I’ve actually attended services led by Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar and Fred Price – I left all three cash-a-paloozas feeling like I needed a shower. I felt so theologically dirty. Osteen was just cheesy as all get out. What was sad is how many people bought into their BS of Dollar and Price that if you “give me money and God will bless you.”
I think a lot of the problem is in who does the teaching.
Generosity (whatever the claimed reasons/results/returns) is better preached by someone who’s not asking for money at the time.
Similarly, loyalty and submission are topics better handled by people who don’t have a vested interest. A pastor teaching his flock “submit to your pastor” is about as effective as a man saying to his wife “wife, submit to your husband”. That doesn’t seem to stop it happening.
Comment by swordfishBob — March 10, 2008 @ 6:40 am
[...] The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus – find more [...]
I’m not a proponent of prosperity teaching but Mal 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” is thought provoking. Was it just for them or all of us?
Also the Widows Mite, Mark 12:41-44
And he sat down opposite(F) the treasury and watched the people(G) putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.42 And a poor widow came and put in two(H) small copper coins, which make a penny.[a] 43And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you,(I) this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her(J) poverty has put in everything she had, all(K) she had to live on.
Anyone else think it is easier to give away what you have got when you’ve got next to nothing than when you’ve got a lot as the difference is so small. Poor people are often more generous than the rich in my experience.
I remember being in a sermon where they passed the offering bag round 4 times, because there wasn’t enough money in it… The minister said – over some cheezy cooing and stereotypical spiritual guitar licks – “come on guys, this money is our wages, this goes towards us forwarding the work of God..”
Slightly off subject but following on from bee…
I lived in a New Mexico for a year and for a while we went to one particular church. One morning a sermon was given only for about 1/2 an hour on giving. At the end the minister said ” now is the time for the offering” he gets his check book out in front of everyone and flourishes his pen and drops it in the offering.
Apparently the money was getting low so he felt that we needed this extra teaching. This went on for while.
Some time later we walked into his office at the end of the service. He was counting the money and proceeded to tear his check up. His excuse? It was all coming to him anyway!!!! Shocking – we left soon after.
i alway have felt that the blessing back from god was never going to be something that cme back the same way just multiplied.
For me, and i may be well off the mark, giving should be part of who we are. Be it money, time, love or even grapefruit. This, i think, is who god had made me to be. Do i expect financial remuneration from god if i give come cash. No way. Do i feel that my blessing is in doing the very thing that i am made to do. Yes.
It’s a blessing to be able to give in the first place.
We tend to fall into two camps – the prosperity gospel fleecing everyone – or the people who give a pound every week because “The church is rich”. Generally, it isn’t. It’s shutting up shop. It’s skint. Like I said in the other post, Durham Cathedral costs 40,000 quid a week – every week. Who pays for it? I do – as does everyone else who gives their £1 pre week like we did in the 1920’s….
I nearly walked onto the stage of a local prosperity church as the guy declared “we pass buckets around because we’re not just paying the heating but funding the work of God”. I wanted to take the keys to his, his wife and his daughters mercedes out of the pocket on his Armani suit and shove them up his arse!!
Couple of other observations to throw into the mix.
2 Corinthians 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.
Anyone else remember seeing a TV documentary a while back about a guy who did private aircraft valeting at one of the big London airports. He had dealt with the private jets of heads of state, rock stars, international financiers etc but reckoned by far and away the most luxurious and ostentatious jet he had dealt with belonged to the evangelist Luis Palau.
Would have thought the local council could have been approached towards the up keep of Durham Cathederal as it is such a big tourist draw in the area and must supply a lot of jobs indirectly.
Mind you wasn’t it struck by lightning and set on fire a while back shortly after it’s then encumbent denied the resurrection was physical.
Are you saying that God is trying to burn down Durham Cathedral as a response to those damn Gnostics and their herecy?
It was just an example I plucked from the air. I could easily do the same with something else. I personally love Durham Cathedral and think ti is a huge monument to the faith of the people in the 11th century – enough to erect a massive monument to Him.
The little church in the village of Pittington was used as a practice run for the Cathedral with the same sort of pillars…
i hate when certain churches have there little offering sermons about some amazing story where someone gave and got back. we demand so much from God, as if we are giving him something that is ours, when really everything we have is a gift from God.
Financial giving is (or should be) worship – as indeed our whole life should be. With this in mind, giving should be seen as a response, and in fact is part of responsible community living; Church buildings are notoriously expensive to run, school halls cost rent, house groups need to buy in tea and biscuits, emergent groups need to buy smoke machines and UV lights , and whenever there’s a full time worker employed by a community (be it a pastor, youth worker, caretaker, cleaner – whatever) they need to be looked after by a community who loves them.
The problem with ‘prosperity gospel’ theology is that it perverts the natural order by suggesting that when we give, God somehow owes us something. The problem is though it makes sense if your God is nothing more than an anthropomorphic ’salesman of salvation and blessings’, where our relationship with and to Christ is based on symbiosis rather than servitude. God doesn’t need us – but really really loves us. The only response to that is to give – our time, talents, energy and our lives. This is worship I suppose. It turns my stomach when people push prosperity theology – they might have nice jets and cars, but they’re spiritually and theologically bankrupt!
Sorry about the length of this post! I’ve just seen it up close and I don’t like it!
I agree with Will above – I completely agree with the sentiment of the cartoon – that God will not (usually) gives us back more of what we gave him, but I do think if we give as a joyful act of worship he will bless us in ways worth more than 10x the amount we gave him.
By ‘bless’ (that of-so-fuzzy christian word) I guess I mean its part of what makes our relationship with Christ stronger, it forces us to rely on God more (hence feeling his strength), he gives us peace and increases our satisfaction with what we do have.
