Who thinks gifting doesn't work?

Question

I am a reformed skeptic (if that's possible) from all the mis-truths I've learned about gifting. It's a pyramid, it's not legal, only one person gets paid etc.etc,etc. Why is it o.k. for you to tithe to a church but not to a person? I'm asking this question to really get serious answers. I recently was a member at a local church and every week they talked about the importance of giving. When another member asked a clergy for help with their mortgage the clergy responded with "there is nothing the church can do financially but we will pray about it" I'm spiritual but WHATTTTT!!!!! Here you have a member who's probably tithed for all her life and now she's about to loose her home and there is no help from the one resource we all give credit to for a place for help?

Answer 1

so SAD

Answer 2

"Why is it o.k. for you to tithe to a church but not to a person?"

Well, in the first place, God requires a tithe -- and offerings, too (Lev 27:30-32; Num 18:24-28; Deu 12:6,1; Deu 14:22,28; Deu 26:12; Mal 3:8-12). We are also told that true giving is done willingly and without expectation of anything in return -- at least, not in this life. God will reward.

"Here you have a member who's probably tithed for all her life and now she's about to loose her home and there is no help from the one resource we all give credit to for a place for help?"

Is it a shame the church cannot help a faithful member? Yes. But, should we condemn the church in that situation? No. For all you know, the answer given was the absolute truth. We cannot always know the circumstances, but God knows. God will reward.

Answer 3

Gifting and church can be a touchy subject. So when it comes to your hard-earned money, the best thing you can do for yourself is (1) Hang onto what's yours (2) Never give a "gift" to anyone - not even the church - and expect the favor returned in return in any way shape or form. If you do, then it's no longer a "gift" but a "loan" or mob-style "favor". Even if it's just a buck... give it, and then fuggedaboutit. (3) Pray about your finances.

You don't HAVE to tithe either! Never mind what some churches brainwash you with. If you can't, you can't. God understands about money. In itself money is not evil (afterall, Jesus was a carpenter... the Bible never said that he worked for free)! Just keep your conscience clear - that's the key.

Now to answer your Q. I am a "spiritual skeptic" myself, but I do know this: Most churches (AFAIK) are legit, and DO help with MANY things but are simply not able to do certain things that involve big money. The money from tithing is (AFAIK) used to keep the church running, not as a "deferred savings account" (see rule #2 above).

Good luck to your friend with her mortgage. If she's truly a Believer the Lord will not forsake her...

Answer 4

A church has never been a place for financial help.
They are looking for you to support them.
I would suggest that the church community, the parishioners, take up a collection to help your member with her needs.
My own view on tithing is that we should give 10 percent, at least, or our things, money, etc., to the cause of the Lord....that may include charity to the poor, helping others in need, and of course paying taxes that support social causes such as welfare for the elderly and the poor.
If you include the taxes you pay that go toward social agendas, you will find you are paying much more than 10 percent of your income already.

Answer 5

My church does not "take an offering" so to speak. There is a collection box in the back for you to tithe in if you want to, but they don't ask. Also, my pastor knows only HOW MUCH is given. He has requested to never be told WHO gives WHAT so that he can not unintentionally bias toward or against someone based on that information.

Perhaps the church really only has enough money to cover the expenses--- I'm not taking up for them, I don't know anything about the church....

But, in any case, my opinion is that the clergyman should have offered to speak to the elders, associate pasters, etc... about taking up a "love offering" or something to that affect.

It sounds to me like you may have cause to be worried. I suggest you spend some time in prayer asking if this is the church that God wants you in. Is it truly God-focused and bible teaching???

God bless BOTH of you...

Answer 6

I understand ur frustration. I have had similar problems with where the money goes. Factually, it goes to rent, utilities, salaries ... and is not there for loans.
Also, factually, prayer is THE way to deal w/ an individuals needs.
I also agree that individual gifting is a christian duty, "give to the poor, feed, cloth the needy ..." But understand that the two are two different gifts.
Giving to the church is for the continuation of the church, for continued spreading of the Word.
Individual giving is for the individual. Did u offer to help the person, financially?

Answer 7

Sounds like a fairly complex situation; however, I don't think the clergy of your church or your fellow congregants will stop you from trying to help the member who is about to lose her home.

Keep me posted on what you and the other members of your church have done to help her since the governing body is not willing to pay the mortgage. Activism begins at home.

Answer 8

Tithing was NEVER done away with. Read Matthew 5:17.

Give your money to those who need it, and NOT to your churches. If those maniacs want to build a huge building, then let them take care of IT. We don't take care of "IT". We take care of the poor and the widows and orphans who actually NEED us.

Get together with TRUE BELIEVERS in YOUR HOME, and let these lavish "sanctuaries" go straight to hell. They consume the food of the poor. They wear the clothing of the naked. They drink that which the thirsty need to survive.

Pastors are not a biblical precept. WE are the people of faith. Our Master leads us into all truth, so there is no need to put some moron upon a pulpit and listen to what the cemetary school had to teach him.

Give your money to the poor.

Answer 9

i agree that churches need to be communal as they did in Acts, in such cases and everyone give to help another church - goer, tyther in time of need.

no one in the church who has a need should be ignored. there is nothing against the church members to independently give of their finances to help that person. have bake sales, garage sales, and other such things to have the proceeds go to that person in need.

but financially helping others should be included in the church budget when they take up offerings for building improvements or financial "gifts" to the pastor.

the tyther should also believe God to rebuke the devourer and receive an abundant blessing for financial stability.
.

Answer 10

The obligation to tithe (i.e., to give 10 percent of one’s gross income) was binding only on the Jews. Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law (Matt. 5:17), so even Jews are no longer bound by it. But this doesn’t mean we’re not obligated to support the Church-we are-but there is no longer a specific percentage required.

Scripture provides insight on how Christians should give:
On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper. (1 Cor. 16:2)

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:6-7)
There is no mandatory requirement to give a specific amount of money or percentage of our income. We should each decide for ourselves how much to give and then do so in the true spirit of giving a gift.
Those who are in authority should not demand as a right that congregations should tithe.

Answer 11

I think you need to take another look at your church. At my church, we have a fund just to help people in financial difficulty. They might not give someone all of their mortgage (we're a pretty small church), but they would give her some money and then help her find programs that could help her with the rest. Also, in our church, the pastor doesn't handle the money, he's a church employee, we have a comittee that just handles the Benevolent fund, and people go to them if they have a need or know of someone else who does. So, tithing does "work", but the church has to work, too!