What is Jekyll and Hyde Syndrome?

What is the Jekyll and Hyde Personality?

A Jekyll and Hyde personality is someone with a split personality that may have two distinct and diametrically opposed personalities. A split personality can have one side that is friendly and easygoing, while the other can be disconnected or even abusive. 

These people reveal different facets of themselves based on the circumstances but they are also capable of possessing double lives or completely different personalities—personalities that would be barely recognizable to people who meet them in other settings.

The characters Jekyll and Hyde are the brainchild of Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson’s famed Victorian era fiction novel was inspired by him being plagued by intense and disturbing nightmares of living dual lives himself and so Jekyll and Hyde were created. Let’s look deeper into the Jekyll And Hyde Personality.

The Jekyll And Hyde Personality

Normal people experience mood swings from time to time and have diverse personalities but people with Jekyll and Hyde personalities are on a whole other level. They might experience radical mood swings and outbursts of rage. 

There’s no knowing what might get them all fired up and spiraling into the dark evil side of their personality which may be depressed, cold and sulky or even worse abusive, cruel and violent. Such people are said to have Jekyll and Hyde Syndrome, and they might live double lives which cause much inner turmoil for them and for their loved ones.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is about a man named Dr. Henry Jekyll, who is well-liked, popular, and has a magnificent intellect, but is well aware of the duplicity of his life and the evil that hides inside him.

Dr. Jekyll subtly expresses the evil in his soul by numerous horrific actions, but he is unable to do so publicly for fear of social scrutiny. During his experiments, he creates a concoction that allows him to liberate this evil inside him from the influence of his good self, resulting in the creation of Edward Hyde.

Edward Hyde is amoral and corrupt. His psyche is not only opposite of Dr. Jekyll’s, but his body is also hideous and disfigured. As a result, Dr. Jekyll believes he can enjoy the pleasures that both sides of his personality without being hampered by the constraints of the other.

Edward Hyde steadily gains more influence over the ‘good’ counterpart, eventually driving Dr. Jekyll to his death by suicide.

Mood Shifts and Dualism in Jekyll And Hyde Personalities

People with the Jekyll and Hyde syndrome don’t just go through regular mood swings and reveal different aspects of themselves like the rest of us. The following characteristics distinguish individuals with a Jekyll and Hyde personality:

• Mood shifts accompanied with an entire personality switch
• Deeply conflicted inner selves bring about mood shifts
• Mood shifts that are often accompanied with abuse
• Mood shifts that are much higher in intensity and frequency as compared to an average individual
• Most of them are not even aware of their mood shifts or split personalities and may be in outright denial
• Some of them actually live dual lives. They might be well regarded members of the society that conceal a dark side of their personality that causes them to behave in ways that would be surprising and painful to those who hold them in high esteem 
• They could build multiple personalities to engage in actions that are not acceptable in mainstream society.

The 7 Types of Jekyll and Hyde Personalities

According to psychotherapist Beverly Engel there are seven types of Jekyll and Hyde personalities:

The Super Nice/ Abusive Person

This person can be sweet and charming one moment and aggressive the next. Disparagement, ridicule, and criticism are the most common forms of violence, but physical abuse can also eventuate. Once some time has elapsed, the individual is usually repentant and returns to his normal loving self only to spiral back into the darkness.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

The Unpredictable Person

You never know when this person will get irritated, explode, go on a rampage, retreat and sulk, or totally change their mind about anything. They are overly sensitive, and you never know whether anything you say or do would hurt them.

The classic Jekyll and Hyde who truly lives a double life

When he’s with his family, he might be one person, but when he’s not, he’s a totally different guy. Some people with this form of Jekyll and Hyde personality have developed distinct personalities, along with going by multiple names or marrying more than one person.

Someone whose personality radically changes when he or she drinks alcohol, takes drugs, or engages in other addictive activities

This sort of radical change normally occurs only when the individual is altered due to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other factors, as it did with Dr. Jekyll after he drank a concoction he crafted in his laboratory.

The Imposter

This person attempts to deceive others into believing that he is something they are not. This can mean claiming to care more about other people’s well-being or to be more popular than they are. They lie, deceive, and mislead people on a daily basis.

Someone whose opinion of others fluctuates drastically

This individual has a tendency to categorise others as either “all good” or “all bad.” Whenever they see others as “all evil,” they can’t see any praiseworthy virtues about them and feel rightful in treating them badly or absolutely ignoring them even if it is their very own child.

