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This was interesting to consider. Recently i’ve had an experience where the science of psychology seemed to awaken something within my mind that led to the desire to change my life.
I’m a pornography and Morphine addict living in chronic pain but even so i’m definitely an addict and need to somehow find sobriety. For years i’ve been so depressed that things of the spirit such as the scriptures and gospel principles seemed to be extraneous or perhaps unable to reach me. Who knows, its hard to explain but suffice it to say that I was unresponsive to the reading of the scriptures when i would make meager attempts. I was unresponsive to even modern scripture to some degree at least, (general authority talks etc.)
I was shaken out of my depression by watching a long video series given on the symbolism and possible interpretation of the bible given by Dr. Jordan Peterson, a psycologist and professor from Canada. His approach to the Bible at least publicly is pseudo-secular. He tries to understand meanings of the symbolism and ‘encoded knowledge’ that lies within what might seem like more outdated stories. His view towards gods existence is agnostic but he speaks ‘as if’ he believes. He approaches the Bible as an evolutionary psychologist would, using science to try and test whether humanity as a whole actually was encoding profound mental discoveries within narrative oral tradition. He would call himself a “Darwin Pragmatist.” That the question of whether the Bible can provide instruction on how to live, and the benefit of believing in god, is more important than the metaphysics of whether god in the biblical sense actually exists. (I disagree that you can bifurcate it so severely but i still value his input)
Peterson talks a lot about how the scriptures tell us how to live successful lives, or ‘less tragic’ lives as he puts it. He is a pessimist when it comes to attainable levels of positive emotion, but an optimist about an individuals ability to find fulfillment and meaning to the tragedy in their life. He speaks incessantly about standing up and taking responsibility and at least making a bloody attempt to live the life of an archetypal hero.
I don’t know why but for some reason his understanding seemed to shake me out of my depression. Once that had taken place i was open to learn things i needed to learn about how to change and find sobriety through the scriptures and modern scripture.
However this did not happen from me reading the scriptures as ever i had before. I dont now allow sessions of just reading scriptures, I have a question and i search until i find the answer to that question. Sometimes it may come directly from the text, sometimes it may be the spirit speaking to me simply because doing ‘SOMETHING’ good is enough to qualify for the spirit.
I see ancient and modern scripture as equal in valuable but they serve different purposes. Self help and Psychology can be from external sources, but I have actually found books from general authorities to be valuable in specific ways as well.
Perhaps the most base purpose of ancient scripture is to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ. If Christ lives, than applying the particulars and specific methods to act and grow and change actually have meaning and power.
Modern Scripture, talks, books, etc, cannot be a direct ‘witness’ of Christ in the traditional sense that they lived and were among him in the flesh. This is something we cannot get from modern scripture.
Self Help which is more secular in nature and outside the church, is still extremely valuable because knowledge and wisdom is power, and knowledge and wisdom are in and of Christ. If they teach true principals, even scientific ones about the brain etc, than that truth is empowering for our lives. All truth is empowering, even worldly knowledge.
In my opinion the ancient scriptures are just as valuable because they provide and testify in some historical way at least (which is sure to be imperfect record) That Christ lived and that his power is the focus and reason we are here.
Oh i thought you were asking a moral question but you were actually asking a pragmatic one. I’ve never directly experienced anything negative or disiplinary or even the slightest comment or discussion reguarding tithing. I’ve never even been asked personally to schedule tithing settlement. Though I am a single man, so perhaps a family is a broader more obvious target – can’t speak to that.
That said I’ve never been blessed for paying tithing, because I’ve rarely if ever payed my tithing. Who knows what might go right for me personally if i did – these are things i think about sometimes – Maybe nothing would happen that would qualify as a traditional sunday school lesson of the blessings of tithing. Who knows. I can tell you, though, the fact that i have always resisted it probably means something for me.
I suppose you already had your question answered in the way you wanted though.
Who says how the church uses the money has anything whatsoever to do with blessings you may or may not receive. I look at it like this, and understand i have struggled and continued to struggle with tithing my entire life, even currently for the last six months i have not paid any tithing or kept track of money so that i might pay tithing down the road. However i think i’m starting to learn more about tithing and am considering paying a full tithe again… Think of it like this: its a sacrifice. Sacrifices change you for the better.
I will add that my personal opinion about how the church uses tithing money. The church is a large organization. Within large organazations inefficiency is a growing problem just by innate and natural internal forces… The church affairs are run by people, people are irrational, lazy, and lack understanding by nature… these forces might naturally compound in ways that the church does not use tithing money perfectly as christ would. It is still my opinion that the church uses tithing money more efficiently to bless the lives of the members than any other human organization.
If you disagree with that statement, is it at all possible, that something you see as wasteful or pointless, has a point or might be able to bless the lives of someone in a way you hadn’t considered?
Example, i don’t currently understand exactly why the church needs to spend so much money making our temples beautiful and lavish. That does not mean i assume its a foolish and poor waste of money. I realize and trust that perhaps i simply need to learn more about temples.
Maybe i’m naive, but its where my mind is at right now.
