Show Me the Money

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Again, I believe in full disclosure of church finances. I also believe that it would be best if the pastor appointed a trusted advisory panel to account for all monies. No pastor in their right mind wants to worry about the church finances. Who wouldn't want someone else to handle all of the gory details?

I just think that his personal finances are off limits to the prying eyes of gossiping busybodies. I also reject the notion that they should take some weird vow of poverty.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Well at least Joe Preacher has a church to pastor ,and has a flock to be concerned about some of us have none.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I'm only trying to state what I believe the Bible teaches.

1) the tithes go to the ministry (not just the pastor)

2) ministers of the word are accountable to God

Whether or not the minister is demanding and commandeering of funds doesn't change what the Bible teaches on giving to the ministry. There are hirelings, there are wolves in sheep's clothing, there are those that corrupt the word of God, there are those who's God is their belly....God will deal with them and judge them.

I don't believe I'm accountable to my pastor with the money God allows me to have. I'm accountable to God. I'm His steward. If I'm wrong (almost right!) show me from the scriptures.

Why do you think you should receive a salary? Is that teaching in the Bible? Where do the rest of the tithes go?

In most churches, the tithe makes up the lion share of the total income. If I took all the tithes, I would constantly have to come back to the people on a regular basis and take up offering after offering just to pay the expenses.

Show me, under the Levitical code, where the priests get rich off the offerings the people bring into the tabernacle. I believe in reasonable compensation and the people in the two churches I have pastored have NEVER tried to deprive me or my family of a comfortable living.

Point #1 LEGALLY, if the pastor receives or has control of the tithing account, he is liable to pay taxes on ALL of it, even if he doesn't use it for his own purposes. Failure to do so, is considered tax evasion. I am involved in a situation right now where a pastor may end going to prison for this exact same thing.

The biblical tithe was to take care of the ministry not give them opulent lifestyles. Take Rick Warren's for example: He has become quite rich due to the Purpose Driven Life book. He has given back his salary from the church, I think for the prvious 10 or 15 yrs because he didn't need the church's money.

Saying the pastor gets all the tithes, I believe, is an excuse for no accountability, and using more than a man of God should.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

In most churches, the tithe makes up the lion share of the total income. If I took all the tithes, I would constantly have to come back to the people on a regular basis and take up offering after offering just to pay the expenses.

Show me, under the Levitical code, where the priests get rich off the offerings the people bring into the tabernacle. I believe in reasonable compensation and the people in the two churches I have pastored have NEVER tried to deprive me or my family of a comfortable living.

Point #1 LEGALLY, if the pastor receives or has control of the tithing account, he is liable to pay taxes on ALL of it, even if he doesn't use it for his own purposes. Failure to do so, is considered tax evasion. I am involved in a situation right now where a pastor may end going to prison for this exact same thing.

The biblical tithe was to take care of the ministry not give them opulent lifestyles. Take Rick Warren's for example: He has become quite rich due to the Purpose Driven Life book. He has given back his salary from the church, I think for the prvious 10 or 15 yrs because he didn't need the church's money.

Saying the pastor gets all the tithes, I believe, is an excuse for no accountability, and using more than a man of God should.

MODERATION EPITOMIZED

As always, a voice of wisdom.

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

In most churches, the tithe makes up the lion share of the total income. If I took all the tithes, I would constantly have to come back to the people on a regular basis and take up offering after offering just to pay the expenses.

Show me, under the Levitical code, where the priests get rich off the offerings the people bring into the tabernacle. I believe in reasonable compensation and the people in the two churches I have pastored have NEVER tried to deprive me or my family of a comfortable living.

Point #1 LEGALLY, if the pastor receives or has control of the tithing account, he is liable to pay taxes on ALL of it, even if he doesn't use it for his own purposes. Failure to do so, is considered tax evasion. I am involved in a situation right now where a pastor may end going to prison for this exact same thing.

The biblical tithe was to take care of the ministry not give them opulent lifestyles. Take Rick Warren's for example: He has become quite rich due to the Purpose Driven Life book. He has given back his salary from the church, I think for the prvious 10 or 15 yrs because he didn't need the church's money.

Saying the pastor gets all the tithes, I believe, is an excuse for no accountability, and using more than a man of God should.

[Steve Epley]

In the hills of Kentucky the saying was "Lord you keep them(the preacher) humble and we will keep them poor." Worked for them.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

In most churches, the tithe makes up the lion share of the total income. If I took all the tithes, I would constantly have to come back to the people on a regular basis and take up offering after offering just to pay the expenses.

Show me, under the Levitical code, where the priests get rich off the offerings the people bring into the tabernacle. I believe in reasonable compensation and the people in the two churches I have pastored have NEVER tried to deprive me or my family of a comfortable living.

Point #1 LEGALLY, if the pastor receives or has control of the tithing account, he is liable to pay taxes on ALL of it, even if he doesn't use it for his own purposes. Failure to do so, is considered tax evasion. I am involved in a situation right now where a pastor may end going to prison for this exact same thing.

The biblical tithe was to take care of the ministry not give them opulent lifestyles. Take Rick Warren's for example: He has become quite rich due to the Purpose Driven Life book. He has given back his salary from the church, I think for the prvious 10 or 15 yrs because he didn't need the church's money.

Saying the pastor gets all the tithes, I believe, is an excuse for no accountability, and using more than a man of God should.

MOW,

I respect your practice of accountability to the flock you oversee, but you have yet to prove what you do is Biblical. I commend Rick Warren also. You are doing what you believe is right, that's great.

If the people of God were blessed materially then the priests of God were blessed as well. There were some priests who abused their position (the sons of Eli). Despite their wicked ways, they still received the tithe, but God judged them for their sin.

But what does the Bible say to do? Who does the tithe belong to?

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Who does the tithe belong to?

It belongs to the Lord.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by deseret

It belongs to the Lord.

And who has the Lord given the tithe to?

Originally Posted by mizpeh

And who has the Lord given the tithe to?

To the ox!