Do you give 10% to your church?

[high standard 40]

But I do challenge anyone here to show me physical PROOF that a church bans you because you don't give a certain percentage of you income to support it other then some of the cult churches.

I don't have physical proof to offer but I can attest to the system in place at a "Full Gospel" church I was once a regular member of. I haven't returned there in quite a few years now and it may have changed since then. But at that time you were required to fill out a very detailed admission form to be a recognized member. This form asked for all of your family financial data and based on this, you would receive a statement every month for what the church felt you owed and you were expected to pay it. Additionally, at every Sunday service, the first 15-30 minutes of the sermon centered on your tithing requirements. I was a little put off by this tact.

[Lloyd Smale]

nobody in particular. Point is I haven't found the same thing you have in catholic churches (that part was directed at you) and don't think some are right that think they shouldn't have to contribute anything.(that was directed at people that expect everything to be handed to them)

Confused? Who is this directed to?

[Lloyd Smale]

never saw anyting like that in a catholic church. Only time I even hear money mentioned is if theres going to be a second special collection the next week for things like the building fund, priests retirements ect but they are optional too. Ive never even heard one priest in my time in the church (granted I only went as a child and came back to the church about 10 years ago) mention tides. Or giving a set percentage of your income. Like I said before if one asked me for my tax records id laugh in his face and find another church. That's getting awful personal.

I don't have physical proof to offer but I can attest to the system in place at a "Full Gospel" church I was once a regular member of. I haven't returned there in quite a few years now and it may have changed since then. But at that time you were required to fill out a very detailed admission form to be a recognized member. This form asked for all of your family financial data and based on this, you would receive a statement every month for what the church felt you owed and you were expected to pay it. Additionally, at every Sunday service, the first 15-30 minutes of the sermon centered on your tithing requirements. I was a little put off by this tact.

[6bg6ga]

nobody in particular. Point is I haven't found the same thing you have in catholic churches (that part was directed at you) and don't think some are right that think they shouldn't have to contribute anything.(that was directed at people that expect everything to be handed to them)

Actually Lloyd I could give you the years in which I heard the weekly sunday discussion on money along with the parish and the catholic church I belonged to along with the priest who delivered the weekly sermons. Week end week out every sunday we heard about the money that was needed and what our parish needed to come up with. The priest wa a jerk that made his way up the chain. It was St. Joseph's and the priest was Father Blessington. After he was replaced there was no more sunday butt chewing sessions on contributions. The next preist was the cause of me leaving the catholic church. I didn't take the ridicule in front of the congregation because I left 5 minutes before mass had ended to be at work on time as not to be fired for being late.

[AK Caster]

i like how folks put this on God, when its the church. heck the catholic church has more money than most countries do, yet they want more, always! it is nothing to do with God as far as i can see it.

Did your church ever turn down any monetary donation?

[fatelk]

I don't have physical proof to offer but I can attest to the system in place at a "Full Gospel" church I was once a regular member of. I haven't returned there in quite a few years now and it may have changed since then. But at that time you were required to fill out a very detailed admission form to be a recognized member. This form asked for all of your family financial data and based on this, you would receive a statement every month for what the church felt you owed and you were expected to pay it. Additionally, at every Sunday service, the first 15-30 minutes of the sermon centered on your tithing requirements. I was a little put off by this tact.

Wow, that’s way over the top! Sounds more like a cult, to me.

[lead-1]

I try to stay away from posting in these threads because I feel unarmed, even though I have been going to church for over thirteen years now.
That said tithes is something I do try to stay as true as I can get to, meaning amount and on time. I look at it like this, to paraphrase the Bible says, to whom much is given much is required.
I had been disabled for roughly a year and the money train had stopped long before. I was able to keep utilities current but electric was getting ready to be a double bill which in my mind was a terrible thing, I said "nothing to anyone" but God. I had like fifteen bucks in my pocket and that was the last of it until the wife got her part time check in ten days or so, I kept five dollars to buy her a lunch at her work on Monday and one pack of smokes because she was still smoking at that time and I knew how hard she tried to quit and it was getting the best of her.
I dropped the rest in the offering plate not knowing how we would get by until payday, like I said, I told no one not even the wife of our situation and when leaving church one of the deacons caught me and ask me to shake hands and when he did he put $200 dollars in my hand and said it was in the offering plate with a note to pass the money on to my family.
Folks I'm almost in tears again typing this as I was that day but if that isn't answered prayers I don't know what is. I believe in paying my tithes that's for sure.

