The Honest Crooks: The Church, Am I Condemned

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   Sundaymomentsposted 14 years ago

   I have gone to church most of my young childhood as well as young adulthood. I recently quite going because I got feed up with you either give in the offering plate or you were considered a disgrace to the congregation and furthermore you were condemned by elders and you were going to hell for not giving back to God what he has given to you.
   
   The problem I have with this is God knows my financial situation. So if I have only a penny in my pocket why then will I go to hell for money that I do not have.
   
   Or is this man playing the guilt trip so that he can get more money out me?
   
   In your opinion has the church gone to honest thievery using the name of God?

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      ShaunLindberghposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      There may be some 'honest thievery' as you call it but there's a whole lot of blatant dishonest "fleecing the sheeple" going on too! And no one has a right to condemn you, ever. You have a right to think for yourself!
      
      I read some of your hubs and just wondering what you're feeling now that you have quit going to church. I was a Christian for 30 years before I quit and, although not easy for a few years (toughest for evangelicals), the freedom from the tyranny of 'elders' and the like is wonderful!
      
      When Rousseau said that "Man is born free but he is everywhere in chains" he might just as well have been speaking of the church. Born-again free in Christ you are then subjected to the tyranny of human authority where truth is more important than love and uniformity confused with unity. I write exclusively for the Christian Outsider, the twilight zone where people are in the church but not of it; it's a confusing place to be.

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         china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It may be a confusing place to be - but when you have thought yourself out of the 30 year indoctrination and guilt it becomes much more clear.  And it is certainly a more loving and tolerant and reasoning place to be - welcome

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            ShaunLindberghposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            You are right about that!

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         Baileybearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         "fleecing the sheepie"

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         Baileybearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         this church needs an armoured truck to collect its takings -  $300,000 each weekend
         
         http://www.i-zeen.com/articles/THE-HILL … a-Exorcism

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         Sundaymomentsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         ShaunLinbergh to answer your question since I quit going to church I have felt a freedom in my spirituality. I have more of a one on one relationship with Christ. To be more specific I receive more divine revelation and understanding of Christ since I fled from the politics that "The Church" worshiped.
         
         I did not understand the impact of having an intimate relationship with Christ as until I left the animosity and order of religion. I have been freed of religion and now celebrate in spirituality.
         
         SM

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            Disappearingheadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Well said that man. Huraah.

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      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Honest Crooks? I guess that alone should show you the hypocritical teachings of "church" and overall "religious leaders" and "religion" itself.
      
      I understand your position, but religion and the relationship offered to a god is all simply based on "guilt", so you will stress out and not be able to function properly.
      
      In the end, it's all about usurping power, wealth and control.

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   Disappearingheadposted 14 years ago

   Sundaymoments, I empathise with you entirely. Know this, that the tithe taught to you by the church is a fake, it's a made up doctrine. You have no obligation to give anything to anyone, except the poor, the widows, the orphans, as God leads you. Ask your leaders to point out the scripture that command you to give your 10%, they can't do it, because it does not exist. Then you have the lie that the first 10% of what you earn belongs to God and you are not giving unless you give beyond 10%. What you earn is waht you earn, and it's up to you how you spend it.
   
   Paul tells us to give freely acording to what we have, not under compulsion, because loves a cheerful giver. Be blessed.

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      alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The 'tithe' was the tax levied when the church ran their portion of the state - nothing else.

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         exorterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         O.T.  The tithe was a store house for the poor, and if your crops failed one year you had a place to go to feed your family

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      Sundaymomentsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Disappearinghead The saddest part of your statement is when you address the elders of such they then get mad! The fact is their anger alone shows me that they guilty of being a tax collector rather than one who helps those who are in need.
      
      When I was a child we always would have an annual open church business meeting. In this business meeting the elders would lay out the books and the church finances were discussed to the body of the church.
      
      Now days this does not happen; the money is collected, then the money is escorted by several people (like they are guards) then two of the elders go behind locked doors and count the money (Never to disclose to the body of the church what the offering was (I have to say it is my opinion that acts of deceit is happening all around “The organized church”)

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   exorterposted 14 years ago

   I know one church that passes the plate once a week, and some times forgets to do that

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      Disappearingheadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Perhaps the church would be realling living up to Christ if when the offering was passed around, those in need would be invited to take out what they needed. But oh we couldn't have that because if someone is in need it's the result of God's curse for not tithing in the first place. Bah humbug.

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         Sundaymomentsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You speak the bold truth Disappearinghead I once went to a revival and the visiting evangelist preached on giving and tithing. The offering buckets were fixing to be passed around the evangelist stopped and told the 2,000 + visitors that this tithing would be different those that can give; then give and those that need please take.
         
         You should have seen the Bishop of the hosting churches face. Nothing but bitter anger was shown in his face.
         
         This is when I had the realization that the church was nothing but a way for the "Groupies" to make money. “Old Time” Spirituality in the church is way gone and I am beginning to believe it will never come back (Unless of course the elders see they can make “Big Money” off of it)!

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            Disappearingheadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I'd love to have been a fly on the wall for that one.
            
            The first churches were informal house groups. Who came up with the organised religion nonsense?

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               Sundaymomentsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I believe the ones that came up with organized crap are the ones that are also digging in the tithing basket (LOL) : )

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   Diane Insideposted 14 years ago

   Sundaymoments, If anyone has pointed you out and made you feel like they are judging you on tithes that is wrong.  And I believe you are right. God knows your financial situation and only you and he will come to terms with that.
   
   When you do feel you are blessed and give more, then do it.  But don't let anyone let you feel disgraced because of lack of funds.  If however you forget to do that, then that is still on you not anyone else. Basically it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about that.
   
   It is about what your convictions are telling you, that's it.
   Don't worry about what anyone else thinks.
   
   At least you are not going to church asking for handouts which is what some people do.  I have seen some families who make the church circuits looking for handouts, in all of them. They end up not paying any bills themselves because they have about a dozen churches doing it for them.
   
   Bottom line you do what you feel convicted to do.

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   pylos26posted 14 years ago

   Sunday wrote:  "In your opinion has the church gone to honest thievery using the name of God?"
   
   Nothing honest about it since the whole system is a lie.

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