Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.
Nobody is better than you & you are not better than anyone else. God created us all equal. I’ve hung out with millionaires & sat & visited with the homeless. We’ve all got a story & our book isn’t finished yet. We can’t be sure why anyone is where they are in life, but I know God wants to bless us all & He isn’t partial to one over the other.
Your race, political views, religion, or sexual preference don’t mean much to me. How you treat others does. Don’t be a crappy or hateful person. Choose to be kind & loving…
See the good in everyone.
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male & female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
First, defining what is not Christian giving is necessary. Christian giving is not tithing. Tithing is the practice of giving 1/10 of one’s income for the support of the Levitical priesthood, tabernacle, and temple system under the law.
The Mosaic Law was given to the Jewish people and this was their guideline for moral living and civic law, as a nation with God as their “King”.If the Law was not upheld, punishment occurred according to the infraction.
These statutes are noted in the first 5 books of the Old Testament, which are also called the Torah (Hebrew for instruction).
This is defined in Numbers 18:21-32 and restated in Hebrews 7:5.
Hebrews 7:5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.
Under the law, tithing was required of produce and livestock, a currency of the day. Tithing is a statute under the Law.
Along side the tithing system, Israel also gave “freewill” offerings in addition to their required giving as a form of worship to God (Exodus 35:21, 29; 1 Chronicles 29:9, 2 Chronicles 35:8, Ezra 3:5, 8:28). This giving was based on “whose heart moved them” and “willingly”, rather than under compulsion of the Law.
Exodus 35:29 All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.
The Law, being given as a part of the Mosaic Covenant, was to be replaced by a coming “New Covenant” as promised by the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Therefore, the law is for a specific time period and a code of conduct which ended with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ instituted this “New Covenant” at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) prior to His death & resurrection.
Romans 10 clearly states the end of the Mosaic Covenant in Christ Jesus. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
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As Christians, we are not required to keep the Law, but rather apply the “Spirit” or the principleslaid forth by the Law.
Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Christian living is not a checklist of “dos & don’ts”. Nor isChristiangiving a specific amount according to a statute to follow. This is legalism.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God.
Paul chides the Galatians for legalism.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, (Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree).
A reminder to us all, if you practice the Law, you shall live by the Law (Galatians 3:12). This is a serious standard. Do you really want to go there? Do you even want to try and live by the one standard of a tithe?
Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
Translated another way, you break one, you break them all. This is reinforcedby James.
James 2:10, for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
We are under grace and not under the Law.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be master of you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.
What is the standard of grace giving? Give as you see fit from the heart. Give in a cheerful manner and because you desire to do as such.
2 Corinthian 9:7 Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
When reading the Bible, I notice that the color of one’s skin isn’t mentioned. Many scholars believe that Moses’ wife, Zipporah, was black, along with the Queen of Sheba & many others. The Bible doesn’t mention their skin color because it isn’t relevant to God or Jesus. What’s important to God is someone’s heart. We have to stop seeing color & look at each other’s hearts & character. See a man or a woman, not as such & such colored man or woman. See each other as nothing different than yourselves. We are all God’s children & He doesn’t have favorites. Racism sucks!
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Acts 10:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.”
Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
1 Timothy 1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine…
Slavery… Does Islam condone slavery? Does Islamic teaching allow Muslim men to keep women as sex slaves?
Islam neither ignores nor condemns slavery. In fact, a large part of the Sharia is dedicated to the practice. Muslims are encouraged to live in the way of Muhammad, who was a slave owner and trader. He captured slaves in battle. He had sex with his slaves. And he instructed his men to do the same.
The Quran actually devotes more verses to making sure that Muslim men know they can keep women as sex slaves (4 verse) than it does to telling them to pray five times a day (zero verses).
Quran 33:50 O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those (slaves) whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee.
This is one of several personal-sounding verses “from Allah” narrated by Muhammad, in this case allowing a virtually unlimited supply of sex partners. Other Muslims are restricted to four wives, but they may also have sex with any number of slaves, following the example of their prophet.
Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Titus 1:6 …namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Quran 23:5-6 …who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess…
This verse permits the slave-owner to have sex with his slaves. See also Quran 70:29-30. The Quran is a small book, so if Allah used valuable space to repeat the same point four times, sex slavery must be very important to him.
Muhammad was relatively reticent on matters of human compassion and love.
Quran 4:24 And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess.
Even sex with married slaves is permissible, a reference to war booty, of which slaves were a part.
Quran 8:69 But (now) enjoy what ye took in war, lawful and good.
The Muslim slave master may enjoy his “catch” because (according to verse 71) “Allah gave you mastery over them.”
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” -Jesus
Breeding slaves based on fitness…
Quran 24:32 And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves…
Quran 2:178 O ye who believe! Retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the murdered; the freeman for the freeman, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.
The message of this verse, which prescribes the rules of retaliation for murder, is that all humans are not created equal. The human value of a slave is less than that of a free person. And a woman’s worth is also distinguished from that of a man.
Leviticus 19:15 You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
Quran 16:75 Allah sets forth the parable (of two men: one) a slave under the dominion of another; He has no power of any sort; and (the other) a man on whom we have bestowed goodly favors from ourselves, and he spends thereof (freely), privately and publicly: are the two equal? By no means; praise be to Allah.
Yet another confirmation that the slave is not equal to the master. In this case, it is plain that the slave owes his status to Allah’s will. According to Quran 16:71, the owner should be careful about insulting Allah by bestowing Allah’s gifts on slaves, those whom the god of Islam has not favored.
Romans 3:22 …the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction…
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
The only person you need to be better than, is the person you were yesterday. We are meant to help others that need help getting to where they need to be. We are not meant to be too prideful to accept help from those that love us. We are meant to be equal, the way God made us.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
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Choose to be with those that are good for you. Those that make you happy. Those that allow you to be yourself. Those that make your soul feel good. Those that do not make you jump through hoops to feel accepted. Those that believe in you. Acceptance should be easy & is the best feeling.
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Nobody is better than you & you are not better than anyone else. God created us all equal. I’ve hung out with millionaires & sat & visited with the homeless. We’ve all got a story & our book isn’t finished yet. We can’t be sure why anyone is where they are in life, but I know God wants to bless us all & He isn’t partial to one over the other.
Your race, political views, religion, or sexual preference don’t mean much to me. How you treat others does. Don’t be a crappy or hateful person. Choose to be kind & loving…
See the good in everyone.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male & female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
