do you think this is an example to not withold funds from your Church if you disagree with something they do? This is what I hear over and over again from people. They do not give because the Church does this or the Church does that. Is that something that they are not to be concerned with?
2007-05-23 11:23:49 · 13 answers · asked by Midge 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The specific reference to the widow emphasizes the willingness she had to give to God vs. the token offerings of others who gave for the notice of other people.
In reference to giving to a church, I do think it is important to agree theologically with what the church does with those resources. The key here is theologically, and what I mean by that is to examine for yourself if the work of the church follows what you understand the mission of the church to be. For example, a capital campaign to build a vacation home in Mexico for the members is probably not good stewardship.
The other side of the coin, of course, is I do not think it is appropriate to withhold ones resources from the church they attend because they simply don't like like what is going on without a theological reason.
2007-05-23 11:38:29 · answer #1 · answered by Daniel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was not teaching anything other than exposing the hypocrisy of the pharisees and commending her for having a good and honest heart. It is NOT good principle to stretch the text beyond what is there; this is descriptive, not prescriptive. Had Jesus then said, "And none of you ought to withhold funding from a crooked religious system," then one could make this point.
More important, though, is that Jesus taught that we were to give to the poor, and Paul taught that giving was not to be compulsory but free. To go beyond this and insist that a Christian tithe is unwarranted, and worse yet, giving to a building based church when people in the congregation can not pay rent, buy groceries or pay their mortgages is sinful in the highest degree. The church ought not own a building and pay a pastor, but meet in homes and care for one another as did the first century church.
2007-05-23 18:31:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No the Bible says "She gave from her heart. She gave of what she had.
As far as your question regarding support. That is a question and response I leave up to them and the Lord.
I do believe in supporting a church where you are spiritually fed. What ever it is that the Church / Churches, are doing must be inline with the gospel, and not the ones running the show.
If the church is doing something outside of Scripture, I suggest finding another church.
Remember, Jesus said "I will build my chruch"
The church is "his church" and not the people.
It must be run according to his standards and not the people.
Thats the reason some churches are here today and gone tomorrow.
2007-05-23 18:43:07 · answer #3 · answered by n_007pen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus pointed it out to make a distinction between the rich and the poor. The Pharisees made a big fuss about what they gave out of the abundance of what they had. It was more than the poor could do YES....but in proportion, the widow was actually making more of a sacrifice by giving out of her abslute need. It was all she had...and Jesus wants us to know He honors when we give out of our need...its not so much the dollar amount. (this is not an excuse to NOT give...its a reason I actually use when Im tempted to not go because I dont have any money. It ENCOURAGES me to go.) And you know what...actually, Ive had these moments...where I gave the last that I had...my last two quarters (I dont have credit cards and dont borrow and was unemployed for a couple months) and I swallowed my pride and threw those quarters in the basket. (In black churches you walk down to the front to give your offering instead of passing a plate at your seat). And by the time I got back to my seat...someone..I didnt know, and never spoke to, put an envelope in my hands. When I opened it up, it said Jesus had moved them to bless me...and inside was $200 cash. It happened to me another time too...I got back to my seat and a hand reached from behind me and put an envelope with $300 in my lap after I'd come to church, given my last and didnt even have gas to get home. People tried to say it was some dude trying to 'get in good with me' but a guy wouldnt be 'anonymous'. When I looked around there was no one there...and no one ever came up to me to say 'it was me who gave you the money'.
2007-05-23 18:48:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don’t think the lesson of the widow was really about money.
Jesus saw the Pharisees making a big show of their belief while not really knowing God in their hearts.
The widow gave all she had, which was symbolic of giving her whole being to God.
Giving all of a humble heart to God is knowing God.
Making lavish shows of giving riches or praying loudly in public means nothing if this person is not giving all of their humble heart to God.
I think this is one of the most misused verses because it is so often used to get poor people to hand over their money. Remember that Christ always spoke in parables and you have to look at this as a parable about the difference in giving our whole self to God and making a show of it.
2007-05-23 18:36:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recently heard teaching from a teacher in the church in the area of finances who studied the passage very carefully. Jesus certainly said she was good hearted. But in fact the pharisees were abusing her, telling her that she needed to give more to God so that He would give back. So she was giving her last bit of money.
The pharisee teachers got very angry with Jesus when He said you cannot serve God and money - because they loved the stuff (for themselves).
In the UK its not scandalous, but I have heard of pastors in the US living quite extravagant lifestyles off their church takings. If they are working people to get them to give loads with promises of great returns from God, then I think that is quite bad, although they may not realise it.
2 Corinthians 8 says we are not expected to give beyond our means.
2007-05-23 19:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by Cader and Glyder scrambler 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once again, this similar problem. Churches are created by religions. And religions are created by man, and not God. Jesus was asked the question, who do we pay or money to, the Caesar (government) or God (the churches). He replied, to Caesar, give what is his, and unto God, give what belongs to God. Once again, man is holding back what God has directed (The one-tenth or tithes) be cause man is angry at someone in church. But the true God worshiper is to give unto God what belongs to God. It is a commandment. The withholding part is do to mans disobedience>
2007-05-23 18:33:24 · answer #7 · answered by Nifty Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to know where the funds are going. The whole point of giving money is to fund God's work, and to help the poor and needy, not to line the pockets of greedy and deceitful people who cash in on other people's faith. Make sure your money is going to a worthy cause.
2007-05-23 18:30:43 · answer #8 · answered by MumOf5 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is personal, but what Jesus was talking about was the heart and how things are not always what they appear, she was giving more because as the account says she was giving all she had but the others gave out of surplus , now this applies to not only money but time spent helping others as well,for example but on whole to the service you give to God.
2007-05-23 18:32:01 · answer #9 · answered by hi people 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That sounds heavy! Think its more to do with generosity of spirit - guess each person has to use their integrity to decide where to put their tithe to good use. There are always Christian organisations (such as Tearfund) if you doubt the church's handling of funds.
2007-05-23 18:27:56 · answer #10 · answered by Delerious? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