Remember long ago in smaller communities of how the towns people get together to give of their skill, time, money and materials to help a neighbour in need of repair to their house, or help build a needed barn, or build a local church? What of those countless hours and materials put in by women’s groups to help the needy? Is this not the same “spirit” promoted by others who care about their community or care for others?
What of the “organizations” that exist that canvass for financial support for the homeless, the hungry, the destitute in other countries? What of your “tax dollars” spent by the government when sending aid to devastated areas to supply food, water, clothing, housing and medical supplies?
All of these examples show the principle of consecration, the giving of one’s substance to others in need. It shows the principle of sacrifice, to give one’s own time at no cost, to give in any way to those in need. These are the basic principles of the gospel and God’s people have practiced these principles for centuries from the Old Testament times to the current day.
Without “money” organizations that do good work as feed the hungry could not exist and continue the good work. They need your “contribution” to succeed in their work. They need a “percentage” of your income to support them. Not one organization that provides to the needs of the needy and destitute can survive without financial support, not one. No matter if the support comes directly from you or the government, it essentially comes from all of us who contribute and do our part.
From this we see that money given to these good organizations supports their infrastructure and gives them the financial power to provide to others. Else what would this show if these organizations failed because of the “lack of support”? The failure of these good things means that people are greedy and selfish. They seek to sustain their own skin and care not for others. These greedy people are the ones that attack, deny and reject the good works of these organizations.
So where does this leave tithing?
Tithing was established by God in the Old Testament and it is based on the principles of consecration and sacrifice. This money or wealth shared through the organized Church of God allows the Church to help those in need and maintain the “infrastructure” of the Church so it can continue the good works. Tithing is essential to sustain the spiritual works and provide to the people who care about faith and religion to continue, together as a type of “community”. But there are the spiritually blind people who attack the principle of tithing, making this Church as an ogre of greed when in truth these spiritual blind people are expressing their greed and selfishness. What else could it be when they attack the “principles of giving” a percentage of our wealth to the poor? For where else does this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get their money to pay for those things that are given to the poor and destitute?
The community spirit was started by God, through the practice of tithing, taught by the ancient Church in the Old Testament. It is the same spirit that is promoted by God to all people to practice in their own lives, irrespective if they accept this Church or not.
The community spirit which people practice is from God and the same spirit that lies within the practice of tithing. To denounce what is good, is an evil act. Is that not what Jesus said in the Bible?
Do you have that community spirit?
Amen