Question #83
Isn’t giving just another tradition of the church?
How can I Corinthians chapter 16:1-2 apply to all Christians today? It is in direct contradiction of 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. How can one be commanded to give what one has purposed in his heart and at the same time not give out of necessity and/or compulsion? A command doesn’t give credence to the notion of how one should feel about it; however, the latter passage suggests the state of the heart of the individual. Isn’t this just another tradition of the churches of Christ?
The Answer:
Neither passage is a tradition of churches of Christ. Both are teachings of scripture. There is no contradiction between the passages. Your question does not state what the contradiction is, but implies that it arises from the fact that one (1 Cor. 16:1-2) commands giving while the other (2 Cor. 9:6-8) directs the spirit in which the giving is to be done. Your underlying assumption is that the spirit or attitude with which a command is performed cannot itself be commanded. Neither support nor argument is given to support that conclusion. Examination discloses that the conclusion is incorrect.
For example, take this command: “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27; see also Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30. It is the right attitude or heart that makes obedience obedience instead of a mechanical going through of the motion. Romans 6:17-18 is to the point: “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; 18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.” The Lord spoke to the necessity of the right heart: “This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.” Matthew 15:8-9; see also Mark 7:6. It is often overlooked that Old Testament obedience had the same requirement. In fact, the Lord was quoting Isaiah 29:13: “And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them.”
From Genesis to Revelation the love of God is enjoined. This includes the manner in which and the motive that prompts our obedience. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.” John 14:15. If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; 6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. 13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Do you have more questions about the Bible? Then you have come to the right place! We have hundreds of answers to submitted questions, we have thousands of pages of detailed notes on Bible books (including Daniel, Zechariah, Revelation, Hosea, and Joel), we have hundreds of audio and video Bible classes, we have thousands of sermons (many in video), and we have much, much more! Please take a few minutes to look around, and don't forget to bookmark the site! Thanks for visiting!