[Editor’s note. In light of some conferences and unions supporting LGBTQ and refusing to protect the flock on this issue, we have received numerous questions and articles on the issue of financial faithfulness for committed SDA members. We intend to publish three articles regarding tithing, including a future article by a conference treasurer who will present the traditional approach to tithing. As always, Fulcrum7 encourages church members to pay a faithful tithe, and we do not seek or accept tithe at Fulcrum7. We do seek to facilitate an honest conversation on tithing that may address some of the many questions we receive on the topic. This article by Danny Shelton makes a valuable contribution to the discussion of financial faithfulness.]
Ever since my 3ABN 2023 summer camp meeting sermon, I have received several thousand comments and questions. My new book entitled “Can The Christian Church Affirm LGBTQ?” answers a number of those questions concerning the church and its position concerning the LGBTQ crisis within the SDA church and other Christian churches as well. What I didn’t address in the book written for the public is,“to tithe or not to tithe?”
As most of you know by now, the SDA church has a growing number of pastors and members who identify as either homosexual, bi-sexual, transgender, etc. One of the questions that is being asked by SDA church members is:“What do I do about tithing when my pastor has openly admitted that he is a practicing bi-sexual?” Another question I hear is,“My local church will not fire my homosexual pastor. Should I continue to pay my tithe and offerings to the church?” “Should I pay my tithe to an independent ministry with zero tolerance for the LGBTQ movement within the SDA church?” The short answer is, we each should pay our tithe to wherever the HOLY SPIRIT impresses us to give it! I’m pretty sure it won’t be to a church that supports any open sin including the LGBTQ movement! Tithing is for our own benefit. God does not need the money, He wants our hearts and minds! But generally speaking, most people won’t give 10% of their income to something they don’t believe in.
I remember years ago when I had a meeting with a former NAD President. He was concerned that 3ABN was either accepting or soliciting tithe. So he asked me point blank. “Danny, when someone asks you where they should send their tithe, where do you tell them to send it?” I immediately answered, “I tell them to send their tithe where the Holy Spirit in accordance with the Word of God impresses them to send it.” Now, I thought that would be the correct answer. How can you go wrong whenever you encourage anyone to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit?”
I remember how upset he was with me because I didn’t suggest they send their tithe to any particular church, conference, or union within the NAD. He was visibly upset at me. So I asked him, “How can I ever go wrong when I ask someone to follow the unction of the Holy Spirit?” His reply was, “Apparently you have not read the NAD handbook that tells you that as an American all tithe must go to the NAD!” I had to admit I had not read the NAD handbook, as I didn’t even know the NAD had a handbook. But I had to inform him that the Holy Spirit would take precedence over the NAD handbook, should a conflict arise between the two!
3ABN was doing work in Russia in the early 1990’s. The pastors were making about $15 US a month. I asked a particular church leader if he thought it was ok for me to give some of my tithe to the Russian church…To my surprise, he immediately said “No. All tithe dollars in America will be given through the proper channels and Russia will not be overlooked.” While it’s important to pay tithe for the Christian, I do believe it’s an “overkill” for a church leader to tell a church member where he must invest his personal money within the church!
Now let’s talk about the issue at hand. There is growing deception within the SDA church when it comes to the affirmation of LGBTQ individuals, including the acceptance of same-sex marriage. Many leaders and members have chosen to be silent on the issue. Satan waited for the exact timing to offer the LGBTQ “kool- aid” to the members of the SDA church to drink. Adventists have always known and taught that homosexual activity was a sin against the 7th commandment of God. And as long as there was not an “in your face LGBTQ push” by openly homosexual groups, it was not an issue to be taken very seriously by the SDA church leadership to accept or reject. Things have changed drastically over the past few years within Adventism concerning the LGBTQ movement.
In fact, only about 10-15 years ago, any pastor questioning the authority of the official SDA church’s doctrinal position concerning the affirmation of the LGBTQ movement would have more than likely been fired and probably disfellowshipped!
For most of my life, I have been taught that the SDA church is God’s last day Remnant Church on this earth. And there’s a reason for this. The SDA church doctrines align with all the qualifications of the last day remnant church described in Revelation. Here it is:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17, KJV).
As Adventists we have done a pretty good job defining the “remnant of her seed”. The “seed” of the woman, “spermatos,” is Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:5).
“The remnant of her seed” refers to those who follow Christ. They live their lives in obedience to the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17). They remain faithful to God in times of crisis and apostasy! They cannot deviate from the cover of the true church that delivered Jesus the seed!
