“Too Poor To Tithe” – Response by Sincere
I recently received an email from a man I’ll call “Sincere.” He was responding to one of my posts on tithing, Too Poor To Tithe, and was not happy with some of the remarks I made.
I decided to respond because, even though he disagreed with me, he wasn’t being disagreeable. Instead of calling me names and impugning my character he offered very sincere arguments.
There was a little bit of “mud throwing” – it’s hard to disagree and not fling a little – but for the most part he was thoughtful. I respect that.
I copied his email below for those who care to read it. What you will find is:
- He doesn’t disagree with tithing.
- He does disagree with the way tithing is taught but doesn’t repeat, ad nauseum, the same “Old Testament vs New Testament” arguments to suggest tithing is no longer valid.
- Although he makes it very clear that he thinks I am wrong, he doesn’t once lower himself to refer to me, or any other tither, as: thief, manipulator, liar, etc. No name calling.
- He doesn’t misrepresent my ideas either. He disagrees honorably.
I will offer a few responses but for now please take a moment to read what he says: Read more
“Heaven Is For Real” vs Academic Heavies
They may not believe Heaven is for Real
Susan Jacoby, for one, suggested the American public’s infatuation with his book proves they are immature minded and this isn’t a new trend for her. In a February 2008 article she referred to the same group as “dunces.”
About Colton’s book, she quips, “only in America could a book like this be classified as nonfiction.”
I’m not sure if “immature” represents an improvement or is the reason she thinks we are dumb, but you get the feeling things would change if we would just read a few books on Reason – starting with her’s, of course. She’s written several and you could almost map the road to reprobation in the titles:
- Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism – 2004.
- The Age of American Unreason – 2008.
Not that that matters to her. She doesn’t believe and is proud to say so.
The real issue is, Colton’s book has sold over a million copies – and counting – and is breaking all the records at Thomas Nelson publishers. And, as a non materialistic atheist, who apparently doesn’t appreciate people suggesting she or her kind writes books for money, she doesn’t hesitate to suggest the Burpo’s did just that, accusingly, as if there is something wrong with making money.
Her cynicism doesn’t slur it gushes arterially.
I will say that it’s good she doesn’t write for profit because her books don’t sell that well. Read more
Review: Voices From The Edge of Eternity
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Voices From the Edge of Eternity
Famous or not they were all equalized by death. Some died with visions of heaven and others expressing agony and terror at their first glimpse of hell.
Throughout the book, believers reported seeing angels coming to escort them, deceased friends and family ready to greet them and beautiful peaceful visions of heaven. Unbelievers reported dread and anxiety at being unprepared to meet God. Some died completely alone.
- Eleanor Smith, after spending several days in pain from illness, exclaimed to her sister Natalie in her moment of death, “There are so many of them. There’s Fred…and Ruth – what’s she doing here? Oh, I know!” Ruth, her cousin, died unexpectedly the week before but Eleanor hadn’t been told.
Book Review: “Father Joe”
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Father Joe
If you are denominationally minded but disenchanted by sectarianism you will love this book. If you are on the outside religiously but maintain a distant interest, you’ll find Father Joe compelling. He gives new hope to those still looking. He clarifies the issues, brightens the image of religion and puts a human, yet truthful face on truth.
He’s universal. Whatever your background you will relate to Father Joe.
This book illustrates the difficulties of combining divine and human realities. In true satirical manner the technicalities of Christian theology is juxtaposed with human frailty demonstrating the discord between the two but without the insult.
Lots of humor and very entertaining – at times Monty Python-ish – but mostly an honest, sometimes humble look at the struggle to mesh bare truth with experience. Although written from a Catholic perspective, verities embraced by all Christians are featured: selfishness is sinful, forgiveness is needed, penance has many forms, sex is a healthy reality and so on. Read more
Abraham’s Adultery
Did Abraham commit adultery? Yes, sort of. He had conjugal relations with his wife’s handmaid, Hagar, and fathered his first child, Ishmael. It isn’t the worst case of adultery but adultery it was. Here are the facts:
Abraham, prompted by God, moved to Canaan from Haran when he was 75 years old. A part of the enticement to move was the promise that Abraham would become, not an average nation, but a great one, a tacit promise of children.
Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael, his first child, was born. This was anything but usual. For the previous eight generations his predecessors began having children in their early 30’s. By normal standards, Abraham’s first child was fifty plus years late.
That means Abraham’s paternal instincts were already frustrated when he left for Canaan and it was eleven years later before he had his first child, which, unfortunately, was not the child God promised. Read more
Tim Pepper - Beautiful Frustration