Someone who changes dramatically when you challenge him or her in any way

As long as things are going their way or they are in charge, these people can be compassionate and accommodating. You will see a totally different person if you do not do what they wishe, if you criticise them in some way, or if you dare to refute them. They will get angry, dismissive, and harsh.

Causes of Jekyll And Hyde Syndrome

People suffering from this syndrome are quite often extremely conflicted individuals. It’s possible that this inner conflict stems from being raised by conservative religious or authoritarian parents who disciplined them harshly for misbehaving.

A Jekyll and Hyde personality develops a deep dark side or Shadow that contains all of the repressed and internalised feelings and desires. This dark side has the ability to physically take over a human, forcing them to form a separate entity that is free to carry out secret desires. Scary isn’t it?

It seems as if people with the Jekyll and Hyde personality have an “episode” that causes them to alter their personality for a short period of time. Many who were verbally, emotionally, or sexually abused as children often experience drastic mood swings as a result of someone or something triggering memories of the trauma.

Signs of Jekyll And Hyde Personality

Here are some signs of the Jekyll and Hyde Personality:

• They might be giving signs of having double lives
• They change dramatically based on who they are in the presence of.
• They might confuse others by keeping them confused about who they actually are
• Certain events trigger this person ‘s personality to shift or their mood to change abruptly.
• They tend to have a public persona that is somewhat inconsistent with how they act in the privacy of their own home.
• They often contradict themselves by expressing one viewpoint or opinion one moment and the opposite viewpoint the next.
• They tend to be hypocritical in that they strongly condemn some behaviours in others while often engaging in the same actions themselves.
• They see themselves in a very different light than the rest of the world does.
• Once they’ve had a few drinks or used recreational drugs, they change their personality or become an entirely different person.
• They want to be seen as a pillar of the society or as someone who is deeply religious, but they often engage in conduct that is deemed inappropriate, immoral, or even illegal.

The Takeaway

Ours is a universe of darkness and light, of goodness and evil and we as humans possess dualism of nature. Each of us has a side which we prefer to show the world i.e. persona (Dr. Jekyll), and a dark side which we try so hard to hide from others i.e. the shadow self (Mr. Hyde).

Guess what? The parts of us which were rejected or denied expression when we were children have not died out, in fact they live on within us to this very moment (aka the beast inside). Wisdom lies in acknowledging that each of us has a dark side and doing shadow work in order to understand ourselves better and help ourselves. 

Conclusion

In this article, we will look at the Jekyll and Hyde personality in depth and explore the types of Jekyll and Hyde personalities along with signs and causes of Jekyll and Hyde Syndrome.

If you’ve enjoyed the ”Jekyll And Hyde Personality” you should take a look at ”Fight Club: Multiple Personality Disorder” too.

Frequently Asked Questions: Jekyll And Hyde Personality

What mental disorder does Dr Jekyll have?

The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a notable example of split personality disorder.

Is Jekyll and Hyde about schizophrenia?

However, while the term schizophrenia had not yet been invented, there is no suggestion that the public at the time thought of the Jekyll and Hyde personality as schizophrenia. In reality, the Jekyll and Hyde personality was linked to the concept of multiple personalities, which is now known as dissociative identity disorder.

Why did Jekyll kill himself?

Hyde’s evil grows more pronounced as the story advances. Finally, when Jekyll commits suicide in order to rid himself of Hyde (suicide is considered an unethical act by the church), Hyde takes over as the dominant evil entity, and the dying Jekyll transforms into Hyde in his final moments.

Is Jekyll and Hyde one person?

Mr. Hyde and Jekyll are the same human. Dr. Jekyll is a scientist who, in order to distinguish his good self from his evil instincts, concocts a potion that turns him into a man without a conscience.

What is the message of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson’s spiritual lesson is that man’s soul is combined with both good and bad components. Since man is characterised by the strife within his own self and how he interacts with it, these essential elements cannot be segregated.

REMEMBERING GODSPELL 50 YEARS LATER

 

 In light of the Watergate Scandal, the ongoing Vietnam War and inflation, Americans needed to hear "good news" in the turbulent times of the early 1970's and "Godspell" fit the bill. 

On March 21, 1973 "Godspell" hit the silver screens across the country. In the area where I grew up, people were lining up and down the blocks surrounding the local movie theaters to see the movie. One theater even decided to schedule an additional morning and midnight showing because of the demand from the public.

