Follow-up to Tithing article

To my shock, I got a lot of emails and FB messages regarding the note I wrote last week about tithing. Some good, some…well…you know. One person respectfully disagreed, but asked some very good questions. I thought I’d share the email thread in case anyone was interested.

WARNING: It was a long conversation so you may wanna take a break half-way through:) Be blessed!

FRIEND:Won't our works be judged? What do you think Paul is talking about in 1 Cor 3:12-15 where our work is judged by fire, and 2 Cor 5:9,10 where we make it our goal to please him in the body because what we do in the body will be judged?

ME:OK. This is a question, among others, that I needed an answer to when I first understood grace and righteousness by faith in Dec 2007. The Lord gave me this as a starting point: Since Paul is the apostle of grace, and my Word is true, nothing he says in a scripture will contradict what you've already seen in many other scriptures. So whatever the answer is to this question, it will not change, but strengthen what you already understand about the Good News. Sigh of relief.

In 2 Cor 5:9, 10 Paul was referring to his need to be faithful to do what God has called him to do, which is also a source of immense pleasure for him. 1 Cor 3:12-15 is saying the same thing. We all have a part to play and will be judged on how well or diligently we played it (which ties into purpose). In making both of these points he stresses the importance of good works. And will our works be judged? Of course. But, and here is the vital part, the kind of good works that survive the fire have one and only one source: the flow/leading of the Spirit of God.

One of Paul's points in Romans 7:1-6 is that there are two different types of fruit, or works. And it's only when we realize we are dead to the law, and slowly allow the HS to peel away our legalistic thinking (that you have no idea is there until he shows you) are we free to serve God by the promptings of the Spirit (v 6 AMP). The NLT says it best, "Because you died to its (the law) power...as a result you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law (which kills), but in the new way by the Spirit." Notice that Paul calls being led by the Spirit of God into good works “really” serving God.

I really believe deadness to the law is what opens the door to be led by the Spirit of God. As we peel back the legalistic thinking by removing ALL motivation to act and save ourselves, all that’s left are the desires of our spirit. Which are God working in us giving us the desires and ability to do his good pleasure (Phill 2:13) As you recline, the spirit of God in you rises. And his leadings become glow-in-the-dark. Isn’t that awesome?!

His promptings may look silly at times but that's just so no flesh can glory. I think this is one of the reasons Galatians is structured the way it is. It's a strong rebuke for going from grace back to law, then instruction about how to be led by the Spirit, then a warning about sowing and reaping. It's a wonderful cycle! If we get the grace part in order, you'll flow in the Spirit, and you don't have to concern yourself with sowing and reaping. The flow of the Spirit will guarantee that you "sow" in the right ways and places. I’ve witnessed this in my own life and in the lives of other people who learn what I learned. I believe when we put our works on Jesus, he rests us (Matt 11:28-30) And all that comes out is the desire and ability to do his good pleasure.

For Christians, God has written his instructions on our inner most thoughts (Heb 8:10 AMP). From my own experience I can't begin to express how the leading of the Lord got soooo much clearer and sharper as I soaked in radical and pure grace. And I'm not nearly as aware of my performance as I used to be. Isn't that what relationships are supposed to be like? I literally had to ask God how I was doing b/c I didn't know! But it's obvious to anyone who looks that there is fruit growing on my tree that were barren for years and years. And I don't worry about missing it, but I am very watchful of the "shoulds" and other laws to make sure I stay in the flow of the Spirit. I think it’s very difficult to clearly discern the will of God by just using our senses and a list of basic guidelines for life. Even in scripture, many of God’s instructions seemed so foolish yet his glory was seen. Trusting the flow w/o some sort of measure was uncomfortable at first, like jello fresh out of the mold. But it eventually took shape, became second nature, and made me wonder what the heck I’d been doing all my Christian life!

Oh gosh! I'll stop there. I know it's more than you asked for but I could go on forever about this.

