I had the privilege of listening to Joseph Prince preach at Hillsong London recently. I always enjoy listening to Pastor Prince’s teaching, and especially enjoy the experience of hearing him live on 11th October 2009. You can download this podcast for free here.
But there was something that bothered me about what Joseph Prince said. Joseph Prince said that we should tithe; he then gave a brief testimony of one of the members of his church: Olivia Lum. Olivia Lum went from having an average life to being the richest woman in South East Asia. Apparently, Olivia told Joseph Prince that the key to her success was that she always paid a tithe and she prayed for wisdom.
Joseph Prince and the Grace Revolution
I would say that Joseph Prince is at the fore-front of what could be called a “grace revolution”. Ever since Joseph Prince visited my church, Hillsong London, in 2006/2007 – the message at my church has become a lot more grace-oriented (the pastor’s admitted it themselves). I have a CD box set of the teaching that he delivered during his visit and it is truly amazing.
Joseph Prince has a lot of respect for the Senior Pastor at Hillsong London, Gary Clarke, and Joseph preaches at the annual Hillsong Europe Conference and sometimes speaks at Hillsong London as a guest speaker. Gary has also visited Singapore where he preached at New Creation Church – Joseph Prince’s church.
The revelation of grace that has happened in Singapore is spreading all over the world. Joseph Prince’s teaching is seen, or listened to, by people all over the world: his teaching can be downloaded in MP3 format from his website at http://www.josephprince.org. Joseph Prince has a presence on Christian Television including the popular Daystar network. This wonderful grace preacher is influencing a lot of churches and Christians and it is probably for this reason that he still supports the message of tithing.
Darin Hufford on Tithing
Darin Hufford of the Free Believers Network has admitted that he does not believe in tithing. Darin is an ex-pastor of the Dream Center – a mega church in Los Angeles U.S.A. I recall Darin relating in one of his Into the Wild podcasts, that he set-up his own church after he left the Dream Center. He promptly told his new congregation that they did not have to tithe. Darin ended-up having an argument with his accountant because his ministry was rapidly running out of money. However, Darin would not waver from his convictions and he stood firm when it came to not deceiving the congregation into tithing out of an obligation or with the promise of extravagant blessings should they continue to do so. Darin concluded from this experience that the whole institution church experience is man-made and is utterly dependant on the myth of tithing.
It is important to note that the ministries of that of Bertie Brits and Joseph Prince, despite having a similar message, they are actually rather different: Joseph Prince is the senior pastor of a mega-church, albeit a grace mega-church, whilst Bertie does not have his own church, but produces videos from his home studio or travels to other churches and to conferences. There is a difference and if we are to take Darin Hufford’s statement as the truth – we can see why one preacher teaches on the tithe and why the other does not.
I’m kind of torn between accepting this statement fully and arguing that it is not the case, that there are some good things about the institutional church, particularly grace-oriented mega-churches such as Hillsong. However, I cannot deny that Darin does have a point and it does get me thinking. If this is the case, then perhaps Joseph Prince has to preach on the tithe so that he himself can continue to exist in a mega-church environment and so that he can continue to influence those who are also in a mega-church environment (the Hillsong Europe Conference being a case in point).
A Hint of W.O.F.
I also see some aspects of Word of Faith in Joseph’s teaching – particularly the daily devotionals he produces. I suppose this is to be expected because like me, his main influence was Kenneth E. Hagin. Hagin himself was a pioneer of faith during his day. Hagin had to overcome a lot of opposition from the church with his beliefs on faith for finances and faith for healing. Hagin was seen to be a heretic because of his propensity towards blessings, signs, wonders and spiritual gifts. God does not give any one Bible teacher a monopoly on Biblical truth, and more than likely, never will.
I made the big mistake of simply accepting everything I read in Hagin’s books without question. I suppose this was because I was so convinced by the extravagant testimonies of blessings and miracles; as well as the all-too-familiar name-it-and-claim-it faith confessions. I was desperate for love and approval and in the absence of proper teaching on grace – I just looked to performance and achievement. I saw faith as being the key to unlocking the power of God that I needed in order to be happy, satisfied and accepted.
I think if Hagin would have been given the same revelation of grace that Joseph Prince has been given today – it is likely that Hagin would have been driven out of the church for sure and labelled a crank.
Conclusion
Biblical prosperity is a very tricky subject – there needs to be a balance and I believe that extravagant testimonies, such as that of Olivia Lum, need to be seen as exceptional and not typical. I believe that the main reason behind such testimonies is to serve to take the limits off God. So many times we try to figure God out, anticipate His next move, and to define the boundaries of what we can or can’t have, or what we can or can’t do. It is so easy to quote a testimony like that of Olivia Lum and then attempt to make some sort of generic “template” out of it; a rule, principal or formula that anyone can follow in order to achieve instantaneous, and predictable, success.
Yes, I do believe that God’s intention is that we have our needs met, and even that we can enjoy prosperity – but there is a difference between needs and wants. A lot of people still look to financial prosperity as a means of offsetting other unmet needs in their life, such as a sense of approval and security – things that only a well-established relationship with Christ can fulfil.
I foresee the grace revolution as being a rather slow process as old religious mindsets give way to the message of pure grace. I believe that the message of tithing will probably be the last bastion of Christian legalism to fall. Why? Well because it involves money of course!
6 comments:
Although God's does listen and even act accordingly to the dictates of favored servants of God, you have in this article, deferred too much to men, instead of according matters to the wisdom, sovereignty and grace of God, with your "because Joseph Prince was/is such and such...., it was ok or acceptable to have or to be such and such...". You seemed to accept matters because of standing of men rather than whether or not it is based on the correct interpretation of the Word of God. The danger of that is firstly, men will disappoint you, one day (but God will not), secondly, you are using changing yardsticks to measure things, and that will inevitably cause you to adrift with waves coming against you. The Word of God should be your yardstick, not men or men's ideas.
