth of our increase annually (see D&C 119:4), and all of us receive blessings so great ‘that there shall not be room enough to receive [them]’ (Malachi 3:10).” (Robert D. Hales

“The Bible indicates that God’s people followed the law of tithing anciently; through modern prophets, God restored this law once again to bless His children. To fulfill this commandment, Church members give one-tenth of their income to the Lord through His Church. These funds are used to build up the Church and further the work of the Lord throughout the world.” This quote is from the “official” Mormon web site teaching the “official” Mormon teaching on tithing.

The article goes on to say:

Tithing has been known since Old Testament times. For example, it is recorded in Genesis 14:17-20 that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.
Through the prophet Malachi, the Lord declared:
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).
Church members give their tithing donations to local leaders.

So maybe you should begin by sorting out your prophets and apostles and get them in line with what you and I agree the Bible teaches. As you say, “Dishonestly misusing scripture that does not apply to today only hurts the mission of the Church.”

I compare the Old Covenant law of tithing with the New Covenant way of giving, point out that Mormonism practices the former while it is nowhere to be found in the New Covenant (New Testament) Both give, but one gives under legalistic restraint while the other gives in the freedom of the Holy Spirit. It is a carefully reasoned explanation and challenge and it is a shame you can’t rise to the challenge and offer an equally well reasoned and thoughtful response.

As to whose business it is, I am afraid I must disagree with you in the strongest terms. The Christian faith is no private matter, indeed it invites scrutiny, puts itself out there for all to see in the hope that some will come to faith in the same Jesus we have come to trust. In the same way Mormonism has put itself out there and invites scrutiny. In which case it seems churlish to complain when people do scrutinise Mormon teachings and practices. Rather like when a young lady dresses to invite attention and then cries, “Who do you think you’re looking at!”

Where you give your 10% is up to you but I suggest you should be more concerned about what the Bible actually says instead of defending Mormonism by just lashing out at someone who has taken the trouble to think about your faith. You have invited scrutiny and I suggest you should be more charitable to those who take the trouble to take a look.

One thing on which we can both agree, no unhallowed hand can stop God’s work.

Bless you

It’s a pity people have nothing better to do than try to second guess how others spend their own money… How the Church spends the donations made to it – happily made to it, by a grateful membership, I might add – has nothing whatsoever to do with Mike Thomas, or anybody else… If members didn’t like what the Church chooses to spend our donations on, we could – and would – stop paying them. As long as we are happy, what on earth has it to do with anybody else?

It’s just another excuse to have a dig at the Church, and try to draw people away from it. It won’t work, though… Haven’t you heard? No unhallowed hand can stop the work of God