Mailbag

Send us comments on Twitter!
Watch What We Do!

Search

Looking for something specific? Try a search below!

  • Tithes on non-monetary benefits

    Dear Pastor John,

    Greetings in Jesus’ name! I have a question about paying tithes on non-monetary benefits from my job. For instance, health insurance, life insurance, workman’s comp, employer-paid social security (6.2%) and so forth? It’s estimated that these employer-paid costs are 30% – 35% of one’s income? 

    Also, is the 10% tithe not owed on social security until it’s received at retirement. Likewise, workman’s comp. is not paid until one is injured? I’m just trying to figure out what non-monetary benefits need to be tithed.

    God bless, Stephen G

    Marietta, GA

    ===============

    Hi Stephen.

    Thank you for your question.  You heart is in the right place, to even be pondering this issue.

    The simplest solution to the question of paying tithes on retirement contributions such as Social Security is to pay them only when the benefits are received.  The same holds true with Workman’s Comp.

    As for the perks that companies choose to offer in order to attract good workers, such as health and life insurance, I would not consider them to be “increase” to you, that tithes should be paid on.  I can see how someone might make a different argument, but that is how I see it.

    Fortunately for us all, God is not as picky as men are, and He is easy to please. When Jesus told us to “be anxious for nothing,” he was trying to get that point across to us.  Our relationship with God is a matter of the heart, Stephen.  We cannot do wrong in God’s sight as long as we are following after His righteousness and we keep our hearts free of condemnation.  Ask Jesus about what I have told you, and if he agrees, do that!  (And if he tells you something different, please let us know!)

    Thank you again for your very good question.  God bless you and those with you.

    Pastor John

  • “Friend”

    Hi John,

    Recently I was practicing reading a few verses in Greek from John 15. Verses 14-17 really stood out to me:

    You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves because the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends because all things which I heard from my Father I made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and your fruit should remain; so that what ever you may ask the Father in my name He may give it to you. These things I command you, that you may love one another.”

    It is no small thing for Jesus to call us his friend.

    I am very grateful to have a part in this family.

    Tom

  • In the Middle of Satisfaction!

    Pastor John
     
    As I was driving home last night I had this smile on my face.  I was completely happy, satisfied and very content!  I kept thanking Jesus for putting me here.  I really enjoyed “play day” yesterday with the kids.  Getting to know them….Caleb and how he stands at attention, Karlee and her sweet smile, David…whenever he starts a story how he says……..well…then hold on!    Watching Barbara and Jamie with the kids last night was very sweet.  They are so good with the kids.  This is truly a wonderful place to be, and the best family ever.  I could not have asked for a better home, to learn and to grow.
     
    When I was driving into work this morning I was listening to a cd from 2009, and Gary was singing one of Aunt Betty’s songs “I’m in the middle of Satisfaction”.  And I thought……….that’s it!  That is exactly how I feel.

     

    Michelle

  • The Fire within Babylon

    John,
     
    I often have wondered how to understand these two statements correctly, assuming what I think they are saying is true.

    1. The Spirit is saying, “Come out of Christianity!”
    2. The fire that will destroy Babylon (Christianity) will start inside Babylon.

    Wendell

    ===============

    Hi Wendell.
     
    Yes, Ezekiel did say that a fire would be ignited within Babylon [Christianity] that will destroy her, and yes, God said through Jeremiah and John that He wants his people to come out of Babylon.  Those two events need not be associated directly if the fire that starts within Christianity is not the fire of the holy Spirit, as we have often thought.  It could be a case of a fiery rebellion of carnal men within the Christianity who do not belong to Christ.  Also, we know that the Beast and his ten kings will be the ones who actually destroy Christianity; therefore, the fire that starts within Babylon doesn’t have to be the “holy ghost and fire”.
     
    Still, the prophecy in Ezekiel about the fire in Babylon strikes me as referring to the “holy ghost and fire”, and if that fire that is  within God’s people ever gets ignited again, they will see the truth about Church religion and follow the lamb out of it.  In doing so, they will be removing from Christianity the only thing preventing God from destroying it.  After all, Paul did say that God is ready to avenge all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled.  So, if the Spirit wakes up God’s people and they hear the voice calling them to “Come out of her, my people!”, that exodus of out Christianity by God’s people could be the spark that will lead to Christianity’s eventual destruction by the Beast.
     
    Thanks for the question.
     
    jdc

  • When Did Mary Believe?

    Hey Pastor John,

    At what point did Mary have a change of heart? Was she not among those earthly family members that thought Jesus was nuts and wanted to haul him off.

    Steve W.

    ===============

    Hi Steve.

