Confidentiality of Tithes

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

How do you know how much they give?

Yep there it is no one knows what they give(which is generally little or nothing) yet they want to know where every dime they didn't give is going. You couldn't build a church on a million of them.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

How do you know how much they give?

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Yep there it is no one knows what they give(which is generally little or nothing) yet they want to know where every dime they didn't give is going. You couldn't build a church on a million of them.

Brother Epley, you jumped to conclusions without answering my question. I asked you a specific question as to how you know what people are giving.

Let me rephrase that question then. How do you know how much anybody, in general, who goes to your church gives every week?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Brother Epley, you jumped to conclusions without answering my question. I asked you a specific question as to how you know what people are giving.

Let me rephrase that question then. How do you know how much anybody, in general, who goes to your church gives every week?

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.

[AreYouReady?]

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.

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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Yep there it is no one knows what they give(which is generally little or nothing) yet they want to know where every dime they didn't give is going. You couldn't build a church on a million of them.

Wow... what an eye opener. For years I gave much of the tithe in cash. I sell livestock and produce and in the past usually Sat. were big days and most sales were in cash so dropping money in the plate and not having to go to the bank on Monday seemed easy...

So now I see that my giving was not really between me and God but that the pastor keeping track probably valued me less as there was not a 'record' of my giving.

That explains a lot about how I was treated then and how I am treated now that all my farm customers pay by paypal the day before they pick up and I always write checks because I never carry cash.

I would have never dreamed that those who are supposed to love souls talk about them behind their backs this way... Do you also poke fun at those with other struggles? I have a hard time believing that your harsh judgement only extends to those who have financial trouble. Wow, wow, wow.

I knew a lot of preachers were full of themselves but this has kind of taken it to a new level.