Beware of Dogs & Evil-Workers
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision
Phil 3:2 (KJV)
One of the benefits of studying the word of God is that it tells us how to tell true motives. In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul warns the early church to beware of false teachings in the church. As Christianity expanded to embrace the Gentiles (all non Jews), many Jewish believers pressed Gentile believers to adopt traditional Jewish customs such as circumcision as an extra criteria for salvation. The Apostle Paul makes it plain that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, saying:
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Phil 3:3 (KJV)
The Resurrection of Christ (Kinnaird Resurrection) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Now, according to Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary, circumcision means “a cutting down (off), i.e. mutilation (ironically) :- concision.” Traditionally circumcision applies to the surgical practice of male circumcision, which was an important ritual demanded by Hebrew Law. This symbol foreshadowed the change in nature caused by faith in Christ, and the cutting away of old habits and sinful nature. Those who wanted to make the Gentile believes conform to Hebrew customs were actually superimposing their own preferences upon the salvation established by faith in Christ. They were wrong, because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is all-sufficient for salvation. There was and is no need to add anything to it.
People who wish to add their own schemes and cultural preferences as requirements for salvation divert the energy of the body of Christ away from the atoning death and shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul refers to such people as “dogs” meaning “hound” (literal and figurative). This implies being “hounded” or repeatedly badgered (in actuality threatened) by the demands of mere men. There is much of this practice going on in the Church today. There are men and women who badger believers with outrageous demands for money, promising them God’s blessings in the form of monetary gains. They encourage those who are naïve and unaware of what the word of God says, to practice rituals and embrace behaviors that are outside of Biblical instruction.
But what does the Bible say about tithes? The Bible instructs us to pay tithes (10 percent of annual gross income). But some pastors go far beyond the tithes and offerings. Some pastors actually rob their congregations with repeated requests for money, and then berate people who are too poor to give what they ask. The Bible tells us to help the poor, and the purpose of tithes is to make sure that the church has provision enough to stem the tide of lack caused by poverty. Malachi 3:10 King James Version (KJV) says:
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
So, one of the main purposes of tithes is to make sure there is “meat” in the House of God. The Lord promises blessings upon those who pay tithes, so that they can continue to give of their abundance, so that the church can continue its provision for its people. Prosperity gospel preachers who abuse the principle of tithes burden their congregation the same way that first century Christian Jews demanding circumcision burdened Gentile believers.
The Lord requires believers to study the word of God, so that we will know what the truth is. The first line of defense against deception is faith. But “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). So to have faith, we must hear and study the word of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The one sure way to avoid being duped or hounded by the dogs who seek to harness your faith, energy, and money for their own selfish ends, is to search the word of God for yourself, to make sure that what you learning is the truth.
Until next time, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!
Your friend in Christ,
Verneda
Twitter handle: @vlights
References
circumcision. (n.d.) Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary in Bible Explorer. Retrieved March 30, 2012
tithes. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved July 11, 2012 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tithe
© 2012 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.
