This is the one issue that has stopped me going to church...tithing.
At the moment my family are going through very hard times...we have barely enough to buy food and pay our bills, and after that we have nothing (and I mean nothing, empty wallets all round).
So what can I give? I can't even afford a newspaper, and to give 10% of my income would mean that we lose our house. At max it would be literally pennies that I would put in the collection, and I refuse to have my financial issues spread around church...so I stopped attending.
Is this wrong?
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Originally Posted by Anne Lamott
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“You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”
This is the one issue that has stopped me going to church...tithing.
At the moment my family are going through very hard times...we have barely enough to buy food and pay our bills, and after that we have nothing (and I mean nothing, empty wallets all round).
So what can I give? I can't even afford a newspaper, and to give 10% of my income would mean that we lose our house. At max it would be literally pennies that I would put in the collection, and I refuse to have my financial issues spread around church...so I stopped attending.
Is this wrong?
THAT IS REALLY WRONG!
The tithe is there to help the community and the faith.
Is your economy more important than that?!?
We are to give according to how God has prospered us.. This has nothing to do with percentages or money.. It's according to our increase whether it be in time, knoweledge, wisdom, Joy, administrative gifts, any of it.. I know alot of churches have taken the liberty to impose a dollar amount on it's congregations, but the simple truth is there isn't a new testament example of anyone giving less than 100% of everything they have. If all that you materially possess belongs to creditors and other people then find other ways to give.
Remember it all belongs to God anyway, even if you make your monthly payments elsewhere. So what exactly are you giving, unless it's of your heart? this may not be a "popular christian" view, but it is a biblical one.
Nothing in the new testament gives a expression that giving tithe is something Christians must do. However it is mentioned as a good thing when Christians give money to help other Christians. I don't think anyone could suggest that salvation depends on how many coins a person gives away.
We are to give according to how God has prospered us.. This has nothing to do with percentages or money.. It's according to our increase whether it be in time, knoweledge, wisdom, Joy, administrative gifts, any of it.. I know alot of churches have taken the liberty to impose a dollar amount on it's congregations, but the simple truth is there isn't a new testament example of anyone giving less than 100% of everything they have. If all that you materially possess belongs to creditors and other people then find other ways to give.
Remember it all belongs to God anyway, even if you make your monthly payments elsewhere. So what exactly are you giving, unless it's of your heart. this may not be a "popular christian" view, but it is a biblical one.
That's just it, I don't know what to give. I have to work two jobs just to get the small amount of money that we get now, and as the only Christian in my house I don't see why my parents should have to give anything, to be honest. Everything that I get I put into the house as without it we would lose it.
I don't know anyone at church well enough to say this to them, so I thought it better to not be a drain on their precious resources by attending.
I figure that when things get better for us, then I will go and more than gladly give what I can. But I have no right to make my parents go without food and heat just so that I can give that money to a church that they don't even attend.
Is that so wrong?
__________________
______/\______ \O/_____ Argh! Shark Attack!!
Originally Posted by Anne Lamott
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
“You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”
Nothing in the new testament gives a expression that giving tithe is something Christians must do. However it is mentioned as a good thing when Christians give money to help other Christians. I don't think anyone could suggest that salvation depends on how many coins a person gives away.
What do you know... you norweigans are nothing but church burning devil worshippers....
Giving coin proves your faith towards God, as you put your worldly power in HIS hands... and therefor clearly become a better christian!
EDIT:
Now I see why you are punnished.... nonbelievers can't expect any mercy from HIM....
Make them faithfull to him, and all will become better
Last edited by MatthewofFaith; 19th October 2008 at 06:41 PM.
Reason: Missed post
We are to honor our commitments. Someone who would push you to ignore paying a bill in favor of giving to the church has taken a legalistic approach and missed the whole point.
Why would someone require you to tithe just so you'd have to turn around and ask the church for help?
If your church is not one where you can go speak to your pastor and trust things to not get your business the subject of town gossip something is wrong.
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I don't think that is something God is telling you.
You're right, He didn't, but I am not even sure if the church that I used to attend is even the right one for me...I was hoping to attend a new Methodist Church that was opening near me this month, but the building has been delayed and they are not opening until the new year now, so...
__________________
______/\______ \O/_____ Argh! Shark Attack!!
Originally Posted by Anne Lamott
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
“You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”
What if you can't afford to tithe? 
I can't even afford a newspaper, and to give 10% of my income would mean that we lose our house. At max it would be literally pennies that I would put in the collection, and I refuse to have my financial issues spread around church...so I stopped attending.
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