Has your pastor ever complained to you about your tithing habits?

1. 78

   badeggposted 12 years ago

   Has your pastor ever complained to you about your tithing habits?
   
   Is it right for a pastor to keep up with his individual church member's finances so closely that he calls them up chews them out about "not paying enough tithes to his church"?

   replyreport
2. 80

   Judah's Daughterposted 12 years ago

   'Tithing' is called the "offering of the firstfruits".  So here we have ‘tithe’ and ‘offering’.  Cain and Abel brought the firstfruits of their crops and herds; likewise crops and herds were used as the ‘tithe’ to the Levitical priesthood (read Leviticus).  Those who were not herdsmen or farmers did not tithe, including Jesus, who kept and fulfilled the whole Law to perfection.  Tithing was never about money.  This is why Malachi 3:10 states there will be 'food' in the storehouse.  We don’t ‘sacrifice’ these things to God, since the ‘firstfruit’ of the Lamb of God has been fully paid. 
   
   Heb 7:11-12 “Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.”  We have a High Priest, and His name is Jesus Christ.  As our High Priest, HE PAID IT ALL.
   
   The New Covenant in His blood is to GIVE as one is able: “For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Cor 8:1)  In 1 Cor 9:7, it is written “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion [law-requirement], for God loves a cheerful giver.”
   
   Your pastor needs to walk in grace and faith (Eph 2:8-9).  Rom 6:14 “you are not under law but under grace.”  Gal 3:12 “the Law is not of faith.” Heb 11:6 “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  He may feel ‘robbed’, because he is not depending on the LORD to provide for him, but is depending on the ‘Law of firstfruits’.  He is not your High Priest and is not God.  Sounds like he needs a call from the LORD.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      badeggposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Wow! Thank you for so much food for thought. The sad thing is that our pastor is my father in law, in a small church in the North Georgia mountains. We have often pondered the fact that he seems to stray away from the true Word to suit his own needs.

      replyreport
   2. 80

      Judah's Daughterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Now, this takes a different turn, since he is your father-in-law.  I encourage you to read and ponder 1 Tim 5:4-8 and Mat 15:3-6.  These passages are in regard to caring for your family, which comes before 'giving to God' and is pleasing to the LORD.

      replyreport
   3. 78

      badeggposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I will do that. Thanks. I may be contacting you further in a private email message if that is okay with you.

      replyreport
   4. 80

      Judah's Daughterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Certainly.  I would say, even you cannot provide everything your father-in-law may feel he 'needs'.  I'm not so sure this is just about the needs of the church.  What is faith, if not tested by fire?  Let God do the testing and ponder His direction.

      replyreport
3. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   No. And if this happens to you, leave the church.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      badeggposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      We did. The sad part of it is, the pastor is my father in law.

      replyreport
   2. 72

      lburmasterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That is not sad. That is entirely insulting. Cut that idiot off completely, if your significant other is okay with it.

      replyreport
4. 80

   Attikosposted 12 years ago

   No, but I've complained to him about his spending habits.

   replyreport
5. 0

   Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

   I never had a pastor, as a Baptist or Catholic, ever ask me about my contributions or urge me to give more. I have heard pastors, both Baptist and Catholics, urge those who can afford to give more to please consider doing so.  Like a business, a church needs money to operate. Someone will say that the Lord will provide, and he will. It will usually be through the contributions of the church members.

   replyreport
6. 56

   Saved by Jesusposted 12 years ago

   No, not at all-that is called "spiritual abuse".   I had it happen to me before.  I went through a time a couple of years ago when I was convinced that the tithe was "nailed to the cross" and "done away with".  I still gave, but not 10% or more.  I went around telling everyone my beliefs.  Well, the pastor at the church I was going to at the time held services 5 days a week, and wanted the tithe plates full at each service.  I wasn't putting my name on the envelope, because I did not believe that they needed to know my name-God knew how much i was giving!  Well, the pastor called me at home about it, telling me that I never put my name on the envelope, and probably did not give enough!  So I explained my beliefs...and I asked him simply where our tithe money actually went to, since the church had no overseas missionaries, no band, etc...it was a simple question and as someone who attended the church, i felt that we deserved to know where our tithe was going to.   Well, the pastor chewed me out and kicked me out of the church for "being disrespectufl!             But God chastened me about my tithing, and I give Him the full amount now!

   replyreport
   1. 53

      celafoeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      it was not God it was the guilt that was heaped on you.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      CalebSparksposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, saved. Interesting story. If I had been in your shoes that "pastor" would have gotten some choice words from me AND I would have left the place. About tithing, you must do what you think is right, but the Bible does not command tithing.

      replyreport
   3. 53

      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      tithing was ONLY to the levitical priesthood and passed with the law when we entered the new covenant,   anyone calling for a tithe is not of God but of the flesh,   and does not trust God to supply

      replyreport
7. 53

   celafoeposted 11 years ago

   if he even thinks about a tithe it is time to leave.  tithing was for the Levites only and passed with the law when  Jesus "fulfilled " it as required by God.
   There is to be NO TITHE in the new testament church...

   replyreport