Geri, I am glad tithing is a choice that is meaningful to you. My objection is when tithing is presented as a one-size-fits-all command for all saved believers, and people are compelled by their pastors to obey some sort of rule to tithe. . Truth be told, if you have been around evangelical Bible churches as long as I have you know very few members, who say they believe in tithing, actually do tithe. It's kind or lip service; they say they believe in tithing, but many of them never do or only do it once in a while. Phil I understand, Phil. Well, I drew the line when the deacons of that Massachusett’s church were asking for money to buy the pastor a brand new designer suit each year AND to send the pastor’s family on a vacation trip each spring. I did resent the deacon coming up to me asking for additional money for that … one approached me and said did you get our note? I said yes, and I don’t believe in giving for that cause so he looked down on me for not participating. Meanwhile my parents were very kind to many in that church. They wanted the school teachers and pastor and assistant pastor (pastor’s son) families to have a nice Christmas so they asked for the names of the full time workers since they knew they didn’t get paid that well. My parents gave out Christmas cards with checks so they could buy gifts for their families. The first year they were all grateful and gave them thank you notes or thanked them in person. But after that … the ungratefulness set in and they stopped with the “thank you”. She approached one family and asked if they received the Christmas card? Their response was yep. B-) nothing else. :mdrmdr: Soooo my parents eventually stop giving out those Christmas “love gifts” and that same person who was rude in their response the year prior had the nerve to say the next year …we didn’t get a Christmas card from you. My mom’s response was … well we didn’t get a thank you. It was not always pleasant environment attending there. After my parents gave out gifts to the Assistant pastor family (wedding and all the baby showers, etc) they were singing a song my mom liked and she asked them for a copy of the sheet music so she could learn it on her violin. Their answer was we can’t do that “its copyrighted”. So she asked what is the name of the song and where did they buy it? Guess what … the sheet music came to $1.50 and they were too cheap to buy it for her? Then when my mom got sick with cancer … someone in the church took upon themselves to make a DVD of a Christmas recital for my mom to view … she never asked for it AND to top it off they wanted the DVD back. Well … my mom never got it then they accused her of keeping it and wanted to drive over to our house and “look” for it. I told them we looked everywhere and its not here … she never received it and I was firm with don’t bother showing up. Then 3 years later mystery solved of the missing DVD … I was cleaning out my dad’s vehicle and it was in between the car seats. He was going thru beginning stages of dementia at the time and someone gave him the DVD but it just stayed in the vehicle that whole time. So I made sure it went back to the church with a note … my mom never saw it … it was left in my dad’s car the entire time. :mdrmdr: Then the last straw was when my dad was in rehab the pastor visited him and left a “gift”. When I arrived I saw the book it was about “why you need to tithe” 🙄 I said dad who visited you? I just thought that took a lot of nerve because we stopped attending that church. I wanted to toss out that book at the rehab center but then thought he probably ask for that book back too, so I better not. So I can understand what you’re saying Phil. Its not all rosy attending church and dealing with certain people. Hi Geri, what brought this on was that the pastor of this Bible church I attend in the KC area gave a sermon last Sunday based on a couple of verses in Proverbs and used it for a sermon on how we all need to tithe. I guess because of COVID the don't pass the basket, instead they have a box in the rear of the sanctuary labeled "Tithes and Offerings." This is a rather large church and I only saw one person drop anything in this box. I have spent some time reflecting on whether to keep going to this church and I have decided to look for another church. This pastor is kind of a control freak. I have a Bible and I don't want to be spoon-fed what to believe just because this pastor says so. (Acts 17:10,11) Phil The fabricated pillars of proof text for teaching tithing is faulty, while at the same time identifying this as a Jewish tradition! My wife and both have an open hand and give as the spirit directs! God honors tithing when it is called for by Him! TR This given as a form of national aid both providing for "refuge" cities and feeding of the tribe of Levi which could hold no property personally! And as someone has rightly pointed out, gentiles were never instructed to build churches, cathedrals, or any house of worship! As the only house of worship was dedicated to the Lord. Schools of teaching were an option for the Gentiles! TR Tithes and offerings in the day was calculated to compromise 33.3% of total income per year! Welfare states controlled by governments was not an option! TR
