One thing that really jerks my chain is the teaching of Tithing in Churches and how money centered they are. Also all that crap about sowing and reaping. Yes Paul used sowing and reaping as an example to say you get what you give, but many in Churchianity are obsessed with money. Heres my issue
1) Tithing is NOT commanded in the new testament
2) Tithing as it is in Churchianity is not biblical at all. You should read up on the OT type of tithing. Its far different then the way people do it now
3) We are not cursed. We are under Christ but people love to quote Malachi to say were cursed.
4) God does not teach we should be rich.
5) Tithing as it is now is nothing but taxation.
My main problem is I have yet to find a Church (with the exception of Church of Christ which I take issue with because they think they are the only ones not gonna roast in hell) that doesnt try to shove the tithing garbage down my throat. I understand they need money, but the guilt tripping and scripture manipulation is sick.
I will not tithe out of obligation ever. I will only give as I feel led. That could be none or it could be a hell of a lot more than a tithe.
Take your tithe tax and stick it, Churchianity. If it was so freaking important, Jesus would have had a lot to say about it
8 comments:
You know, where can I begin. I totally hear you. I really really do. I am reaching a point where I just expect people to have it wrong. Look at the disciples. They had the benefit of walking with the incarnate Christ and they argued over who was going to sit at his right and who was going to sit at his left. Eye roll. Somewhere I am sure I have it wrong also. I just try not to get myself annoyed about this stuff anymore because where does it end? My big big issue is about love and healing and tarrying with the suffering. Be an idiot about everything else but get love right. If you get love right, it covers a multiple of sins. But I hear you about this. If we gave 10 percent of all we have, we'd be in the poor house...well ok, the poorer poor house.
One of the things that sticks in my craw about churches, "Christ-based" websites, ministries, etc in the U.S. is EVERY...EVERY...EVERY single one of them has some kind of Store or Cart or donation contraption inherent in them.
I am (unfortunately) on a mailing list of some kind of 'national' ministry. I have thought often of Unsubscribing, but have kept on their list just to see what kind of ridiculous fodder they send out as a "mainstream" ministry.
First thing in every email, from the ministry's guru, is "here's where we are financially", "I know many of you can't, but someone reading this is in position to send in $36,000 to help us be the only message of Christ on a major secular tv network", blah blah blah.
Many times this ministry was down to literally its last day, or else they would be canned from tv.
And, of course, the discussion of this was "Satan wants to get us off the air because he doesn't like what we're doing". My thoughts upon reading this were "that's not necessarily it. Your going on the premise God NEVER wants anything to die, which is a crock of crap."
Anyway, going back to the macro level...I am utterly fed up with the money-machine in the Body. My stance is "if God has really spoken to you, if He has legitimately given you a message of some kind, then share it for free. Period."
I don't buy Christian books, Christian music. Nothin'. When someone tells me "so-n-so has written this really good book, I think you'd like it", my thought is "that's nice".
If someone really has something of God, my take is they should either put it on the web for free or God should "move" some Followers with deep enough pockets to pay for every cent of the publishing, so that this "important", "awesome" or "great" message can be distributed at no cost to the Body.
It's also underwhelming the number of times in the last couple of months where I've run across someone who said "make a financial donation and THEN God is going to birth this new season of blessing in your life".
Um...no. If God wishes to birth or change something in or for me, He'll simply do it Himself or nudge me in that direction.
I'm really effing tired of hearing "if/then" with regard to my life, being tied to financial outpouring.
Do I give? Yes. Do I help other folks? Yes. It's very simply at His prompting.
I also am pretty peeved with the fanfare, pomp and Jesus-fairy-dust approach to giving and money.
In the recent past when there's been a giving situation crop up, it has awesome to see it go down without any fanfare or trumpeting of ANY kind.
It's cool acclimating to this type of situation, compared to the glorification and pomp/circumstance that's surrounded giving & money pretty much my entire life.