[Lloyd Smale]

Now that more closely falls in line with what ive seen in our church. That few dollars you donated meant more then some rich sob giving a 1000. God bless you. You are definitely a good man.

I try to stay away from posting in these threads because I feel unarmed, even though I have been going to church for over thirteen years now.
That said tithes is something I do try to stay as true as I can get to, meaning amount and on time. I look at it like this, to paraphrase the Bible says, to whom much is given much is required.
I had been disabled for roughly a year and the money train had stopped long before. I was able to keep utilities current but electric was getting ready to be a double bill which in my mind was a terrible thing, I said "nothing to anyone" but God. I had like fifteen bucks in my pocket and that was the last of it until the wife got her part time check in ten days or so, I kept five dollars to buy her a lunch at her work on Monday and one pack of smokes because she was still smoking at that time and I knew how hard she tried to quit and it was getting the best of her.
I dropped the rest in the offering plate not knowing how we would get by until payday, like I said, I told no one not even the wife of our situation and when leaving church one of the deacons caught me and ask me to shake hands and when he did he put $200 dollars in my hand and said it was in the offering plate with a note to pass the money on to my family.
Folks I'm almost in tears again typing this as I was that day but if that isn't answered prayers I don't know what is. I believe in paying my tithes that's for sure.

[Lloyd Smale]

Actually Lloyd I could give you the years in which I heard the weekly sunday discussion on money along with the parish and the catholic church I belonged to along with the priest who delivered the weekly sermons. Week end week out every sunday we heard about the money that was needed and what our parish needed to come up with. The priest wa a jerk that made his way up the chain. It was St. Joseph's and the priest was Father Blessington. After he was replaced there was no more sunday butt chewing sessions on contributions. The next preist was the cause of me leaving the catholic church. I didn't take the ridicule in front of the congregation because I left 5 minutes before mass had ended to be at work on time as not to be fired for being late.

We were told this by our priest. If you have to leave church before the blessing at the end of mass to get ahold of him before church and tell him your going to do it and try to sit toward the back of the church as to not draw a lot of attention.. Seems theres a rash of liberals who walk out of church to make a show of it lately and also he feels the blessing is a very important part of mass. We had it happen once while I was there. The priest made a comment about same sex marriage being wrong and three people got up and walked out.

[lefty o]

Did your church ever turn down any monetary donation?

have you ever heard of a church turning down money? sorry to answer a question with a question, but lets be real.

[tinhorn97062]

Whoa...somebody finally brought some real meat to the table.

[6bg6ga]

We were told this by our priest. If you have to leave church before the blessing at the end of mass to get ahold of him before church and tell him your going to do it and try to sit toward the back of the church as to not draw a lot of attention.. Seems theres a rash of liberals who walk out of church to make a show of it lately and also he feels the blessing is a very important part of mass. We had it happen once while I was there. The priest made a comment about same sex marriage being wrong and three people got up and walked out.

I was 16 at the time which was 48 years ago. I had explained the circumstances to him and I had always sat in the back so I wouldn't draw attention to myself. He was dead set on the fact that I hadn't been there for 100% of the mass. It didn't make a hill of beans difference to him if I got fired or not for being late. The particular store manager didn't like me and made it quite clear if I didn't do absolutely everything 100% by the book I was gone. Others however could come in 5 minutes late and nothing was said. No, I didn't ever start any trouble at work was always punctual and always did my work to the best of my ability.

I didn't feel it was necessary for the priest to turn around, point his finger at me and scream "You haven't full filled your sunday obligation'' in front of at least a 1/2-3/4 filled church at 5:00 AM sunday mass.

