Questions about the half shekel/temple offering.
 

I would like to hear what the half shekel offering amounts to. Some questions that I would like to hear answered are as follows.

1. Who preached it first? When did you FIRST hear it? Trying to trace the origin.
2. Where have you heard it? Church name/ location/year might be good.
3. Who all has ever preached it or endorsed it and on what basis?
4. Who all has come out opposing it?
5. Has anybody heard of it going international, or is pretty much U.S.A.?
6. Are you participating in it, or not? Why, or why not?
7. What promises have been made for participating? Health, wealth, salvation etc..
8. What scripture has been used to support it?
9. What is it supposed to be used for?
10. Has anyone recanted after initially embracing it?

You get the picture? I'm trying to get the picture. Anything or anybody, at any time or anywhere? How prevalent is this doctrine? Is it going to survive?
Is it a true doctrine? Is it a false doctrine? Do you even care?

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

never heard of it....

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

Can you share what general geographical area you are from and what organization you are affiliated with, if any? Just for informational purposes on what areas may have never heard of it?

Basically it is a doctrine that teaches that you give a tithe and a half. 10% of your increase plus five percent or half of your tithe for an offering. Scriptural support is supposedly found in Exodus 30:13-15?

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

aljc
central Louisiana

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

I haven’t heard specifically of any churches in aljc teaching it or embracing it. To my knowledge it was taught in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, maybe that’s about all I have heard of where it was taught for sure. I think the UPC was mostly against it, if they took a stand at all. I know independents who taught it. I’m trying to see how far it has actually spread. Also does it seem to be dying, or thriving.

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

I heard of some UPC churches that tried it, but it fizzled.

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

I am under the impression that the pastors that taught it aggressively were mostly independent or leaned towards AMF. Sean are you west coast? Is it out there at all?

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

I am west coast UPC. I first heard it go through Oregon and Washington, UPC churches from family members parroting it to me, then heard it mumbled around CA .
I think they were testing the fish to see if they would take the bait, but it created too much flack in the organization.

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

I remember also hearing it on a preaching tape about 20 years ago, from an Oregon family member, but it sounded too far out as an explanation for me to accept it.

Re: Questions about the half shekel/temple offerin
 

Was there any particular preacher that preached it? I’m trying to establish who first preached it. Twenty years seems a little short. I think I’ve heard it as far back as maybe 1990 ish. I didn’t realize it had hit the west coast but I’m not at all surprised. It may have jumped the ocean by now.

Is there a specific church/pastor in Oregon or California that could be tied to it? I would like to chase it down to a specific preacher, who clearly preached it first.