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Church Shames Congregation Into Cheerless Giving
The Christian Diarist ^ | May 6, 2012 | JP

Posted on 05/06/2012 11:12:51 AM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST

My wife and I have traveled back and forth across the country the past year. It has given us the opportunity to visit a number of churches.

We have felt the movement of the Holy Spirit in every service we have attended. That is, until recently, when he heard a message we found quite disturbing.

It actually wasn’t the main topic of the pastor’s sermon. Rather, it was a sidebar at the end of his message.

It concerned the church’s finances.

He told the congregation that weekly collections had not met budget all year long. And he admonished church members that many of them were disobeying God by failing to faithfully tithe 10 percent of their weekly earnings.

Well, my wife and I believe it is our Christian duty to tithe. And we are mindful of the Scripture advising that “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Our problem is when pastors emphasize certain of God’s commandments – like tithing – while purposely ignoring other commandments for fear of offending the sensibilities of certain members of the congregation..

Indeed, I am certain the church we visited included couples who were living together outside of marriage. But the pastor didn’t guilt them.

I am sure there were homosexuals in the pews that Sunday. But he didn’t call them out.

And I suspect there may have been a few substance abusers in the church. But he didn’t rebuke them.

Yet, the pastor took the congregation’s non-tithers to task.

“I know most of you,” he said, surveying the sanctuary. “I know how much you make. And I know you’re not tithing.”

The pastor’s remarks fomented a palpable uneasiness among the congregation.

I believe it was because the church is located in an economically-distressed metropolitan area with one of the nation’s worst jobless rates, worst rates of home foreclosures and worst percentages of households without health insurance.

What made matters worse, as far as my wife and I were concerned, was that, despite the economic hardship afflicting many members of his congregation, the pastor declared that the church was moving forward with plans to relocate to a bright and shiny new building.

And he reminded the congregation that it needed to join him in raising $200,000 in so many months to put down earnest money with their bankers.

That was, of course, in addition to the tithes and offerings the pastor expected the congregation to put in the collection plate each week to meet the church’s ongoing operating expenses.

I understand that churches need financial support. But I believe the absolutely wrong way for a pastor to generate that support is to use his pulpit to make a hard sell; to shame his congregation into giving until it hurts.

They just might put more in the collection plate. But they will not do so cheerfully.


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Theology
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; cheerlessgiving; church; commandments; forcedgiving; religion; tithe; tithing
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST; All
Well, you could try the Mormon approach...

It is EXPECTED that you give 10% of your income...

No 10%...no temple recommend...

No temple recommend, no callings in the church...

No temple recommend, no getting to watch your daughter (or son) get married in the Mormon temple...

No temple recommend, no "family is forever" (together as a family) for you in the Mormon highest kingdom of heaven (the celestial kingdom)...only temple Mormons in good standing with the church get that...

No temple recommend, no godhood for you...no own-planet for you...no reception-of-worship-as-a-'god' for you...no prayers sent to you...no ability to have eternal sex with your wife or wives to create spirit children for that planet...

You can see that the Muslims can't even compete with the Mormon version of "paradise"...Muslims only offer 72 virgins...

Mormons offer...
...multiple wives (these days, you just have to marry them sequentially vs. overlap)
...+ your own family,
...+ your own planet,
...+ your own very godhood!

(Plus, Mormons say non-Mormons & non-temple Mormons are the ONLY ones who get to live with Heavenly Father in Heaven...everybody else is shut out)

Talking about "legalizing" & "guilting" people into 10%!!!

21 posted on 05/06/2012 12:42:23 PM PDT by Colofornian (Mom when I grow up, I want 2B like Ike. Mom when I grow up, I want 2B a god from Kolob like Mitt.)
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To: Smokin' Joe
So find a different church. There are still good ones out there. Shop around

only one true Christian church on earth....the other 20,000 or so "denominations" are somewhat in error.....not bad, mind you, but somehow incomplete and erroneous.

22 posted on 05/06/2012 12:49:28 PM PDT by terycarl (lurking, but well informed)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST
Our church recently did away with passing a plate and added offering boxes near the doors and added online options. Offerings and giving are higher than ever.

When a church takes the congregations joy out of giving, its loses more than just the finances. It eliminates one form of praise and worship, the act of giving is important to a lot of people, just as singing praises and hearing a sermon. Sadly, the church has done nothing to culture an atmosphere that encourages allowing the congregation to enjoy all forms of worship; Singing, hearing sermons, benevolence in one form or another and the pure joy that comes from giving. M2C.

