Losing people because of money :(

[Neck]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

There is a man who used to attend our church for a short time. While he attended, he was faithful in attendance. He was faithful to services, faithful to prayer meetings. He was a good worker, pitched in every time he could that there was some type of work to be done at the church. He offered his physical labor free of charge at every opportunity available to him where he could help out.

He suddenly stopped attending.

I had talked to this man on several occasions, as he is my neighbor. He would never tell me why he stopped coming to church.

Until yesterday.

The problem he encountered was that he felt he wasn't welcomed because of the constant push from the pulpit for giving money. Special blessings prayed upon the tithers. Special blessings prayed upon those who gave to the building fund. Special blessings prayed upon those who gave "sacrificial" offerings. Special blessings prayed upon those who gave freewill offerings.

Whatever happened to praying for those who don't have to give?

This man had no money to give, and he said that he felt he had to pay for his seat in our church. He felt as if he were being beat upon the head to GIVE money. Since he didn't have the money to put in the offering plate, he stopped coming to church. He hasn't attended anywhere at all since that time.

I was just left speechless. I had no response. God help us, because the blood of people like this is going to be required of our hands. When did MONEY become more important to a church than lost souls???

This man has been out of work for quite some time. He picks up odd jobs as he can find them, but he told me yesterday that he'd earned less than $2000 since Christmas. A family cannot survive on that amount.

He has a minor child that he has full custody of. Every dime this man earns goes toward paying his bills.

Not only is he going without many things that we all consider necessary for life, but he is now going without food for his soul-- because of being made to feel like it's necessary to give even when you don't have money to give.

Today, the utility company turned off his electricity. I saw the truck going to his house. Tears started pouring from my eyes.

There was nothing I could do. I would have paid the man's bill, if I had the money, but I don't. I have no idea how much he even owes. I'm not sure how much longer his water will be left on, or if he was able to pay that bill or not. He is a very private person, and doesn't ask for any type of help.

The only thing I can do is to offer to let the man put what groceries he has into an extra refrigerator and freezer that I have in my storage shed to keep him from losing the food.

This man needs a job. He needs to know someone cares. I won't post even his first name, because some of the people who attend my church probably read this forum and I would be reprimanded for bringing this subject to a public forum.

Can some of you take this man upon your hearts and pray for him. God knows who he is, and where he is. He needs a miracle.

I think the ministry has become a joke when asking for money. I have heard every story in the bible turned into a Steve Munsey pitch for funds.

It causes most that want to be faithful to drop 10% in the plate right down to the penny.

I am awaiting the ATM swipes to be attached to the pews or to the offering basket.

Then they will have a wall banner that displays how much was collected as the basket goes through the church.

They have stopped expressing specific needs for a reason one should give and started preaching the blessing behind the seed.

It is like the church that always has a building fund going on without ever building any thing new or installing anything new in the existing building.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Elizabeth, were are you getting that he feels the church is the source of his problem?

This is what he said:

"The problem he encountered was that he felt he wasn't welcomed because of the constant push from the pulpit for giving money. Special blessings prayed upon the tithers. Special blessings prayed upon those who gave to the building fund. Special blessings prayed upon those who gave "sacrificial" offerings. Special blessings prayed upon those who gave freewill offerings."

I can understand if the focus is special blessings ONLY if you give where he feels he shouldn't be a part of the church.

It's the reason he is not going to church is what I meant- not the reason he is poor.

Keith is playing this CD really loud and it is a little hard to concentrate. SORRY!

[Neck]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Why don't the church put their blessing where their mouth is and help the man?????

Amen!

[Elizabeth]

You know it is really hard to judge a situation that you are only hearing one side.

I must admit I am having a little difficulty believing that a church only gives special blessings to those that give.

I am sure this church has other times of prayer or other times to bless someone.

[El Predicador]

Just throwing it out there, perhaps lack of faith was part of his problem.

I have been down, sometimes my fault, sometimes not.

When I was prudent and paid tithes, God always provided.

He does not "need" our money, paying tithes is an act of faith.

I would rather live off 90% and faith in His providence, than 100% with fear or resentment.,

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Neck

I think the ministry has become a joke when asking for money. I have heard every story in the bible turned into a Steve Munsey pitch for funds.

It causes most that want to be faithful to drop 10% in the plate right down to the penny.

I am awaiting the ATM swipes to be attached to the pews or to the offering basket.

Then they will have a wall banner that displays how much was collected as the basket goes through the church.

They have stopped expressing specific needs for a reason one should give and started preaching the blessing behind the seed.

It is like the church that always has a building fund going on without ever building any thing new or installing anything new in the existing building.

Its too bad the likes of some make the church look bad.

But any where you go they ask for money- and no one thinks anything of it.

But when the church does sometimes people think the only thing the churches wants is money. Its too bad people it that way.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

You know it is really hard to judge a situation that you are only hearing one side.

I must admit I am having a little difficulty believing that a church only gives special blessings to those that give.

I am sure this church has other times of prayer or other times to bless someone.

I don't think they said it was the ONLY time they prayed. But, if they actually pray blessing on that many things that they listed - - that's a lot.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

I don't think they said it was the ONLY time they prayed. But, if they actually pray blessing on that many things that they listed - - that's a lot.

But that is what he seems focused on as though there isn't any blessings left for him-

Whatever happened to praying for those who don't have to give?

and it sounds a bit exaggerated to me. But I dont know.

Feel sorry for the man, hope he finds somewhere else that can he feels he can be apart of.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

You know it is really hard to judge a situation that you are only hearing one side.

I must admit I am having a little difficulty believing that a church only gives special blessings to those that give.

I am sure this church has other times of prayer or other times to bless someone.

The pastor from the church we just left, stated this from the Pulpit.

"Do not send me an email or call me on the phone to pray for you, a situation, a family member, or need. Unless you have been paying your tithe to the church, I will not take the time to pray for someone who is not accessing God first before I pray." That is a direct quote that I heard personally from the pulpit and approached the pastor personally regarding. You can take the man out of the UXX but you can't take the UXX out of the man. We decided to leave that church because the statements concerning money and the access to the power of God in the magic of giving was spiritually crazy! He did say special blessings and stated specifically that God would cause financial problems in a person's life...

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Its too bad the likes of some make the church look bad.

But any where you go they ask for money- and no one thinks anything of it.

But when the church does sometimes people think the only thing the churches wants is money. Its too bad people it that way.

No one other than the church is claiming a false pretense of healing or wealth on anyone for giving. It is a doctrine that no matter the one-step, three-steps, no steps they all want to tell you how you are to come before the lord.

Prayer still changes things, prayer still moves God, and calling for the elders of the church to lay hands on the sick to recover still has it's Apostolic authority and power.