The movie's synopsis is taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. The movie utilizes the parables within the gospel of Matthew to tell the story of the "good news" via Jesus and his disciples in an engaging, non-threatening format through story and the musical score of composer Stephen Swartz. The musical score includes the iconic "Day by Day" sung by Robin Lamont along with David Haskell's "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord," Joanna Jonas's "Turn Back, O Man," Lynne Thigpen's "Bless the Lord," Victor Garber's "Alas for You," Merrell Jackson's "All Good Gifts, and Katie Henley's "By My Side." 

The movie was shot in its entirety on location within the New York City metropolitan area featuring such landmarks as The Brooklyn Bridge, Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, Andrew Carnegie Mansion, Times Square, Lincoln Center, and North Tower of the World Trade Center, Fifth Avenue, Cherry Lane Theater, Hell Gate Bridge and Randall's Island.

Little did the producers of the movie know that its release would help to fuel the "Jesus People" and "Jesus Freak" movement during the early 70's. Jesus People and Freaks would go door to door handing out copies of "The Way" and "Good News for Modern Man" paperback Bibles. Our family was one of those whose lives were changed because of "Godspell" and the movement which followed it.

As we move forward into the 21st Century with all of its turmoil and turbulence, there is still the need for "good news" and "Godspell" still fits the bill.

 

 

What is the Sermon on the Mount?

   

The Sermon on the Mount is the sermon that Jesus gave in Matthew chapters 5-7. Matthew 5:1-2 is the reason it is known as the Sermon on the Mount: "Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them..." The Sermon on the Mount is the most famous sermon Jesus ever gave, perhaps the most famous sermon ever given by anyone.

The Sermon on the Mount covers several different topics. It is not the purpose of this article to comment on every section, but rather to give a brief summary of what it contains. If we were to summarize the Sermon on the Mount in a single sentence, it would be something like this: How to live a life that is dedicated to and pleasing to God, free from hypocrisy, full of love and grace, full of wisdom and discernment.

Matthew 5:3-12 - The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt and Light
Matthew 5:17-20 - Jesus fulfilled the Law
Matthew 5:21-26 - Anger and Murder
Matthew 5:27-30 - Lust and Adultery
Matthew 5:31-32 - Divorce and Remarriage
Matthew 5:33-37 - Oaths
Matthew 5:38-42 - Eye for an Eye
Matthew 5:43-48 - Love your enemies
Matthew 6:1-4 - Give to the Needy
Matthew 6:5-15 - How to Pray
Matthew 6:16-18 - How to Fast
Matthew 6:19-24 - Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6:25-34 - Do not worry
Matthew 7:1-6 - Do not judge hypocritically
Matthew 7:7-12 - Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew 7:13-14 - The Narrow Gate
Matthew 7:15-23 - False Prophets
Matthew 7:24-27 - The Wise Builder

Matthew 7:28-29 concludes the Sermon on the Mount with the following statement: "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." May we all continue to be amazed at His teaching and follow the principles that He taught in the Sermon on the Mount!

 

 

The Mathematical Probability that Jesus is the Christ

 

The reason why prophecy is an indication of the divine authorship of the Scriptures, and hence a testimony to the trustworthiness of the Message of the Scriptures, is because of the minute probability of fulfillment.

Anyone can make predictions. Having those prophecies fulfilled is vastly different. In fact, the more statements made about the future, and the more the detail, then the less likely the precise fulfillment will be. For example, what’s the likelihood of a person predicting today the exact city in which the birth of a future leader would take place, well into the 22nd century? This is indeed what the prophet Micah did 700 years before the Messiah. Further, what is the likelihood of predicting the precise manner of death that a new unknown religious leader would experience, a thousand years from now – a manner of death presently unknown, and to remain unknown for hundreds of years? Yet, this is what David did in 1000 B.C. Again, what is the likelihood of predicting the specific date of the appearance of some great future leader, hundreds of years in advance? This is what Daniel did, 530 years before Christ.

