Tithing…Is it a command?

[mfblume]

Deep waters about tithing?

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by Sean

Then why do you demand folks give you 10% of their income to be in right standing with God?

If you are well off, why do you expect them to continue giving you 10% if their income while they scrape to earn a living and pay bills?

First of all they are not giving me anything they are giving it to God.
Second the little money received is not enough to cover all the expenses incurred in the ministry.
Third I am not well off, because the ministry has been a huge financial drain on my finances.
If I could get all the money back I put into the ministry, I would have way over a couple of million dollars in my account.

I have put way, way more money into the ministry than I will ever get, so please stop all that greedy preachers nonsense.

I and many other preachers do not preach the tithe because we are looking for money, we simply preach the tithe because we do believe it is a biblical principle.

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Deep waters about tithing?

Yeah, you know the usual , we preachers are just a bunch of greedy money grubbing teachers, that is why we preach the tithe.

The usual false accusation, I know one preacher across town who was a computer programmer earning big stacks of Money who left his job for the ministry, and of course it is because he loves money so much. Ha ha ha, I think he actually hates money to make such a dumb financial move.

[anon5]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

Yeah, you know the usual , we preachers are just a bunch of greedy money grubbing teachers, that is why we preach the tithe.

The usual false accusation, I know one preacher across town who was a computer programmer earning big stacks of Money who left his job for the ministry, and of course it is because he loves money so much. Ha ha ha, I think he actually hates money to make such a dumb financial move.

Funny, I never heard of a computer programmer making big bucks and I'm married to a very specialized computer circuit designer. Must be his location.

I'm not going to say ALL preachers are greedy and money grubbing for preaching tithes. That's ridiculous, since just maybe they happened to learn an often ignored truth, and that being that tithing will cause you to have more money. It's a bizarre anomoly that is nonetheless true. The more money you have, the more you tithe. The more the preacher has, the more he can give to the homeless. The more the homeless feel this love of God, the more they come, and tithe. It's quite a cycle really.

Actually, the biblically accurate way to tithe that I have NEVER heard a preacher advocate is to give one third to the homeless, one third to the fatherless/widows and orphans, and LASTLY one third to the priests, or the storehouse.

I think the '80's legacy if corrupt t.v. preachers with tammy faye's painted on face, swaggering swaggert and that pink haired woman pn TBN will always leave a damaged image and lasting legacy for preachers. But it's stupid to debate whether we should tithe and it's even crazier not to do it. If the concern is over preacher greed, then tithe to your local shelter for petes sake. You'll still get the same amount of blessings. Just use discretion and discernment on the preachet issue.

My rule of thumb was always that if I didn't think the preacher had any business being given ANY of my tithes, then it wasn't the place for me.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

First of all they are not giving me anything they are giving it to God.
Second the little money received is not enough to cover all the expenses incurred in the ministry.
Third I am not well off, because the ministry has been a huge financial drain on my finances.
If I could get all the money back I put into the ministry, I would have way over a couple of million dollars in my account.

I have put way, way more money into the ministry than I will ever get, so please stop all that greedy preachers nonsense.

I and many other preachers do not preach the tithe because we are looking for money, we simply preach the tithe because we do believe it is a biblical principle.

Good words!

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by anon5

My rule of thumb was always that if I didn't think the preacher had any business being given ANY of my tithes, then it wasn't the place for me.

Precisely.

[anon5]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

First of all they are not giving me anything they are giving it to God.
Second the little money received is not enough to cover all the expenses incurred in the ministry.
Third I am not well off, because the ministry has been a huge financial drain on my finances.
If I could get all the money back I put into the ministry, I would have way over a couple of million dollars in my account.

I have put way, way more money into the ministry than I will ever get, so please stop all that greedy preachers nonsense.

I and many other preachers do not preach the tithe because we are looking for money, we simply preach the tithe because we do believe it is a biblical principle.

But see, the amount you say you could put back that you put in does not add up to you saying your not well off. Don't get me wrong, you might not be since you put so much in, but the point is is that in order for you to have invested so much, ALOT had to have passed through your hands. Not that I judge you, I think it's a good way to invest alot of money, but you did in essence GET it. You would have HAD to to be able to invest so much. Kudos to you for investing it wisely.