If someone really has something of God, my take is they should either put it on the web for free or God should "move" some Followers with deep enough pockets to pay for every cent of the publishing, so that this "important", "awesome" or "great" message can be distributed at no cost to the Body.
Not that I am a huge fan of Billy Graham, but he distributes a different book for free every month.
Here's my issue though...people don't actually support other christians that they beleive are hearing from God or promoting God's message. I live this. I'm sorry, my husband has over 100 some odd songs that we can't even afford to produce to put out there for "free". My unbeleiving in-laws gave us a couple hundred bucks to produce two and that's because it's their son. We have gone to bible studies and played in churches. My husband hears from God. People have said how blessed they were by his sharing. He says amazing stuff. No-one has ever said to him "How can we help you get this message across to other people?" I would absolutely love to put music and poems and paintings out there for people to enjoy, (Shit, I do) but art supplies and instruments and and equipment cost money. Living costs money.
Even my husband's work as an addictions counselor...does he bring God to people that no-one would care about? You bet your sweet ass. But we need to eat. Should he not get paid for spending his entire day pouring his mind into the problems and pain of other people? Should we not be supported for dealing with phone calls during vacation about a patient having a relapse? I am not talking living the high life. This is the first year of our entire lives we are above the poverty line and it's only by a smidge. Mind you, this is not a complaint. I don't really even care. I have been really really affluent and it really doesn't do much for me and poverty has blessed me immeasurably.
What bothers me is that people don't actually help without being prompted. Not unless you are poor. I have seen poor people help other poor people. People who have less than I have given me clothes for my kids and groceries when I needed them.
I am not tooting my own horn. It's not a big thing to give God what is already his anyway. I say this to illustrate a point, We need to live and we need to be assisted in getting our message across to other people and I have yet to see anyone that "loves our music" or "loves our writing" or "loves our art", ever put their money where their mouth is. I made a painting last month on a 3X4 canvas. It cost me 40 bucks for the canvas and $150 for the markers to do it, with coupons no less. I brought that painting to my class and talked about Jesus to a bunch of people that may not know him. That money is a pinch on our existence...I don't care, I didn't fo it to "minister" per say. The picture popped into my head, and it had to be done. It flew out of my pen. I did it and God lead the conversation where it needed to go for who he needed it to reach. Good, great actually. I am really overjoyed. But, where are these believers that are so willing to help without being asked? I don't see people tripping over themselves to help me assume what I know is God's call on our lives.
AMEN MJ and John 33
Good topic, bear.
I agree with you that the New Testament does not teach the 10% ticket-to-heaven. In fact, consider Jesus' teachings regarding the law vs. grace. The old covenant said that it was enough to refrain from murder and adultery, but Jesus taught that even hating your brother or lusting after a woman were just as bad. The law of grace is tended to by the heart, not simply outward behavior. By the same token, while the old covenant demanded 10%, I think Christ wants it all. But he sure as hell doesn't want you to send it to the TV preachers.
I totally agree with you about tithing. Somewhere in the bible it says give what you feel like God is telling you to give. Giving doesn't have to mean money either. It can mean your time, helping people who are in need (such as: moving a couch or helping someone who has car troubles).
People have said that if you tithe, you will be blessed, but aren't we blessed anyway? Aren't we blessed even if we don't tithe. We are God's children - that itself is a blessing. It seems like all people (who talk about tithing) care about money. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!! Isn't the love of money the root of evil? Then why do they care about money?
Anyway, sorry about going on a tangent. Hopefully, I am not out of line. I like your post.
I don't think I've ever heard tithing preached on in my church. The only time money is mentioned is when there is a specific need within or without the congregation and people are encouraged to give as they feel lead. No guilt trips, sappy music. A coffee can with some flowered fabric glued on it is passed around, and people give. I know there are people who do the 10% tithe in the congregation...but there's no pressure from the pulpit about giving money.
Hey, our pastors sponser needy people who want to attend events that would incur travel expenses, some fees. There are still churches that aren't totally focused on your pocket.
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