Tithing…Is it a command?

[Sean]

Brother, dont give these guys any more ideas...they just might take you up on them!...LOL

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Sean

Brother, dont give these guys any more ideas...they just might take you up on them!...LOL

Sean your funny. I have particularly enjoyed this thread. I totally agree with you non-tithers on a lot of your points. There are people who teach tithing out of greed and there are people who don't tithe out of greed. I believe it is truly a matter of the heart and I wouldn't ever want someone to feel that they had to do tithe or else. If you don't want to then don't and I don't condemn you to hell and we would welcome you to our church. I do hope you in some way support your local church, though.

I don't wish or proclaim a curse on those who don't, but I do pray the Lord bless those who do. I am against preachers getting rich, but I support the principle of honoring God with your increase (tithing a good place to start).

P.S. know were the money goes in the local church. I don't advocate dumbly following. I think accountability should go both ways not just one.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Sean your funny. I have particularly enjoyed this thread. I totally agree with you non-tithers on a lot of your points. There are people who teach tithing out of greed and there are people who don't tithe out of greed. I believe it is truly a matter of the heart and I wouldn't ever want someone to feel that they had to do tithe or else. If you don't want to then don't and I don't condemn you to hell and we would welcome you to our church. I do hope you in some way support your local church, though.

I don't wish or proclaim a curse on those who don't, but I do pray the Lord bless those who do. I am against preachers getting rich, but I support the principle of honoring God with your increase (tithing a good place to start).

P.S. know were the money goes in the local church. I don't advocate dumbly following. I think accountability should go both ways not just one.

Amen to the above my brother... I am waiting on the Lord to show me my next move.

If I may offer a word of advice to you as a pastor. Never show favoritism in any way to the big givers of your congregation. I have seen this all of my life, even to the point of a pastor making a leader of a mens' group of a rich chain smoker.(seriously). I have seen the rich coddled and preferred in every way imaginable. The average saint sees that and it upsets them.

Judge a man by his walk with God and not by his earthly successes....in my opinion, this is a great sin of ministry and a stumblingblock to saints that are Godly and poor.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Sean

Amen to the above my brother... I am waiting on the Lord to show me my next move.

If I may offer a word of advice to you as a pastor. Never show favoritism in any way to the big givers of your congregation. I have seen this all of my life, even to the point of a pastor making a leader of a mens' group of a rich chain smoker.(seriously). I have seen the rich coddled and preferred in every way imaginable. The average saint sees that and it upsets them.

Judge a man by his walk with God and not by his earthly successes....in my opinion, this is a great sin of ministry and a stumblingblock to saints that are Godly and poor.

I appreciate the words of wisdom. I have pastored for about 14mo. so I still have a lot of learning to do. Since I have been there we have lost some of the bigger tithers in the church, but we have grown in attendance though.
We really have been having revival with people being filled with the Holy Ghost and being baptized.

We have more mouths with less food so to speak. I am not stressing though I know God will provide. I am bi-vocational and I don't have a problem with it even if I had to do all my life. Although it would sometimes be less conflicting of my schedule to be full time. I don't want to make people feel they must give or else, but I don't want to be so lax that people fail to get the importance of their giving. I think that a big key in life is having balance. We must have balance in everything we do.

Family, work, play, giving, etc. we must have balance. A lot of times there are suffering families and prospering pastors and I don't think that is balance. In the book of Acts they sold what they had and had things common. The church took care of one another's needs as well as supported the ministry while they were doing the work of God. I think that most pastors out there are trying to be right in their teaching on giving, but it is the few bad apples that spoil the whole bunch. And yes you are right many times people let others financial status affect their judgement and don't judge righteously. I hope the Lord will help keep me from such.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I appreciate the words of wisdom. I have pastored for about 14mo. so I still have a lot of learning to do. Since I have been there we have lost some of the bigger tithers in the church, but we have grown in attendance though.
We really have been having revival with people being filled with the Holy Ghost and being baptized.

We have more mouths with less food so to speak. I am not stressing though I know God will provide. I am bi-vocational and I don't have a problem with it even if I had to do all my life. Although it would sometimes be less conflicting of my schedule to be full time. I don't want to make people feel they must give or else, but I don't want to be so lax that people fail to get the importance of their giving. I think that a big key in life is having balance. We must have balance in everything we do.