FRIEND (edited to preserve identity):OK. Here are some more questions. Why do you think Paul is the apostle of grace? Are you saying we don’t have to obey the bible? Isn’t being led subjective? (I know plenty of people who would use that as an excuse.) Are you saying the law is bad? The law is concrete and grounding. The bible says that the law is our school master.

ME:Given just 2 things Paul said "I've resolved to know nothing among you except JC and him crucified" in 1 Cor 2:2 and "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, righteousness by faith, for it is the power of God unto salvation" in Rom 1:16-17, I'm inclined to believe that grace is the focus of Paul’s writings. And I definitely think Good News it is the main focus of the entire bible. With all the types and shadows, all of Paul’s opening greetings (which are taken way too lightly), and other things, I would definitely call Paul the first Grace Preacher. But even if he’s not and if grace was not his focus, I just can't seem to shake it. I've been bitten by the grace bug and after a year, it's only gotten worse. I'll move on when I'm led out of it.

Yes we still obey, but indirectly through and trusting in the Spirit instead of directly trying to keep a commandment. When we flow in the Spirit, he flows us into obedience, we’re just unaware of it. Slightly different, but crucial.

Also, notice how Gal 5:19-23 KJV distinguishes between the "works" of the flesh and the "fruit" of the Spirit. One is a work and one is a fruit. Fruit = by-product = will automatically happen without effort or conscious thought. Doesn't that sound too good to be true? (Doesn't God seem like that type of God?)

The law is no longer our school master (Gal 3:24-25) And “that’s the way it was with us until Christ came” Gal 4:3 NLT. We don’t need it to direct us when we have the HS.

Being led by the Spirit is only subjective to a revelation of the grace of God. After that, it's not subjective to ANYTHING else. That's a myth in the body of Christ that God hates b/c it hurts us so much. Being led is a very finite, absolute, accurate, fool-proof way of living your life. We just don't know how to do it. But we can’t through the baby out with the bath water. Do you really think God would give us his Spirit, tell us to follow it, and then say "Oh wait guys. Be careful and still use the law b/c my Spirit is subjective." And do you think he'd create a system w/o first calculating human error, and design something that could overpower it? (This is the focus of my note “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Erna) Come on now. He's God. He knows how to speak in a way that we understand exactly what he's saying. And grace is the thing that highlights what he's saying in a "paragraph" of other fleshly/human/non-God thoughts and desires.

Law is not grounding. It kills (2 Cor 3:6). The Spirit inside is the most concrete grounding there is, along with the written word of God. It’s always right. We can always trust it. That takes faith, which is scary but required. Anyone can use their senses to relate to a list of written instructions, that are extremely VAGUE if you've noticed. (For example, the bible won't tell you where to live or what to give, etc.) As you know, the word and HS don’t clash. But the HS had way more to say than what’s written in the bible. As Christians, we can’t put more faith in the written word of God than the spoken word of God. Also, it takes no faith at all to follow a list of instructions. The just are to live by faith, not just visit every once and while.

Also, Paul’s struggle in Romans 7 is the struggle of a person who hasn’t yet realized Romans 8. That’s why the word “therefore” is used in Romans 8:1. It’s a continuation.

Of course the law isn't bad. It served its purpose to reveal sin in our lives so we would see our need for a Savior (Rom 7:7-13). That’s why it's called the ministry of death (2 Cor3:7) And Paul takes it further by saying that the strength of sin is the law (1 Cor 15:56). You know your sin through the law, which produces more sin and therefore more death. So basically, "If you guys wanna keep missing your next step, keep dishonoring God, just keep trying to keep the standard of the law." Not to mention that anyone who tries to keep the law is cursed b/c they can't keep it all (Gal 3:9-11, also see James 2:10). And if a person gets a revelation of grace, they will see God's love. B/c only Love could leave himself so vulnerable, could give so much without a guarantee of receiving. And as PD teaches from 1 John 4:18, we love him as we know he loves us. A person who truly knows God's love as demonstrated by his grace is more obedient by accident than they ever were on purpose. You know what I’m saying?