The Lord Giveth And The Church Taketh Away
Aug 2, 2012 19:25:17 GMT -6
tomline01 and smooothlegs like this
Post by TheFirebrand on Aug 2, 2012 19:25:17 GMT -6
"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" Malachi 3:10
Let me ask you, do you see anything about entertainment, building costs or sound equipment in that Scripture?
In my experience with medium to large size churches I have learned that they are perfectly willing to invest all their money, sometimes thousands, into over seas funding, high cost sound equipment, expensive building additions, entertainment, pagan holidays ... and all the while putting very little effort into their own communities or into the soul purpose of tithing at all ...
Matthew 21:12-13 "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
Well well, who of you conduct your business in the church? Or advertise items from the pulpits? What about holding these carnivals and fundraisers for things having nothing at all to do with God? Or even those youth car washes being done on Saturdays? (Sabbath) ...
Then someone comes along seeking help and we tell them "we cannot afford to help you" (because we have so many expenses) Or "we are not equipped to assist such needs and we risk being taken for granted and losing money" (but we are equipped to pray for you under false pretenses and allow you to come to our services feeling ashamed because your are so poor) <<< I have witnessed it happen. One remark I recall is "way too high class for me"
I have a saying about "if you stopped smoking, drinking and partying, you'd have enough money to afford gas" ... Its the same for most expenses in churches ... are you starting to see?
The church is a God given state of grace to supply every need of a Christians life ... what do we need with sound systems and wireless microphones? What do we need with pretty structure designs? You must understand I am not speaking about what a few individuals may or may not be doing. I am speaking about the churches true purpose ... and it is NOT SELF!
I hear many incidents of people coming to our doors asking for gas money and telling some sob story. If you give someone some money to fill their car with gas and they end up running off to use it for something else do you truly believe God will not bless you for the action? You did so in faith and according to His commandments. That person will be held accountable ...
Matthew 6:1-9 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before Thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly."
Hmmm ... how many of you take your tithes up to the altar sometimes dancing and waving your hands with the money in them? How many of you wait for someone to bring a tray around where everyone can see whether you pay or not? You are sounders of trumpets and hypocritical pharisees!
People you must realize that tithing and taking up collections are NOT the same things!
I do not know how all churches covered tithing privately in the old days of Christianity, but I do know that in our time we ought be doing it privately either thru the mail or in a drop off bin somewhere in the church or even donating food into a store room for those who come in need ... Read Amos 8
Seems to me that people in most churches are just like the government. Its all about them. Even if they don't know it ...
Let me ask you, do you see anything about entertainment, building costs or sound equipment in that Scripture?
In my experience with medium to large size churches I have learned that they are perfectly willing to invest all their money, sometimes thousands, into over seas funding, high cost sound equipment, expensive building additions, entertainment, pagan holidays ... and all the while putting very little effort into their own communities or into the soul purpose of tithing at all ...
Matthew 21:12-13 "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
Well well, who of you conduct your business in the church? Or advertise items from the pulpits? What about holding these carnivals and fundraisers for things having nothing at all to do with God? Or even those youth car washes being done on Saturdays? (Sabbath) ...
Then someone comes along seeking help and we tell them "we cannot afford to help you" (because we have so many expenses) Or "we are not equipped to assist such needs and we risk being taken for granted and losing money" (but we are equipped to pray for you under false pretenses and allow you to come to our services feeling ashamed because your are so poor) <<< I have witnessed it happen. One remark I recall is "way too high class for me"
I have a saying about "if you stopped smoking, drinking and partying, you'd have enough money to afford gas" ... Its the same for most expenses in churches ... are you starting to see?
The church is a God given state of grace to supply every need of a Christians life ... what do we need with sound systems and wireless microphones? What do we need with pretty structure designs? You must understand I am not speaking about what a few individuals may or may not be doing. I am speaking about the churches true purpose ... and it is NOT SELF!
I hear many incidents of people coming to our doors asking for gas money and telling some sob story. If you give someone some money to fill their car with gas and they end up running off to use it for something else do you truly believe God will not bless you for the action? You did so in faith and according to His commandments. That person will be held accountable ...
Matthew 6:1-9 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before Thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly."
Hmmm ... how many of you take your tithes up to the altar sometimes dancing and waving your hands with the money in them? How many of you wait for someone to bring a tray around where everyone can see whether you pay or not? You are sounders of trumpets and hypocritical pharisees!
People you must realize that tithing and taking up collections are NOT the same things!
I do not know how all churches covered tithing privately in the old days of Christianity, but I do know that in our time we ought be doing it privately either thru the mail or in a drop off bin somewhere in the church or even donating food into a store room for those who come in need ... Read Amos 8
Seems to me that people in most churches are just like the government. Its all about them. Even if they don't know it ...
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