Show Me the Money

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

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.

MOW,

I respect your practice of accountability to the flock you oversee, but you have yet to prove what you do is Biblical. I commend Rick Warren also. You are doing what you believe is right, that's great.

If the people of God were blessed materially then the priests of God were blessed as well. There were some priests who abused their position (the sons of Eli). Despite their wicked ways, they still received the tithe, but God judged them for their sin.

But what does the Bible say to do? Who does the tithe belong to?