CAUTION: Seventy-five percent of the people who read this post will strongly disagree. Many will find my words offensive, they will defend their beliefs just as strongly as I will defend mine. I make no apologies.
If you have read my book BROKEN & NOT A$HAMED you know I am not a fan of tithing as many churches present it today. I do not believe you will go to hell if you do not give ten percent of your earnings to church. I do not believe you will be cursed forever if you do not give ten percent of your earnings to church.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
When did church leaders go from collecting offerings to collecting tithes and offerings? It began when the church leaders determined that the people were not giving enough to cover the cost of what ‘they’ wanted.
If you study Scripture I believe you will not see special offerings to facilitate providing the church leader with special perks such as new suits, new cars, and so forth. I don’t recall ever reading about that Jesus said “We need a bigger temple because this one is too small.”
Pastors, some, have progressed from priestly garments to new suits and ties with coordinating shoes. Mega-churches require mega-bucks to manage pastoral salaries,administrative cost, utility bills, entertainment expenses and mortgages; thus the need for more money. The Senior Church Leader must convince the people that it is biblically required that they give a minimum of ten percent of their income.
Tithing with a twist. Are you cursed with a curse? Do have a need thus you must sow a seed? Do you believe that if you bless the church leader, God’s prophet, you will receive a ‘prophets” reward? The church specializes in twisting the arms of the saints so that they will give ten percent.
Yes! I know lots of people who have given more than ten percent and they have received an answer to a prayer. I submit to you, and I wrote about this in my book, BROKEN AND NOT A$HAMED, not everyone who has tithed has been so fortunate.
I don’t think a church leader should live a poor mans life. I do have a problem with churches who feel they have to buy their Pastor a new suit 2 or 3 times a year when he has a closet full. I don’t think the Pastor’s wife should have a special assistant to make sure she has everything she needs (that is her husband’s job). Either God will take care of His servants or the church will be the church leaders’ god. YES! This is just my opinion.
According to Psalm 23:5 our cups run over, this is a downward direction so that those under us partake of our blessings; the church leader is above us, our cups do not flow upward. All of us should have clothes on our back, food in our bellies and a roof over our head. If our cups run over they will hit our families first not the church leader.
We are required by Scripture to care for our families (see 1 Timothy 5:8) yet fear has lead many to sacrifice their own household to give to the church. “There is no partiality with God”(Romans 2:11); God is not impressed with church hierarchy. People all over ‘Christiandom’ are convinced that the answer to their problem is associated with their giving but there never seems to be enough money so they give to people who are not even their church leaders.
The word declares “God loves a cheerful giver” it is hard to give ten percent of your check to the church when you need half of what you gave to pay a bill or buy food. I began to question the principles of tithing when I read the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.
ACTS 5:4 NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
The Apostle told Ananias (the husband) that the money he had was his, he did not say: “100 percent of the money you have was God’s but God is allowing you to keep 90 percent.” He, and later his wife Sapphira, were accused of lying; the problem was not the amount he gave but the lie he told.
In BROKEN AND NOT A$HAMED I discuss how your money is your money. I firmly believe ten percent is not etched in stone but it is a goal we should all hope to exceed in our giving amount. Some people will give less other people should give more (See Mark 12:41-44)
I believe in offerings only, not giving ten percent. I believe churches today have taken advantage of biblical teachings on tithes. There are specific reasons why we are required to give to the church and not one of them have to do with a new car, new air plane or even a new suit for the church leader.
No where do I read of the Apostles building a bigger temple. No where do I read the Apostles asking for money for better modes of transportation. I read how the people from Macedonia made sure the Apostle’s basic needs were met before he went to Corinth; according to Scripture he said: “I was a burden to no one.”
2 CORINTHIANS 11:9
And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
The purpose of the church is for people to learn. The greater the size of the body the greater the number of people who will not learn. Jesus said: “Feed My Sheep” not build Me a bigger temple. (John 21:17)
LUKE 15:4I submit to you, dear readers, that most church leaders have no idea who their sheep are. Their pursuit is that of new sheep without having personally shepherded that which they have.
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
I further submit to you; if your church leader is traveling all over the country to minister to others he is not feeding you, someone else is. There is money to be made when a church leader visits another church.
I believe, you can disagree if you want: If a person is called to travel around the world God will provide without him having to ask people, who are not part of his flock, for money.
I was once a part of a church, less than 1,000 members, who asked a very popular preacher to come speak; it did not happen because the church could not afford him. This individual required a $25,000 advance payment in addition to his fees.
Another, female speaker required $10,000 speaking fee, accommodations for her, the staff that traveled with her, her children and their nanny, in addition to filling her jet with fuel. Churches that have nightly services have nightly offerings.
Like multi-level marketing far to many ministries have become religious ponzi schemes, those on the top do very well and those on the bottom hope to come close.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:7Who wants to give money to a church in which the Senior Pastor is living very well while you are struggling to pay your bills?
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
PSALM 23:5There are far to many airlines available to the children of God, you don’t have to have a private plane or jet. A Toyota will get a person from point A to point B just like a Mercedes. The sheep do not always have the latest and the greatest, Jesus did not have the latest and the greatest! Why do these church leaders, male and female, believe they should have the best the world offers? Perhaps that is why Jesus said: “For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.” (Matthew 26:11) He knew that Judas was stealing and He knew there would be church leaders that would rather spend over 50 million dollars on a plane rather than get 100 million people off of welfare Before many peoples blessings can “run over” church leaders are sucking the contents out of the peoples cup. ----Marsha L F Randolph
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
FAITH MATTERS reflects the opinions and property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated. Don’t miss weekly faith based post FOLLOW THIS BLOG and receive notifications when a new article is posted.
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