Just curious, what do you all think about donating 10% of your income, but to multiple different places (churches, charities, religious organizations, etc.)? Is that acceptable in a Biblical sense?

 

I don't think so. Giving to other charities is fine, but the local church is where your 10% tithe should go. When your family has a crisis, it is your local church family and pastor that come to your aid. Cooking meals when someone is sick, sitting and praying with you at the hospital. I like Pat Robertson, but he is not going to come preach the funeral for a family member, or comfort you when someone is ill. The local church is where you get the support you need, and that is where your $ needs to go.

The Bible states that we are to give from the heart and to give as we have been blessed. The 10% is a great example but some people live very comfortably and could give more. Some fall on very hard times and find it very hard to make ends meet. What we give has to come from the heart because even if we give 10% ...but give it with a grudging heart... You may as well keep your money.

 

And as far as a man telling a person that their membership depends on their wallet giving ... sounds more like a business being operarted than a house of God. Some people can't handle authority or position very well. This 'supposively' minister isn't much in my book. Maybe the pay for the minister wasn't as much as they thought deserved ? ? Sad.

 

No threat of seeing me in that church anytime soon.

 

I was told by a member of our church that her mom attends another fast growing faith. They are required to show their W-2's every year to make sure they are giving ... get this.. 15%. How is that scriptural ? I guess when you can convince people that God has given you divine wisdom and the ability to come up with other 'books' you can convince man of anything.

 

To those who do this ...Enjoy the money and the time you have on Earth. Your eternity is very bleak.

The Bible states that we are to give from the heart and to give as we have been blessed. The 10% is a great example but some people live very comfortably and could give more. Some fall on very hard times and find it very hard to make ends meet. What we give has to come from the heart because even if we give 10% ...but give it with a grudging heart... You may as well keep your money.

 

And as far as a man telling a person that their membership depends on their wallet giving ... sounds more like a business being operarted than a house of God. Some people can't handle authority or position very well. This 'supposively' minister isn't much in my book. Maybe the pay for the minister wasn't as much as they thought deserved ? ? Sad.

 

No threat of seeing me in that church anytime soon.

 

I was told by a member of our church that her mom attends another fast growing faith. They are required to show their W-2's every year to make sure they are giving ... get this.. 15%. How is that scriptural ? I guess when you can convince people that God has given you divine wisdom and the ability to come up with other 'books' you can convince man of anything.

 

To those who do this ...Enjoy the money and the time you have on Earth. Your eternity is very bleak.

 

Which is why I question this magical number of 10% that churches seem to base on the Old Testament...if you figure up what the Israelites were required to give under the old covenant, it adds up to well over 10%...the tithe is just one part of what they gave. I don't understand how you can tell people they're required to tithe based on the Old Testament without requiring them to give a firstfruits offering as well...

Is it really any of his business when she tithes? That is supposed between you and God not you, God, and your so called preacher.

Hey, the lady received another letter and it wasn't exactly what was expected:

 

Tuesday, the women got another letter on behalf of the church. They expected it to be an apology. But instead it was a letter telling the women, they were wrong, for talking about the church on the news. "It's not us [that's wrong] it's Tim", says Mary Stone. Gladys Sparks adds, "It's between a person and God if they pay tithes". Both women readily admit, they do pay tithes, just no longer to Victory Time church.

 

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/18390824.html

Good for them!!! May God Bless them for their actions!!!

A lot of churches have requirements to be a voting member. When you join the local church you take an oath and agree to certain things. You may agree to tithe you may agree that you are not double married or do not use tobacco or that you believe certain things. If you swear to these things to become a member then you should expect to do them. If you don not agree then please pick a different church that believes the way you do before you join.

 

A letter was not the best way to do this.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,worth only a fraction of a penny.

 

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Hey, the lady received another letter and it wasn't exactly what was expected:

 

Tuesday, the women got another letter on behalf of the church. They expected it to be an apology. But instead it was a letter telling the women, they were wrong, for talking about the church on the news. "It's not us [that's wrong] it's Tim", says Mary Stone. Gladys Sparks adds, "It's between a person and God if they pay tithes". Both women readily admit, they do pay tithes, just no longer to Victory Time church.

 

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/18390824.html

 

It is my understanding that we do not "pay" tithes. Giving to the church is a personal experience. It is my belief that God blesses those who give in a mighty way, but still loves those who don't. A Christian should never have to "pay" for the right to be a member of any church. To my knowledge, Christ never instituted membership dues to be a part of His church.

A lot of churches have requirements to be a voting member. When you join the local church you take an oath and agree to certain things. You may agree to tithe you may agree that you are not double married or do not use tobacco or that you believe certain things. If you swear to these things to become a member then you should expect to do them. If you don not agree then please pick a different church that believes the way you do before you join.

 

A letter was not the best way to do this.

The ONLY requirement any Christian church should have to be a member is that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior. The rest of it is judgemental garbage and why so many have given up on church.

Who says one must tithe to a church? Why not a person in need, a widow, an elderly couple that needs medication or utilities? Does tithing mean just money? Can't it include service such as landscaping at the church, teaching Sunday School, chaperoning the youth, sitting with lonely elderly people? There are many way to give to the "church", meaning God's people, not the church on the corner down the street. I have a problem giving to a church that doesn't allow input on how that money is spent. They want bigger, newer buildings, parsonages for the pastor, vans for group transportation, it never ends. How does all this better the kingdom of God?

Paul tells us we should support the staff and the church/Missions.

 

Would a church accept money from someone if they won the Powerball?

The ONLY requirement any Christian church should have to be a member is that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior. The rest of it is judgemental garbage and why so many have given up on church.

 

Somewhere in the NT, there are directions given on how to remove someone from the church. If there are not reasons to remove someone from the church, why would God give us a method to do it in the NT?

Somewhere in the NT, there are directions given on how to remove someone from the church. If there are not reasons to remove someone from the church, why would God give us a method to do it in the NT?

Somewhere in the OT, it says anyone who works on the Sabbath shall be out to death. I worked today because I need my job. I have locked my doors and windows and will be hoping the mob doesn't make it's way to my house.

 

You either translate EVERYTHING the bible says into our everyday life or nothing. Too many Christians want to pick and choose how the bible should apply to our lives instead of taking everything God says in the bible and applying it.

On topic, it's not the church's place to dictate how much and how often I give. What's next? Letters to me from my church saying I need to follow the 10 Commandments closer because someone heard me cuss or talk about how attractive Angelina Jolie is? Woodsrider has a point. People are giving up on the church because of stunts like this.