The Spirit of Prophecy
on
The Tithe Issue
Click
to go to our Home Page
We need to be
concerned with exactly all Ellen White said about the tithe and support of
those with a message. Ellen White said that the “dumb dog” watchmen (Isa.
56:10-12) would never again cry aloud to show God’s people their abominations
(sins) Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.
She indicted them in the same reference with unbelief and implied that men,
maidens and little children would perish in another literal fulfillment of
Ezekiel 9 beginning at His Sanctuary, the House of Jacob. Why would anyone
give such “peace and safety” false watchmen the sacred tithe? John
Grosboll, of Steps to Life independent Ministry, poses the question, what
does it matter to the prophet messengers where the money goes as long as the
truth is being disseminated? Many folk give their tithe to Vance Ferrell who
teaches the Trinity Doctrine. Some give to Colin Standish’s Hartland
ministry, when he teaches the same diabolical doctrine. Does that matter?
Supporting ministries that sweep away the entire Christian economy? How could
anyone support even intra-church independent ministries when they teach the
Trinity Doctrine, which sweeps away the entire Christian economy? How could
anyone support “outside” church independent ministries who do the very same
thing by embracing the Trinity Doctrine? Here is whom
Ellen White said should receive support: April 1, 1850 To the "Little
Flock."
Dear Brethren.--The Lord gave me a
view, January 26, which I will relate. I saw that some of the people of God
were stupid and dormant; and were but half awake, and did not realize the
time we were now living in; and that the "man" with the
"dirt-brush" had entered, and that some were in danger of being
swept away. I begged of Jesus to save them, to spare them a little longer,
and let them see their awful danger, that they might get ready before it
should be for ever too late. The angel said, "Destruction is coming like
a mighty whirlwind." I begged of the angel to pity and to save those who
loved this world, and were attached to their possessions, and were not
willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice them to speed the messengers on
their way to feed the hungry sheep, who were perishing for want of spiritual
food. {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 1}
As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who
professed to believe the truth were letting them die, by withholding the
necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful,
and I begged of the angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of
God called for some of their property, like the young man who came to Jesus,
[Matt. xix, 16-22,] they went away sorrowful; and that soon the overflowing
scourge would pass over and sweep their possessions all away, and then it
would be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up a treasure in
heaven. {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 2}
I then saw the glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely, that he left the
realms of glory, and came to this dark and lonely world, to give his precious
life and die, the just for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and
scourging, and wore the platted crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of
blood in the garden; while the burden of the sins of the whole world were
upon him. The angel asked, "What for?" O, I saw and knew that it
was for us; for our sins he suffered all this, that by his precious blood he
might redeem us unto God. {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 3}
Then again was held up
before me those who were not willing to dispose of this world's goods to save
perishing souls, by sending them the truth, while Jesus stands before the Father,
pleading his blood, his sufferings and his death for them; and while God's messengers were waiting, ready to carry
them the saving truth that they might be sealed with the seal of the living
God. It was hard for some who professed to believe the present truth, to even
do so little as to hand the messengers God's own money, that he had lent them
to be stewards over. {RH, April 1, 1850
par. 4} Then the suffering Jesus, his
sacrifice and love so deep, as to give his life for them, was again held up
before me; and then the lives of those who
professed to be his followers, who had this world's goods, and considered it
so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, "Can
such enter heaven?" Another angel answered, "No, never, never,
never. Those
who are not interested in the cause of God on earth, can never sing the song
of redeeming love above." {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 5}
I saw that the
quick work that God was doing on earth would soon be cut short in
righteousness, and that the
swift messengers must speed on their way to search out the scattered flock. An
angel said, "Are all messengers? No, no, God's messengers have a
message." RH, April 1, 1850
par. 6}
I saw that the cause of God had been hindered, and dishonored by some
travelling who had no message from God. Such will have to give an account to
God for every dollar they have used in travelling where it was not their duty
to go; for that money might have helped on
the cause of God, and for the lack of it, souls
have starved and died for the want of spiritual food, that might have been
given them by God's called and chosen messengers if they had had the means. {RH, April 1, 1850
par. 7}
The mighty shaking has commenced, and will go on, and all will be shaken out
who are not willing to take a hold and unyielding stand for the truth, and
sacrifice for God and his cause. The angel said, "Think ye that any will
be compelled to sacrifice. No. no. It must be a free-will offering. It will
take all to buy the field."--I cried to God to spare his people, some of
whom were fainting and dying. {RH, April 1, 1850
par. 8}
I saw that those who have strength to labor with their hands, and help
sustain the cause, were as accountable for that strength, as others were for
their property. {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 9}
The I saw that the judgements of Almighty God were speedily coming. I begged
of the angel to speak in his language to the people. Said he, "All the
thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai would not move those who will not be
moved by the plain truths of the word of God; neither would an angel's
message awake them." {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 10}
I then beheld the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. His robe was whiter than
the whitest white. No language can describe his glory and exalted loveliness.
