Quote:
Originally Posted by mizpeh
I'm only trying to state what I believe the Bible teaches.
1) the tithes go to the ministry (not just the pastor)
2) ministers of the word are accountable to God
Whether or not the minister is demanding and commandeering of funds doesn't change what the Bible teaches on giving to the ministry. There are hirelings, there are wolves in sheep's clothing, there are those that corrupt the word of God, there are those who's God is their belly....God will deal with them and judge them.
I don't believe I'm accountable to my pastor with the money God allows me to have. I'm accountable to God. I'm His steward. If I'm wrong (almost right!) show me from the scriptures. 
Why do you think you should receive a salary? Is that teaching in the Bible? Where do the rest of the tithes go? |
In most churches, the tithe makes up the lion share of the total income. If I took all the tithes, I would constantly have to come back to the people on a regular basis and take up offering after offering just to pay the expenses.
Show me, under the Levitical code, where the priests get rich off the offerings the people bring into the tabernacle. I believe in reasonable compensation and the people in the two churches I have pastored have NEVER tried to deprive me or my family of a comfortable living.
Point #1 LEGALLY, if the pastor receives or has control of the tithing account, he is liable to pay taxes on ALL of it, even if he doesn't use it for his own purposes. Failure to do so, is considered tax evasion. I am involved in a situation right now where a pastor may end going to prison for this exact same thing.
The biblical tithe was to take care of the ministry not give them opulent lifestyles. Take Rick Warren's for example: He has become quite rich due to the Purpose Driven Life book. He has given back his salary from the church, I think for the prvious 10 or 15 yrs because he didn't need the church's money.
Saying the pastor gets all the tithes, I believe, is an excuse for no accountability, and using more than a man of God should.
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