Askjo,
You make a good point of two questions. No way that we could avoid the issue of giving offering at the church. Because many members want to know where the money going, when after we giving money.
I hear many cases of churches have trouble with finanicals and debts. Many Churches are bankrupts and closed doors. Also, many pastors and secertaries stolen lot of money from the churches. Many pastors and secertaries are in jail for that.
Members have good reason for their request that church must give finicial report to them. And my opinion about the finicial meeting at the church should be on Wednesday night instead of Sunday morning or evening. Members want to know where the money going, two or more deacons must be witness to know where the money going, and to trust each others.
As treasurer, a person cannot deposit money in church's bank by alone, must have two ore more persons as witness for deposit money in the bank.
Many churches have troubles with finanicals.
Notice during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem. He went into the building of temple, he saw people selling animals in the temple. He was so upset and angry. He tossed tables out, and opened all animal cages. He called that house - "House of Thieve".
Today, many churches are still doing it. For example- Catholic churches are doing BINGO, carnivals, etc. to running their business, earning lot of money from people. That is wrong.
Many IFB pastors ought to be careful what they would teaching or preaching on tithing to the congregation. No way that pastors could avoid the issue of tithing. Many people think pastor is a robber, or stealing money from people.
My friends told me, they were going to file sue against their pastor for not owe money back to them. They told me, the lawyer told them, that they were not alone, many cases, many pastors stolened or borrow money from people. Many people are complaint file sue against pastors.
I adviced friends, not to doing to sue against their pastor. I told them, let God take care of pastor. They agreed with me.
Money is a big issue everywhere that we are no way to forsake or avoid it.
Interesting, when Christ was on earth. I consider, that himself was the world's greatest missionary. He never asking people for need money or offering to giving money to him. He have no job, no business. Even, he have no home. We know that Christ is God. But, I believe he teaching us about faith. We must have faith in God, no matter what happen to us in situations.
Same with Apostle Paul. He never asking people for money. He just taught God's Word. Also, he owns business - tentmaker, he sells tents to people for his profits. But his business is separated from church. Same idea as we have job or business, our earning always separate from church.
Paul only taught people about cheerful giving with their hearts. He never used word, 'tithing' find anywhere in the 13 epistles.
Bible tells us, more blessing to giving than receiving. We should giving more from our heart than receiving because of our attitude, and willing to helping people, what they need.
Good Samaratian is a good example, that he giving his time, willing to help a person in an emergency time. Many people like rich, famous, pastors, etc. ignore person begging for help.
Several years ago, I heard a true sad story in Chicago. During hot summer day. A young black man crawling toward the emergency door of the hosptial. He was bleeding by being shot in his chest. Many workers like doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, etc. ignored him. Finally, a policeman found him lie about 20 feet away from the emergency door. He immediated took him to enter into the hosptial. And young black man died.
Hospital said, they cannot take an injuried person nearby the emergency door, because of its rule or public. Shortly later, the mayor of Chicago rebuked against that hosptial for wrong doing.
Bible oftens teaching us, that we must be deny ourselves, thinking of others, willing to helping them all the times, what they need. Same as we should be cheerful giving MUCH as we want to giving to help church, pastor, missionaries, etc. from our heart through faith. God would bless us if we want to giving MUCH as we desire from our heart.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!
