The Mis-treatment of the Poor in Church

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

I have emails and letters from elderly and disabled people who were told by their pastor that they are expected to tithe on their meager income regardless as to whether there is sufficient left over to care for the family. This is disgraceful beyond comprehension. .What do YOU think?

Oh yeah for you die hard tithes preachers, in the OT the tithe was divided 3 ways and 2 thirds of it was for the POOR! The poor were NOT required to tithe, also the poor could offer a turtle dove rather than a lamb, God ALWAYS cares about the poor!

[newview]

I dont think there is anything wrong with the poor tithing. If they have faith that what they are doing is unto the Lord and they do it cheerfully - I say go all out.

But you know what and who that tithe should be going to?....NOT for new Catherdral or the pastor's 2nd car!!!!!!!
There are too many suffering and needy in the Body of Christ to ignore them.

The Church is supposed to take care of the widows that have no one to take care of them and also the orphans and the poor and destitute. Thats true religion.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

One is free to give 10% if he chooses, but we are not commanded to give any particular percentage or amount. Sad to say that many Christians, once misled and often emotionally coerced into tithing, stopped giving altogether when they learned the tithe is not required. 2 Corinthians 9:6 and 7 make it clear that the more generously we “sow” with the right attitude, the more abundantly we will reap.

For some believers who do not earn much, giving generously may not mean a large amount. For others, it may mean millions of dollars, and far more than 10%. Each Christian’s situation is different, and that is why God does not prescribe specific amounts that we should give, but allows us to make our own decisions. Remember, we are “fellow laborers” with Him, and He loves to work with us in determining how much and to whom we should give, and He loves to bless us with more so that we can give more. That kind of giving makes for an exciting element of the Christian life.

You may say, “Well, what about Malachi 3:6-10? That says people who do not tithe are ‘robbing God.’” Those verses have been used innumerable times to prod Christians into giving, but wait a moment—to whom is Malachi written? Well, in verse 9 of chapter 3 it says “the whole nation” is under a curse. What nation? The USA? No, the book of Malachi is specifically addressed to the nation of Israel, and more specifically to the priests (see 1:6,10-13; 2:1,7 and 8) who were badly mistreating God’s people. To use verses from Malachi as if they are talking to Christians is at best poor scholarship and at worst dishonest.

So what should Christians do about financial giving? 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 is the first place to go to find the answer to that question, and the heart of the message there is expressed in 9:7: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” If, for you, that’s ten percent, great.

Beyond that, Scripture directs us to give to those who are genuinely ministering to our spiritual needs. When we do, we are making a sound investment in (that is, sowing into) a work that is bearing good spiritual fruit. Although there is no way we can help everyone who asks us, we are also encouraged to give to those in need, and we can seek the Lord for wisdom in doing so.

For a Christian, giving from the heart is all about knowing that we have a great, big, wonderful God, and also understanding who we are in Christ. Speaking of the attitude of the believers in Macedonia about financial giving, Paul said: “This they did, not as we hoped, but even beyond that, first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us, by the will of God” (2 Cor. 8:5). As Christians, each of us has been “bought with a price.” We (let alone our material possessions) don't even belong to ourselves. When you know that you belong to the Lord, and that everything that you have belongs to the Lord, and that he is responsible to keep his promises to care for you, then you can truly be a cheerful giver.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Yes you are right sis , I got distracted. But the poor should be prayed for not preyed on! I agree that Pastors should be paid (although I pastored for 5 years with NO salary) Jesus fed the 5,000 and prior to doing so He asked the 12 disciples "what shall we do?" They said "Send them away" ....this is the attitude of the church too often!

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

I agree with you, accountability goes BOTH ways, this is why churches need Deacons and Trustees NOT butt kissing flunkies that agree with the Pastor's every whim, absolute power corrupts absolutly.

[newview]

Brother Mark,

Of course the saints should give to the pastors but not to the point of excess which comes at a price and which could could be used for those that have more of a urgent need.