[Lloyd Smale]

Your absolutely right and you should have had your parents contact the bishop and complain and for sure found a different parish with a different priest because for every bad cranky old catholic priest youll find youll also find a 100 fantastic ones.

I was 16 at the time which was 48 years ago. I had explained the circumstances to him and I had always sat in the back so I wouldn't draw attention to myself. He was dead set on the fact that I hadn't been there for 100% of the mass. It didn't make a hill of beans difference to him if I got fired or not for being late. The particular store manager didn't like me and made it quite clear if I didn't do absolutely everything 100% by the book I was gone. Others however could come in 5 minutes late and nothing was said. No, I didn't ever start any trouble at work was always punctual and always did my work to the best of my ability.

I didn't feel it was necessary for the priest to turn around, point his finger at me and scream "You haven't full filled your sunday obligation'' in front of at least a 1/2-3/4 filled church at 5:00 AM sunday mass.

[6bg6ga]

Your absolutely right and you should have had your parents contact the bishop and complain and for sure found a different parish with a different priest because for every bad cranky old catholic priest youll find youll also find a 100 fantastic ones.

Thanks for your comments Lloyd. I probably should have done that but that was a long time ago and there is much water under the bridge now. Like I mentioned I still have the memories of the weekly money sermons. They didn't ask for 10%. Your were asked to give 5% IF you could afford it. Most couldn't and gave what they could. The priest however had sights on the monsignor post and made it before he left the parish. The next priest was an ex navy chaplin with a attitude like a riled up rattlesnake. He was the one that singled me out and the reason I left and never came back. No pedophile priests however ever graced our parish. We did have one young priest that was a drunk and he was removed within a years of landing in the parish.

[high standard 40]

One more story, not really related to tithing, but relevant to a church and money.

My whole family, dad, mom, and 5 kids, were Catholic. I have a brother who was, and still is, an accomplished musician. He plays bass guitar and sings quite well. He offered his talents to the church for Sunday mass along with a friend of his who played 6 string guitar and also sang. They used their own equipment and were a very tight pair and were well received by the congregation. After a time they decided to acquire some better equipment to be used at mass. With the help of other church members a benefit was arranged to finance this equipment. It did quite well. When the local diocese heard of this benefit, it stepped in and demanded all the money generated saying that my brother and his friend had no right to decide how to spend the money from this benefit, only the diocese could do that. The church lost their music group and my brother never returned to that church. So, not really about tithing but illustrative of some churches' thirst for money.

[popper]

you know the whole robbing god

How can one 'rob' God of what is His and he 'loans' us for our life on earth?
We can only attempt to rob him of His Glory and Majesty - even that doeasn't really work.

[Redclay]

I tithe 10% every month and have for years (since my acceptance of Christ as my lord) more if I can spare it. Sacrificial giving is something even unbelievers do (children parents etc.) I just do it to the glory of god. Castboolits and believers, i’m In the right place!

[popper]

You may be closer to the truth about God leaning more towards socialism than capitalism. If you think about the parable of the vineyard owner and the workers he hired at various times of the day to harvest his grapes, it may shed some light. He paid them the same whether they worked from 9 in the morning, noon, or were hired at 5:00.

Because that was the contract, not socialism. They were 'day' workers, to give them less would be cheating them.
It actually is an allegory to those who accept Christ late in life vs early. Again, it is the 'Contract'.

[6bg6ga]

Bottom line...you give what you can afford to give. You cannot give what you don't have. I doubt that God would want you homeless just to get that magical 10%. But I'm sure that some here unable to see logic will dictate that that magical 10% must be given. I don't have that 10% in cash money so I do what I feel is right. I repair in God's name and donate the parts needed for those repairs. In my mind my donated parts and my time are just as good as cash and that is my 10%.

[lefty o]

Bottom line...you give what you can afford to give. You cannot give what you don't have. I doubt that God would want you homeless just to get that magical 10%. But I'm sure that some here unable to see logic will dictate that that magical 10% must be given. I don't have that 10% in cash money so I do what I feel is right. I repair in God's name and donate the parts needed for those repairs. In my mind my donated parts and my time are just as good as cash and that is my 10%.

i think your all good. those that dont, are warped.