If one were to conceive 50 specific prophecies about a person in the future, whom one would never meet, just what’s the likelihood that this person will fulfill all 50 of the predictions? How much less would this likelihood be if 25 of these predictions were about what other people would do to him, and were completely beyond his control? For example, how does someone “arrange” to be born in a specific family? How does one “arrange” to be born in a specified city, in which their parents don’t actually live? How does one “arrange” their own death – and specifically by crucifixion, with two others, and then “arrange” to have their executioners gamble for His clothing (John 16;19; Psalms 22:18)? How does one “arrange” to be betrayed in advance? How does one “arrange” to have the executioners carry out the regular practice of breaking the legs of the two victims on either side, but not their own? How does one escape from a grave and appear to people after having been killed? Indeed, it may be possible for someone to fake one or two of the Messianic prophecies, but it would be impossible for any one person to arrange and fulfill all of these prophecies.

The science of probability attempts to determine the chance that a given event will occur. A professor at Westmont College, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes representing some 600 university students. The students carefully weighed all the factors, discussed each prophecy at length, and examined the various circumstances which might indicate that men had conspired together to fulfill a particular prophecy. They made their estimates conservative enough so that there was finally unanimous agreement even among the most skeptical students. However the professor then took their estimates, and made them even more conservative. He also encouraged other skeptics or scientists to make their own estimates to see if his conclusions were more than fair.

Finally, he submitted his figures for review to a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. Upon examination, they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented. For example, concerning Micah 5:2, where it states the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, the professor and his students determined the average population of BETHLEHEM from the time of Micah to the present; then they divided it by the average population of the earth during the same time period. They concluded that the chance of one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000.

After examining only eight different prophecies, they conservatively estimated that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight prophecies was one in 10^17. To illustrate how large the number 10^17 is (a figure with 17 zeros), the professor gave this illustration: If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They’ll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up the one silver dollar that has the special mark on it. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would’ve had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time.

In financial terms, is there anyone who would not invest in a financial venture if the chance of failure were only one in 10^17? This is the kind of sure investment we’re offered by God for faith in His Messiah.

From these figures, the professor concludes the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of the prophecies – the likelihood of mere chance is only one in 10^17. Another way of saying this is that any person who minimizes or ignores the significance of the biblical identifying signs concerning the Messiah would be foolish.

But, of course, there are many more than eight prophecies. In another calculation, the professor used 48 prophecies (even though he could have used Edersheim’s 456), and arrived at the extremely conservative estimate that the probability of 48 prophecies being fulfilled in one person is the incredible number 10^157. How large is 10^157? 10^157 contains 157 zeros!

The professor gives an illustration of this number using electrons. Electrons are very small objects. They’re smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10^15 of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one inch long. With this introduction, let’s go back to our chance of one in 10^157. Let’s suppose that we’re taking this number of electrons, marking one, and thoroughly stirring it into the whole mass, then blindfolding a man and letting him try to find the right one. What chance has he of finding the right one? What kind of a pile will this number of electrons make? They make an inconceivably large volume.

This is the result from considering a mere 48 prophecies. Obviously, the probability that 456 prophecies would be fulfilled in one man by chance is vastly smaller. Once one goes past one chance 10^50, the probabilities are so small that it is impossible to think that they will ever occur.

As the professor concludes, “Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact, proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.”

DID JESUS EVER PAY TITHES?

 

Sarah Leann Young

Why Jesus Didn't Tithe | The Truth About Tithing

Okay, church checkers. Let’s talk about tithing.

This year we’re going to focus a lot on the topics of tithing, freewill offerings, and Christian generosity. There are tons of lies being propagated all throughout the Christian Church on these topics, which I believe are for financially exploitative reasons. So let’s knock ‘em down, one at a time.

Unfortunately, I would argue most Christians don’t know the basics about what the Bible teaches on tithing, freewill offerings, and Christian generosity because of the lies their churches have repeatedly taught them. I didn’t either until just a few years ago.

My hope and goal with posts like this is to raise awareness about these lies and spread the truth about biblical tithing, stewardship, and Christian giving. Not necessarily to discourage Christians from being generous or giving to their church, but to protect them from potentially exploitative and deceptive churches who seek dishonest financial gain. We should be generous as Christians, but we should be generous to the needy, not the greedy. As good stewards of our money and as Christians, we should be responsible donors as well, and responsible donors protect themselves and their loved ones from fraud and exploitation.

But we’ll get to all of that later. For now, let’s get to the truth about tithing.

Before we jump into the surprising fact that Jesus didn’t tithe, let’s review what biblical tithing actually is, so no one’s confused about what we’re talking about.

What is Tithing?

Contrary to popular belief, tithing isn’t what our churches tell us it is. In fact, virtually every church I’ve ever attended or observed is wrong, either intentionally or unintentionally, about tithing. I could write a book on this lie (actually, I am), but for now, let’s briefly cover what biblical tithing is and is not.

