"Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Ezekiel 44:30
Put the dough in the pastor's hand so that your house will be blessed!

This is different from your tithes. You know you're supposed to give that.

But everyone that wants to be blessed, come down here and put some dough in the pastor's hand.

This isn't your Pastor's Anniversary offering. You're doing this because you want the blessing of the Lord to follow you to your house.



Flawed logic, misinterpretation, or another secret Bible truth I just never knew but now that I know I have to follow forever and instruct others to follow forever so that all of our houses can be blessed?




Less than 10 minutes later, it is time to collect tithes and offering.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Apparently, I am visiting this church during the celebration of this Pastor's anniversary. I will give. I love Pastors.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

But I didn't participate in the "dough in hand" offering. Oh no, I hope I am doing everything right....

So many offerings.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Someday J.D., someone will wake up and realize that all born again Christians are EQUAL in the eyes of God....... "When you have done it unto the LEAST of these....you have done it unto Me."

Being involed in helping the "least" of the body will get the Lords' attention the most!

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Now we're going through a list of all the departments in the church and how much they have contributed to the Pastor's special anniversary offering.

There are also individuals being recognized for their giving, with the amount they gave announced for all to know.

Small church with BIG cash flowing to the Pastor.

You really can't give a Pastor enough money, but these sincere people are really, really giving.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Several nice gifts presented to Pastor's wife, along with more cash.

The people on my row smell like weed-- and have been smelling like weed since I got here.

I am bored.

More cash, apart from the other departments-- the pastoral care department just gave $250.00 more!

Without meaning to be prejudiced, these people don't look like they have all this money to be giving like this. Don't look particularly financially blessed, don't have fine cars in the small parking lot of this small church-- but they are obviously blessed in their giving of so much money.

Much cash for the Pastor.
Many gifts for his wife.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Beautiful animal fur stole for Pastor's wife!

Looks really, really nice!

Happy Anniversary!

I am hungry.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Third row of a small church.

If I leave now, everyone will see me leave.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

I am the only young-ish man here.

Several elderly men.
No men over 17.
Many women, various ages.
Many children.

The smell of weed is strong.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

smelling weed, on older people? hmm, weird.

Good grief. Reminds me of a PAW church I visited for a few months. Stopped going, because frankly I couldn't afford to keep going there! The Bishop there was nice, had a nice Mercedes SUV. They did the same thing for his bday and church anniversary. Each dept gave money and everyone was instructed to give at least $25pp for his bday (church runs around 200) and at least $125 for the anniversary.

Not to mention, they pushed for 100% participation in giving an offering...even guests. If you didn't have money to give, a Deacon would give you $1 to give.

What denomination was this? PAW?

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Ok. These members have money and just live modestly and GIVE ALOT of their money to this particular church.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

If I mention this COGIC church by name, then I'd have to mention that UPCI church by name in the other thread. :)

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

The couple sitting next to me looked like they were at least in their 40's. However, they both looked impoverished and may have an older appearance because of their poverty and the lifestyle they live or used to live.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Get out !! Run!!!!!

I understand, that's why I wasn't asking for the name, just the denomination.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

:tinfoil

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

COGIC church has like a three hour offering service. Why did you post that you are smelling reefer? Are you at a Rastafarian temple?

http://media2.fdncms.com/sfweekly/im...31352_irie.jpg

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

I posted it 'cuz it was interesting and true.

Nope, not at a rastafarian temple. :)

At least those people felt welcome enough to come in and hear the Word. I MIGHT go back and visit that church again as I carefully search for a new church home.

This church reminded me a lot of my Dad's church in the ghetto, when I was a kid. This church has people in it who LOVE to give and to me that is a very good sign. After the service, there was a fellowship dinner where the people brought in dishes to help make sure there was enough for everyone. It was simple and refreshing. Genuine.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

I thought you were saying that the parishioners were smelling like weed, not visitors. Also the whole thing about lavishly giving a mink stole (in the summer?) is a bit too much. Especially when some of the people who brought a plate to the dinner could only afford macaroni and cheese out of a box. I wouldn't be cool with the first lady getting a mink, while Miss Minnie is driving a Toyota with 4 broken power windows, and her air conditioner doesn't work.

But it probably wasn't like that over at the COGIC you attended, they probably had all new cars in the parking lot. :)

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

I definitely had that inclination at first, but it wasn't so bad of an experience, sans the influence of the "prosperity gospel" during the "3 hour offering service".

