Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22156 | ||
Dear Johnny, Greetings in Jesus' name! This is all well and good. Everybody should love to give. But, my friend, people are inconsistent and fickle. Can you, for a moment, look at this issue from the pastor's point of view? The people come fairly regulary, and use electricity and water and their portion of the meeting place that God has provided, but the pastor has to somehow pay for. The minister is caring for his flock, using gasoline and his time, and whatever to pray for the sick, visit relatives, preach the Gospel and help those in his church and sometimes those not in his church. All of this costs something. Unless the church is totally supported by outside sources, the pastor is responsible to have enough money to pay the bills. He has the choice: 1) to request (not require) it be given in weekly or monthly increments, at a regular, dependable pace, without constantly asking or begging for it, and be responsible with what is given, thanking the Lord for His faithfulness and provision, and maybe even do some 'tent-making' or side work to supplement the coffers, or... 2) to 'appeal' for money evey week, to tell everybody about 'pressing needs' and 'special situations' all the time, to beg from the pulpit, in newsletters and by email, often 'stretching' the truth to make their situation seem dire, or... 3) to become an outright robber, and browbeat people using every money-grabbing scheme they can think of to fill their own pockets until they get put in jail or run out of town :-) My humble opinion: 1) sounds good to me! 2) sounds burdensome to God's people, undignified, inefficient, and very stressful for pastor and sheep. It MAY work, but that is by grace, not by holy design. 3) sounds like, well, a lot of ministries these days. Theory is fine, Bible-by-the-letter is fine, fuzzy emotions are fine, but simple tithes and offerings to the Lord from a simple heart is GREAT! Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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2 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | jlpangilinan | 22161 | ||
Charis, I agree on that on your cases, but of course my answer is based on the bible. When Apostle paul taught to to the gentiles he take nothing from them. That really I admire apoetle paul what He said is: 2Co 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 2Co 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. If the pastors really want to serve people in Jesus name they must observe what apostle paul did. And they must prepared for the cirscumstances. Again, The head of our church (sorry for mentioning "head" we know really that the HEAD of the church is Jesus) try to expand his own source of income in order to provide needs of our churce i.e free bible for the observer and other things. All of our pastor (although we call them brothers and sisters) has his own Job and source of income (maybe yours also do the same) Charis, just to tell you the truth income of our church from the love offering cannot sustain the needs of our church, here our head of the church extend thier effort just to sustain it. It truly the love for people. Thier not complaining, of course there are sometime that they can no longer shoulder it they call us for help, like what I mentioned to you the convention center. Charis, I am not really saying that giving is wrong but my stand is tithe is really not a requirement, and it cannot justify us, as mention in the Holy scriptures. In addition if we are really observe the the tithe which is included in the law of moses we must observe all the laws that included thier otherwise we are not consistent. Mt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. According to Jesus Christ in that verse, we have to be consistent. Thanks for very nice discussion, God bless, Johnny |
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3 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22168 | ||
Dear Johnny, Greetings from Japan in Jesus' name! If we are to question the legality of the tithe, I guess that a few good lawyers on both sides could make the case go on forever! :-) My own experience, and observation of many church situation leads me to believe that most healthy churches do need a certain amount of money to keep from legal problems, and to make their assembly a reasonably comfortable affair, and to have some amount of money available for the needs of 'widows and orphans' and whatever unforseen situation that is sent their way. My calculations come out to about 10 percent of the total income of the people of the church, plus a little bit more for the things that God wants us to do that we did not put in our original calculations. Now isn't that a coincidence? :-) So, in order not to get caught up in an argument, I propose a 'consumption and participation' tax of 10 percent of each person's total income, to be collected once a week. The 'honor system' will be used, on one will check on your payment. No one will ask you for money from the pulpit, but every week there will be a time of offering that is based completely upon how you feel each time, with no compulsion or pressure. At this time you can pay your tax, if you feel like it. The leadership will do all in their power to be responsible with this money, and make ends meet. How does that sound? If the word 'tax' is unacceptable, we could use 'cover charge' or 'entrance fee' or 'membership dues.' Or, we could just use a term from the Old Testament (pre-Law, by the way!) that catches the 'intent' of God's purposes, and call it the 'tithe and offering.' :-) Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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4 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | jlpangilinan | 22241 | ||
Charis, That is why it was mentioned in the scriptures that God loves cheerful giver. If are willing or happy with your setup of giving it is okay. If we really read the scriptures it is not the giver was made the mistake but those who requires to the members to give. Mt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. If you can give more than 10 percent of your income it is okay but again it is not a requirements. Apostle Paul gave to the church all he got in life, he got no wife because he dedicate all of his time to serve God, he gave even his life to serve people in the glory of Jesus Christ. If we put this discussion into a pure biblical, I know you would agree, Apostle Paul gave his everything to serve people to the Glory of God but he never required anyone to give thier tithe but a guidance that God love cheerful giver. If somebody can show me that Jesus Christ taught any single word or is He required his disciple to give thier tithe, then I would agree that tithe is a requirements. Please dont get rid of me, Again thanks for a nice discussion. Johnny |
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