So far, I think we can all agree that one of the identifying marks of the last day remnant church on earth will be a church that teaches and keeps all the commandments of God. Let’s read 1st Peter 2:9,
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
The word “peculiar” here represents a “separated people” or maybe even a “special” group of Christians that down through the ages have not veered to the right or to the left spiritually. They have kept their eyes on Jesus and followed Him even when facing death! The Bible and history are full of people who would not compromise their faith to adjoin themselves with the secular ways of the world. Their loyalty to God was shown by their lives and their actions.
As you probably know, we SDA’s put the other Christian churches to the “Remnant Church Test”. Well, think about it. Every Christian denomination cannot be the last day remnant church..right? According to our “SDA Remnant Church Test,”Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, are not the Remnant Church based on that fact that their theological positions are in direct conflict to the law of God. Isn’t that what we as SDA’s teach? Most notably, these Christian churches flunk the “Remnant Church Test” when they fail the “Sabbath” or 4th commandment test. Right?
Would it be fair to say that any organization who claims to be the Remnant Church of God, but does not keep ALL Ten Commandments of God is a counterfeit church?
Of course, this is the short version of the Bible definition of a church that meets the qualifications of God’s last day remnant church. But it’s very important that we understand that God has people who will be part of the last day remnant group from every nation, kindred, tongue and people (Revelation 7:9). It’s also true that there are people who claim membership in the SDA church who are not part of the remnant. I realize that I might be stirring up a hornets’ nest.
I think scripture will confirm that the only sinner God does not forgive is the unrepentant one—in other words, those people who know the truth but refuse to change from their wicked ways. In fact, that is exactly what is happening in the church today.
LGBTQ+
Let’s talk about the practice of homosexuality within the SDA church. Why? Because it is one of the sins that the homosexual community refuses to admit as sin. In fact, they are bullying Christian churches, including the SDA church, to accept or affirm their sexual sins as a lifestyle that God sanctions and blesses. Basically, they are demanding that we as a church accept them into full membership and serve as church leaders!
So let me ask you: Since homosexuality is a sin, does this disqualify the SDA church from being the Remnant Church of God? I’ll answer that question with a question. Since there are people in the church who are adulterers, which is also a sin against the 7th commandment, does that exclude the SDA church from being the remnant church?
The answer of course is, “no”. Here’s why: there have always been people guilty of committing sins within the Christian churches of this world. We should remember the church is a hospital for sinners, bringing people to freedom through repentance and cleansing. There are no churches full of perfect saints.
So, in a nutshell, as long as the SDA church through it’s world administration of GC, divisions, unions, etc., uphold the law of God fully, they are not excluded from being the remnant church.
In my opinion, the world church must not stand silently by when we have members including some pastors within the church “coming out” as practicing homosexuals. Adventist Christians are to be watchmen on the wall calling out any and all open sin manifesting itself within the walls of God’s church.
What I’m about to say here may raise a few eyebrows…As SDA’s, I believe that we must hold our own feet to the fire. We must pass the same “remnant test” as the other churches. We are not God’s last-day remnant church because we have chosen the name Seventh-day Adventist. We have committed to uphold the entire law of God..all 10 commandments. No church, including the SDA church can affirm the LGBTQ movement and still be God’s remnant church. Thus, I encourage all of our church leaders, from pastors to the General Conference President, to take a public stand for truth against this open sin now inside the walls of the SDA church. Our SDA colleges and universities must not be be allowed to continue to promote homosexuality by supporting LGBTQ groups on campus, while refusing to allow ministries such as Coming Out Ministries to speak about the victory that God can give to those trapped without hope in their homosexual practices!
Financial Faithfulness
So, let’s summarize the above. I cannot tell you what to do, but I can tell you what I would do in the same position. If I belonged to a church/union, etc., that is supportive of the LGBTQ movement within the SDA church, I would NOT pay my tithe to that church or union. Why? Because light and darkness don’t mix. I cannot in good conscience financially support any local church with my tithe and offerings that openly breaks the law of God. It’s that simple. I look at it like this…If the local church or union supports such ungodly practices within their church, I would not encourage them by supporting them financially! If fact, there are plenty of other options to return God’s tithe back to Him.
So we come back to the question: Where should I send my tithe and offerings? According to the Bible, the tithe and offerings are to be used to support the work of the church which includes evangelism. Supporting the LGBTQ movement within the SDA church does not qualify as a good financial investment in evangelism, at least to me.
I will end by saying this to each of you: I would suggest that each of us pray and ask the Holy Spirit where we should send our tithe and offerings. In accordance with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will not and cannot lead you wrong on this or any other decision you are about to make in your life!
If you would like your free cases of “Can The Christian Church Affirm LGBTQ+?” booklet for giveaways, you can order them at 3ABN.tv. All you pay is the shipping cost of $28 for a case of 200 books.. (The entire 2,500,000 books recently printed have been sponsored by individual donors).
Praise the Lord!
Danny Shelton
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