1. Tithing was a temple ordinance of the Mosaic Law for the people of Israel.

No, it’s not the first ten percent of your income that goes to the local Christian church, and it’s not for “all believers” either. It was a temple ordinance, not a Christian ordinance, that originated in the Mosaic Law to be practiced by the people of Israel and no one else.

(Deut. 1:1-3; Lev. 27:34; Neh. 10:28-29; Num. 18:25-26)

2. Tithing wasn’t money; it was food and animals grown and raised in the holy land of Israel.

Tithing also wasn’t money. Church leaders conveniently neglect this biblical fact when telling us it comes from money. It didn’t come from the Israelites' monetary salaries, and yes, they had them. God specifically instructed the Israelites to tithe from the increase of the holy land of Israel, and nothing else. Of every description of the tithing ordinance in Scripture, not a single one describes tithing as money. It had to be taken from the increase of the holy land of Israel.

(Deut. 12: 17; Num. 18:25-31; Neh. 10:37-39; Luke 11:42)

3. Tithing was separate from the firstfruits offering and the freewill offerings.

Not only is tithing not a Christian ordinance according to the Bible, nor is it money, it also wasn’t the first ten percent of the increase of the land of Israel either. The firstfruits of the Old Covenant between God and Israel were actually separate from the tithe and consisted of a small basket of produce or the firstborn of a herdsman’s flock in the land of Israel. It was not a part of the tithe and it was a very small portion, but just like the tithe, it wasn’t money either. It was food and animals from the land of Israel.

In the New Testament, the firstfruits of the New Covenant are Jesus Christ Himself and the first believers. This should give you a good idea of what that means New Covenant tithing comprises. Here’s a hint: it’s about faith, not food, animals, money, or anything else.

(Deut. 26:1-4; Lev. 23:17; Num. 18:13-17; 2 Chron. 31:5; 1 Cor. 15:20-23; )

4. Tithing was only to be given to the Levitical and Aaronic Priests of Israel.

Biblical tithing was specifically instructed by God to be given to the priests of the tribes of Levi and Aaron, and no one else. It was their inheritance from God. If anyone else received the tithe or even went near the tabernacle, they would be put to death. According to Scripture, no one except the Levitical and Aaronic priests can accept the tithe. For Christian pastors today to twist the tithing ordinance and take it for themselves is to twist God’s Law for dishonest financial gain. This is the literal definition of fraud.

(Numbers 18:20-22)

5. Only landowners and herdsmen that could afford the tithe were required to tithe. People of different vocations, such as carpenters, fishermen, tax collectors, and craftsmen were not required to tithe. Additionally, the poor, widowed, orphaned, and foreigners were exempt from the tithe. Instead, God provided for the poor and supported them through tithing and gleaning laws.

Biblical tithing was not for “all believers” in Israel, nor for all the citizens of Israel. It was strictly for herdsmen and farmers within the land of Israel with enough land and herds to tithe while still providing for their own families. This excluded people without land and herds of animals, and the poor.

In fact, not only were non-landowners, the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, and foreigners exempt from the tithing ordinance, but they received from the tithe and were further provided for by gleaning laws as well. The gleaning law allowed the poor to pick from the gleanings of anyone’s harvest in the land of Isreal.

(Deuteronomy 24:19-21; 26:12; Lev. 23:22; Isaiah 52 & 55)

It’s these last little-known facts about biblical tithing that brings us to the purpose of this post: Why Jesus didn’t tithe.

Why Jesus Didn’t Tithe

Given the biblical definition and facts surrounding tithes and offerings, we know Jesus didn’t tithe.

First, like His earthly father Joseph, Jesus was a carpenter. He was not a landowner with herds and crops. Therefore, He literally couldn’t tithe according to Scripture. As we’ve already well-established, only herdsmen with the land and crops to tithe were required to tithe. Those of other trades didn’t tithe. (See #5 above)

Second, just like His parents and most of His disciples, Jesus was also poor. Contrary to what most churches teach us, the poor, just as those of different trades without land and animals, were exempt from the tithing ordinance. In fact, as we’ve already established, the poor were supported by the tithe and the gleaning laws God established in the Mosaic Law.

How do we know Jesus was poor and therefore not only exempt from tithing but also supported by it?

