Passing The Plate Around Again.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by MrsBOOMM

Giving is a form of worship to God. We have all been in services when the leader would say, I just feel like we should take some time and raise our hands and worship the Lord one more time. And we felt a powerful presence of the Lord fill the house. Why couldn't it be that God could impress the leader of a service to take the offering another time. Did Jesus not tell the disciples to dip thier nets another time after they had fished all night without catching anything? I don't think as man could get away with taking an offering all night especially since there is such opposition to one doing it twice, but sometimes the Lord just wants to bless someone and he will choose how he wants to do it. God help us to be Cheerful givers! If the man asks for a second offering and I didn't have anything to give or I didn't feel the spiritual nudge to give a specific amount I would just feel like it wasn't for me. Yet, I have been in enough services to know that it could be for someone else.

It's a form of worship.

It is not the "I am standing in front of the Ark of the Covenant" Kind of Worhsip.

I think many of the modern day, money for the gospel preachers come off fake.

Many laughed at Oral Roberts for his give me 3 million or God is going to kill me.

Well Oral Roberts had his word from God.

It was not his life God was seeking but his ministry.

I surpirsed some churches haven't gone to the ACH auto deduction out of our checking accounts....

Originally Posted by Neckstadt

It's a form of worship.

It is not the "I am standing in front of the Ark of the Covenant" Kind of Worhsip.

I think many of the modern day, money for the gospel preachers come off fake.

Many laughed at Oral Roberts for his give me 3 million or God is going to kill me.

Well Oral Roberts had his word from God.

It was not his life God was seeking but his ministry.

I surpirsed some churches haven't gone to the ACH auto deduction out of our checking accounts....

I think you hit on something, The Church is allowing itself to be affected by the fake showmanship TV "ministries" out there that have no substance. Just because there is the fake does not mean the real is diminished. I believe that God can orchestrate an offering and through it meet the need. I have seen it done over and over again. Just because there are a few men who seem to be money hungry and are not shy about asking for it does not mean that God cannot or does not take the opportunity to do the miraculous and supplying our needs.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by pastorswife

I've been in services where they pass the plate more than once...but what about this one. The pastors tells you to bring up your offering and he stands there with his hand out...now that really puts pressure on people!!

I think if this happened to me, I think I would put my $20, $50, or $100 back in my billfold and give the pastor a hearty handshake!

[Sister Alvear]

too much fake in a lot of things anymore...

[Revelationist]

I hate having a cause to give to, and it never happens, but later there's another great cause that we need to give to... At church camp I've seen them take up money for Refrigerated air, only to buy swamp coolers. Money for a false ceiling, only to put one just above the platform. Offering for a new kitchen and then convert the old tabernacle into a kitchen. Siding on dorms and just paint them.

At church they took up a offering at a memorial service once because there was a big crowd. (these folks, including the person that died, and his family didn't even come to our church) They took up a good offering for a plac and never bought it...

This kind of misuse of funds bothers me more than their love of it.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Falla39

God knows our needs and He also knows our wants. If what is placed

in the offering isn't enough, could it be the Lord wants someone to

learn to trust in Him. Know of an incident where the pastor (and I am

definitely not into bashing pastors) but they are men too. Humans if

you please! But this pastor went out and purchased a bus and then

on the weekend told the people what he had done, telling them he

"knew" they would want to cover their pastor. Perhaps they have given

in tithes and offering and then to be put on the "spot" with a guilt trip!


That is not right, I don't care who does it. The Bible says God shall supply

all your "NEEDS" according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. Again He

knows what our NEEDS are. If the pastor's wife went out and went over

board, spending excessively (lack of discipline) knowing they couldn't afford

it, and perhaps her husband who was fulltime pastor, felt he had to cover

her excessive spending, that would be just as wrong.


Who are we trusting in to supply our needs! God or the people. Neither

would it be right for those in the pew to go on a Saturday spending spree

and not have money to give to the work of God on Sunday where they

expect to receive their family's spiritual "food".


Maybe if we feel we can't afford to give to support the man and woman who

prepares and serves up our family's spiritual food, we need to learn to serve

it up ourselves. We can learn how to, on our knees in prayer and fasting and

studying God's Word.


You would not think of going "out to eat" without expecting to pay for the

food and service. If we do not feel we can "afford" to "eat out", maybe we

should "prepare our own", at home. Yes, it takes time to study, to learn, to

prepare, and then serve up. This is what the pastor has or should have

learned to do. It's confining because it takes much time, if the food and

service is to be done properly.


My grandmother and parents did not depend on the church to provide for

their needs. They studied the Word, prayed and fasted at home and went

to church to fellowship with other brothers and sisters. They shared the good

things of God with others in testimonies, and praised God for His goodness,

love and mercy. This was an encouragement to others. If you have been

in the truth long, you should take something with you to share. When we

have family gatherings, we all bring something for the "meal". Then all the

pressure wouldn't be on one or two to do all the cooking and serving.


There are reasons why there is so much tumoil in the home and the church

today. In many homes, children have been allowed to rule the roost, so to

speak and when the father tries to correct them, the mother takes the

children's side. Then you have problems between husband and wife. There's

where the authority is lost in the home. Then again, what's going on in the

home is then taken to church and etc., etc.,....!!


Better call the MASTER. Only the MASTER can handle some problems.

It's going to take a MASTER Creator, Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God,

THE Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace!!! Master, the

tempest is raging. the billows ..!! Fear not, peace be still and the storm

ceased!


When I read of so much division and strife in the world, homes and churches

alike, it stirs something up inside. The concern is that what is spoken is

spoken in love and never to injure but to provoke to honest thought.

Blessings

Falla39

You can preach, Sis Falla!

[PastorD]

Pretty sad to me that so many on AFF have issues with giving. Have you ever considered how many scriptures there are in the Bible about it?

Between this thread and the tithing thread it is amazing how many either don't want offering received or the pastor to make any living at all. How do think all of this works? You can't want nice buildings and great programs and not want to fund them. C.L. Dees would often say...."this thing don't run on hot air and well water!"

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by PastorD

Pretty sad to me that so many on AFF have issues with giving. Have you ever considered how many scriptures there are in the Bible about it?

Between this thread and the tithing thread it is amazing how many either don't want offering received or the pastor to make any living at all. How do think all of this works? You can't want nice buildings and great programs and not want to fund them. C.L. Dees would often say...."this thing don't run on hot air and well water!"

I have no problems with giving. I love to give. I don't like being watched and supervised. Give me a box and I'll put in what I put in when I put it in. Instead of now, when I put it in the plate while kind of cringing inside.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by PastorD

Pretty sad to me that so many on AFF have issues with giving. Have you ever considered how many scriptures there are in the Bible about it?

Between this thread and the tithing thread it is amazing how many either don't want offering received or the pastor to make any living at all. How do think all of this works? You can't want nice buildings and great programs and not want to fund them. C.L. Dees would often say...."this thing don't run on hot air and well water!"

I can understand a church's financial situation, and sometimes a need for a special offering to meet expenses. What I don't like is when pressure tactics are used to raise more money!

If a need is presented, hopefully I will feel impelled by God to give to the cause. If I don't feel like I am in a position to give anything besides what I already gave, no amount of guilt pressure will help their cause. I will only feel more like I made the correct decision!

[Revelationist]

I'm told the Catholic Church now passes a second plate to help support the lawsuits over their preist and child molestation. It's like anything is a good thing to raise more money.