Confidentiality of Tithes

[Steve Epley]

Remember Jesus sat against the treasury and saw what was given. And the widow gave more than them all. Jesus recorded the two mites. God is not unrighteous to forget our labor of love toward His name. Most folks who are concerned about the poor are like Democrats they want someone else to support them. Those who talk the most about taking care of the poor do the least. They don't support the church nor the poor. YET the same folks want the Red Cross audited and want financial sheets from the church. Most Pentecostal preachers I know turn their pockets inside out to help poor saints. They see the church is clean-warm-cool-respectable looking. While some tightwad puts a dollar a week in the offering and wants to sit on the church board. Some things never change.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Truth is truth even if AB says it.

Stingy tightwad folks stick together too.

They are generally the same folks who tell you that a pop can is on the church yard. They wouldn't pick it. Tightwads and laziness goes together.

What about preachers who've never held a real job in their lives yet live on tithes and are 200lbs overwieight? A lot of them in the apostolic movement. You boys throw a lot of stones for being in a glass house.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Thank you Brother Epley.
Ok. I asked this question because I've known people who are of the belief that they should never let their "right hand know what their left hand is doing" when it comes to giving, whether it's to their church or to someone in the church who is having a rough time. Then there are people who feel that a family or an elderly person needs the money to make their rent, food, utilities and they give to that person. Doesn't God see that heart when it comes to giving?

Some people feel it is wrong to keep track of how much money they give the church, then take it off their taxes at the end of the year. They would rather just give with only the Lord and themselves knowing how much they gave.

I honor that we have folks who do not put their name on their envelopes for that reason.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

What about preachers who've never held a real job in their lives yet live on tithes and are 200lbs overwieight? A lot of them in the apostolic movement. You boys throw a lot of stones for being in a glass house.

I would like folks like you to follow me around weekly and see what a preacher does. And I am sure no preacher is living off of your tithes. Never weighed 200 lbs in my life. Do you know any over weight church members who are spending their tithes at the all you can eat buffet?

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I honor that we have folks who do not put their name on their envelopes for that reason.

Brother Epley, do you honor those who did not give any particular week because maybe they used the "tithe" money for someone else's needs?

But, to be fair, you being a Pastor know at least some of your congregation's habits. You would know longtime members.

Would you ever send a letter out to any of your members to remind them that they did not pay their tithe in ____ weeks?

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Remember Jesus sat against the treasury and saw what was given. And the widow gave more than them all. Jesus recorded the two mites. God is not unrighteous to forget our labor of love toward His name. Most folks who are concerned about the poor are like Democrats they want someone else to support them. Those who talk the most about taking care of the poor do the least. They don't support the church nor the poor. YET the same folks want the Red Cross audited and want financial sheets from the church. Most Pentecostal preachers I know turn their pockets inside out to help poor saints. They see the church is clean-warm-cool-respectable looking. While some tightwad puts a dollar a week in the offering and wants to sit on the church board. Some things never change.

I hope you are correct with your dollar a week assumption. Listen everyone knows my stance, but I'm blessed. I have a good paying job, and nice things as the world counts them, but I know I must be willing to give and I do. But I have no plans to come on here and announce how much I give or where. If you assumptions are correct, and people like me are just shuning responsibility, may God judge because he sees all. He knows what I give and I KNOW that he sees every penny and my confidence is in Him, so let the scoffers keep scoffing.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I would like folks like you to follow me around weekly and see what a preacher does. And I am sure no preacher is living off of your tithes. Never weighed 200 lbs in my life. Do you know any over weight church members who are spending their tithes at the all you can eat buffet?

Didn't say you. Didn't say AB. Actually the pastors I have had in the oneness movement all worked. You guys must have feel guilty or something. I'm just saying as a preacher in the oneness movement for a while I knew of many cases where people who couldn't hold a real job ended up being supported by the church, normally through family ties. You and I both know it happens.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Brother Epley, do you honor those who did not give any particular week because maybe they used the "tithe" money for someone else's needs?

But, to be fair, you being a Pastor know at least some of your congregation's habits. You would know longtime members.

Would you ever send a letter out to any of your members to remind them that they did not pay their tithe in ____ weeks?

I have never dunned anyone about their tithes that is them and God. They ain't robbing me they are robbing God.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

We give by envelopes. Tithes and offerings. We only recieve one offering a week. There are envelopes without names that is their priviledge. I ain't fussing the church I am attempting to pastor give very good and anything I get is more than I deserve they ain't getting their money's worth.

I recently heard a oneness minister tell his congregation "whose getting the better end of the deal here? You are getting the Word of God. All I'm getting is gold." What do you think of that?

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I have never dunned anyone about their tithes that is them and God. They ain't robbing me they are robbing God.

They aren't robbing God. You are robbing God! You are robbing the riches of the grace of Christ by bringing folks under the yoke of Law. You are stealing the Word of God (Jer. 23:30) by teaching them that their very relationship with God depends on their check book.