1. Jesus’ parents paid the smaller offering of the poor when He was born. (Luke 2:22-24; Lev. 14:21)

2. Jesus and His disciples benefited from the gleaning laws for the poor. If Jesus or His disciples weren’t really poor, they would have been stealing from the poor by gleaning. The Pharisees scolded them for gleaning on the Sabbath, but not stealing from the poor. Therefore, Jesus was poor and had the right to eat from the gleanings of anyone’s harvest in the land of Israel. (Deut. 24:19-21; Matt. 12:1-2; Mark 2:23-24; Luke 6:1-2)

Conclusion

I haven’t attended every single Christian church in America, but I’ve attended a lot of them, and the vast majority of the ones I’ve attended don’t teach the truth about tithing. And by the vast majority, I mean 98 or 99 out of 100.

Most of the local churches I’ve been to teach us tithing is a biblical principle of Christian generosity that applies to all believers, but that’s not true.

They teach us it’s the first ten percent of every Christian’s paycheck, which goes to the local church, regardless of how rich or poor that Christian is, but that’s not true.

They teach us Jesus loved to talk about money and it was His favorite topic in the Bible, but that’s not true either.

Once we read what the Bible says about tithing for ourselves, there’s no denying the facts:

• Tithing was a temple ordinance of the Mosaic Law to the people of Israel, not a mandate to the Christian Church.

• Tithing wasn’t money, but food and animals from the land of Israel.

• Tithing was separate from the firstfruit offering, which also wasn’t money, and was a very small basket of food or the firstborn of one’s flock.

• The poor, the widowed, the orphaned, the foreigner, and the non-landowner was exempt from the tithing ordinance, and the poor were actually supported by the tithe as well as gleaning laws.

• Whenever Jesus did talk about money, it was to condemn and rebuke the Pharisees and the money changers at the temple for financially exploiting the poor and the widowed, and to urge His disciples to sell all their possessions and give everything to the poor.

While abusive churches twist passages from the Bible out of their context to manipulate and coerce Christians into donating more, a plain and contextual reading of Scripture reveals that God provides for and protects the poor, while the Pharisees, the money changers, and the abusive shepherds of Israel exploited, extorted, and devoured them.

When it comes to their teachings on tithing and money, most of our local churches in America today resemble the abusive, exploitative behavior of the Pharisees, not Jesus Christ. We shouldn’t be using the story of the Widow’s Offering to take a poor Christian’s last two dollars. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for devouring widows’ houses. I think we ought to do the same.

So check your churches, dear Christians. Don’t contribute to the exploitation of the poor by regurgitating the lies our churches have brainwashed us with about tithing and money. Examine everything your church teaches, confront the lies, and tell the truth about tithing.

“Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?

Did not your father have food and drink?

He did what was right and just, so all went well with him.

He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.

Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.

“But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,

on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.”

Jeremiah 22:15-17

 

 

PASTORS (AKA JUDAS GOATS) FLEECING THE FLOCK

Would you believe that some of the most hurting and abused people are actually members or past members of churches? Many people I’ve met since being in ministry will not even step foot in a church. Why is that? Are they against God? Well, yes and no. Yes, because they may have been terribly hurt by “Christians” who claim to be servants, or even ministers of God. So therefore, they think God is like those who say they represent Him. But they would answer no, if they only know what God is really like. God is Love. God wants you free. God wants you to be in love with Him, and to receive His love, and to be full of exceeding peace and joy. God wants you healed, spirit, soul, and body. God wants you blessed and prosperous.

One particular sore spot among Church goers is the subject of “tithing”. I myself have been an advocate of tithing, and have faithfully tithed of all my income since 1988, every single cent of it. Not the “net” but the “gross”. I had been taught that a tithe was a minimum God demanded, and that if I didn’t pay my tithe, I was robbing God, and would be cursed. Not wanting to be under the curse, I obeyed. Every church I’ve been in has used Malachi 3:10-12, promising blessings beyond your ability to even have room enough to receive them.

And if you mention that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law, and that we are not under the law in the New Testament, then, it would be argued, you are rebellious, that Abraham tithed before the law. And he did. He gave a tenth of the spoils of war, stuff that wasn’t even his to begin with. Not to mention the fact that Abraham gave the tithe to Melchisidec himself, which was the pre-incarnate Christ, not to the church. But we won’t mention that fact, to keep from stepping on toes here.