Family, work, play, giving, etc. we must have balance. A lot of times there are suffering families and prospering pastors and I don't think that is balance. In the book of Acts they sold what they had and had things common. The church took care of one another's needs as well as supported the ministry while they were doing the work of God. I think that most pastors out there are trying to be right in their teaching on giving, but it is the few bad apples that spoil the whole bunch. And yes you are right many times people let others financial status affect their judgement and don't judge righteously. I hope the Lord will help keep me from such.

Brother, the answer to the financial question is simply this...MORE SOULS.

I asked a pastor if he thought the Lord would rather have 100 folks saved, that gave 5%, or 50 folks saved that gave 10%. Guess what he told me?


Right, he chose the 50 folks.

The Lord WILL bless you FREELY and take care of you if you open the door to all souls with no strings attatched. You will baptize weekly and be amazed at the revival that the Lord will send you. Just remember though...no strings attatched...ever.

The Lord will speak to the saints without your prodding. Just let them know the needs and your plans for the community. If your "ARK" is built on truth, it will never sink, no matter how many souls are aboard.....

[Esphes45]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Sean your funny. I have particularly enjoyed this thread. I totally agree with you non-tithers on a lot of your points. There are people who teach tithing out of greed and there are people who don't tithe out of greed. I believe it is truly a matter of the heart and I wouldn't ever want someone to feel that they had to do tithe or else. If you don't want to then don't and I don't condemn you to hell and we would welcome you to our church. I do hope you in some way support your local church, though.

I don't wish or proclaim a curse on those who don't, but I do pray the Lord bless those who do. I am against preachers getting rich, but I support the principle of honoring God with your increase (tithing a good place to start).

P.S. know were the money goes in the local church. I don't advocate dumbly following. I think accountability should go both ways not just one.

We agree. I do believe in supporting a church. My post probably made you think otherwise. That being said I would expect the pastor to give also. I have seen churches where the pastor would give $1 and he would tell the members to give $10. If you didn't they your spirit was not right. That does not sit right with me. The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruit.

You are definitely right, there has to be accountability.

[Aquila]

Why can't tithers trust the Spirit of God to lead with regards to finances?

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Why can't tithers trust the Spirit of God to lead with regards to finances?

Probably never taught to.

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by Rudy

Probably never taught to.

OK Rudy and all your fellow free will offerings.

This comes from a new apostolic Church that will be established January 1, 2015

I only copied the first 2 paragraphs and the part about finance; the document discusses some other doctrines.
This is a church that officially teaches tithing but allows freedom to those who believe in freewill giving.

would the following statement be a satisfactory compromise?

TOLERATION POLICY
The Christian Apostolic Church Universal (CACU) has a toleration policy, which is a unique feature of our church. While we believe the following official stance on certain doctrines are biblically correct, nevertheless for the sake of brotherly love and kindness to those who differ biblically in such matters, we have therefore created this toleration policy.

Although The Christian Apostolic Church Universal (CACU) does not demand or require that its members or ministers adhere to the official doctrinal stances, we do require that any dissenting person be polite, respectful and avoid creating disunity in the church.

Finance.
The official stance of The Christian Apostolic Church Universal (CACU) is that the finances of the church should be generated thru tithes and offerings. Any member or minister of the CACU who disagrees with this official stance may disagree peacefully under our toleration policy.

[Esphes45]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

OK Rudy and all your fellow free will offerings.

This comes from a new apostolic Church that will be established January 1, 2015

I only copied the first 2 paragraphs and the part about finance; the document discusses some other doctrines.
This is a church that officially teaches tithing but allows freedom to those who believe in freewill giving.

would the following statement be a satisfactory compromise?

TOLERATION POLICY
The Christian Apostolic Church Universal (CACU) has a toleration policy, which is a unique feature of our church. While we believe the following official stance on certain doctrines are biblically correct, nevertheless for the sake of brotherly love and kindness to those who differ biblically in such matters, we have therefore created this toleration policy.

Although The Christian Apostolic Church Universal (CACU) does not demand or require that its members or ministers adhere to the official doctrinal stances, we do require that any dissenting person be polite, respectful and avoid creating disunity in the church.

Finance.
The official stance of The Christian Apostolic Church Universal (CACU) is that the finances of the church should be generated thru tithes and offerings. Any member or minister of the CACU who disagrees with this official stance may disagree peacefully under our toleration policy.

I have a feeling you are being funny.
Are you serious?

I hope you are serious because I believe that there should be one unified church and we will have to compromise to get there. (God help us)

With that being said I have no problem with the above BUT if that is the policy, tithes should be preached that way also - If you disagree with paying tithes basically don't pay tithes. According to your faith let it be so unto you.

I think we all agree on giving