THE SUPPORT OF GOSPEL MINISTERS ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN.
By D. T. Bourdeau
GIVING SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY.
Urging, pressing, forcing persons to give, whether by ecclesiastical or legal measures, is not according to God's plan, and should not be resorted to in any case. God's gift of His divine Son was voluntary, and so should our gifts to show our appreciation of this gift be voluntary. All in the plan of salvation leaves the will of man free, untrammeled, to decide, choose, or refuse, as the persons concerned shall see fit, God reserving the prerogative of reckoning and dealing with man at last according to the just and merciful principles and requirements of that Word by which all mankind shall be judged. Forcing the will and coercing conscience in religious matters originated with the arch-rebel in heaven, who tried to force his views on the loyal angels, and even on the Eternal and on His divine Son, by whom were “all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions or principalities, or powers” (Col. 1:16), and is a sure sign of sin and apostasy, whether seen in the church or in the civil government. When forcing the will and conscience in things pertaining to religion is done by human beings, you can truthfully say, Here are persons who exalt themselves above God; for God never does such a thing. And in the doing of this evil thing through ecclesiastical and civil measures, there is surely a sanctioning of the union of Church and State, from which have resulted the greatest persecutions and atrocities of past ages. Therefore no human being nor set of human beings should urge, press, or force persons to give for any religious object. And no one should give “grudgingly, or of necessity [“nor by constraint,” French Translation]: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7. In perfect harmony with this Bible doctrine are the following words from a source deserving our confidence:—“The burden of urging and pressing individuals to give of their means [for religious objects, understood] was not designed to be the work of God's ministers. The responsibility should rest upon every individual who enjoys the belief of the truth.” Again: “God designs that the exercise of benevolence shall be purely voluntary, not having recourse even to eloquent appeals to excite sympathy. ‘The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.’ He is not pleased to have His treasury replenished with forced supplies. The loyal hearts of His people, rejoicing in the saving truth for this time, will, through love and gratitude to Him for this precious light, be earnest and anxious to aid with their means in sending the truth to others. The very best manner in which to give expression to our love for our Redeemer, is to make offerings to bring souls to the knowledge of the truth. The plan of redemption was entirely voluntary on the part of our Redeemer, and it is the purpose of Christ that all our benevolence should be freewill offerings.” — “Testimonies for the Church, Vol. III, pages 411–413. The manner of giving that God approves may be seen in the furnishing of the material for the sanctuary, by the Israelites in the wilderness. God invited them to give “willingly,” “with a willing heart,” and they did so, until they were told to give no more; for there was more material than was needed. Ex. 25:1, 2; 35:4, 5; 36:5–7. And a similar example may be found in the manner in which David and his brethren furnished material for the temple. At that time “the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, forever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chron. 29:9–14. With willingness and promptness should we give to advance the last gospel work in all its branches. SIN OFFERINGS, PEACE, OR THANK OFFERINGS.
Anciently those who had sinned offered unto the Lord a sin offering. And who of the human race has not sinned? Are any, therefore, excused from giving something unto the Lord, out of that which is His own, heartily repenting and exercising faith in Christ for mercy and pardon, saying, as did David when he had sinned in numbering Israel, “Neither will I offer burnt offerings [in our case donations] unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing”? 2 Sam. 24:24. Among the offerings that were made by God's ancient people, were peace or thank offerings. And is it not both reasonable and highly becoming that, under the present dispensation and in this age of great light and special blessings and privileges, we should render unto God, in gifts and donations, tributes of thanks and gratitude for the peace “which passeth all understanding,” that comes to us through God's gift of His Son, and for temporal and spiritual blessings surpassingly rich and without number? Phil. 4:7; Eph. 2:14, 15; James 1:17; Acts 17:25, 28. SHALL WE BE BEHIND HEATHEN NATIONS?
It was customary for these to pay tithes for their gods and for the support of their idolatrous worship. In his Concordance to the Holy Scriptures, Cruden says: “The most barbarous nations, and the heathen Greeks and Romans, out of a principle of religion common to all men, have often dedicated their tithes to their gods. Some have made it a standing obligation; others have done it on particular occasions and by the impulse of a transient devotion. Laurentius says that when Pisistratus, tyrant of Athens, wrote to Solon to persuade him to return to Athens, he tells him that every one pays his tithe of his goods for the offering of sacrifices to the gods. Laert., lib. I. Pliny says that the486Arabian merchants who traded in spices, durst not sell anything till they had paid the tithe to their god Labis. And Plutarch in more places than one, mentions a custom of the Romans of offering to Hercules the tithe of what they took from their enemies.” Of course Satan, though an enemy of God, and though opposed to true worship and true religion, did not fail to discern the reasonableness of the tithing system; and to make his system of religion and worship more palatable and more according to the sense of justice, he blended with it the duty of paying tithes. Shall we be behind Satan and heathen nations of antiquity in our discernment of the reasonable duty of paying tithes?