Anyway, always feeling such a desire to please God, we have gladly paid our tithes faithfully without grumbling or complaining, no matter how sorely pressed we were in our finances. We believed God would take care of our needs. It was a way of life. On January 30th (2003), while on a ministry trip, after spending three days in prayer and study, parked in our motorhome without getting out of it, the Holy Spirit spoke strongly to me about tithing, and I wasn’t even seeking God about that. I had to repent. He said, and I quote, “Do you think it a marvelous thing that I, the Holy One of Israel, should set my people free from the oppression the Pastors are putting on them?” I said, Lord, what are you saying to me? He went on to say, “I am tired of the Pastors fleecing my flocks. Pastors are teaching their congregations to live by faith to believe I will meet all their needs by their tithing. And all the while, the Pastors are counting on men to supply their needs by the tithes they receive, instead of relying on Me to meet their needs. And I am fed up with the oppression of my people by the churches!”
He led me to Ezekiel 34, and Jeremiah 23 about the Pastors and Shepherds that are abusing His church. Judgment is beginning, at the church. And some of it is happening right here, right now.

A few months ago, I received a prophetic word from a Pastor, “You are going to receive revelation from God, preach it!”
But I have a real good idea this revelation I received isn’t going to sit well with him, or with most churches. I’ll probably be branded a troublemaker and avoided. Why? Because if the people stop tithing, the churches will have to start believing God for their income. And they’re not going to want to do that. It would require repentance, and getting out of their comfort zone.
Well, let me tell you what. I’ve had to do both, and I made it through to the other side, to a place of peace and joy. There are people like me out there who have tithed faithfully for years, believing they were pleasing God exceedingly with their obedience, showing God that they put Him before their own needs. I believe God knew my heart and honored it to an extent. I did it out of a right attitude. But now God has corrected me, and is holding me responsible to walk in this new knowledge, and no longer in the old. Actually, it’s not new knowledge at all, just new to me.

Some people at reading this are going to jump with joy at being told they don’t have to tithe, because they don’t have a giving heart in the first place. Their money is their god. I sorrow for you, and pray for you, that God may change your heart, and give you a heart to give, like His.
Others of you, have a mind like a steel trap…rusted shut, and you are not open to correction by God or anyone else. If this be you, I pray for you also, that God will grant you repentance and give you a teachable and tender heart. Still others, are teachable, but have been taught error. And they’ve accepted it, because, rather than get in God’s word and search it out, they have taken other people’s word for what it says. That’s just plain being lazy. If you say, I don’t understand what I read, then ask God for wisdom. He says He will give it to you if you ask in faith. Others of you may be baby Christians, and just don’t know enough yet to know what to believe.
Listen, people, your eternal future depends on what you believe and do. You’d better make sure of what you are putting your faith in, that it is God’s doctrine, and not Man’s doctrine. Take the advise of John, written in 1 John 4:1-3, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already it is in the world.” Test this word I am giving you here by the Spirit of God. Don’t just take my word for it that it is from God. The Holy Spirit will speak to you Himself, whether this be true or not.

First thing you may argue is that Jesus taught tithing. Yes, He did. Remember though, Jesus was a Jew, and Jesus was Himself under the law and was required to obey it. Everything Jesus taught was under the law. But…everything changed upon the resurrection of Jesus! Out with the old, in with the new. Actually, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are all Old Covenant right up to the resurrection of Jesus. Read on. Tithing is not taught or even mentioned in the new covenant. Yes, that’s right, it is not there. But don’t take my word for it, search it out for yourself, like I did! Get out your Concordance. Look up the words “tithe”, “tithes”, “tithing”, “firstfruit”, “firstfruits”. Can’t find in the New Testament where the disciples or Paul demanded tithes? Isn’t that odd.

