I have noticed when people I am close to have gone apostate (Tal Bachman - and others), that they usually regret having paid their tithing (and often are angry they cannot get the money back). This is after the full apostasy has set in.
When you begin to falter in your desire to pay your tithing, chances are good that you might be on the road to apostasy. Tithing is an essential litmus in determining whether you love God more than the things of this world (which money can buy). Obedience to the laws of chastity are also a litmus to see if you will bend the will of the flesh to that of God's. When we begin to break those or "feel restricted" or "held down" by the "oppressive" commandments, we ARE on the road to apostasy. In direct opposition to God and His laws. When we enter the grey area in support of the erosion of marriage (one man, one woman), we begin the slippery slide to apostasy. Once the slide is complete - and the individual is filled with an actual hatred for truth and light, then the d'evil seals the initiate his. Can you tell I just watched the new Star Wars flick this weekend?? Principles are immutable..... no matter how they are packaged.
Anyway - here is a meme from FB that I thought was pretty awesome. A Prophet of the Lord has spoken - and I understand exactly what he was saying:
Brigham Young -
ReplyDeleteYou allow the devil to suggest to you that I [the prophet] am not leading you right, and allow that thought to abide in your hearts, and I will promise you that it will lead you to apostasy. You allow yourselves to doubt anything that God has revealed, and it will not be a great while before you begin to neglect your prayers, refuse to pay your Tithing, and find fault with the authorities of the Church. You will be repeating what apostates all say, “The Tithing is not used aright” (DNSW, 29 Aug. 1876, 1).
I remember as a young man paying 10% Tithing; a ward budget; building fund; a ward missionary fund; fast offerings; working on the welfare farm and when necessary temple fund. AND NOW some say tithing is TOO much?
I have been a ward clerk and in the Bishopric who counted tithing, and tithing is completely self reported. Being a full tithe payer is a requirement for entering the temples. In my personal experience, those who don't pay tithing are generally uninterested in storing a year's supply, doing genealogy or attending the temple. One major exception is during a wedding for a family member held in the temple. Disciplinary councils are not held for such things as failure to pay tithing, to obey the Word of Wisdom, to attend church, or to receive home teachers because of lack of faith or commitment.
Tithing is not so much a matter of dollars as it is a matter of faith. Presently all commandments are optional... just as is your faith in our lord Jesus Christ and his Church. That LACK OF FAITH or LACK OF COMMITMENT is apostasy.