Tithers Only

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

The example of paying tithes was put before me by my mother.

I would watch her as she would go to the grocery store and cash her little check before she shopped for groceries. Then, she would count out ten percent and roll that little money up and place it in a tithing envelope which she then would put in a side pocket of her purse. All of that done while standing in the grocery store. She would say to me, "Now son, that is the Lord's money. That belongs to God."

What a great example to me as a young lad.

Today as always, I pay my tithes with gladness of heart. I do not say, "I give" tithes because it is not "giving." How can you give to God what already belongs to him? Indeed, I pay my tithes without robbing God of what is rightfully his.

No, I would never use an excuse by saying, "well, we can't find where tithes paying is specifically spelled out under grace in the N.T.. That's a cop out and the result is...robbing God.

Sorry Elder...that's wrong....it's ALL the Lords money.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

People who are constantly on the search for scriptural justification to NOT pay tithe always come across to me with a tinny sound, a little flat, and somewhat in the spirit of the Pharisee.

In this statement you have made about those who study the issue of the tithe... no doubt... from time to time... your judgment of them might be correct (judging that they are constantly on the search for scriptural justification to not pay tithe)

But... I have found... as one who is often accused of being on this search you speak of... that one cannot present any study concerning the truth of the tithing doctrine that is being preached without immediately and constantly having to suffer these types of accusations.

It is as if there is no room at all for good & open study on the subject. It is as if that, just to bring the subject up, is reason enough to deem one as one of these searchers you speak of.

Certainly there could very well be those who constantly search for reasons not to pay the tithe.

But there are those who hear it told over and over again how someone will lose this salvation wrought by the death of our Christ if they fail to pay the tithe. With no intent to teach others to NOT tithe... but only a desire to see whether the Word of God backs up what is being touted as truth... we begin a study on the subject... and the fact that we had the audacity to even study the subject is enough to make us one who constantly searches for reasons to NOT tithe.

And... of course they come across tinny and a little flat.... when people are judged so quickly to have such heinous intentions then anything they say from then on would tend to come across that way.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

I agree Freeatlast.

I get paid monthly, so I tithe once a month. A couple months back, our pastor said, "Thanks to all of you who give monthly, but we appreciate those who make the effort to give every week, especially." ROFL! I thought, what's the difference?? What should I do, divide it by four and give a different check every week? LOL

Paul wrote that and asked that offering be brought in a set aside "on the first day of the week"

This was for monies to be taken back to the poor in Jurusalem. Paul asked this because he did not want to take the time to "take up" an offering when he came.

It was for convenience sake..and once again "we" have tried to make a law of "tithing weekly" out of one scripture that did not allude to that at all.

The only consistency "we" use in biblical exegesis is INconsistency.

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

In this statement you have made about those who study the issue of the tithe... no doubt... from time to time... your judgment of them might be correct (judging that they are constantly on the search for scriptural justification to not pay tithe)

But... I have found... as one who is often accused of being on this search you speak of... that one cannot present any study concerning the truth of the tithing doctrine that is being preached without immediately and constantly having to suffer these types of accusations.

It is as if there is no room at all for good & open study on the subject. It is as if that, just to bring the subject up, is reason enough to deem one as one of these searchers you speak of.

Certainly there could very well be those who constantly search for reasons not to pay the tithe.

But there are those who hear it told over and over again how someone will lose this salvation wrought by the death of our Christ if they fail to pay the tithe. With no intent to teach others to NOT tithe... but only a desire to see whether the Word of God backs up what is being touted as truth... we begin a study on the subject... and the fact that we had the audacity to even study the subject is enough to make us one who constantly searches for reasons to NOT tithe.

And... of course they come across tinny and a little flat.... when people are judged so quickly to have such heinous intentions then anything they say from then on would tend to come across that way.

I certainly wasn't using the broad brush. Searching for truth is always commendable. Some churches have taught on the topic falsely, and that is reprehensible.

You're simply not going to see careful scriptural analysis of this topic become wildly popular in brick-and-mortar churches. It has the potential to be self-defeating, whether we trust in the Lord or not. The status quo is maintained out of a sense of survival when there are church-property-related bills involved.

So here is a thought experiment for you: Can truth truly build a mega-church?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

I certainly wasn't using the broad brush. Searching for truth is always commendable. Some churches have taught on the topic falsely, and that is reprehensible.

You're simply not going to see careful scriptural analysis of this topic become wildly popular in brick-and-mortar churches. It has the potential to be self-defeating, whether we trust in the Lord or not. The status quo is maintained out of a sense of survival when there are church-property-related bills involved.

So here is a thought experiment for you: Can truth truly build a mega-church?

A very thought provoking post...

I feel that truth can turn our world upside down... but... in my opinion... no... truth cannot build the mega churches.

When discussing tithe it is often offered as near scripture to ask..."Well how do you expect us to be able to do this & do that"

I don't consider the fact that the current church model requires more financial backing than God alloted for to be my problem nor do I consider it to be God's problem.

Again... a very thought provoking post.

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

So, in your obedience to the teachings of the church, what scriptures do they use to teach you obedience? ( I only wanna know out of your churches perspective, not to nit pick. )

bro e, all the basic ones, i have attended a upc church since i was 10 except for 2 years so that is a long time, ot and nt, passages, i personally believe it and practice it anyway, i pastored a upc church for almost 10 years, i believe it to be gods plan to fund the church, inho, dt

[Nina]

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

So here is a thought experiment for you: Can truth truly build a mega-church?

Bro OP_Carl,

Are You asking this because You think a "mega-church" is the goal?

Let Me ask You a question.

What do You think would happen if Christians took the cash they paid in tithes and used it to feed the hungry (instead of government welfare programs that do this), give water to the thirsty (provide well digs in poor countries), help the stranger, naked and sick (instead of medicaid), and visit the imprisoned (those in Darfur and Sudan)?

I think the "mega-church" THAT would result in wouldn't look like America's idea of "mega-church" but I do think Jesus would recognize it.

Nina

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Nina

Bro OP_Carl,

Are You asking this because You think a "mega-church" is the goal?

Let Me ask You a question.

What do You think would happen if Christians took the cash they paid in tithes and used it to feed the hungry (instead of government welfare programs that do this), give water to the thirsty (provide well digs in poor countries), help the stranger, naked and sick (instead of medicaid), and visit the imprisoned (those in Darfur and Sudan)?

I think the "mega-church" THAT would result in wouldn't look like America's idea of "mega-church" but I do think Jesus would recognize it.

Nina

Indeed... but no one can afford to do the things you speak of large scale and still maintain the buildings, grounds, lights, water, salaries etc.

I believe the early apostolic church was a "mega church" with no building to be seen except for that one building... the body of Christ... fitly joined together and working in ministry one to another.

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by Nina

Bro OP_Carl,

Are You asking this because You think a "mega-church" is the goal?

Let Me ask You a question.

What do You think would happen if Christians took the cash they paid in tithes and used it to feed the hungry (instead of government welfare programs that do this), give water to the thirsty (provide well digs in poor countries), help the stranger, naked and sick (instead of medicaid), and visit the imprisoned (those in Darfur and Sudan)?

But . . . . . but . . . . . but . . . .




. . . . .that would turn the world upside down!!!!!!

[Nina]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Indeed... but no one can afford to do the things you speak of large scale and still maintain the buildings, grounds, lights, water, salaries etc.

I believe the early apostolic church was a "mega church" with no building to be seen except for that one building... the body of Christ... fitly joined together and working in ministry one to another.

Bro
So are You saying that the buildings, grounds, lights, water, salaries etc are more important?
Nina
PS I'm voting for Ron Paul as well.