New members

I don't want to misrepresent the tithing "coupon book": it was at my former church not my present church. No one at my new church has ever made me feel as if I don't give enough....Just wanted to clarify that.

 

Being a Southern Baptist Pastor in Georgia I can truly say that a payment book is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of and NO, ways of forced tithe are not backed by the Southern Baptist Convention. This is the work of the Church alone.

I personally believe that the tithe should be encouraged but not enforced. I truly believe it is the will of God that a Christian give ten percent of their income but it is also the will of God that every person on this earch come to Christ for salvation. You cannot force a person to be saved and you cannot force a person to tithe. It must be a willingness in the heart, Amen. This is the official belief of the SBC BTW!

 

I have to thank all of you for your supportive posts. I put a small amount in the collection basket today, but I feel torn because my husband earns the outside income and does not believe in giving money to churches, yet I get a lot from this church spiritually and would feel guilty if I didn't give something. Can volunteering there replace the money I should be giving or is that considered "good works" and not of the same value as the money? I honestly don't like to keep pestering you all with stupid questions, but I am sincerely wondering about this issue. Thanks again!

 

moira3, I am like the other Southern Baptists here, I have never heard of a payment book before.

I used to be a member of a large Southern Baptist Church and they would send me the offering envelopes with my name already printed on them, but I didn't have to use them. No one checked to see if I did.

I am a member of a smaller church now and they do not send out envelopes. The church keeps records of how much the members give and gives them a receipt at the end of the year for taxes.

As to your membership, you can leave it in the old church as long as you want to, but I would encourage you to join a local church. It sounds as if you like the one you are attending and I don't think you are obligated to give based on your husband's income. I believe you should give what you can give from your money.

 

Personally, I would be very careful about disobeying your husband. You must remember to respect him, and we know that he may possibly be saved because of your witness. I would encourage you to talk to a pastor of the church and get his counsel. Perhaps he can offer some words of wisdom, and may also be able to reach out to your husband.

 

I personally believe God will bless you for good stewardship in any and all aspects of your life.... The money issue is a tough one because your husband is the wage-earner. However, I would give as the Lord leads you to give.. I truly believe everything we have is God's, including our time, and time spent in His service is as much a stewardship issue as the money we spend or give in His service. It will be judged for the motivation behind it. If you are doing it out of love and reverence to Him, then you will recieve your Heavenly reward.... But if it is because someone pressures you to do it, in whatever manner, then it is to please man and the reward is here among men.

 

I agree with most of the above. Give as God leads, be it money or time.

Obedience to your husband is the right thing to do, but if he is opposed to you attending church, I say that you go anyway. As far as "your money, my money" goes, he is the provider and has power over where it goes. If he gives you some money just for your use, you can do with it as God leads. But do not take and give if he is dead-set against it. By doing so you will drive a wedge between him and anything to do with God.

Talk to your pastor (if you are comfortable with it, and if you intend on attending that church), but suggest that a layperson visit him instead of the pastor. I can tell you from personal experience (and back it up statistically) that people respond better if a person from the pews pays a call on them than if a clergyman does. If the pastor wants to follow-up the visit after the layman, that is up to him.

The main thing is that you bring your concerns and questions before God. No matter what we think is the right answer, it is God's answer that matters. Ask Him, and let Him guide you, and you won't go wrong.

In Christ,
Trotter