It wasn't really 3 hours, but there did not appear to be an upset or non-giving person there except for me. I didn't know these people or their vision. I only gave in one of the offerings.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

The offering services "feel" like three hours. Especially if there is a profit because if there is a profit, and he (or she) starts to profitsize he will usually tell everyone to stand up, take out their wallet, hold it high in the air, wave it, then pull out the largest bill they have, and throw it in the jacket that has been spread out in front of the pulpit. This takes a bit of time if you have a good sized congregation. It even takes longer when all the dope smokers get up to throw some nickel bags into the jacket.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

The people on my row may have been members or semi-regular visitors. After church, I could tell that people knew them and seemed to know them well.

You know, I mentioned the giving nature of these people and I mentioned how I did not notice lavish cars in their small parking lot or on the street in the immediate area of the church. The people didn't appear materially rich, but only a few actually looked impoverished..... and the weed smell was probably only on my row because of the people I sat beside.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

I am laughing, but you should stop. :)

Besides, the people who gave, appeared to do so out of a cheerful heart and appreciation for their Pastor. God will honor the faith and generosity of these people.

Seriously, the fact that they were able to give so much is indicative of a level of financial blessedness that is simply not reflected in their clothes and cars-- kind of a unique experience to actually witness.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Sounds like a ponzi scheme...LOL

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

J.D., our pastor received a brand spanking new Jaguar at an anniversary function(rolled in though the door of a lavish hotel conference room)...top that!



LOL

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Now that is what I call "giving to Jesus"(the representative of Jesus in a Jag)....LOL

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

I can't top that. In fact, that sounds like it should have never happened.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Did these people make note of you on your phone during the entire service... lol!

Sounds to me like the people are genuine and sincere, and indeed the Lord will bless their sincere hearts... but the pastor/wife are obviously conning those poor souls. IMO.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Actually, I am not sure-- but how would that conversation go over anyway? :)


Maybe not.

After service, I got to see a second much larger, 2-building lot that the church owns in a bad section of Cleveland. It is an old 19th century edifice, beautifully and classically built, along with a school building next door to it.

This small congregation of inner city believers share their Pastor's vision for the city and they are not afraid to give.

Due to the largeness of their vision, my gut tells me that this Pastor will probably take a good portion of what was given financially and put it towards his vision for the ministry.

I realize I am being very optimistic, but you should have been there to see what I saw.

These people give and give and give and probably have been doing that for quite sometime.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Just another mis-representation by Sean. I know of only one minister in California that was given a Jag, so if he is referring to a particular pastor who became a UPCI official, here are some additional facts.

1) It was not only the 30th anniversary of his pastorate, it was also his departure from the church to to go Headquarters.

2) It was most definitely NOT in a lavish hotel conference room. It was in a building at the county fairgrounds. A large room that many people spent time and their own money and personal items to decorate and make beautiful for the occasion of honoring a great man!

Sean, I've seen many of your postings and negative comments and have just let it roll off me like water off a duck, even when I was pretty certain that you were mis-representing some things. However, I couldn't let this one pass.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Well, it is hard to know exactly how things are going on for sure, as this was just for your first visit, I assume. But from the running monologue you provided, it certainly seemed that something is amiss... if the pastor indeed has a great vision for the city, and was a humble man who really had a vision, it would seem he would not want such lavish gifts for himself, but would want it bestowed upon the needy ones in his community instead...

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Sorry folks, that's all just crazy. Tens of thousands of dollars for your birthday? Fur coats? No words.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

There is a church in LaMarque, Texas with an ATM in the parking lot.

I almost wrecked driving by I was laughing so hard.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

It was not in the tens of thousands bro.

It was a lot of money though.

They gave cheerfully.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

That's funny!

My old church in Orlando had Credit Card kiosks where one could give. We also had a set up where you could use your cell phone to text give.

Text giving was my previous Pastor's preferred method of giving.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

The PAW church I attended had credit/debit card machines to use during offering. It's nice for a church to have this ability. I rarely, if ever, carry cash, so these machines are great.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Yes and no.

Like I said, my gut tells me he will just be giving it into the ministry but I don't know for sure. Even if he didn't give it back to the ministry, I don't think there is anything wrong with Pastors having nice stuff. I don't think there is anything wrong with the congregation giving sacrificially to bless their Pastor, and vicariously, blessing the Lord through giving.

I do think it is a turn off to ask for so much money and to collect multiple offerings during a church service. I think it is wrong to twist scriptures to manipulate people into giving.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Where? I want to check it out.

Re: "Put the money in the Pastor's hand."
 

Forget the money, how about equating an Old Covenant priest of the Levitical Order with a New Covenant pastor, and completely demolishing the Word of God in the process to do it?