Monthly Archives: December 2025

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Christmas, the Retold Story!

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Christmas is filled with traditions, including the story of Jesus’ birth. Some depictions show sheep, camels, and donkeys alongside people in costumes for effect. The event makes us feel happy and can be a fun, family-focused time. But is there more to the story—perhaps behind-the-scenes details that could make it more meaningful if known? Let’s find out.

First, the Son of God, born as a son of man, has existed since at least the creation of our universe (John 1:1-4). Nothing was created without Jesus’ presence and action!

Second, this Son of God had to live and die as a human for a reason: to restore the relationship between the Creator and creation by paying the penalty for the first humans’ rebellion and crushing evil (e.g., Genesis 3:15). Why? Paying the price could only be done by someone who had never rebelled against God. He began sending clues about this coming perfect Savior through various prophets like Isaiah: “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

This Prince was born around 4 BC and was eventually crucified, as the prophet Daniel predicted 500 years before Jesus came to earth (Daniel 9:25-26). His birth brings God’s peace to those He favors (Luke 2:14), but it also sparked Herod’s wrath (Matthew 2:1-12). To protect Jesus, an angel instructed Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt until Herod died (Matthew 2:13-15). How was such a journey possible? After all, travel and daily life were costly, just as they are now. Let me introduce the wise men.

To truly appreciate their contribution, we need to go back to Persia, 500 years earlier, when Daniel gained great respect and wealth. He was also knowledgeable about Babylonian arts, including astronomy. He knew when Jesus would be born (Daniel 9:25-26) and where (Micah 5:2). 

So, Daniel, the Jew who spent his life in Persia, had treasure, knew how to chart the movements of the stars, and understood where Jesus would be born and the timeframe. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised that Persian magi (wise men) knew that Jesus fulfilled prophecies and that the alignment of the stars at the time and place of His birth was significant. Daniel’s great wealth was likely the resource that funded Jesus’s trip to Egypt until Herod’s death. Our God is the master orchestrator who crafts everything according to His pleasure! “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

In summary, God and our Christian traditions can bring great blessings, peace, and joy! Where will we go next? Please allow me to encourage you who are “spiritual diamonds” in the making! Meanwhile, give what God desires: charity, justice, mercy, and a pure heart.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

The Tithe: Religion Over Love!

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Recently, I discussed the Old Covenant Law, pointing out that Christians aren’t required to follow its religious or civil rules. Most Christian leaders agree, yet they often push congregants to tithe. However, there is no obligation to do so. Yes, God desires giving — but for charity, not for church expenses under the pretense of an Old Covenant tithe.

The tithe, meaning ‘a one-tenth part,’ was part of the ancient pagan suzerain-vassal (king-servant) covenant system that God adopted to establish His salvation-focused relationship with people, starting with Abram. However, as far as we know, God did not command a tithe until He renewed the covenant through Moses. Then He instructed the eleven tribes who received land to tithe to support the priests, their families, and the temple. Eventually, they disobeyed, which led to starvation and disrepair, prompting a sharp rebuke (Malachi 3:6-15). Today, there are no physical temples or priests: we are the spiritual temple and a priesthood of believers (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5), and therefore, do not need a tithe.

So, there was no New Covenant tithe until Constantine reinstituted it in the fourth century to fund religious leaders and buildings. Previously, money was collected only for charity. For example, Paul collected funds from regional churches to support the beleaguered saints in Jerusalem. Additionally, Tertullian wrote: “Though we have our treasure-chest, it is not made up of purchase-money, as of a religion that has its price. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. These gifts are . . . to support and bury poor people …”. Today?

Many church leaders misuse Scripture to guilt or excite congregants into tithing for things God never asked for, ignoring charity and discipleship—things that God and Christ commanded. Beyond misinterpreting Malachi 3:6-15, Luke 6:38 is often distorted to promote a tithing pyramid scheme, where giving more money supposedly leads to receiving more. Read it along with verses 1-36, and you’ll see the context is about judging and the exchange of justice and mercy, not tithing. Still, little return is seen from today’s tithes. Fewer than 5% of American churches make disciples that make disciples. Fewer than 20% of church members engage in spiritual disciplines. Typically, less than 1% of church budgets go to missions, and there’s usually nothing allocated for charity or discipleship—the core things we’re called to do. The solution?

Leaders: don’t misuse the Scriptures! Be open about church business needs and teach your people to prioritize charity—starting at home, then within the Body, and finally to others. I could write much more about solving this issue, but I’ve run out of space! Maybe in a future article…

In summary, there’s no New Covenant tithe, but loving others is essential. Next, we’ll revisit “Christmas, the Retold Story!”

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley (MDiv, DMin)

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

The Long Arm of the Law

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Many Christians say they’re “no longer under the Old Covenant Law.” That’s mostly true. However, the statement downplays the Law’s importance and ignores the need to follow its moral teachings. Here, we’ll examine both Old and New Covenant Laws. First, why are laws necessary?

Why do we have laws? Boundaries are everywhere. Traffic laws help keep us safe on the road. Others protect communities from harm. This is true even in the animal kingdom. For example, I saw an elephant herd temporarily expel a young male that was getting ‘frisky’ with already spoken-for females. Laws also helped Israelites honor God and love people.

Old Covenant Law. First, a better translation of ‘Law’ is ‘instruction.’ The Old Covenant version consisted of 613 instructions, starting with the Ten Commandments. Second, there were three types of instructions: civil, religious, and moral. Civil instructions addressed issues like handling corpses, sexual immorality, and other community safety measures. Religious instructions directed people to serve God, and an abundant life in ancient Israel depended on meditating on the Law’s commandments and obeying them (e.g., Deuteronomy 30:8; Joshua 1:8).

Although New Covenant Christians are no longer bound by Old Covenant civil or religious laws (e.g., Romans 7:6; Galatians 5:18), moral guidance—such as most of the Ten Commandments—is still relevant. These principles continue to apply (e.g., you don’t have a green light to murder someone!).

Old Covenant instructions served another purpose: to establish an impossible standard. Breaking the rules became sin that could cause physical or spiritual death, emphasizing the need for a remedy (e.g., Romans 5:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Now, there is a New Covenant Law that fulfills the Old Covenant’s civil and religious instructions and offers the cure for sin.

New Covenant Law. The relationship with God, as outlined in the Old and New Covenants, is a continuum from the Old to the New. The New doesn’t erase the Old (Romans 3:31), and offers the solution for our inability to perfectly follow the Old Law of God: Jesus, through whom grace and truth are made known (John 1:17). Through Him, those led by the Spirit by faith are justified before God. This isn’t achieved by merely following Old Covenant’s civil and religious rules (Romans 7:4-7; Galatians 2:16 and 5:18)! But don’t be fooled: belief and action go hand in hand (Romans 2:13; James 2:14-26)! A belief that produces no results is worthless to God and will lead to wrath at the end of the world (John 15, Matthew 25:31-46, etc.).

Summary. Christians no longer follow the Old Covenant’s civil and religious rules, but they still need to adhere to many of its moral principles. And the New Covenant’s instructions to honor God and love others (relational terms and conditions) must be obeyed … or else. What’s next? Let’s revisit “Christmas, the Retold Story!” to take a closer look at how the plan of reconciling creation with the Creator unfolded.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley (MDiv, DMin)