All, all who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates
into the City, and have right to the tree of life, and ever be in the
presence of the lovely Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun
at noonday. {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 11}
Then I was pointed to Adam and Eve in Eden. They partook of the forbidden
tree, and then the flaming sword was placed around the tree of life, and they
were driven from the Garden, lest they should partake of the tree of life,
and be immortal sinners. The tree of life was to perpetuate immortality. I
heard an angel ask, "Who of the family of Adam have passed that flaming
sword, and have partaken of the tree of life?" I heard another angel
answer, "Not one of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword,
and partaken of that tree; therefore there is not an immortal sinner. The
soul that sinneth it shall die an everlasting death; a death that will last
for ever, where there will be no hope of a resurrection; and then the wrath
of God will be appeased." {RH, April 1, 1850
par. 12}
I saw that the saints will rest in the Holy City, and reign as kings and
priests one thousand years; then Jesus will descend with the saints upon the
mount of Olives, and the mount will part asunder, and become a mighty plain
for the Paradise of God to rest upon. The rest of the earth will not be
cleansed until the wicked dead are raised (at the end of the one thousand
years) and gather up around the city; for the feet of the wicked will never
desecrate the earth made new. Then fire will come down from God out of heaven
and devour them; burn them up root and branch. Satan is the root, and his
children are the branches. The same fire that will devour the wicked, will
purify the earth. {RH, April 1,
1850 par. 13}
In hope of immortality at the appearing of Jesus.” E. G. White. {RH, April 1, 1850
par. 14} Regular
lines - “So often the same old
difficulties arise and are presented in regard to disturbing the ‘regular
lines.’ But God will work in some way to make His people understand that THE
REGULAR LINES HAVE BECOME FULL OF IRREGULAR PRACTICES…God alone can make men
understand that working on REGULAR LINES has led to IRREGULAR PRACTICES. God alone can make men’s minds as they
should be. The time has come when we
should hear less in favor of the REGULAR LINES. If we can GET AWAY FROM THE REGULAR LINES
into something which, THOUGH IRREGULAR, IS AFTER GOD’S ORDER, it may cut away
something of the IRREGULAR WORKING which has led away from Bible principles.” E.G. White, Manuscript
Release, #1450, p. 3, 4, 1901. “When we
see the regular lines are altered and purified and refined, and the God of
the heavens mold is upon the regular lines, then it is our business to
establish the regular lines.” E.G.
White, Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 162-168. “The
present showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary
spirit that the regular lines [organization] may prove to be a failure.” E.G. White, Spaulding-Magan
Collection, p. 175. Written to Brother Daniels, June 28, 1901. “The regular
lines had need to be broken as a potter’s vessel is broken, and
reconstructed.” Ms. 29, 1903. pp. 1, 3 (General Manuscript, The Southern Work, undated). "There are fearful woes for those who preach the
truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to
receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and
doctrine." Testimonies, vol. 1, p 261-62 If you pay your sacred tithe and offerings to
any church that embraces two or more gospels, then you lend support to "another
gospel", a false gospel. Is this "doing
what you can to correct the evil"? Tithe “Clearly, plainly, earnestly, tell them how
thousands of men and women are using God's money to corrupt themselves and to
make this world a hell. Millions of dollars are spent for that which makes
men mad. Present this matter so clearly that its force cannot but be seen.
Then tell your hearers of the Saviour, who came to this world to save men and
women from all sinful practices. "God so loved the world, that He gave His
only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life." Tithe Chap. 191 - The Gift God Accepts
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with
the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke
6:38. {OHC 197.1} Let
us not complain because we are often asked to give for the upbuilding of the
cause. What is it that makes these frequent calls a necessity? Is it not the
rapid increase of missionary enterprises? Shall we, by refusing to give,
retard the growth of these enterprises? . . . {OHC 197.2} All
who possess the Spirit of Christ will have a tender, sympathetic heart, and
an open, generous hand. . . . To us has been entrusted the work of
proclaiming the last message of mercy to be given to our world--the message
that is to prepare a people to stand in the day of God. Do we realize our
accountability? Are we acting our part in the proclamation of the message?
The present time is burdened with eternal interests. We are to unfurl the
standard of truth before a world perishing in error. {OHC 197.3} The
more we bring to God's treasure house, the more we shall have to bring; for
He will open ways before us, increasing our substance. I have found this to
be true in my own experience. As God multiplies His gifts to us, we must not
grow selfish, and withhold from Him our tithes and offerings. We each have a
part to act in the work of salvation. {OHC 197.4}
“Gifts and offerings will not purchase salvation for any of us. The
religion of the Bible is that development of our moral natures in which the
soul holds converse with God, loves that which God loves, and hates that
which God hates. God will not accept your offerings if you withhold yourself.
He asks not only for that which is His own in the means entrusted to you, but
for His own property in your body, soul, and spirit, purchased at the
infinite price of the blood of the Son of God.” {OHC 197.5} It
is the humble, grateful, reverential heart that makes the offering as a
sweet-smelling savor, acceptable to God. {OHC 197.6} Can you support such apostasy with your sacred
tithe and offerings? What about the following: "The plain straight testimony must live
in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it
did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a
body [corporately], responsible for the sins existing in individuals among
them." Testimonies, vol. 3, p.
269. "To divide our interests with the leaders
of error is aiding the wrong side and giving advantage to our foes. The truth
of God knows no compromise with sin, no connection with artifice, no union
with transgression." Testimonies,
vol. 4, p. 81. |
