Non-Tithers are Excommunicated? - Page 3

Truthseeker · #21 10-17-2011, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

I pay my tithes, and try very hard to be faithful and diligent. I do find it to be a mandate from Scripture. I am not going to get into the whole thing now, but I have found that when one obeys this command, God will bless in many ways. Not all of the Old Testament was done away with by the New. The laborer is still worthy of his hire, and the tithing supports the Pastor, who is the man of God.

You might want to check out the treads about tithing that show its not a mandate for NT.

Sherri · #22 10-17-2011, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

I pay my tithes, and try very hard to be faithful and diligent. I do find it to be a mandate from Scripture. I am not going to get into the whole thing now, but I have found that when one obeys this command, God will bless in many ways. Not all of the Old Testament was done away with by the New. The laborer is still worthy of his hire, and the tithing supports the Pastor, who is the man of God.

Very few people on here still believe in tithing, according to the threads we've had on it. I am a STRONG believer that it's still for today. I've seen the blessings that come from it through 33 years of marriage, and even before.

Aquila · #23 10-17-2011, 06:47 AM

Big religion is big business.

One of the most anointed prophets I've ever known was a house church elder named Scott. Scott hadn't graced the doorway of a traditional church building in over 6 or seven years when I first met him about five years ago. Scott was a pastor in TN and resigned his church because of politics and bitter infighting. He moved to Ohio, planing to quietly attend church when God called him to house churching. Scott became an elder serving in a humble house church network that owned no property and didn't plan to ever own property. He didn't draw a salary. He didn't have a staff. Scott and his family simply opened their home for fellowship, served food, had a full meal as part of the Lord's Supper, and held discussion based Bible studies. He refused to turn his calling into a profession. Scott was a local truck driver for a major delivery company. With his earnings he supported his family like everyone else and supplimented the work of the ministry. He firmly believed the saying that if "one doesn't work neither should he eat" equally applied to ministers of the Gospel... if not more so. Scott walked in the prophetic. He had baptist roots but had received the Pentecostal experience in TN. He wasn't big on divisions caused by "theology". His entire ministry was focused on one questionn, "Do you know Jesus?" Scott wasn't offended or take aback by me being Oneness at that time. In fact, he agreed with much of Oneness concerns with regards to the doctrine of the Trinity. Scott could "read" you. Scott's "word from the Lord" was on point. He didn't believe in tithing. Scott called it "religious extortion". He'd say, "I'm called to preach the Gospel, not to stuff a bank account." Scott was big on charity. In one house church meeting at a coffee shop in Tipp City Ohio, I told Scott that I'd still desire to give 10% he put his hand up and said, "Chris, I know that's what you were taught and if you want to give 10%, I support you. But please give it to a charity that assists hurting people. The tithe goes to the poor and the needy." I was floored. He mentioned several charities in Dayton Ohio and an organization named Compassion International (if my memory serves me correctly). He'd argue that the poor and the needy wouldn't be so destitute if the church didn't tithe to buildings and "professional" religious officials. Scott was big on giving to those around you as part of your witness. He took Jesus seriously when Jesus said, if you have two coats, give one away. Scott didn't believe in excess or using religion as a means to make a salary or to aggregate wealth.

Scott left a deep impression on me. It was from that point forward that I began studying the house church movement in depth and found that I believed much like them. I couldn't refute their interpretation. Their fellowship was superior to the two to three "church services" I was attending. They were close, confessional, prayerful, grace filled, Spirit filled, and... free. They saw the Kingdom in everything they did. Their focus wasn't a "service" or a schedule. Nor did they adore a building and/or staff. They truly functioned like a priesthood of believers. The ministry of the pastor, prophet, teacher, apostle, and evangelist were seen as "ministries" belonging to the elders... not offices. A pastor was anyone who was gifted to spiritually mentor believers. Prophets heard from the Lord through the Holy Ghost. Teachers were gifted in explaining doctrine in the meetings. Apostles were gifted in establishing house churches and networking them. Evangelists were gifted in witnessing and street ministry. Scott's house church had three or four gifted to "pastor", himself being one of them. He explained that a spiritually mature Christian can be used by God in any of the fivefold ministries. They weren't offices... they were spiritual callings wherein gifts were to be used.

Scott was such a blessing. Through Scott, the LORD opened my eyes to the Kingdom of God in ways that surpass "churchianity" and "denominationalism".

The true church doesn't have walls. Nor is she in bondage to man. She is the Lord's Bride. And every believer is a priest of the LORD.

Digging4Truth · #24 10-17-2011, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagwood

I'd be curious to know if he previously spoke to the congregation as a heads-up that he was going to do this. We'll probably never know...

What would that matter?

Digging4Truth · #25 10-17-2011, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

Very few people on here still believe in tithing, according to the threads we've had on it. I am a STRONG believer that it's still for today. I've seen the blessings that come from it through 33 years of marriage, and even before.

Nobody's saying anything about the blessings of giving. The thread is about what amounts to a pastor cursing people for not upholding a small smidgeon of his interpretation of the OT law on tithing while he, himself, completely ignores the rest of the tithing law that is not convenient.

Dagwood · #26 10-17-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

What would that matter?

Not that it would really matter. Just sometimes when times get tough for the church, a pastor will be quick to mention it and/or even incorporate it in their preaching...

Digging4Truth · #27 10-17-2011, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagwood

Not that it would really matter. Just sometimes when times get tough for the church, a pastor will be quick to mention it and/or even incorporate it in their preaching...

Agreed.

Truthseeker · #28 10-17-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

Very few people on here still believe in tithing, according to the threads we've had on it. I am a STRONG believer that it's still for today. I've seen the blessings that come from it through 33 years of marriage, and even before.

And many are blessed that don't believe in tithes. Scripture should be the deciding factor.

MamaHen · #29 10-17-2011, 06:24 PM

A UPC preacher in NC did the same thing a few months ago.

freeatlast · #30 10-17-2011, 06:43 PM

I pay my tithes. I give them to Feeding America. Talk about putting meat in the storehouse.

Malachi 3:10
New International Version (NIV)

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.