When was the last time you really blew it? I mean, really, really blew it? Like, “This-is-the-end-I’ll-never-recover-my-life-is-over, blew it?”
Are you there now? Full of despair like the man in this painting?
[photo by MatoWinyan via Photobucket]
If so, please believe this: Goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. (Psalm 23)
Here’s how I know this is true…
Continue Reading…
Is suicide a problem, or a solution?
For most of us, the thought of digging a hole and lying down in it to be covered up with dirt is terrifying. But there came a time for Dawn when it was a solution she longed for.
[photo by ill.have.another via Flickr]
Let me tell you about it…
I didn’t see it coming. I hadn’t intended it to happen. But last week, Average Us became controversial. I wrote a post about Why Pastors Shouldn’t Teach Tithing and lots of you showed up to read why, tell me you agree, or disagree, or imply that I’m a false prophet.
(Phew! I’m just a little too average for all that. And btw – we Christians should give generously to support the mission Jesus has given to the church. I explain how much we should give, and why we should give, in What Jesus and His Apostles Taught About Giving.)
One of the disagree-ers was Pastor Tom from California. He wrote a very thoughtful comment explaining why he disagreed, and I thought it was such a great example of Christ-like humility and charity that I asked his permission to offer a reply in this post. Here is Pastor Tom’s comment:
We have seen a recent flood of traffic and comments on our more controversial posts on tithing, and another on tithing, and pentecostalism. And while we are grateful for this interest, we want to remind our readers that Average Us exists to encourage average people like you (and us) to hope more deeply in God who is great — even when our lives aren’t. We hope the Holy Spirit uses Average Us in some small way to nurture in you a more soul-satisfying, God-honoring faith in Jesus Christ whatever difficulties you may face.
So, if you are here to see what all the fuss is about, Dawn and I sincerely thank you for visiting. And we hope you’ll also take a moment to read, comment on, and share one of our helpful archived posts on being average, spiritual life, or emotional health. Here’s a few of our favorites:
Thank you again for your interest in Average Us. If you like, you can subscribe by email using the “Follow Average Us” button in the right column.
For Jesus,
Lon & Dawn
I must learn to hate my sin, and forgive yours.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at stake. (Matthew 5:3,7)
Were you taught the tithing system?
I was. I believed it, practiced it, and even preached it myself. But no more.
The tithing system is what I call the modern teaching that if you tithe, God will bless you; if you don’t, He won’t. You know the Pastor is going to preach the system if the sermon text is this passage from the the Prophet Malachi:
“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, “How have we robbed you?” In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” – Malachi 3:8-11
The system goes like this: Continue Reading…
