Obedience and Concepts

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In a message dated 97-10-02 01:03:10 EDT, Donald L. Evans writes:

<< JoeJarv@aol.com wrote:
 
 What do you think about the article below.?
 
 > WASHINGTON (AP) - Pastor Stephen Goold's church spent $280,000 in legal
fees
 > rather
 > than give in to a demand by creditors that it turn over $13,500 in
donations
 > from a
 > bankrupt couple.
 >
 > But the Minnesota congregation's legal battle has failed at the Supreme
 > court.
 
 > The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals cited that law in ruling in favor of
Goold's
 > Crystal
 > Evangelical Free Church in 1996.
 
You B4:
<< My Response:
 
 While God has promised that He would "open the windows" of heaven to pour
out of
 His blessings upon His chosen people, He makes no such promise to those who
only
 "profess" to be Christians.I hardly see where members of the Crystal
Evangelical
 Church would fall within the catergory of worshipping God "in Spirit AND in
truth"
 [essential elements to be considered a "true" Christian].>>

Me:

The UPC is often accused by its critics as being "Elitist" (their word, not
mine). That is to say, that UPC members often claim that they have a monopoly
on the blessings from God. My question is , "Does God honor *obedient acts of
faith* by those who are not (in your words) 'true' Christians?" 

Remember, Rahab, the *harlot* (hardly a true believer or follower of God),
who:

Heb 11:31
31	By *faith* the *harlot* Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies


James 2:24-25
24	Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25	Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot *justified by works*, when she had
received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

There are also many stories of those who have received answers to prayer, and
have received blessings for paying tithes. The question is, are these people
deluded in thinking that God has blessed them for their obedience, or would
they have received the same result without their obedience? The following is
a true story:

***********************************************
450 A Tithing Testimony
Many years ago a lad of 16 was obliged to leave home because his father was
too poor to support him any longer. So he trudged away with all worldly
possessions in a bundle dangling from his hand, resolving as he journeyed to
set up in business as a soapmaker in New York.
When the country boy arrived in the big city, he found it hard to get work.
Remembering the last words of his mother and also the godly advice given him
by the captain of a canal boat, the youth dedicated his life to God,
determining to return to his Maker an *honest tithe* of *every* dollar he
earned.
So, when his first dollar came in, the young man sacredly dedicated ten cents
of it to the Lord. This he continued to do. *And the dollars rolled in!* Soon
this young man became partner in a soap business; and when his partner died a
few years later, he became sole owner of the concern.
The prosperous businessman now instructed his bookkeeper to *open an account
with the Lord* and to credit to it *one tenth* of *all* his income. The
business grew miraculously. The honest proprietor now dedicated two-tenths of
his earnings; and then three-tenths, four-tenths; and finally, *five-tenths*.
It seemed as if his sales *increased in **exact proportion** to his
generosity*, so that soon his brand of soap became a household word
throughout the world.
The late William Colgate was this man whom God so singly prospered in return
for his faithfulness to his Maker.
(from the Complete Word Study Bible & Reference CD)
****************************************************************
Was this man fooling himself into believeing that God has prospered him , or
was he just wasting half of his income? It appears that he was reaping as he
had sown. 

Luke 6:38
38	Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with
the *same measure* that *ye mete* withal it shall be measured *to you again*.


This is a genuine question, and not being asked to spark a debate. I can
remember many years ago, when a man came to the church to pay his tithes
($10,000) on a $100,000 blessing he had just received. His testimony was that
"if we would be obedient, God would even bless a sinner, which he admitted to
being (and he truly was).

You:
<< I am of the opinion that such would have never have occurred to a
 member of an apostolic congregation.  Like the old song goes - "God will
make a
 way SOMEHOW" [and I hardly see bankruptcy as one of His ways].  >>

Me:

Unfortunately, it can , and does happen. My main reason for posting this
article is that the Federal Government and the courts make no distinction
between the PAW, ALJC, UPC, etc. and the other churches in this country. If
we receive tithes and/or offerings from *anyone* (not just church members)
who may go bankrupt, we may be *legally* responsible to return this money.
How many of our churches would be in a position to return large donations
(like the $10,000 one mentioned above), or afford the legal representation to
fight this?


Pastor Joe