WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO MINISTRIES?

Si_monfaith

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WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO MINISTRIES?

Do hearers give seed money for fear their faith might not be genuine though their faith is indeed genuine as it is based on His self-sacrifice & not on their works, in order to grant them riches?

Does giving seed money to prove one's faith simply betray their ignorance of the definition of true faith?

Are hearers exploited financially due to their above ignorance?
 
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pdudgeon

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WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO MINISTRIES?

Do hearers give seed money for fear their faith might not be genuine though their faith is indeed genuine as it is based on His self-sacrifice & not on their works, in order to grant them riches?

Does giving seed money to prove one's faith simply betray their ignorance of the definition of true faith?

Are hearers exploited financially due to their above ignorance?
None of the above.
 
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Aussie Pete

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WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO MINISTRIES?

Do hearers give seed money for fear their faith might not be genuine though their faith is indeed genuine as it is based on His self-sacrifice & not on their works, in order to grant them riches?

Does giving seed money to prove one's faith simply betray their ignorance of the definition of true faith?

Are hearers exploited financially due to their above ignorance?
I see it from both points of view. For sure there are charlatans who peddle the gospel for a profit. It is also true that ministry costs money. There are ministries well worth supporting. Be led by the Lord. If he says to give, then do it. Not giving because of fear is far more common than giving out of fear! God blesses givers. That is because He can trust them with more so that they can give more. God works through the church. No, I don't want to fund someone's private jet because they don't like commercial airlines. I am okay with helping an evangelist get in front of a few thousand people so he can preach the gospel.
 
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Dave L

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WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO MINISTRIES?

Do hearers give seed money for fear their faith might not be genuine though their faith is indeed genuine as it is based on His self-sacrifice & not on their works, in order to grant them riches?

Does giving seed money to prove one's faith simply betray their ignorance of the definition of true faith?

Are hearers exploited financially due to their above ignorance?
I think many give in greed expecting more in return. If they give to support the ministry it could be a matter of conscience. It always bothered my conscience to support most the churches I attended.
 
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Mountainmanbob

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It always bothered my conscience to support most the churches I attended.

It has never bothered us to support the several different churches we have attended.

If their good works show
we give more
if not
we give less
giving what's from our hearts
and letting God sort it out.

When it comes to tithings coming into the church
Pastors and Elders are held to a higher accounting.
They also are responsible to God.

M-Bob
 
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Dave-W

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dqhall

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WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO MINISTRIES?

Do hearers give seed money for fear their faith might not be genuine though their faith is indeed genuine as it is based on His self-sacrifice & not on their works, in order to grant them riches?

Does giving seed money to prove one's faith simply betray their ignorance of the definition of true faith?

Are hearers exploited financially due to their above ignorance?
I recently narrowly escaped a traffic accident. God owed me nothing, but I felt as if God had rescued me. I prayed to God for a ministry to send money to as I was thankful. An idea came to me. The organization received a payment through their web page. A ministry worker called to thank me. I gave my witness about Christ to the worker.

In days after this I installed a dash cam and increased safe driving efforts.
 
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Dave L

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And that is an entirely wrong motive.

Agreed. If it is not a matter of conscience, it should be.

Why? Was something wrong with them?
If it bothers the conscience, I take it as a sign to move on.
 
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JosephZ

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Giving to ministries gives people an opportunity to bless others they might not otherwise be able to reach themselves. I would like to believe that most people give for this reason and are not motivated by self serving reasons, guilt, or through exploitation.
 
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hhodgson

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I see it from both points of view. For sure there are charlatans who peddle the gospel for a profit. It is also true that ministry costs money. There are ministries well worth supporting. Be led by the Lord. If he says to give, then do it. Not giving because of fear is far more common than giving out of fear! God blesses givers. That is because He can trust them with more so that they can give more. God works through the church. No, I don't want to fund someone's private jet because they don't like commercial airlines. I am okay with helping an evangelist get in front of a few thousand people so he can preach the gospel.

Correct... but unfortunately, charlatans can be found in every movement.
 
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Aussie Pete

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Correct... but unfortunately, charlatans can be found in every movement.
That's why we need discernment. I won't name names but there are at least a dozen high profile preachers that I would ignore totally. An example of one man that I can support is Bayless Conley. There are others. Of course, I have opportunities to give locally.
 
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Si_monfaith

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I recently narrowly escaped a traffic accident. God owed me nothing, but I felt as if God had rescued me. I prayed to God for a ministry to send money to as I was thankful. An idea came to me. The organization received a payment through their web page. A ministry worker called to thank me. I gave my witness about Christ to the worker.

In days after this I installed a dash cam and increased safe driving efforts.

In days after this I installed a dash cam and increased safe driving efforts.

So after the installation you no more need the protection given through Christ's death & resurrection?
 
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Si_monfaith

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Giving to ministries gives people an opportunity to bless others they might not otherwise be able to reach themselves. I would like to believe that most people give for this reason and are not motivated by self serving reasons, guilt, or through exploitation.
I would like to believe that most people give for this reason and are not motivated by self serving reasons, guilt, or through exploitation.

Do you mean to say faith in Christ's death & resurrection alone isn't sufficient to gain riches?
 
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Si_monfaith

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I see it from both points of view. For sure there are charlatans who peddle the gospel for a profit. It is also true that ministry costs money. There are ministries well worth supporting. Be led by the Lord. If he says to give, then do it. Not giving because of fear is far more common than giving out of fear! God blesses givers. That is because He can trust them with more so that they can give more. God works through the church. No, I don't want to fund someone's private jet because they don't like commercial airlines. I am okay with helping an evangelist get in front of a few thousand people so he can preach the gospel.
For sure there are charlatans who peddle the gospel for a profit.

I understand.

It is also true that ministry costs money.

Are you saying instead of preaching the "faith alone" gospel & wait for God to bless through faith, ministers preach the gospel of "faith + works (tithes, seed etc)" without faith God will supply riches?

Not giving because of fear

Can you explain this?

God blesses givers

Does 2 Corinthians 8:9 say God blesses for the sake of His Son's giving on the cross OR for the sake of your giving?
 
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Si_monfaith

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I think many give in greed expecting more in return. If they give to support the ministry it could be a matter of conscience. It always bothered my conscience to support most the churches I attended.
I think many give in greed expecting more in return.

Does 2 Corinthians 8:9 prohibit expecting more?
 
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