 Maybe the church’s Bibles read different than yours and mine. The truth be known, the law was given to the Jews. Gentiles weren’t tithers in the first place, they weren’t Jews. And very likely, you aren’t either. And the counsel of James in Acts 15:13-31, told the Gentile converts the following; “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment;……..For it seemed good to the HOLY GHOST, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare thee well.” Hmmmm. There must be some mistake, tithing isn’t even mentioned here. Maybe a translator error. Or maybe tithing is a New Testament doctrine of men and not of God??
Oh, by the way, do you know what you were supposed to do with your tithes under the Old Testament law? You ate them! Yes, that’s right. Check it out in Deuteronomy 12:1-28.
So tell me, how is the work of God to be financed if the churches quit demanding tithes from their people? Hey, listen up, I didn’t say giving is done away with.  Actually, quite to the contrary. We are instructed to give freewill offerings. James 2:15-16 says, “If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them no those things which are needful for the body; what doth it profit?”
Just as in the first Church, giving kept the work of God going. And it still does today. Giving is not done away with at all. But tithing is. God loves a cheerful giver, and He wants you to give as you purpose in your heart. A happy heart always gives ungrudgingly and bountifully. Galatians 6:6-10 says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. (That means support your Pastor or Minister with your finances, prayers, time, labors, and goods) Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
If you want a church like the early church, it said in Acts 4:34-35, “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Do you see this happening in your church? No? I didn’t think so. In fact, Paul himself didn’t own a home of his own, and he wrote most of the New Testament. True, the Bible says in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward.” But there are some churches out there whose directors are putting a yoke of bondage on their congregations, threatening them with “the curse“, that they are robbing God if they don’t tithe, living like kings, while their people are crying out to God for help just to make ends meet after they pay their tithes with much fear and trembling. Woe to those Shepherds. It’s all about to come crashing down on their heads.
Let me tell you this, my friends, while I may never get to preach in a church ever again after putting this out on the internet, I will sleep tonight knowing I have set a lot of you people free. But that’s ok, because I’m not on anyone’s payroll, so I don’t have to teach tithing to keep my job. God is my employer, and He told me teach this, so teach it I will.
Jesus came to earth to set people free from bondage. And that includes bondages from the churches. That’s one reason I love to minister and evangelize in the prisons, no one can ask for tithes there. You can preach the Gospel without price and without cost, and people are set free….for free, even!

Isn’t it funny, most New Testament churches teach the law is done away with. But they want to pick and choose which ones. Tithing suits them for keeping because it means money in the bank account, guaranteed. They want their people to be free, but not to the extent it jeopardizes the Church’s income. Just free enough to keep you coming back with your tithes in hand. Plus your offerings, by the way. And don’t forget the building fund, and the missions fund, and the benevolence fund, and the local outreach fund. In fact, why don’t you just hand over your whole paycheck? It takes money to run the church, you know. You need to learn to trust God anyway, right? Well God is telling you right now, stop being fleeced. Many churches are pulling the wool over your eyes, hoping you won’t search the scriptures daily to learn the truth. Find the door and use it. Go where there is truth and liberty and Jesus is being taught.

Now, please understand this; I want you to give to your church and to your Pastor. But I want you to do it according to God’s word, and not according to man’s word.

I’m a giver, and I love to give. That’s the joy of my life. You must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit about your giving. Pray before you give. Ask God what He would have you give. He will surely tell you. True, He may stretch you sometimes to give more than you would otherwise, so He can bless you. He has asked me to give $1000 offering when it was all I had to my name. But I knew it was Him. And you will know if it is God and not man asking you to give an offering. You will not feel conviction or guilt, but rather a peace and joy about giving. It will indeed give you joy to give.

 You should be able to look at the arm you give with and not see twist marks on it. Know what I mean? I’ve been in churches that will make you feel guilty for not giving more than you put in the plate, far too many, I must add. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. If you are a poor person who can’t give much and you find you are largely shunned, then you aren’t in God’s church. Find the door, it says “EXIT” above it. God has a better place for you. God’s church will see to it that there is no lack in any of it’s members. That is the church Jesus is coming back to take for His bride. It’s out there, but you will have to ask God to show you where it is. Then get in there and do your part.

My friend, don’t blame God for the oppression in the churches. It didn’t come from God. It came from the greediness of men for money, for power, for dominion. God granted mankind dominion over all the earth, but not dominion over other people. God sent Jesus to free the oppressed, but churches are putting them right back into oppression again. STOP IT!! The Apostle Paul addressed teachings of going back under the law very strongly in Galatians 3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (keeping the law, and tithing) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 13.Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, That if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace .”
You would do good to read the whole book of Galatians. I don’t have room here to put every scripture in this letter.

I have a good idea that multitudes of people will now want to give to the work of God, not because they are under bondage to do so, but because they have been given liberty. I pray the churches will obey the voice of God and set their people free, so that they may grow and flourish. Those who don’t will be judged by God Himself. And quickly, I might add. The days of fleecing the flock are over! The Lord will set shepherds over His flocks who will feed them truth and love them with their lives.

 http://lifehealingministries.us/newsletters/fleecing-the-flock/