From time-to-time, we at DCM are accused of trying to get money from people. When people who know Nancy and me hear this statement, they find it quite humorous. Let’s be very frank and very up front. We teach tithing on the DCM website. But check out the following:
DCM does not expect people to tithe to us. DCM does not demand that people tithe to us. When we teach tithing, we teach that the Christian should tithe to his local church!
I find it disappointing to see churches that could be doing so much more, but cannot because their members don’t tithe. They could be providing more services to the brethren and to the world if they weren’t so stingy with their church contributions.
Indeed, this is a hot button topic in the Church these days. People have all kinds of excuses for not tithing. For example, they point out that they have seen tithes misused in the past and, therefore, tithing is now somehow done away with. Or they say, “I tithe, but I do it in my own way by spending my tithes on what I think is best.”
Let’s be clear that tithing is like prayer, fasting, and Bible study. Whether a person does these things properly is ONLY between him and God. I can’t judge him in this situation. Judgment in these matters is reserved exclusively for Jesus. You and I should never try to sit in our Savior’s seat and perform his function.
We are to judge doctrines and teachings. But only Jesus can judge actions, motives, and the heart.
At DCM, we believe we have a responsibility to encourage our brethren to do the right thing. We teach people to pray and study and fast. And we teach that people should tithe!
Get with it, brothers and sisters! Let’s be obedient to God not just in Sabbath-keeping and observing the laws of clean and unclean. Let’s be obedient to him in all matters! Tithing helps your local church.
It is along these lines that I am pleased to make the following announcement: DCM is now going to have a page with contact information for independent Sabbath-keeping churches. From time-to-time, we receive questions such as: “Is there a church in a certain city? I will be traveling there next weekend.” Or some will say, “I have a relative in a certain city and I want to encourage him to start attending church.”
It is our hope that this new list will help people get connected to churches.
If you are going to be travelling to another city over a weekend, I encourage you to visit a local church in that city! Don’t just sit around on the Sabbath if you can be fellowshipping with other Christians! Use this trip as an opportunity to meet new people. Make new friends. Share your love. Yes, a new group will probably be different than what you are used to. But it’s not going to kill you to fellowship with a group that has a different approach to Sabbath-keeping than your regular group. You might learn something.
Let’s do all these things (prayer, Bible study, fasting, tithing) as we work to make our local congregations stronger!
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