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.
Quite a few years ago I got into a financial bind and felt like I could not continue giving 10 percent to the church. Tithing was preached like it was necessary for salvation, failure to tithe was considered disobedience to the Word.
I felt that all I could do was to resign as a Sunday School teacher and stop attending that church so that's what I did.
I am sorry I think that man is making a big mistake and going a little over board.
I am sure that money isn't the only thing the church talks about.
Don't they have an alter call? Where he can get this blessing he thinks he is missing out on?
Sorry, I do not know this man, his situation sounds dire for sure.
But I have been there, been very poor. But I will tell you God is greater and bigger than poverty- unfortunately the way I got out of poverty was by giving.
No one can force anyone to give, perhaps he just feels conviction.
Maybe see if your church would take up a collection for this gentleman?
We have a compassion fund in our church. Last year we helped several of our families thru hard spots.
One family we blessed with 2000 $ to pay legal fees to keep the granchild they have raised for several years, from being taken from them by the childs unfit mother.
The members of our church do not know who gets help from our compassion minisrty fund, as to not embarras families in need.
A couple years ago we helped with @ $1200 to a brand new family to our church to help them of the street.
It is easier though, to just pray for peoples needs, that way all the tithe can go to help the preachers family.....just like the bible says.
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God has lavished his love upon me.
I am sorry I think that man is making a big mistake and going a little over board.
I am sure that money isn't the only thing the church talks about.
Don't they have an alter call? Where he can get this blessing he thinks he is missing out on?
Sorry, I do not know this man, his situation sounds dire for sure.
But I have been there, been very poor. But I will tell you God is greater and bigger than poverty- unfortunately the way I got out of poverty was by giving.
No one can force anyone to give, perhaps he just feels conviction.
This is probably a bit of an oversimplification. Being in dire financial straits causes unbelievable pressure.
When the bill collectors are calling non-stop, you panic every time the electricity flickers because you're fearful that they've finally disconnected it, the pantries are nearly empty and you don't know how you'll refill them, the auto company has told you they're repossessing in three days if they don't receive a payment, your trash pickup has been halted, you have a tooth that is decaying causing lots of pain but you have no money for a dentist.......
going to church and hearing money, money, money can be completely and totally overpowering.
There's a difference between being poor, and completely sinking financially.
We went through a time just like the one I detailed above, and I still feel the scars many years later. We were giving over and above what was 'required', and we still lost nearly everything. Hearing about money at church was hard, it just was. If you're going through a divorce, hearing teaching about marriage is going to be hard for you. That's just life.
I hope this man is able to recover financially very soon.
...
There's a difference between being poor, and completely sinking financially.
We went through a time just like the one I detailed above, and I still feel the scars many years later. We were giving over and above what was 'required', and we still lost nearly everything.
...
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We had lots of financial problems, some caused by poor management on my part. We were taught and believed that if we gave God the first 10 percent plus offerings He would meet all our needs. We wound up filing bankruptcy while tithing.
I have since come to the conclusion that according to Mark 7:9-13 and 1 Timothy 5:8 it is wrong to pay tithes before meeting your family's needs.
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Sam also known as Jim Ellis
Apostolic in doctrine
Pentecostal in experience
Charismatic in practice
Non-denominational in affiliation
Inter-denominational in fellowship
We had lots of financial problems, some caused by poor management on my part. We were taught and believed that if we gave God the first 10 percent plus offerings He would meet all our needs. We wound up filing bankruptcy while tithing.
I have since come to the conclusion that according to Mark 7:9-13 and 1 Timothy 5:8 it is wrong to pay tithes before meeting your family's needs.
Finally..a man that reads the Bible and understands it
This is probably a bit of an oversimplification. Being in dire financial straits causes unbelievable pressure.
When the bill collectors are calling non-stop, you panic every time the electricity flickers because you're fearful that they've finally disconnected it, the pantries are nearly empty and you don't know how you'll refill them, the auto company has told you they're repossessing in three days if they don't receive a payment, your trash pickup has been halted, you have a tooth that is decaying causing lots of pain but you have no money for a dentist.......
going to church and hearing money, money, money can be completely and totally overpowering.
There's a difference between being poor, and completely sinking financially.
We went through a time just like the one I detailed above, and I still feel the scars many years later. We were giving over and above what was 'required', and we still lost nearly everything. Hearing about money at church was hard, it just was. If you're going through a divorce, hearing teaching about marriage is going to be hard for you. That's just life.
I hope this man is able to recover financially very soon.
It's a mistake to quit church, that is not the answer.
Perhaps, the one who wrote this thread should try to help the man.
I have been worse than poor myself and had a time where I had to sleep in my car.
It's funny I never thought about the church being the source of pain, I saw it as a source for my answer, and it was.
MusicMaster 
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