Tithe-vs-Paying Your Bills

[holinesspk]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I understand what you are saying though it is a bit confusing.

I think you are in fact giving to an organization... or do you actually mean you are giving this $$ to the needy orphans and widows you worship with?

Tithing is given to run the church. Pay the bills, pay the pastor, pay for improvements, put into the building fund, etc. That is your reasonable service. Giving to widows does not replace your tithes. That is on top of your tithes. I mean organizations like you were talking. Charitable works, etc.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by holinesspk

Tithing is given to run the church. Pay the bills, pay the pastor, pay for improvements, put into the building fund, etc. That is your reasonable service. Giving to widows does not replace your tithes. That is on top of your tithes. I mean organizations like you were talking. Charitable works, etc.

How do you arrive at these intended usages of the funds?

Would it not stand to reason that we accept not only the Old Testament commands to tithe, but also the accompaying definitions for it's purpose and usage?

Really, I am just asking... not wanting to debate.

[holinesspk]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

How do you arrive at these intended usages of the funds?

Would it not stand to reason that we accept not only the Old Testament commands to tithe, but also the accompaying definitions for it's purpose and usage?

Really, I am just asking... not wanting to debate.

I know your just asking. Buut I guess I dont understand what you mean in your second sentence. What do you mean?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

How do you arrive at these intended usages of the funds?

Would it not stand to reason that we accept not only the Old Testament commands to tithe, but also the accompaying definitions for it's purpose and usage?

Really, I am just asking... not wanting to debate.

Originally Posted by holinesspk

I know your just asking. Buut I guess I dont understand what you mean in your second sentence. What do you mean?

Oh. In another post you mentioned "Tithing is given to run the church. Pay the bills, pay the pastor, pay for improvements, put into the building fund, etc. That is your reasonable service. Giving to widows does not replace your tithes."

While this sounds reasonable (if you can verify it's dispersal) is there a biblical precedent for it's use as you describe? I believe we have precedent for it's use to assist widows, and our support of the same is identified as true religion in the New Testament.

[jaxfam6]

"What if you don't agree with how your local church is spending its income"
RW

"Randy, I was taught that once I gave my tithe, it was out of my hands. I did what the bible told me to do and that was give my 10%. Where it went from there was out of my hands also." LCS


I watched as my sister and her husband put thousands of dollars into a church where the pastor abused the money. They finally left and went elsewhere to church but for me the damage was done. I started to become skeptical. I was still a teenager. I asked my sister once how they could do that. She told me that we are taught by example to pay tithes. That once it is in the storehouse it is the ministries problem then. If the ministry abuses the money God will take of them. As long as they did what they were supposed to do that was what God looked at. It was not their job to police the ministry that was up to God. Once they got tired of it they finally went someplace else. (I think it has more to do with once they finally realized they could go elsewhere and still be saved)
God has always taken care of their needs and much more. They one a home, travel the country with his job, pay their bills, help their children with college, families, help others, etc. God even brought my sister through a battle with cancer and she is now 4 yrs plus cancer free. God is good but more than that He is FAITHFUL.
I learned from them and my mother that if I paid my tithes and gave in offerings that God would take care my needs. He always has. Not always the way I want but he always meets my needs and then some.
If there are widows in need, or orphans, or homeless people and you think your church is not doing enough then start something in your church to do more. If no one else wants to join you do it yourself. But that is not your tithe in my opinion that is offerings and sacrifices, even seeds that you are sowing. Stop policing your ministry, if you are not happy with them then move on.