    Mary does appear, at one point, to be among those relatives of Jesus who thought he was insane, and who came to “take him”, probably thinking that he was a disgrace to the family and possibly even a danger to himself and others.  Here are the verses in Mark 3 which leave that impression:

     20. And the multitude came together again, so that they could not even eat bread.

    21. And when his kinsmen heard of it, they came out to take him, for they were saying, “He’s lost his mind.”

    . . .

    31. Then his brothers and his mother came, and standing outside, they sent word to him, calling for him.

    32. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Look!  Your mother, and your brothers, and your sisters are outside, looking for you.”

     From the beginning, Mary pondered in her heart over the things she knew about Jesus (Lk. 2:19, 51).  She was like everyone else at the time, however.  She did not understand him.  We are not told about Mary’s spiritual journey, but we are told that she was with the disciples in the upper room, waiting for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:14).  So, she eventually came to believe, even if she was, for a while, as confused as everyone else about this remarkable man from Galilee.

    Good question.

    Pastor John 

  • Perverted nation

    This was unthinkable just a few years ago.  How swiftly a nation can be plunged into darkness!  A postage stamp honoring such a wretched human being?
     
    This government is not only evil; it is haughty and proud of how evil it is.  How long will God put up with man thumbing his nose at righteousness?
    jdc
     
    From: Brad Crooker

    This is extremely well-written and unapologetic:       

  • “Burying Your Talent” GCC – 1974

    Bro. John:

    I was going through some papers Sunday night and found something that I had typed from one of the GCC Old Meeting CDs – 1974. It seemed to go right along with some things that were said this past weekend. I loved the soberness I felt as I read it. Preacher Clark left a world of Godly wisdom for us. I am so thankful to have known him and, because of his faithfulness to Jesus, his life continues to bless us. Whew! This is so good, I just had to share it. Here is the excerpt from that CD:

    I hope that everyone here will make up your mind that you’re going to do something for God besides just go to the meeting and sit down, because you are going to be stripped of the ‘one talent’ you do have, if you do that. That’s how you ‘bury your talent’. If you want to know how a person buries his talent, [as Jesus described in his parable], if you want to know how you ‘bury it in the earth’, as the parable says – – know that YOU are the earth. You bury it in your body, and your own flesh, by keeping what you know to yourself, by keeping your testimony to yourself, and by keeping your talent to yourself, saying within yourself, ‘Let the other people do it.”

    “Some say, ‘I pay the preacher to do my preaching,’ or ‘I pay the choir to do my singing,’ or ‘I let others do the testifying.’ But let me tell you something. God, not you, is going to pay them for doing their part, and some of what He pays them with will be what He has taken away from you who have done nothing with what you had.”

    Preacher Clark’s words stirred my heart and, as you said this weekend, we are all going to reap what we sow. Your message and your father’s sobering words above, should cause us to examine our hearts and make up our minds to live a life that will bring honor to Jesus. He is more than worthy. After all, He has been so very good to us all, and as a sister recently said, “He is our Friend.”

    I really enjoyed the Oral Roberts video. It brought back the childhood memory of when Jesus healed my eye in that tent meeting in New Bern. Sweet memories!

    Sandy 🙂

  • loving the truth saves us

    Hey Pastor John!

    This morning on the way to work, Julie and I were listening to a cd from 2004. On it you said, “If you love the truth you’re going to be saved and your not going to be deceived.” That was just so good and so encouraging to my soul! I felt the spirit all over.

    There is so much hope in the truth and in Jesus!

  • Song in the meetin

    Hi!

    I’ve been meaning to write all week, and I still want to write you some things, but I’m watching the meeting from Wednesday night on replay, and listening to the song, (I don’t know its proper title), “The Best Thing To Me”. WOW. That is the best song I have ever heard. I can’t stop listening to it. I feel overwhelmed by it. I don’t think there has ever been a song that has impacted me as much. Well that’s the way it seems right now.

    It is a powerful song. It just seems like I can feel God’s great love for mankind, and his complete goodness and desire to take care of man. He doesn’t want to destroy; he would rather be good. I can’t describe it well enough. It just felt wonderful ALL the way through.

    The best parts were where it says ‘but the best thing to me’, and each thing was the best thing to me it seemed, especially “finding God’s favor”, and “love everybody”. I LOVED that – I didn’t know how much I want to love everybody that much, but singing it through so many times tonight I want to shout that part out!!! I loved how you repeated it several times.

    Anyway, I’ve tried typing out the words but some parts I didn’t quite get. Do you have the words at all that might be easy to email it??

    What a song!

    Hope all is well.

    Jenny

  • Making Genesis come alive

    Hey John,

    The new book about the Father and Son is like it is all New, even though we have read it several times before. The end of chapter 4 is so good!!! The Son of God is the reason for EVERY element of the Old Testament. Been reading Genesis, and this book with it. This book makes Genesis ALIVE!!! My my.

    Jr. E

Recent Posts