Does anyone honest to goodness tithe?

[Cool-Beans]

the same reason you have a tail bone but disregard evolution.

I do not disregard evolution. Evolution is the scientific way of explaining how God created the Earth. Ugh. And you didn't answer my question. It is fine if you don't want to, but I thought I'd remind you in case you didn't realize it.

And I give to the church because I want to support the good they do, not because they have me convinced that it is for my own good or that I'll go to hell if I don't.

I'm ashamed for the church on some things, but proud of it in general. I'm ashamed of my kids sometimes, too...not going to kick them to the curb!

 

[Cool-Beans]

well, some people seem to be misguided on this earth. Jesus is everything to me, I need Him in my life, He makes sense of the times that are senseless. I am always surprised by parent athiests-HOW can you look at your kids and think nothing else but GOD gave them to you. I am not arguing, just speculating. Even if you try to tell me an answer, i will not understand it.

My DD9 had leukemia when she was younger and the FIRST night on chemo, a mom came and told me she did not beleive in God, did not pray... It kind of freaked me out since I could get through the mess without the Lord by my side.

For the misguided- The money is not for God directly, you are so right in saying it cannot go to heaven, so WHY do it. The money we give our church is to allow people to SEE God on this earth. Whether it be in inspirational sermons, mission trips to help others, giving less fortunate families a special Christmas, Sunday school for our children, etc. I have been on the recieving end of those Christmas gifts before and when you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow in your life, child's life, etc, to me, those gifts are straight from God, heaven sent- and you touch people enough to , wow, well cry, then when they are in a better place, pass it on. That is where we are.

Good luck and blessings on your journey through life.

I suppose I'm one of the misguided on this Earth (as opposed to other Earths, I guess.)

The gifts you received didn't actually get sent from heaven (no UPS store there), and they aren't literally straight from God. The gifts you received came from people who donated their time and money...people like me, who you chose to insult.

I'm glad that you got help when you needed it, but not too impressed by your refusal to admit that you have PEOPLE to thank, as well as God.

 

[Buckalew11]

Yes, we tithe 10%. I think the Bible tells us 10% because 10% is just 10% no matter if you make 100.00 or 100,000.

I remember tithing during my Dh's jobless fiasco. I wondered how I was going to pay every bill that came in and tithed anyway and was definitely shown a great lesson for my own spiritual life during that time.

I think you give out of obedience and that God doesn't need your $$. It isn't about God needing your money at all...it is about obedience. And through your obedience, you'll be helping someone else. Jesus said if you help someone in need, you have indeed helped Him.

In the same way that God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you, so goes the money thing...He doesn't *need* your money and He doesn't *need* a relationship with you. He wants your obedience and He wants a relationship with you. JMO.

 

[Glendamax]

I think you give out of obedience and that God doesn't need your $$. It isn't about God needing your money at all...it is about obedience.
He doesn't *need* your money and He doesn't *need* a relationship with you. He wants your obedience and He wants a relationship with you. JMO.

I agree! I pay my tithes not only because the bible says that I should, but because of relationship. Also, for me it is a form of worship to God.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I tithed a few years at our church in FL. Loved the church and the school. It was a great place. And I was able to do it at the time. It's been a few years now...and I have issues with "the church." And I pay a lot more in taxes in VA than I ever did in FL. So it's nixed and going to the state.

 

[believe]

We tithe 10% monetarily. My church does not put a lot of stress on this. When it is discussed it is not just discussed in the form of money. It is also discussed that you can tithe 10% of your time, this is where I lack.

Our church voted that we as a church must also tithe 10% of the offering to other Christian outreaches (missions, Baptist Nursing Homes, etc).

All spending in our church is voted on by church members that attend the business meeting each month. If members aren't happy with how things are being spent they can come to the meetings and voice that opinion as items are voted on.

God has kept His promise to me regarding tithing. It has been returned in both monetary and non-monetary ways. I have been blessed.

 

[3DisneyKids]

This is an interesting discussion.

For those quoting scripture here, please remember that what you are quoting is someone's interpretation and translation of the original word. Unless you read it in the Ancient Greek (as I do....though it has been some time, and I will have to go back and look at the verses on tithing) and/or Aramaic or other of the original languges, you are putting your faith in the interpretation of others. And we now know for a fact that sometimes these interpretations are MISinterpretations.

 

[snowwite]

We used to tithe but stopped because I was not happy with how the funds are being allocated by the church.In fact it is why we left that church and I am still looking for a new church home.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Isn't it fun when people imply others are not welcome on a thread.

And here I thought that was limited to the clique threads.

I am trying to be real respectful in saying this, so please do not misconstrue. There are some conversations that will only have meaning to those who hold a common belief or interest. IMO it's not that anyone is not welcome in any discussion; it's just that it might not make a whole lot of "sense" to others, so others might wind up unintentionally saying things that are rude, insensitive, inflammatory, and have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

If someone started thread, for instance, on auto repair, I would not jump in and take a strong position because it is not something I know much about.

