G'day Everyone.
Today's post is going to be controversial one. If you are not interested in a HOT post today, check back later for a NEW post.
When I grew up some time ago, I used to be catholic. I was always taught just to give $1 to $10 whenever I felt was best to do. I wasn't pressured to do it. That made me feel freedom in worshipping God in a honest way.
Then some time ago, I converted to being a baptist in a deaf ministry. Things really did not seem right in that deaf ministry. I remembered being pressured so much to *GIVE MONEY*, I can only remember how many times I gave out a 10% of my paycheck or monthly budget that almost strapped me often. (Rochester was economically bad then long ago. Even for a low paying job). Some how "the preaching and teaching" about tithing wasn't so peacefully settled in my heart. Some time ago, I even gave money to try to help save another baptist ministry from going under. It went under anyhow and wondered how God will help others with that money that's all gone some where else?
I gave up not only the baptist church but on tithing too. Then the subject came back in form of an e-mail from a friend of mine that came today. I'll show you the email, which will be censored a bit:
____________________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: *PROTECTED*
To: WOPARSB@aol.com;
Sent: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 6:29 pm
Subject: TITHING
Hello,
Tithing? IT IS NOT REQUIRED. I read that from 1st century to 1800s the local NT (New Testament) churches basically do not support or require tithing. Apostle Paul said NOTHING about tithing in his 13 letters to the Body of Christ (Romans to Philemon). He talks about giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9, but nothing about tithing there. Tithing is a huge part of the Law of Moses under the Mosaic Covenant for the nation of Israel ONLY. If you read Leviticus, you will notice they give tithes of ANIMALS AND CROPS, not money. They are given to the priests of Aaron only. If Christians are forced to tithe by their pastors, they are PUT UNDER THE LAW again and required to obey it. That is pure GALVANISM: faith plus works. Just read the whole book of Galatians.
Do you know why the Baptist preachers FORCED tithing on their members starting in the 1900s? Because of IRS and taxes!!! The local churches (not just Baptist but other faiths as well) become "BUSINESSES" instead of congregations of believers gathered together to worship God and hear the word of God. They have budgets for everything (I know for I went to BUSINESS MEETINGS!!!) and they forced people to "tithe" to help pay for everything from salaries for pastors and employees to the utilities and property taxes!! THAT IS WRONG!!! These Baptist churches FORCED their members under the law again. STUPID! That's why I am NOT HAPPY with a lot of Baptist doctrines. Because they conflict with the Holy Bible, especially the WRITINGS OF APOSTLE PAUL.
That is one of the reasons why the independent Baptists and fundamentalist Christians goes into deep apostasy of the last days of 2 Thessalonians 2.
Your friend in Jesus,
*protected*
-------------------------------------------------------------
You know, it makes me wonder WHY today's church ministry, in various faiths out there, to demand money from their congregation. Even when they make the "demand" to say ' God REQUIRES YOU to give to the church!', they say the church is required under the old testament laws, some even twist the new testament to suit their purposes as well.
One of the most widely used bible verses, that a church ministry use to support their 'tithing' case, is this:
" Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2nd Corthians 9:7 King James Bible)
Which means, God wants man to give according to the Lord's will in his heart, NOT as a burden, nor as a *MUST BE REQUIRED TO DO*. If God puts peace in your heart to give, look to your finances first. Consider your budget. If you have enough to cover for a personal emergency later, give to God's ministry according to what you can afford, NOT what is demanded. Some times churches will twist that verse to support their "work for the Lord" to go their way and not God's way.
I remember a late pastor, not going to name his name or ministry because it would be a shame, put on a little stunt to try to raise money for his university / church. It went something like this: "Oh please, my people! Friends! Neighbors! SAVE me! God will openly kill me if I don't raise (then he says an approximate amount of money) by a (so and so day)".
Know what? He didn't raise the amount of money in a specific amount of time! God didn't take him home till years later. (wonder how he made out of his "stunt" with God).
When I travel out there and visit churches, even the baptist ones, I look at all the pretty pews, the walls, the altar, and various fancy stuff such as an elaborate sound system. It gets all lost on me when I want to hear the Word of God being preached. There are some true, simple, and GOD honoring churches out there in the world that preach right from the Bible. They don't put any Old Testament laws on their congregation, but encourage people to pray, trust, and have faith in God. They don't demand people to give money, but give what they can and when they can't, they can't.
In today's economic mess, the congregation is more worried about their job, retirement, health, and trying to keep their family together than giving financially to a church that grown to mega church size. Yet, pastors are trying to "plead" for help in paying the bills, support the missionaries they take on, and consider new building funds. But if pastors would stop and think for a moment, they ought to take a bit of time and walk with God more. They should go walking in a forest for a while and consider what God wants them to do.
Here is my favorite verse when I think about tithing (giving):
" Take heed that ye do not your alms (charity) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Very I say unto you, They have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6: 1-4 King James Version)."
In closing, of today's economic mess, here is my opinion of finances:
Seek to take care of your bills first. Pay of what you owe on your credit cards, insurances, and rent/mortgages. Take care of your health and see that food can be brought to take care of hunger. Above all, sock some of your money away for emergencies.
Lastly, when you wish to give money to church, consult God first. It is better to give a bit of non-perishable food for the pastor and his family than to give money.
In all of this, I hope you will economically do better. Churches will be churches. Some will fail and close, but the Word of God survives.
Semper FI!
P.S. One more quote from the Word of God: "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8 King James Version)
Update: A friend of mine sent me a web page today that encourages GIVING (not tithing) to a church. Here it explains why:
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2009/jovial93.htm
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