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Who knows who gives

Should the Pastor know who gives and how much?

  • Yes, but its personal peference

    Votes: 1 2.9%

  • Yes, based on tradition

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, based on Scripture

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, but its personal peference

    Votes: 19 55.9%

  • No based on tradition

    Votes: 1 2.9%

  • No, based on Scripture

    Votes: 10 29.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 3 8.8%
  • Total voters
    34
Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Many pastors do not want to know who gives (money) and how much - other than maybe seeing who drops George or a check into the offering plate.

Some pastors believe they should know how much someone who gives and those who do not contribute to the church.

Here is the question. Are the above statements based on:
A. Personal preference
B. Tradition
C. Biblical scripture

IF your answer is Scripture, please share with us

and now for a very interesting discussion

Salty
 
StefanM

StefanM

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I think it's a matter of A and B. I never wanted to know what the members gave because I never wanted the temptation to treat them differently according to their giving.
 
KenH

KenH

Well-Known Member
Scripture.

Matthew 6:3-4 (ESV)
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 
Tom Bryant

Tom Bryant

Well-Known Member
StefanM said:
I never wanted to know what the members gave because I never wanted the temptation to treat them differently according to their giving.
Click to expand...

That's the way it is for me. The only exception is when we pick someone to lead a building program. Then I want to know that they are giving regularly, not necessarily how much they are giving.

But this is just a preference.
 
S

SBCPreacher

Active Member
Site Supporter
I absolutely DON'T want to know, and I DON'T check the records. But after being here for 5 years now, although I don't know the amounts, I can pretty much tell who gives regularly.
 
Y

youngmom4

New Member
Personal preference- I don't think pastors should know who gives or how much. Pastors are as human as anyone else, and the temptation will always be there to cater to those who are providing more for the church financially...and those are often the people who are trying to buy their way into Heaven.
 
A

Alcott

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
SBCPreacher said:
I absolutely DON'T want to know, and I DON'T check the records. But after being here for 5 years now, although I don't know the amounts, I can pretty much tell who gives regularly.
Click to expand...

I'm not certain that making your assumptions is not worse than knowing for sure.

Regardless, I am very untrusting of a pastor (or any minister, or anyone who holds any 'position') who makes a point of not knowing such a thing. The reason is that a person can demonstrate what he does know by simply stating it-- but if a person boastfully claims to not know something, there is no way to demonstrate that he is lying, unless he lets something 'slip' showing otherwise. If a pastor continually makes such a point that he does not know, that ups the probability he is lying, for there is no other reason for repeatedly making a point that he cannot prove, and cannot be proven a falsehood, other than brainwashing by rote.
 
S

SBCPreacher

Active Member
Site Supporter
Alcott said:
I'm not certain that making your assumptions is not worse than knowing for sure.
Click to expand...
What I am saying is that there are those who are very faithful to the Lord's work at our church. They provide time and talents freely to the Lord's work. By looking at these externals, I am assuming that they are also giving $ to the Lord's work. Now, they only way i can know for sure is to check the giving records, which I will not do.

By the rest of your post, it sounds like you don't trust your pastor or any other for that matter. That must make it even more difficult for you to trust Him to be telling you the truth about God's Word too.
 
A

Alcott

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
SBCPreacher said:
If you don't trust your pastor, that is between you and him. Since I'm not your pastor, it's not my issue.
Click to expand...

Ain't I glad I finally know that!
 
R

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Alcott said:
I'm not certain that making your assumptions is not worse than knowing for sure.

Regardless, I am very untrusting of a pastor (or any minister, or anyone who holds any 'position') who makes a point of not knowing such a thing. The reason is that a person can demonstrate what he does know by simply stating it-- but if a person boastfully claims to not know something, there is no way to demonstrate that he is lying, unless he lets something 'slip' showing otherwise. If a pastor continually makes such a point that he does not know, that ups the probability he is lying, for there is no other reason for repeatedly making a point that he cannot prove, and cannot be proven a falsehood, other than brainwashing by rote.
Click to expand...


This is pure bunk.
 
R

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I do not want to know for many of the same reasons already listed. And I agree that if they are serving faithfully in so many other areas it is a good bet they are giving faithfully. ( I am not a tithe guy but it is certainly a good place to begin)
 
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