Do you think that tithing should be a public event in the Sunday service?

Question

My church (non-denominational) has started this new thing. On Sunday everyone who is tithing is asked to come up and be prayed for. After then the one's who are paying offerings are asked to come up and be prayed for. To me this is the most rediculus thing I have ever heard of. First off, what a public specticle. Look at me, I am tithing preacher, like me. Then offerings, same thing. So I have decided to take an empty envelope up there just to prove a point. I only pay tithes once a month cause I only get a check once a month.So since I don't have tithes to pay every sunday I guess I don't get prayed for but once a month. How rediculous. I am ready to leave this church. Some one in the church sugessted this since his uncle does this in his church and he has money. What do you think about this den of theives. The leaders of this congregation clains to be people of intregrety but now I am not sure any more. It seems everywhere you go preachers are not to be trusted. I'll just stay home.

Answer 1

Your church has started to worry more about the almighty dollar than their fellow man. Go with your gut on this one.

Answer 2

Why would you remove the only light from a dark place? Don't stay home just yet; challenge the leadership on two grounds:
1. Jesus said that we are not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing (give in secret).
2. Paul taught that we are not under the law and that we are not to be compelled to give (we are not required to tithe).

If they will not acknowlege these things secretly, then make it public, during the service. If they still won't heed, then leave publicly. Home fellowship is the way to go, if you can pull it off, but not having fellowship is a bad idea.

Here are a few links about house churching:
http://www.house-church.org (see "what is a church?")
http://www.ntrf.org

And here is a link about tithing:
http://www.ntrf.org/articles/article_detail.php?PRKey=35

Tom

Answer 3

That is ridiculous. Tithing should be a selfless act, devoid of any desire for recognition from any other human being. As the bible tells us, "do not let your right hand know what your left is doing." Prayer and all spiritual pursuits are between the practitioner and God alone. God knows you tithe and He will reward you greatly, but to make it a spectacle invites too many base human desires of greed and pride thus cheapening what is otherwise a very noble thing.

I think that before one can acquire any sort of religious (Christian) wisdom they must first become humble as Christ was humble. And good luck trying to find that anywhere! Its difficult. All the best.

Answer 4

Personally,I would say that showing your children that you do it is public enough while providing a good teaching through example situation.
I would say let's look at this from a different perspective as far as your congregation is concerned. I would definitly discourage this way of flaunting your "good works" the Bible says give what you know in your heart to give.....
Man looks on the outward but God looks upon the heart.
You can boldly go up once a month knowing that you are pleasing God and not man. Do not worry what other people are thinking about you and just be sure that God knows your heart and He is your defender. Now that is faith and works in action!
God Bless you!!!!
Dont stay home! Remember, God had earthen vessels in His Church........everyone sins and comes short of the Glory of God......that is why Jesus had to die......
May God's will prevail in your life!

Answer 5

I too go to non-denominational, however we do not make it a spectacle in tithing. It's normal to give back what God has given to you other wise you would not have it to begin with but for the work of good. You are to give with one hand and not let your other hand know what your doing. Another words privately not publically for everyone to see and does not necessarily mean money, but time, or helping, or cleaning the church, etc....

Answer 6

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4

When the Pharisees wanted to give something to the poor, it was their custom to go down to a busy street corner in Jerusalem and blow a trumpet. Although the purpose was to call the poor and needy together to receive the gifts, it afforded a fine opportunity to let others see their good works. Do you see parallels today in the way some Christians give? Our Lord said that when the Pharisees do it that way, they have their reward. What was their reward? Well, what was it that they were after? Jesus said they did it to have glory of men. They blew the trumpet, and everybody came running out to see how generously they gave, and that was their reward. Their giving was not between themselves and God.

Now, why do you give? There is more than one way to give. Several years ago I was asked to take an offering in a certain organization. I was told to be sure and give everybody an opportunity to stand up and tell how much he would give. For example, I was instructed to say, "How many will give one hundred dollars?" I asked,"Why in the world do you take an offering like that?" I was told that a certain man would attend who would give only one dollar if a regular offering was taken. However, if the question of how many would give one hundred dollars was asked, he would give that amount. May I say that he blew a trumpet. And I discovered when I came to know this man that this was the way he gave.

There are other people who give large checks but want to hand them to you personally. There was a man in my church who always gave me a check before I went into the pulpit. He thought this would excite me enough so that I would mention it. A friend of his came to me one day and said,"So-and-so is disturbed." He went on to explain that I did not acknowledge the very large check his friend had given me last Sunday. "That's right," I said, and told this man the reason why. "Your friend is a man of means and the check he gave me, in relationship to what he has, wasn't very much. Last Sunday a mail-carrier also handed me an envelope. He didn't want me to open it until after the service and did not want me to say a word to anyone about it. He gave me almost twice as much money as the man of means did. If I were going to acknowledge anybody, it would have to be the mail-carrier -- but he didn't want me to do that."

May I say to you that giving is between you and God, and the very minute you get a third party involved, you don't get any credit in heaven.

Answer 7

I think that sounds ridiculous. I agree that it is a public spectacle meant to make people who aren't tithing feel bad about it. I'd certainly look into a different church.

Answer 8

I think public tithing is showing off.
What you give to support your faith is between you and God. You may give in different ways... not only through the church.

Answer 9

No it just casts shame and guilt on the people not doing their parts and it looks like its working.

If you cant give back to God and serve him faithfully in Christ, then maybe you shouldnt have been there to begin with. Church is only for people that want to serve God and their fellow man, not for hypocrites that are unwilling to lift a finger.

Answer 10

I am horrified and sickened!!!

That is an absolutely unbiblical spectacle. I would certainly go to the elders or the board and tell them your concerns. If they have no intention of changing it, I would go elsewhere.