thegirltolove
Member
I meant that 10% is never mentioned relating to free-will giving in the New Testament. I'll correct.
Ok...my bad. I guess I was confused. Don't mind me.....
I meant that 10% is never mentioned relating to free-will giving in the New Testament. I'll correct.
WOW thank you all so very much for taking the time to post your responses and provide scripture. I will take my time reading these responses and seek guidance from the Lord.
Just another point from me...It's not really MY church...it's ALL churches. Or the large majority, i should say. Its the normalcy of rich or well-off pastors and board of directors and rich churches. And I only hear of a minor project here or there that the church is supporting. I always cringe and think...its nice yall doing that, but is that all???? All of these misguided preteen/teen kids running around with no direction or no one ttrying to divert their attention from 50cent and the latest bootyshaking video/song....It just doesnt sit well with me. These are young impressionable souls that we can EASILY win over, but it would be at a financial expense as opposed to a gain, (because teens dont have jobs and dont tithe). Just think about how rich our community would be if all churches chipped in to support a community center that taught things that schools left out and deprogrammed them from what they see on BET. Wow! ok sorry, i guess i'm very radical with my thinking.
I'll have to pray about it and find out if i should continue church tithing or find some worthy cause that I feel is helping the poor and enriching my community.
How about this: as you feel so strongly about these issues, how about YOU start something at your local church to address these issues. Draw up a proposal, present it to the leadership and see what happens. The Bible says the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2).
Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!I just wanted to express that this is an excellent and timely thread, as well as very thought-provoking. It is also spiritually edifying. Thank you all very much!
MizaniMrs, I felt the same way a couple of years ago and did not even tithe at all. What made me return to it is due, in large part, to what RelaxerRehab pointed out. I do not tithe to fill the pockets of my pastor and his wife. I tithe as a sacrifice to God.
I have to tell you that a couple of weeks ago, I was looking at my bank account and feeling very stressed out because I am a student and my fellowship was ending at the end of that week. But I saw that I had set aside a special account for a missions contribution. I contemplated using that money for myself and figured that God wouldn't mind. However, I remembered that I had pledged to God that I would give that money, so I paypalled it in.
A couple of hours later, I found out that I got a research grant that would cover the rest of my expenses for the next half of my doctoral program! The same coverage I had had before - tuition, stipend, and health/dental insurance - as well as money for research expenses (even to get a new computer!) will be provided by NIH!
Do I think that I got it because I sacrificed to God? Honestly, no, because the decision was made before I found out about it. But the TIMING of me finding out is something that I know comes from God. He encouraged me the very day that I had sacrificed a fair sum of money to Him, which He himself prompted me to do.
Yes, at times I worry how my money will be spent. But I trust that God sees my heart and that He will bless me.
Besides - in the Old Testament days, they would sacrifice lambs, which were a form of currency just as money is to us today. And you know that those lambs were killed and burned to a crisp! But the Jews still had to sacrifice, even as they watched their sacrifice literally go up in smoke, because it's the heart of gratitude and a heart that acknowledges that all comes from God, that He wanted to cultivate in His people. I believe that the same holds true today. We don't know where it will all go, but we can be sure that God sees everything. And one day, those who abuse the sacrifices of God will be called to account.
I hope that what I have shared helps you all as much as you all have helped me!
:blowkiss:
IMO (not based off of anything in the Bible, just how I feel) I believe that money/time can be given to different areas outside of the church that contribute to the Lords kingdom. Like giving to a women's or children's charity, donating books, giving your time (which is much more precious than any money). Or giving to organizations that build churches, or giving directly to someone.
IMO-it's the giving that counts, not the percentage or where.