Faith vs Obligation

this is something that I have wanted to post on for some time, and that is the difference between Faith and Obligation in the Christian Life... I suppose it applies to many aspects of any belief system, but I am approaching it from the Christian perspective...

there are a lot of denominations that preach a seed and harvest type of message when it comes to giving... that being 'the tithe' and 'offering'... two separate items... many times I have been in meetings where a pastor, missionary, or just a plain deacon/elder, has given a message based on seed time and harvest time... and yes, it is a Biblically sound doctrine... it is in the bible... no doubt about that... however, there is an emphasis on the 'obligatory' nature of giving from the pulpit, as if to say, if you 'don't' give then you have no faith... so in many cases people give what they cannot afford... like a man or woman at the slot machines or black jack table, betting more than they can afford... the same principal applies... their faith is abused...

I have come to the conclusion, that giving beyond one's ability is not sound doctrine or dogma from a Christian perspective... miracles did happen in the bible... old testament... as in when Jesus fed the 5000... and I am not denying that miracles happen today... having worked behind the scenes at a church, I can bear witness that they do happen... but, and that is really BUT... they are not the norm, even in a revivalist church... and most are small, baby steps if you will... not the grand blind seeing or the lame walking... so when I talk about money here, and how it is given, to receive a miracle in return, I am talking from some experience...

if you give to a ministry, say, your rent money, or your kids epileptic medicine money... and have no way of getting enough on time to buy more, then you are stepping into a realm of faith, that is on par with the feeding of the 5000... you are gambling that you will receive back enough or more to cover those bills or a healing that will astound even the medicine men of our day... we all have faith, but it is like a muscle that needs development... and too many times I have seen people give more than their faith can support, on the basis of a powerful sermon...

my favorite phrase is, 'I'm going to win a lottery, but I don't have to buy a ticket!' which astounds many people... why, because as a Christian I am not suppose to gamble... so how can I win a lottery... by FAITH... now do I have enough faith for that... maybe, and maybe not... but should I find a ticket on the road or in some way, without me buying it and it turns out to be a winner, then I can say that God has blessed my faith... but the problem is that a lot of Christians play that game every Sunday and Wednesday, or at Conferences... especially at Conferences... they ante up to win a miracle, be it cash, a healing, a new car, a husband or wife being saved, or even to get married and having babies... you name it and they gamble for it... thousands... this is no different than me and my believing that I can win a lottery without buying a ticket...

other than the fact, that I haven't put any money out... my faith is still the same as theirs, but it is a faith based on the Spirit of Faith... not a work of man, to buy off God... and that is the difference that I am trying to get across here... Faith has to be of the Spirit, not by works... we can not buy God... we can not own God or bring Him to an Obligation to do something for us... and that is where I feel we have gone wrong...

if we have extra, money, time, or possessions; in short if it is something we can do without and not suffer for it in some way that would be detrimental to our well being, then God would love us to give... He wants us to be givers, and yes He will give back, perhaps not in the way we expect, but He is a giver... our giving should be as He gives, out of love... but be honest... don't go trying to buy Him off... He wants our Love first, and last, not our possessions, or our money...

when we can give with a clear conscience and not out of fear or obligation, but real love, then we are in the place that He wants us... a safe place, a secure place, where we can know Him and He will acknowledge us... NB I realize that this is not quite as clear as I would like it to be, but I have had it on the back burner for some time, and feel that even in this form, should be out there... I will return to it, from time to time to re-work it...