I understand where the greedy preacher debate comes from, however. In my own life, I have encountered in times past preacher after preacher who claimed to be poor, yet drove right up in cadillacs, or nice campers. Dual trucks, you name it. I don't mind a preacher having nice things, but lands sake, OWN it!! (Not speaking to you but just in general). Of course my sight at that time was a bit clouded from hunger. Literally, hunger. Also, I think we raise the bar in our own lives on what well off truly is. NO ONE thinks that THEY are well off. Sometimes I have to check myself, because I am obviously doing pretty good if I can afford to eat enough to become twenty pounds overweight within a three year span.

I had a preacher once who wouldn't hand out a cent to others coming in for help, but he spent so much on his own house. His only job was the ministry, and while it is time consuming, the expectations on what is to be done with the money is different then if he used it from a purely secular job. That is to be expected.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

First of all they are not giving me anything they are giving it to God.


ARE YOU THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION OF GOD? If man gives to you they are giving to God? That is baloney. (You are the recipient of their forced giving). The reason I call it extortion is just like the mafia, you better give or else.....


Second the little money received is not enough to cover all the expenses incurred in the ministry.

If you drop tithing, the Lord will send plenty of souls to fix the financial burden on the church.

Third I am not well off, because the ministry has been a huge financial drain on my finances.
If I could get all the money back I put into the ministry, I would have way over a couple of million dollars in my account.

I have put way, way more money into the ministry than I will ever get, so please stop all that greedy preachers nonsense.

Good, havent we all...

I and many other preachers do not preach the tithe because we are looking for money, we simply preach the tithe because we do believe it is a biblical principle.

It is not a New Testament principle, but OLD TESTAMENT principle. I am adamant about this because it is abusive and Jesus our Lord wants it to stop now! He does want to save the world, but not for the ministry to turn it into a cash cow. It is not the will of our Lord for religious organizations to control 1/10 th of the worlds economy, (plus offerings)...

[Sean]

Originally Posted by anon5

But see, the amount you say you could put back that you put in does not add up to you saying your not well off. Don't get me wrong, you might not be since you put so much in, but the point is is that in order for you to have invested so much, ALOT had to have passed through your hands. Not that I judge you, I think it's a good way to invest alot of money, but you did in essence GET it. You would have HAD to to be able to invest so much. Kudos to you for investing it wisely.

I understand where the greedy preacher debate comes from, however. In my own life, I have encountered in times past preacher after preacher who claimed to be poor, yet drove right up in cadillacs, or nice campers. Dual trucks, you name it. I don't mind a preacher having nice things, but lands sake, OWN it!! (Not speaking to you but just in general). Of course my sight at that time was a bit clouded from hunger. Literally, hunger. Also, I think we raise the bar in our own lives on what well off truly is. NO ONE thinks that THEY are well off. Sometimes I have to check myself, because I am obviously doing pretty good if I can afford to eat enough to become twenty pounds overweight within a three year span.

I had a preacher once who wouldn't hand out a cent to others coming in for help, but he spent so much on his own house. His only job was the ministry, and while it is time consuming, the expectations on what is to be done with the money is different then if he used it from a purely secular job. That is to be expected.

We had a big name preacher(a big man probably 80lbs. overweight in a big nice truck with a small church of 100 or so saints), at our mens retreat teaching and saying he was praying a curse on those in his congregation that dont tithe. I was furious....but.....


This is not about greedy preachers bro., It is about a Catholic founded, false doctrine that is taught in our Lords' Church to HIS saints. And forced upon them to do or else...(marginalization, possible excommunication and or the lake of fire). It is unfounded in scripture to teach to these precious saints. Why dont they teach tithing is a great idea, but not mandatory, and not marginalize those that cannot tithe?(they wouldnt dare go there). Just like the mafia wouldnt make forced giving to their organization an "option".

[Sean]

Originally Posted by shazeep

yes, i would agree there--but i'm not really even grasping the concept, i guess. Surely you mean 'coerced,' yes?

Coerced to put it mildly. Extorted is more like it...