Why would an omnipotent god, need to get his representatives to ask for money?

Question

After all, he DID say in Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Didn't he? And if you read the passage, he makes NO mention of conditions or caveats. None. You want it, pray for it, it's YOURS. No questions asked. And this isn't the only passage to mention this either, here is a list you can look up yourselves;
# Matthew 7:7
# Matthew 17:20
# Matthew 21:21
# Mark 11:24
# John 14:12-14
# Matthew 18:19
# Mark 9:23
# Luke 1:37
ALL of these passages show clearly that whatever you need or want, you just ask in prayer, be sincere (and what could be more sincere than a homeless mother praying for shelter and food for her children) and it will be granted. No questions asked.
So then why, if that is the case, does this never happen in churches? Why would god's own reps need to beg for money from the flock? Why not just pray for it?
Let the apologists start with the excuses!

I see john_S has snuck into the computer room of the halfway house again. Back to making liscence plates for you...

Lisa.
Get a dictionary and learn what "out of context" means ok?
Because clearly, you haven't the first clue. I was using passages that CLEARLY are IN context. It is YOUR book of mythology I'm using here.
If I'm using these passages "out of context" as you say, then point out how. If you can't (and clearly this is the case) then STFU ok? thanks.

Answer 1

God doesn't need money ... however scam artist preachers do!

Why do you think so many preachers have boats, houses, custom suits, new cars .... is this what the service of the lord pays, because if it does this is one atheist that wants to be a shepherd!

Answer 2

No church should be begging there flock for money(is this a small church thats struggling or what?)Yes u are supposed to pray about it,but the bible also says faith without works is dead...(kind of like if u are looking for work and u don't go put any applications in anywhere...how u going to get a job..yes praying helps...but it doesn't mean that u don't have to do your part too to make it work)but back to the money thing...realistically yeah it's okay when a church is just like well get out your tithe and offering to bless the lord with...or just hand the basket around whatever but if the pastor's are begging or going on and on about money..(like it's ALL they talk about)then thats just pathetic!!!I know sometimes at the church i'm going to now..sometimes they'll say they need so much and are taking donations...(for whatever if there's a project going on)but it's just so the congregation knows about it..they don't go on and on about it though....

Answer 3

Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were give 10% of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle / Temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites of the sacrificial system. The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).



The New Testament nowhere assigns a certain percentage of income to set aside, but only says it is to be “in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). The Christian church has essentially taken the 10% figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving. However, Christians should not feel obligated to always tithe. They should give as they are able, “in keeping with his income.” Sometimes that means giving more than a tithe, sometime that may mean giving less than a tithe. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the church. Each and every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom as to whether to participate in tithing and/or for how much he or she should give (James 1:5). “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Give to the glory of God, and He will bless you. Don't give grudgenly.

Answer 4

Churches have expenses. There are bills (water, electric, etc.) that they need to pay, and salaries (preacher, janitors, secretaries) that need to be paid as well. Some of the money they ask for goes to these expenses. Some it goes to their outreach programs. I'm sure that some preachers do pray for money to come in. Maybe a huge unexpected expense (like a leaking roof that needs repair) has come up and the preacher prays for a little more money to appear from the congregation in the collection plates.

And sometimes, those prayers are not answered the way people want them to be. Just because we want it, doesn't mean we will get it through prayer. Sometimes God tells us no, or makes us wait for an answer.

Answer 5

The questions you raise are very true. There are false prpphets taht look at the amount of money that can be made. Soe mpeople have turned religion into a multi billion dollar enterprise. It is a shame that those that look at praising the father as a way of making money. They will be dealt with when their judgement day coms. People must look for a man or woman of God that is sincere and reverant.
Prayer is what everyone needs to get Gods attention. Along with Humility and knowing who he is. Worship him and you shall be saved. Pray and your hearts desires will be answered.
Dont spend 49.95 on a cassette tape or a series of tapes, when the bible and the gospel are available for a much lesser price. God does not care how much money you have, how big of a congregation you are part of.

Prayer is all you need!

Answer 6

It is a matter of faith. When you follow the commandments you recieve blessings. When people give money to church, with faith, they are blessed. Period. If the Pastor or whatever is misspending the money 1) he is "toasted" 2) the congregation should catch on and go to a different church (but they still recieve the blessings for obediance if they offered in faith).


And as far as your research goes, I can't believe you missed this:

Malachi 3:8-10

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not dopen you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

And don't forget the widows mite!

Answer 7

If you were a business owner could you truely trust ALL of YOUR representatives?
I don't agree with some of the pastors and churches I see asking for money, especially when I see them living like kings already, and then walking in disaster areas dressed in White with sunglasses on with body guard looking people behind him. (yes, I saw one that got to me) I don't mind giving to a church that has a legitimate outreach program funded by donations, or helping out fundraisers etc. I have needed money in the past, not told anyone but took my issue to the Lord and PRAYED for it and then 24 hours later had someone (another christian) come to me and say, the Lord asked me to bless you with this. As a matter of fact, Just two days ago my only vehicle broke down on the highway, POOF! The transmission retired! I gave the problem to the Lord and yesterday! 24 hours later! I drove home with a new van. (I didn't have any extra money, but the lord made it possible!) Praise God! and bless those that do give in the name of the Lord, it does return to you.

Answer 8

Based on everything I read in your question I can only come up with one solution:

People are praying for God's reps to beg for money from the flock. ;-)

Could it be the preacher himself that is praying that his reps will beg for money from the flock? You know... the man with the most to benefit. Ahhhhhhhh, yes that makes perfect sense.

Answer 9

The problem you have with those verses in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was offering the earthly kingdom to Israel if they would believe that He was their King. In the age of Grace God is not requiring a tithe because He is not offering the kingdom any longer.
The Nation of Israel was required to give at least twenty three and one third percent of all they had.

Deut 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deut 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

Lev 27: 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

Num 18: 21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9:Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.10:Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

When the Lord was upon the earth the requirement for getting into the kingdom on the earth was one hundred percent.

Matt 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2:And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

In the Grace age we are to give as we purposed in our heart:

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

II Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

I Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

II Thes 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Answer 10

The worst is when the pastors have 7 different mercedes cars and mansions... when they teach the "prosperity gospel" and live like kings off of people's humble donations... that really makes me sick!

If that's what they're doing, it is dispicable. But there is another side to it - that is sharing what we have with the poor. "If a man has 2 jackets, let him share with someone who has none" If you have more food than you can eat, share with someone who is starving... etc. That is more about our own greediness than about what God needs... We have to learn to share what we have with others and not be so selfish.

But, like I said we are supposed to be sharing with the poor... not with rich televangelists!!