Grace is not a new message. It has always been there, some people perceive less of it, some more, some perceive of it early in their Christian life, some much later. Of course, our churches which dish out sermons week after week have some bearing on perception and understanding; that is why it is imperative that church leaders over time, give balance teachings based on the Word of God, and that Christians do not keep hopping so frequently - a rolling stone gathers no moss.
Be like the Bereans, said the Apostle Paul, study the word of God to see if what you are being taught is according to the Word of God.
Unless you have been under the teachings of a particular servant of God for years or you know the person personally or you have on hand the autobiography of the man, or that you really have read enough of the person's writings, you should not comment generally on the person’s disposition, rather be specific, referring to his specific words or writings, giving full context; that would be fairer to the person, and the readers too can decide for themselves. The other alternative is to explain the different beliefs without being specific about the individuals (because the truth is not dependant on the individuals, but on the Word of God), and then present the right belief from the Word of God. If you are not sure about the correct interpretation, then say it so that readers know it (one has to be humble, and admit it if one is not sure), and they can express their views, which if one is correct, we will learn another truth.
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By the way, the original teaching you received concerning righteousness is more correct, it is both right-standing and right-living. The right-standing cometh from the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ as we believe in His work on the cross. Right-living is commanded by the Lord, as recognition of who God is, as labor of love, as the manifestation of our living faith in good works, producing fruits acceptable unto the Lord.
Emphasizing one at the exclusion of the other is not appropriate, if not wrong, in the eyes of God. People like to hear about the former, the right-standing bit, because everything has been done by Jesus, and they do not need to do anything (that is what is commonly being preached, although, I personally there is still a step that people need to do); many are not preaching the latter because the latter requires people to be active, to exercise faith, to exercise discipline, be obedient, including to the thing you apparently very much disliked, rules. People should preach the truth, and not what people like to hear, or find easy to do. Deferring to popularity is today one of the greatest offence to the overall counsel of the Word of God, and every preacher and pastor should bear this in mind.
Concerning offerings and tithing, there are specific texts in the Bible. When you study the whole counsel of the Word of God on this matter, the truth can be discerned. Do not dismiss or attack individual’s testimony too readily. Even for testimonies, interpretation and proper handling are needed. For example, Jesus spit on dirt and applied the mixture and healed a blind man in the Bible. Does it then mean that we should all do the same every time we pray for the blind? Of course, not. Some things are of general application, some others are specific to a situation, but with no contradictions to general rule. In this case, one general rule or application or truth is that Jesus heals. What is specific is how He did it, in this particular case. At times, even the roles of God and men are to be considered properly to arrive at correct interpretation. Even God’s motive for the person needs to be explored. Also, contrary to popular belief, I believe that God tweaks things in real-time, juggling with many, many factors and variables, and considering the good of many, many people involved in any particular setting or situation.
Paul S, you must use the Word of God as the yardstick. May God reveal His truths to you as you continue to seek to understand His Word.
I think the key is that each believer must enter a personal and living relationship with God...this is the one and only MUST
John 3:7 'You MUST be born again' NKJV
Out of this we will each live ...by FAITH alone (Rom 1:17). Any behaviour modification not born of the spirit of God working in us is no more than a 'work of the flesh'
Each one of us is personally accountable to God alone (and not to pastors...Heb 8:11)
Jesus tells us we are FREE of obligations to give (Mat 17:26)....and this freedom is to be passionately defended (Gal 5:1)
If we feel we WANT TO give .....and are able to give....then we are FREE to give 'what' we want to give...and 'to whom' we feel led to or decide to give it.
We are either FREE or we are under bondage...it cannot be both. And if it is Christ's church then there can be NO CONDEMNATION for the believers personal choice.
God alone is his judge.
Chris
Agree on tithing in the New Testament. There is very little said about tithing after the Resurrection. Acts 6 tells us that the Greek widows did not received a fair share with the Jewish widows. Obviously they are not tithing but receiving. There is no reason for poor to have to tithe. It would be a rare church which follows this behaviour. And how many deacons are involved with this original purpose for their job? Ananias and Saphaira gave 50% of the sale of their own land which is more than a tithe but they lied to the Holy Spirit and to Peter. Peter even told them. Was not the money yours to do with as you like. They both died.
On the other hand the rich can give more as they have more. 10% is easy for a rich person. If you are giving a 10% to fulfil the Law of the Old Testament you bring yourself under the curse of the Law. Not a good place to be. Especially as 10% was only for produce and if it was turned into cash one would bring an extra 5th wich is 12.5%. So anyone giving only 10% as an OT tithe comes under the curse.
God loves a cheerful giver. I believe when you give and find a good purpose. Such as James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. God will bless.
Remember the Church is not institutions but the Believers in Christ as redeemer. Regret giving to institutions but never people, either believers or not for the purpose of the Kingdom.
God/Christ has no favourites. All are treated as recipients of Grace upon departing from sin. The Creator favours no religion. Unconditional Love has no boundaries & departments, as He Loves the Amazonian Indian tribesman as much as He Loves church members(adhering to Truth), Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims etc. etc. Boundaries & departments are institutionalised i.e. God can only do this, He cannot do that etc. etc.
Olivia Lum due to her bad management has brought her company down. Those who had invested into her company is not going to see daylight anytime soon. Many innocent old folks had put their lifesaving into her company Hyflux. These investors are not going to get anything back.she has gained much at others expense. What is Joseph Prince going to preach about this turn of event.
I
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