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REAL ISSUE: GLOBAL TITHING
'...for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.’ Malachi 3:9
As I was hearing a teaching on tithing by my e-Pastor, Bro. Keith Moore of Faith Life Church in Branson, MO, the thought came of “what if a whole nation tithed?” What if an entire country gave ten percent of its national income to promote the kingdom of God here on earth?
RESEARCH AND STUDY What percentage of the United States governments’ income is spent on foreign aid? According to the Congressional Research Service report on the ‘State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2011 Budget and Appropriations’, 54.22 billion1. For time sake, is fifty-four billion ten percent (10%) or a tithe of the federal governments’ income? Yes. According to the Concord Coalition2, our government reported 2.162 trillion as income for fiscal year 2010; which means ten percent (10%) of that 2.162 trillion is 2.162 billion. So, our government surpassed the ten percent tithe benchmark by 250%.
Currently, the U.S. distributes that 54.22 billion to approximately 150 countries. However, the top recipients of that aid according to Vaughn’s Summaries3, is dispersed to eighteen (18) countries. Chart A-1 provides those top recipients and the percentage of the Christian population4;
· Israel (Christian – 3.5%)
· Egypt (Predominantly Muslim, Christian – 12.9%)
· Columbia (Christian – 97%)
· Jordan (Predominantly Muslim, Christian - 6%)
· Pakistan (Predominantly Muslim, Christian – 1.6%)
· Peru (Christian – 93.8%)
· Indonesia (Predominantly Muslim, Christian – 12.3%)
· Kenya (Christian – 85.1%)
· Boliva (Christian - 97%)
· Ukraine (Christian – 91.5%)
· India (Christian – 2.4%)
· Haiti (Christian – 83.7%)
· Russia (Christian – 70.3%)
· Ethiopia (Christian – 64.5%)
· West Bank/Gaza (Christian – 0.7%)
· Liberia (Christian – 40%)
· Bangladesh (Predominantly Muslim, Christian – 0.3%)
· Bosnia (Christian – 51%)
Of those 18 nations, 5 are predominantly Muslim5. That means 72% or the bulk of foreign aid is going into predominantly Christian nations. So what’s the problem within those countries? Why do these professed Christian nations require assistance in bilateral development, multilateral economic contributions, humanitarian and military aid from the U.S.? Could it be that those Christian nations are themselves failing to tithe; thus they are ‘...cursed with a curse, for [they] have robbed [God], even [those] whole nation[s].’ (Malachi 3:9) The leaders of those nations have not dedicated ten percent of their countries income and/or resources to God.
But let’s ask the question—should foreign aid be considered as tithe? Technically no, because the tithe belongs to God and would have to be designated as such. In addition, the tithe would have to be given to those nations supporting the gospel. But could that aid actually be the contributing factor as to why God continues to protect our nation in spite of its moral flaws?
OUR ASSIGNMENT
Repent and ask God to forgive us for our penetrating observations and comments about the government. Then purpose to keep our mouths off our governments’ leaders. Pray and ask God to ‘give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17) Ask God to ‘fill them with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom, including the financial wisdom found in the Word of God, and to give them spiritual understanding about how to spend our nations income and best utilize its resources. (Colossians 1:9) Be sure to cast your vote at the bottom of the page!!!
REFERENCES:
1 Congressional Research Service, ‘State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2011 Budget and Appropriations’, http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/161352.pdf
2 Concord Coalition, http://concordcoalition.org/federal-government-income
3 Vaughn’s Summaries, http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/politics/us-foreign-aid.htm
4 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_by_county
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