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This is a STICK UP!!

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indianabob:
Sonofone,

Thanks for your comments;

I used to attend Worldwide Church of God.

I used to TRY to tithe and recommended that others try.

Even at the first I had problems concerning how to compute the tithe.

On my gross income or on the net income after all expenses.  The IRS was no help at all.
I didn't realize that it was strictly agricultural although we did teach tithing on the increase.

Over time I found excuses to reduce the tithe.  1. half was my wife's to use as she saw fit and she was not a member, so I only had to tithe on my half of my earnings.  All of her earnings from her job were separate and she didn't tithe on that either.  So now I was down to about 3% which seemed manageable, but my conscience was not clear.

Next we spent quite a bit of money traveling 100 miles round trip to services and even more to basketball games or other sport functions at other church areas.  Should that be deductible or not?  Now I'm down to about 2%.

Through all of this turmoil we had two visits from a pastor to counsel us, but no surprise since both my wife and I served in several areas such as assisting deacons, worship/song leader, transportation driver and most of the other folks, some of whom were tithing, didn't ask us if we tithed or not.

So we didn't really suffer from first tithe and second tithe was spent on the family vacation or on needy locals attending festivals, who appreciated it very much.

I guess my point is that by accident or by design, we didn't really tithe 10%.  In reality we gave regular offerings as we were able and no one complained as long as we didn't brag about our situation.  The other expenses such as travel were under our control, so I suppose that I cannot say that I suffered from the tithing teaching all that much.  But, I felt that God was disappointed in me.

It is still wrong to teach tithing and there are many victims of the system who did suffer so that WCG could build large buildings, fly private jets and send tracts and magazines around the world in a manner that seemed right to the human understanding that we all had.

I am glad that Bible Truths explains this so well and that we can discuss the error in a friendly manner and without any remaining guilty feelings.

There is so much of what we are coming to understand that seems plain and logical now, but we didn't see it that way in the past.  So, we need to be patient with new folks who are receiving their freedom for the first time as participants of B T or of the forum.  Pray that God will provide this freedom to more enlightened truth seekers every day.

indianabob

Deborah-Leigh:
Giving to get is not the same as a cheerful giver!

Tithing teaches give to get and teaches if you don't give, you will be cursed. The fear that this false teaching propagates a deeper bondage into man made doctrines and idolatry to man made social systems, needs and creeds, within Babylon.

We are privileged to be out of Her the HARLOT that will fall and great will be her fall.

We are privileged to be enabled to be "cheerful givers!" There is S-O much to G-I-V-E! A smile. An encouragement. A word of direction or edification. Time. Effort. Love. Care. Honesty. Tenderness. Patience. Peace. Kindness............................. :)

Peace be to you

Arcturus :)

SandyFla:
I just heard it in church today. The pastor even mentioned that some people give 90% and live on 10%. I'd like to meet that person!

Sandy

Grateful:
O, Arcturus....that is JUUUSST BEAUTIFUL !! I quote you here:


--- Quote ---Posted on: October 11, 2007, 11:25:32 AMPosted by: Arcturus
We are privileged to be enabled to be "cheerful givers!" There is S-O much to G-I-V-E! A smile. An encouragement. A word of direction or edification. Time. Effort. Love. Care. Honesty. Tenderness. Patience. Peace. Kindness.............................
--- End quote ---


Thank you for sharing that with us!   :D

Linda

sonofone:
The church is now really big on seed and harvest now.That is to say that we must plant a financial seed in order to reap a financial harvest.It is also not enough to plant a seed but you must plant it in good ground which in most cases means your local church or to your local man of God or preacher. I for one like giving financially,I'm not rich or even well off,thank God I'm not poor either. I just like giving. What do you guys make of sowing financial seeds? I notice no one here talks about money and giving,yet it takes money to accomplish most anything in this life. I give right now at the church I attend and have mixed feelings about it. I'm beginning to wonder if my money might not be better disbursed to a more worthy cause. Would like some feedback on what you guys think about the question and on giving financially as a whole. Thanks

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