Why do you give money to your church?

Question

ONE OF THE REASONS i BECAME A ATHEIST IS BECAUSE OF THE FLEECING OF THE FLOCK.
The stupid preacher would quote Malachi.
You know, where it states you will be cursed with a curse if you don't tithe.
Well, I researched that passage and found out it was talking about the priests.not the people offering.
Your religion makes things up to get your money.
Why, oh why, do you give your blood ,money to your church.
I want answers!
I want to know.
Atheism beats Christianity again

Answer 1

The priests you refer to would have been from the tribe of Levi and they were set apart to their ministry. They did nothing but the work that they had been commanded to do. They also lived entirely off of certain offerings that were brought to the Temple. Wit that in mind I find a huge flaw in the results of your research, because the priests did not receive any income that they could tithe. Now I suppose that the passage could have been talking about the priests neglecting to do as they had been instructed with the tithes of Israel but even if that were the case it would not support your argument at all. Additionally the concept of applying Malachi chapter 3 verses 8 and 9. Verse 9 specifically refers to the whole nation. I quote "Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." how could that passage apply to only a bunch of priests who did not receive any income if it specifically talks to the whole nation of Israel.
I do not know where you got the information for your research but from what I know about the Old Testament and from looking at the passage its self I can see no logical way you could have pulled the idea of only the priests are supposed to pay tithing from anywhere in Malachi chapter 3, or the bible for that matter.
If you could show me your research I would be happy to look at it but, I would be surprised if it could hold up because the reason I pay tithing is the same reason I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church. I did as James directed and prayed and asked God, and as promised I received an answer and through the power of the Holy Ghost which was sent to teach us all things I now know that Law of Tithing is something that I am supposed to follow.

Answer 2

Donating money to any organization is a personal choice.
A gift from the heart is good to give., but a gift that is coerced is 'BAD'.

Religious organizations have charged and swindled money out of their followers for centuries.
Just look at the gold leafed domes on some places of worship . or the expensive garb priest are dressed in.

Obviously the money has not been used in the way it was given.
It has been put into the showy display of ones life.

1John 2:16, 17 ¨because everything in the world - the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one's means of life - does not originate with the father , but originates with the world. Further the world is passing away and so is its desire---.

This wicked world is run by Satan.

Religious organizations that display their outrageous wealth are not backed by God , they show that they follow Satan and his world.

Furthermore , Satan's world and his followers are passing away.
Yes , Soon they will be removed from the earth never to appear again.

For more 'Bible' based info plz feel free to email me.

Answer 3

You can ask the question you asked as many times as you want, but you will never get the answer you are looking for. Sounds to me like you would like to pick a fight rather than get an answer to your question. Not that you care, but I am a member of the LDS church, and faithful members of this church pay %10 of their income to tithes. Guess where the money goes? Nope, you answered wrong. The LDS church has an un-paid clergy. The highest ranking officer of the church, who our members consider a prophet of God does not get a dime of this money, nor do the Apostles, nor do the Bishops (similar to what other people would call Pastors), the Priests, or any other officials of the church. All of our church buildings, including our temples, are paid for in full. The church does not get in any debt to pay for these things. It almost never makes headlines, but our church uses millions of dollars of its funds to help out with natural disasters all over the world. I could go on and on. Believe me, if I knew my church was pocketing the money, or using it for inappropriate purposes, I would not be giving them any of my money.

Answer 4

Because I know where the money goes. If I didn't know where it went, I wouldn't give.

The money from our church goes:
To Chernobyl, to help with the orphans there.
To Lwowek Slaski, Poland, to fund the mission there. Said mission is called Elim, and they feed and clothe many of the area's poorest citizens.
Various missions in Africa.
We've helped get a new church here in Germany started.
We pay our pastor gas money. It's an hour's drive to and from where he lives to the church.
We give money to the poorest in OUR town, and we also run various meals on wheels.
Part of the money goes to paying our taxes (in Germany, Baptist churches aren't tax exempt).
Another part of the money goes to paying our bills.

It's the same with any other church. Atheism doesn't have Christianity beat on this one. Do you give money to charity? It's the same concept.

Answer 5

"Atheism beats Christianity again" perhaps if you listened to the answers you may change your tone
There are churches that will pat you on the back and say your going to heaven if you put your money into them.
I give money to support the church. It has no other form of income. The paster needs to receive a income as that is their job, the church needs money to pay the rent/bills for the building you meet in. If the church was like mine, some of that money would go into Christmas hampers for the poorer people of our church so they have something to enjoy at Christmas also. To pay for the maintenance for the equipment which they use. The microphones etc cost money (funally enough), and if they break new ones need to be bought. The list goes on. It was wrong for your preachers to constantly tell you to give the church money, but a good church will use the money for good, not for their back pockets

Answer 6

If your preacher was quoting anything from the Old Testament and telling you that it applied to you as a (now former) Christian (Apart from the 10 Commandments we are free of the Old Law), then he was either lying or mislead.

Christians are not compelled to give. They do so freely, and there is no set amount like there was in the Old Testament. Each person is to give according to their means - only if they are willing.

Answer 7

Just like you pay bills for light, gas and water at home; so does a church building. It doesn't get miraculously paid off.

It isn't so much the giving but the joy of giving.

Answer 8

Because it directly supports the church and provides aid and support to the missions we run to those in need both in the UK, and abroad.

Churches like ours dont have a central body or the vatican or government aid to help them. If we as the congregation dont give the church dies.

Answer 9

MM,
The New Testament is where a CHRISTIAN is supposed to be following Christ's WORD from. We are commanded to "give as we have been prospered". I do so freely and willingly. Our Preacher does not even mention this to our members. I suggest that if this was a problem then you were NOT a Christian anyway. I believe that HE LIVES and CHRIST will come to Judge each of us in HIS Appointed time. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 10

I don't have a church dear...

I understand that the legal cost of all the pedophile priest victims law suits are skyrocketing though so I understand why some people want to pitch in....