That is the question.
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| Unfortunately the fate of many tithings... |
Matthew 22:18-22 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink,or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Malachi 3:8-9 Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse —your whole nation—because you are robbing me.
Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
We can carry on like this forever, but a few things are very clear:
- Let's face it. Most churches has became so greedy and money driven, that the gospel gets lost in translation.
- You have to go give God 10% of your earnings according to the Bible.
- He will bless you abundantly in doing so. It is like a rule of nature. You don't even have to be a Christian for this to be true in your life! Those who give will receive. The more you give, the more you receive.
- If you give your money with a clear conscience and the church steals it, or misuse it, it is their sin, and not your concern. If you knew however that your church misappropriates the funds, it is your responsibility to stop giving to them directly, and ask God for guidance as to where you should give your money. The money doesn't HAVE to go to a church, but it is for the purpose to do God's work.
Sometimes God lays it on my heart to help somebody (whom I might not even know) financially. I have many wonderful testimonies about that. I do it mostly anonymously - where possible, and I am always amazed at God's timing. You see, God doesn't have an ATM, and if that is how He uses me, I am happy to be of service. I don't keep book and remind God about the fact that my tithing budget is finished. If God speaks, I listen. If I don't listen, I will miss a wonderful opportunity to do God's work, and He will just use someone else to do it. But He will always help people who call onto Him.
1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
My husband and I left a church recently because of that. There was a family who were really going through a very bad time financially in the church.The preacher said that, although they come to church, the are not members, so he can not help them. Shame on him!! He lives in luxury (on all the church tithing's nonetheless), but refuses to help someone in need. Or he uses excuses like: they drink or smoke...?? Did God ever show anyone away because of their geographic location, membership status, or even because they are not Christians? NO, in fact, it is mostly the non-Christians that He helped, to show His love to a broken world.
The church's motivation for that, is that they need to save money for one day when they need the money for security. This may be a good business principle, but a very bad theology. Where is their faith? Is God not enough security for them?
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So stop debating over exactly how much is 10%, gross or net, where do I give it etc, and open your heart to the Holy Spirit for guidance and peace, and give abundantly with a joyous heart to your capability. Once you start counting your blessings, you will be amazed at how blessed you really are.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Related links:
http://what-a-friend-an.blogspot.com/2010/09/litmus-test-for-church.html
http://what-a-friend-an.blogspot.com/2011/05/skatryk-kerke-in-n-brandarm-wereld.html
Related links:
http://what-a-friend-an.blogspot.com/2010/09/litmus-test-for-church.html
http://what-a-friend-an.blogspot.com/2011/05/skatryk-kerke-in-n-brandarm-wereld.html
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