Check the Checklist Before Writing the Check

An Answer to Melissa Scott, tithing teacher from Glendale Faith Center, Glendale California.

I have touched on some of these points before, but here is a detailed checklist you can use to guard yourself from being manipulated and fooled by false teachers trying to get into your pocket book by twisting scripture and making false claims.

>> Melissa often refers to Galatians 6:6 as her basis for demanding that you pay her money for what she teaches. Galatians 6:6 says...

"Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

The claim that you have to pay someone strictly money simply because "they have taught you" is false doctrine not supported by scripture. Additionally, the person who has taught you does not have to be a pastor, or any other minister. It can be anyone.

What you share materially (the good things) with a person you believe has taught you does NOT have to be money. It can be money if you desire, there is nothing wrong with giving money to a teacher, but it does NOT have to be. The word "good things" (sometimes translated as "material" things) is from the Greek word "agathos," and has no strict translation as "money." You can give food, material items, clothing, furniture, help of some kind, etc., IT DOES NOT have to be money.

"Good things"...

Transliteration: agathos
Pronunciation: ag-ath-os'
Definition: A primary word; good (in any sense often as noun): - benefit good (-s things) well. Compare G2570 .
KJV Usage: good (77x), good thing (14x), that which is good (with G3588) (8x), the thing which is good (with G3588) (1x), well (1x), benefit (1x).
Occurs: 102
In verses: 90

The word "communicate" is from the Greek word "koinoneo" and is a word meaning to share (fellowship with), and as in "agathos," makes no strict mention of money.

"Communicate"...

Transliteration: koinoneo
Pronunciation: koy-no-neh'-o
Definition: From G2844; to share with others (objectively or subjectively): - communicate distribute be partaker.
KJV Usage: be partaker (5x), communicate (2x), distribute (1x).

It is interesting to note that the very scripture, Galatians 6:6, that people such as Melissa use to claim that you must pay her money if she has stood in the pulpit and spoke, makes NO DIRECT MENTION of money. False teachers often deceptively INSERT MONEY into Galatians 6:6 for their own reasons.


THE CHECKLIST...

ONE -  You are the one who decides if Melissa has actually taught you something; that is up to you to decide, not her. She may claim to have done so, but you are the decision maker, not Melissa. You are the one who decides if Melissa has taught you anything, not her, YOU DO. If you don't believe she has, you owe her nothing.

TWO -  Before you pay her (and you don't have to do so every Sunday), take the time to check scripture CLOSELY, get other opinions on what she claims, take the time to do your own research, verify what she has said, think for yourself. Don't let her do your thinking for you. As the Word of God tells us...

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." - Acts 17:11

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1 

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:21 

THREE -  Take into consideration that Melissa Scott is not an authentic pastor, scripture is clear that God has not established a position of a female pastor.

The Word of God makes it clear that Melissa is NOT a pastor, she may claim to be one, she may have ignorant people thinking she is one, her church may call her one, but the WORD OF GOD says she is NOT...

"A bishop [ pastor, shepherd ] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" - 1 Timothy 3:2

Look closely; it says "MUST BE"..."THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE," not a women, MELISSA IS NOT A PASTOR. Do you know what "MUST BE" means? It means THIS WAY AND NONE OTHER.

Greek; HUSBAND; a man, not a women...

Transliteration: aner
Pronunciation: an'-ayr
Definition: A primary word (compare G444); a man (properly as an individual male): - fellow husband man sir.
KJV Usage: man (156x), husband (50x), sir (6x), fellow (1x), not tr (2x).

FOUR -  Simply because you have heard something from someone "teaching" you may not have heard or known before, that does not mean it's biblical, or something of value; it could be new, even appear to be interesting, but a bunch of unbiblical nonsense. Again; that is for you to determine, NOT Melissa. You are held responsible to study God's word to see if what is being taught is true.

FIVE - Simply because you attend her services, just because you warmed a chair in her church building, or watched her on her website or elsewhere, does not mean you have to financially support her. She is no more important than any other person asking for money from the pulpit. Think carefully, pray carefully, search scripture carefully, before you cut the check!

SIX - Demand to know where your money is going; if her "church" does not publish a complete and independently audited report of all finances of her "church" made available to the public, consider NOT supporting her. Where is your money going; to expensive life styles, abnormally large salaries and other expensive perks for her? Do you know in detail where your money is going? If not, demand to see the books!

SEVEN - Apply standards used in formal debates by debaters, they are very helpful in dealing with so called "teachers of the bible" which anyone can claim to be...

    1. Demand that exact meanings of words be established and used.

    2. Learn to recognize the difference between persuasive augment and claims, as opposed to actual facts.

    3. Always question authority...ALWAYS.

Acts 17:11; 

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

1 John 4:1;

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them."

EIGHT - Never...NEVER...for any reason, permit Melissa, or any other so called "teacher" pressure you into giving them money. We are to give as WE decide in our hearts, not as the result of pressure tactics used by false teachers...

2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; NOT grudgingly, or of necessity [ being pressured]: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Notice the word NOT, which means NO, DO NOT DO. No to what? No to giving under necessity, compulsion (pressured into giving), grudgingly.

We are called by God to be Holy spirit led free will givers, not tithers conned into tithing by liars and their foolish unbiblical tactics, their traditions of men, and not by false teachers claiming to have "taught you something which you must pay for."...

Titus 1:10-11 - "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: WHO's MOUTHS MUST BE STOPPED, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for FILTHY LUCRE'S SAKE."

CONCLUSION; be led by God's Spirit, by God's Word, NOT by Melissa Scott or any other false teacher after your pocket book.

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