23 posted on 05/06/2012 12:52:36 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature ($1.84 - The price of a gallon of gas on Jan. 20th, 2009.)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

the tithe was mandated in the days when the “church” supported the poor, widows, and orphans. Since the government has taken that duty over, with a passion, I consider a large portion of my state and federal tax burden as a good portion of my tithe. I am still supporting the poor, but through a different venue. I support my local parish and diocese, buy not with 10%...God can figure it out.


24 posted on 05/06/2012 12:54:56 PM PDT by terycarl (lurking, but well informed)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

For the most part it’s a motivational speaking business now.


25 posted on 05/06/2012 12:56:54 PM PDT by Trod Upon (Obama: Making the Carter malaise look good. Misery Index in 3...2...1)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

My wife was told by the pastor of a parish we once belonged to that in order to be a “Member In Good Standing” of the parish, it was not even necessary to attend Mass - it was necessary only to stop by the parish office weekly to drop-off the weekly offering.

As it has come to pass, that particular priest was subsequently excommunicated.


26 posted on 05/06/2012 1:02:18 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Colofornian

You can see that the Muslims can’t even compete with the Mormon version of “paradise”...Muslims only offer 72 virgins...
______________________________________________________________

Gonna have to (VERY tongue-in-cheek) disagree with you on that one.

Let’s see what the Muslims, well, at least the guys, get:

Hot wives. Lots of them. And they’re faithful too.
Palatial mansions with stunning views.
Rivers of wine that you get drink all day.
A non-stop buffet of the finest foods imaginable.
Getting to chat with God all day long about everything you’ve always wondered about (that’s kind of cool, actually.....imagine learning quantum physics from God Himself). Of course, I’d ask Him about boobs and why us grown men are so inordinately fond of them.
Absolutely perfect weather, every day, for the rest of eternity.
Your very own butler.

And much, much more !! (in my best Wink Martindale voice)

Granted, I give the Mormons an edge with that whole “being your own God on your own planet”, but keeping it confined within the realms of Middle Eastern religions, and what would or would not be considered outright blasphemy, Muslim paradise ain’t half bad (even though I have to admit, being a God on my own planet; whyl heck! That’s like being Emperor Palpatine. I wonder if I could get some Force lightning with that?)

Well, with the Muslims, I suppose it’s all copacetic if you’re a man. But seeing as how I am, hey.........I’d have nothin’ to gripe about. :)


27 posted on 05/06/2012 1:02:33 PM PDT by AnAmericanAbroad (It's all bread and circuses for the future prey of the Morlocks.)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

If you live by the law you will be “guilted” by the law... Is the tithe one of the original ten commandments? When was the tithe instituted? When has the church ever been under the burden of upholding laws anyway... it seems to me the church has long lilted toward traditions of men.


28 posted on 05/06/2012 1:16:38 PM PDT by dps.inspect (the system is rigged...)
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To: terycarl

Would that be the church of the inquisition?


29 posted on 05/06/2012 1:18:42 PM PDT by dps.inspect (the system is rigged...)
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To: tbw2

Used to attend a megachurch years ago where the pastor asked us to raise 1 million for the new building. Then the next million fundraiser was supposed to be for missions but then another building fundraiser was added instead. I prefer smaller churches now with constrained budget priorities and the emphasis is on the Word and not floating cameras everywhere either.


30 posted on 05/06/2012 1:20:33 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or tyranny)
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To: Future Snake Eater

I think you’re misunderstanding Malichi.

There were four tithes in the Old Testament.

The first tithe is found in Numbers 18:21: I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.

The people paid a general tithe to the Levites. All the tribes of Israel, except the Levites, had a designated geographical area as their “inheritance.” But the Levites — in return for their work within the nation — received income tax of 10% from the rest of the population.

The Levites were Health Inspectors, Police, the Justice Department, and the Education Department. The Levites were the Public Service in Israel, and they were supported by a system of income tax called “tithes.”

The second tithe was in Numbers 18:25-31: The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. . .to Aaron the priest. . .’”

The Levites paid a tithe of the general tithe to the priests, that is 10% of the 10% they received from the general population. All the priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. The priestly caste were descended from Aaron and they had specific responsibilities related to the Temple worship. This second tithe guaranteed the financial security of the priests and protected the Temple system.

The third tithe comes in Deuteronomy 14:22-26: Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.

