Religious Debt?

I am not sure what you mean by "modern preachers." I can only assume that you are talking about "modern-day" preachers, of which I am one. I am a preacher and I am preaching in the modern time....2005. I would assume that all preachers who are alive now and preaching are modern-day preachers.

The fact is that most Baptist churches in America are small in number and take in just enough funds to pay the bills and do some mission work. It is only understandable that occasionally the pastor has to urge his people to be faithful givers. A couple of months of low income can throw some churches into a tail-spin. I do not know of any pastor of a typical size Baptist church who preaches on money in order to pad his wallet. While I suspect that a few of the TV preachers I know about are highly motivated by the accumulation of wealth, I really can not see their motives. Therefore, I cannot judge their motives. God knows. Let Him be the judge.

I don't think I have ever heard any pastor urge his church members to go into debt to tithe. What I have heard is pastors urge their people to give to God first, and He would meet their other needs. Unfortunately, I have heard of some pastors who have challenged their people to borrow money...even give a mortgage no their houses... to give toward building projects. I question that practice.

I have been the pastor of my present church for nine years. Usually I preach 1 or 2 sermons a year on the subject of the stewardship of money, not because I am shy about the subject. In 2004, our income was $15,000 over budget. This year is looking good, too. I thank the Lord for that.

It has been my experience that the people who normally get upset about the pastor preaching on giving are the ones who feel guilty about their giving habits.

Someone told me a story about a man who got very upset with his pastor after he discovered five brooms in the utility closet. He went to the pastor's office to complain about the waste of money in buying five brooms when one or two would have sufficed. The pastor gently counseled him, "I guess I would be upset too if my entire year of contributions was tied up in a broom closet."

 

Who's the preacher you are referring to.

 

I also don't know of any pastors padding their wallets as motivation for preaching on the tithe.

I do know preachers that beat their people over the head telling them they are robbing God if they don't tithe. Urging the teens to tithe on their chips and soda money.(which parents already tithed on) Threatening the congregation with a curse if they don't tithe. Telling people that they need to tithe no matter what the circumstances and God's blessings will follow. Telling them that the reason their finances are out of wack is because they don't trust God and tithe. Where records are kept on how much a person gives supposedly for tax purposes. In reality it is so they can remove people from leadership positions if they arent giving up to snuff.

I belonged to such a church where your ability to serve was based on your ability to give.

Phooey! Phooey! Phooey!

The doctrine of tithing in the new testament is one of the biggest lies being taught in churches today. It stifles peoples Christianity by placing them in bondage to the law. It robbs the Christian of the blessing of giving as God leads them. The church promises prosperity if they tithe which isn't biblical in the slightest sense. The teaching of Storehouse Tithing is another way that stifles a believers ability to give as God leads and whom to give to.

I know that not all churches are this way but a good many are. These churches need to stop deceiving their people and teach the doctrine of New Testament giving. Not only is it liberating but it is Gods way. The church needs to trust God with it's finances instead of telling the flock to.

 

Soulman....THANK YOU....My sentiments exactly.Right now I'm going through a financial "valley" where giving is difficult even though I love to give.I used to blindly "buy into" the tithing idea until the true teaching of the scriptures was made plain to me.I lived under a load of guilt most of the time and even bounced checks trying to fulfill the "law" of the tithe.That really made a shambles of my faith.I am thankful for the liberty I now have in Christ and give as often and as much as He prospers me to be able to.....and I do it as unto the Lord....not to be noticed OR accounted for by any man or church.My biggest prayer would be that God would prosper me so I can do more.God Bless you for speaking the truth.

Greg Sr.

 

When people are growing and the church is discipling others God gets ahold of them and their wallet too. Money is not the issue. The heart is the issue. I have only preached one sermon on giving money but many on discipling others and ways to reach out to others in an effort to reach them.

 

Greg Perry Sr.,
Thank you for the kind words. It has been a little eye opening as you know. We have both posted on other threads pertaining to this issue. The thing is, there isn't alot of resistance which is a good thing. Christians on this board are open to truth. I have learned a good many things since I joined as I am sure you have. Thanks again!!

Thats excellent gb93433. Actually preach on money as often as you need without fear. It is a heart issue as you state. Giving God's way gives us a satisfaction that we are doing right.

 

Ingo, sorry you took my remark as a slur toward you personally. Note that I said, "It has been my experience..." I was simply making an observation based on my 31 years of experience in pastoring.

It would seem to me that if a person is giving 2% out of conviction that that is what God has led them to give, it would not send them on a guilt trip when the pastor preaches on giving, even if he endorses tithing. After all, why would they feel guilty for doing what God has led them to do?

Forgive me for offending you.

 

bump