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=> Email to Ray => Topic started by: Craig on February 01, 2007, 04:34:21 PM

Title: Tithing
Post by: Craig on February 01, 2007, 04:34:21 PM
> Morning Ray
>
> Thank you for a wonderful website.
>
> I ask a simple question re your contention that tithing is "unscriptural".
>
> How then are churches (specifically the pastors, administration staff etc)
> supposed to operate and fund their objectives, ie grow the membership of
> believers, invest in community outreach / upliftment projects, afford
> mission work etc? My answer would be that they should rely on the
> offerings / donations of those believers who give (and can afford to
> without enduring financial hardship) with a glad and genuine faith heart.
>
> How do you feel?
>
> Regards,
> Antony
> Cape Town, South Africa
 
Dear Antony:
You have got to learn to read more carefully. You are one of dozens who have asked me
this same question with regards to my paper on tithing, but who have not READ my paper
on tithing. Here is  a section from my paper on tithing that clearly explains your question:
 

"HOW ARE WE TO PAY THE CHURCH BILLS
IF THE PEOPLE DON’T TITHE?"

I get asked that question regularly. I tell them all the same thing: "Pay your church bills the same way I pay my living expenses—with a check." Here’s the thing: You don’t need to lie and deceive and pervert the word of God in order to pay church expenses.

Why doesn’t your pastor just ask the people to contribute toward paying the church expenses? I can tell you why. A few do, but most don’t. And why is that? It is because those who teach false doctrines to exact money illegally from their congregation don’t have faith to trust their people to contribute voluntarily out of love. They only know how to teach the Old Testament laws, which are carnal, and therefore don’t know how to teach the New Testaments laws, which are SPIRITUAL.

Most pastors see two options:

   1. Teach that people will be cursed if they don’t tithe ten percent of their annual salaries,
       
   2. Trust God in faith to provide the money from voluntary gifts given from the heart.

If, in reality, trusting would bring in more money than pronouncing curses, no one would ever hear a sermon on tithing again, anywhere on earth. And if anyone suggested to any of these same pastors that tithing is an Old Testament law that Christians must keep or be cursed, those same pastors would ridicule you to scorn for ever suggesting such an obvious unscriptural doctrine that is not binding on New Testament Christians.

They will do whatever brings in the most money. And it is a proven fact, unscriptural threats of curses for no tithing, and blessings for tithing brings in more money than trusting the people, in faith, to supply the needs of the Church.

It is our hope and intention here at bible-truths to free as many as possible from the unscriptural hypnotic tactics of these TV auctioneers who peddle the Word of God like so much merchandise for sordid gain. But what about those small congregations that don’t even want huge cathedrals and the pastor doesn’t want to be rich or drive a $80,000 Mercedes. All they want is to preach the gospel and care for a local congregation and all that that involves. Surely it is not wrong for them to teach their congregation to tithe their salaries to the church, is it? Of course that is wrong. That’s like saying, I don’t want to rob a bank: I just want to take a few small things from the super market without paying for them! IT’S THE SAME CRIME, with the only difference being the amount stolen.

GIVING VERSUS TITHING

Do any of these Scripture references quoted above regarding voluntary giving, have anything to do with "tithing?" Absolutely not. Notice what the definition of Christian tithing is:

    "tithe (tith) n. 1a. A tenth part of one’s annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, esp. for the support of the clergy or church." (The American Heritage College Dictionary, p. 1444).

Tithing was commanded by the LAW.

Giving is voluntary from the HEART.

Hope this helps your understanding.

God be with you, Ray