The people of Israel were required to assemble three times a year at Jerusalem (as the place chosen by the Lord) for the major feasts. This was a time of rejoicing and the Lord ensured that everybody had sufficient resources available to enable them to fully enter into the rejoicing by commanding that they set aside 10% of their annual income for that purpose. Notice the next verse (27), “And do not neglect the Levites. . .” This was a reference to the first tithe. In other words, the third tithe — for the annual feasts — was not to be confused with the separate and distinct general tithe for the Levites.

The fourth tithe is in Deuteronomy 14:28-29: At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

The people paid a tithe to support the poor, the orphans and the widows. In the United States, we call that “Social Security”. For the Jews, it was payable once every three years, or one-third of a tenth annually.

These tithes were not ‘gifts,’ they were taxes. Gifts, or offerings, were completely separate from tithes in the Old Testament. So, the total tax burden paid by the Israelites were 23.3% of their total income, about the same as what the average American pays today in income tax.

Finally, we come to Malichi 3:7-10: Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows”.

To understand this, we have to ask which of the four tithes in Israel is referred to here? The key word is “storehouse.” In Nehemiah 10:38, we find,”And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.” Only the tithe payable by the Levites to the priests was taken into the storehouse, so Malachi is not rebuking the people, he is rebuking the Levites for cheating God.


31 posted on 05/06/2012 1:20:54 PM PDT by Hootowl
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

Beware false prophets.

God did not send out beggars.

If the word of God is TAUGHT, with an understanding of the root meaning of His words (Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew), people will support the church teaching it.


32 posted on 05/06/2012 1:22:22 PM PDT by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: WhirlwindAttack
Photobucket

"I got a letter with a copy of my TRW enclosed from them admonishing me for more “love” donations for the new building."

Terrible!!

I am sorry you had to go throughout it. TRW report from a Church. Amazing.

Did you get to see his TRW report or police record. Also did you ask to see everyones TRW report to be Fair . One for all-all for one by true christians.

Did The church own a Mansion and Yacht. If not did they rent the house for the pastor who owns the house. Which means more money.

There are so many tricks like a La -Biden.

My Brother was the Maitre de at the Diner where Jessica Hahn's Pastor would go after service. He would go with all the young girls only. Hmmmm. Gene Profeta . He did romantic/abuse with Jessica Hahn at fourteen.

A date I had was the weaver for Hair Club for Men. He tried to give her a diamond ring. He is "nuts". Wolves in Sheep clothing.

He still does the Christian Magical Mystery Tour on Long Island.

When I was in the Indy Churches you would hear some of these stories. But remember there are some who are Real Christians who I am still friends and Brothers with in Christ.

Photobucket

Pray and seek. Jesus loves You!!

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by Prayer..................................

Action!

33 posted on 05/06/2012 2:05:49 PM PDT by johngrace (I am a 1 John 4! Christian- declared at every Sunday Mass , Divine Mercy and Rosary prayers!)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

I seem to notice this too at my church. Aside from the collection plate and the over-seas mission appeals there seems to be an almost never-ending ‘’Bishops Appeal’’, “School Fund Appeal’’ and an almost constant ‘’Give, give, give, Christ compels you for the sake of the needy...’’. Never once in so many years have I ever heard a sermon decrying homosexuality, priest sexual abuse issues, illegal immigration or abortion, never once.


34 posted on 05/06/2012 2:11:23 PM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: terycarl

so true....the baptist!


35 posted on 05/06/2012 2:11:52 PM PDT by reflecting
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

As Bono said, “My God doesn’t need cash, Mister.”


36 posted on 05/06/2012 2:13:53 PM PDT by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

Always an interesting discussion when it comes to church finances and tithing.


37 posted on 05/06/2012 2:17:44 PM PDT by huskerjim
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To: ColdSteelTalon

Paul provided his own way as a tent maker.

I once heard a guy say “God has all the money He needs. But I don’t think he distributes it right.”


38 posted on 05/06/2012 3:13:34 PM PDT by Terry Mross ("It happened. And we let it happen." Peter Griffin - FAMILY GUY)
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To: CORedneck

My church is the exact same way. I love my church home - it teaches and practices God’s word.


39 posted on 05/06/2012 3:35:01 PM PDT by 2nd amendment mama ( www.2asisters.org | Self defense is a basic human right!)
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

Article doesn’t say (I might nave missed it), but I guess Methodist. First United Church of the Holy Denomination.


40 posted on 05/06/2012 3:40:49 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Obama considers the Third World morally superior to the United States.)
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