 

[cardaway]

I am trying to be real respectful in saying this, so please do not misconstrue. There are some conversations that will only have meaning to those who hold a common belief or interest. IMO it's not that anyone is not welcome in any discussion; it's just that it might not make a whole lot of "sense" to others, so others might wind up unintentionally saying things that are rude, insensitive, inflammatory, and have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

If someone started thread, for instance, on auto repair, I would not jump in and take a strong position because it is not something I know much about

May not make a whole "lot of sense"??? As usual you just took an opportunity to try and hide insults and personal attacks within disclaimers.

A message to Zippa and others that do the same thing: Word count is meaningless. A long rude post is just as bad as a short one.

I have asked nicely more than once, so why is it so hard to just agree to keep our distance?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

please disregard... thought better of what I was going to say.

 

[cardaway]

We used to tithe but stopped because I was not happy with how the funds are being allocated by the church.In fact it is why we left that church and I am still looking for a new church home.

I have read that many churches are struggling. Good bet that for many places, that is exactly why.

 

[cardaway]

please disregard... thought better of what I was going to say.

Yeah, good idea. The last thing this thread needed was another insult.

 

[aquinas]

lack of tithing and undertithing by members of the church is one of the central reasons churches struggle financially.

Also, too many people have a consumer mentality when it comes to churches today. What can the church do for me?, how many programs does the church have, or how nice is the church facilities all of which are not the reasons to become a member of a church. Mismanagement of church funds is NOT a reason to not tithe. Your responsibility as a Christian and a member of the church is to be faithful in tithing. God will hold those in leadership accountable for the stewardship of the money given to the church. This doesnt mean that you do not attend business meetings and do what you can to help in stewardship but ultimately you are not going to be held accountable for how the church spends your tithes but if you were faithful or not in tithing.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Yeah, good idea. The last thing this thread needed was another insult.

I have tried to be polite, and have backed off. I am so sorry you misunderstood the intent of my last post. I was trying to provide an explanation for... o never mind.

Was the post above necessary or helpful to the discussion?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

lack of tithing and undertithing by members of the church is one of the central reasons churches struggle financially.

Also, too many people have a consumer mentality when it comes to churches today. What can the church do for me?, how many programs does the church have, or how nice is the church facilities all of which are not the reasons to become a member of a church. Mismanagement of church funds is NOT a reason to not tithe. Your responsibility as a Christian and a member of the church is to be faithful in tithing. God will hold those in leadership accountable for the stewardship of the money given to the church. This doesnt mean that you do not attend business meetings and do what you can to help in stewardship but ultimately you are not going to be held accountable for how the church spends your tithes but if you were faithful or not in tithing.

Good point, aquinas. Our consumer mentality has clouded our understanding of godly giving. We wonder what's in it for us, when the likelihood is that godly giving won't do much at all for us but will honor God.

 

[cardaway]

Was the post above necessary or helpful to the discussion?

I saw what you had there before you changed it. Just another shot at those you don't think should be posting on this thread.

 

[FL-Belle]

Mismanagement of church funds is NOT a reason to not tithe. Your responsibility as a Christian and a member of the church is to be faithful in tithing. God will hold those in leadership accountable for the stewardship of the money given to the church.
... but ultimately you are not going to be held accountable for how the church spends your tithes but if you were faithful or not in tithing.

Aquinas, I agree completely. God has called us to tithe. Period. To be good stewards of our $$. If the church mismanages the money, they (church leadership) will be the ones held accountable to God for it. Not me. I have been obedient to what God has asked of me.

In a way it is like paying taxes. We are required by law to pay taxes. If the government mishandles that money they are the ones held accountable (by voters/citizens).

 

[cardaway]

Aquinas, I agree completely. God has called us to tithe. Period. To be good stewards of our $$. If the church mismanages the money, they (church leadership) will be the ones held accountable to God for it. Not me. I have been obedient to what God has asked of me.

If people leave a church because of the leaders, but do tithe in the next church, how is that wrong? IMO churches struggle because people figure their money is best spent at another church, or even giving to God outside the church.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Aquinas, I agree completely. God has called us to tithe. Period. To be good stewards of our $$. If the church mismanages the money, they (church leadership) will be the ones held accountable to God for it. Not me. I have been obedient to what God has asked of me.

Giving is kind of a both/and thing. When we give to the church we have to trust that leaders will make good decisions on it. If not people like me would have to call a meeting to ask whether I should buy paper clips at Office Depot or Target. On the other hand all who give should be aware of the process of financial decision making, and be represented in that process -especially matters of budget making, funding, large expenses etc. I agree that once a person gives it is up to teh church to use the money faithfully.