Does that make sense?
Comment by youthworkerpete — March 10, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Yeah – I’ve wondered many times what the word ‘bless’ means. What does it mean to ‘bless’ someone, and how on earth can we ‘bless’ God or even ‘bless’ his name? Someone should write a Christian/English English/Christian dictionary – Could be hilarious!
Pete – absolutely – the problem is that too often the church (esp. the prosperity gospel) tends to view giving to God ONLY in terms of money. I love when churches put on their stewardship forms what “talents” you can bring to the church and money is one of them – that helps me when I am totally broke to know that my time is viewed as being just as important.
If God cannot ‘trust’ us with 10% of our income, I don’t think He will give us more than what He has already given us. It’s obvious that we’ll misuse it.
I do believe that by GIVING BACK to God, He will give us more, simply because we can be trusted with more.
Many people hold on so tightly on their money because they believe that since they worked for it, it is all theirs, and theirs alone. No one is allowed to touch it, not even God.
How you deal with your finances can easily gives quite a clear idea of who’s your boss. (or Boss)
Often, it’s not the act that is wrong, but the reason and the focus.
Gosh, peeps, aren’t you a prolific bunch! Robb, where’ve you been mate? I’ve missed your down to earth good sense and your colourful turn of phrase.
I don’t subscribe to ‘what’s-in-it-for-me theology’. But even in the tiny churches with no mercs or Armani suits they can still struggle to tick over. People want the church building but there is often little desire to so much as acknowledge that these things have to be paid for. For other churches, tithing is only the starting point. A friend of mine once said, “You know you’re a member of ***** Church when they have your bank details.”
The giving is important but not as important as the spirit behind it. If you set up home with someone or have a family, you don’t quibble over the costs incurred by the relationship. You give and you don’t count the cost, because you love that person or those people. If you want to be part of that community, or more to the point you want the trimmings that go with that community, whatever they may be, then give, without expectation of a return.
That said, it is useful to consider where God might want us to expend our resources/energies. My guess is that a private jet might be fairly low down on his list of priorities.
Adrian Plass has had a go at that, and itrs very funny and thought provoking (as AP often is), his entry for this subject goes as:
“Prosperity Gospel – Very popular, of course, but an evil and dangerous contradiction in terms. We in the developed countries are already rich beyond measure in comparison with those who live on the edge of starvation in third world countries. We can be the answer to their prayers for greater prosperity if we wish. Do we wish?” Adrian Plass, ‘Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation”
The flip side of all this is that some pastors and church leaders are so concerned about being labeled ‘prosperity churches’ or being seen as being ‘in it for the money’ that they’re afraid to teach on the subjects of money/tithing. So the only people teaching on the subject are the ones teaching a skewed message. I am fortunate to be a part of a church where our Pastor teaches very responsibly about the subject. He is also very open about the church finances allowing anyone who asks to look at the financial records. In an age of the ‘Money Gospel’ I think it’s so important to challenge the abuses (as you’re doing here Jon, good job) and also to give the counterpoint with solid teaching.
One of the saddest things I heard was a congregation who didn’t like the pastor. Quite a few of them stopped tithing on the basis that if he couldn’t feed his family, he’d have to leave. He did leave in the end but it got really really messy first
Personally I don’t tithe. I can’t see a scriptural basis and don’t feel called to either. I think it’s about giving, giving generously, giving when God asks and giving out of compassion. But I don’t feel passionately enough for or against to get into any major debates about it.
I find giving hard. Sometimes I think I’m not too bad at it. Other times I know for certain I’m rubbish.
zefi, he was an okay guy.
He came in when the old pastor committed adultery with a member of the congregation and left. He really tried to do the right thing. But the right thing by some of the members was to be a puppet and let the people who’d always run things carry on doing so. They were used to yes men. It was my church for ages. He was the pastor when I left – not because of him. Then a couple of years later, friends who were still there told me that’s what a bunch of the congregation (including the person telling me) had decided to do.
Made me sick to my stomach
allatsea,
regarding 33 and tithing. I’m with you on the ‘giving generously, giving when God asks and giving out of compassion.’ bit. that’s what it’s all about. What bugs me is when people tell us what, when and how much we’re supposed to give. I choose to tithe, you don’t, does that make me a ‘better’ Christian? (hey Jon, theres an idea for a cartoon… I’m a better Christian because…”) Absolutely not. but there are those who would look at it that way and that really bothers me.
What and how you and I choose to give are purely between us and God. And it’s all about the attitude. When giving is done with the right heart it’s an act of worship, when it’s an obligation it becomes meaningless.
Whukkie.com is a shopping mall that pays you back. All you have to do is register and start shopping. It is free for everyone. We give a portion of our earnings back to you the consumer and a portion back to charities.
We also do fundraising for schools, churches and other organization.
Visit us today and see how we can help your organization or help you as an individual to save money.
“Worshipping the cashback god”
Genius – I love it!
Comment by easyrew — March 10, 2008 @ 2:31 am
‘cuz who wouldn’t want more grapefruit?
Comment by Sara — March 10, 2008 @ 2:39 am
Then after 9 offerings, I would have 1 billion grapefruit and then I could solve the nutrition problems of central Africa.
(Don’t you just love these divine ponzi schemes?)
Comment by A S Hodel — March 10, 2008 @ 2:54 am
I’ve actually attended services led by Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar and Fred Price – I left all three cash-a-paloozas feeling like I needed a shower. I felt so theologically dirty.
Osteen was just cheesy as all get out. What was sad is how many people bought into their BS of Dollar and Price that if you “give me money and God will bless you.”
Comment by becky — March 10, 2008 @ 3:08 am
I have friends, who aren’t usually stupid!, who fall this big time.
Is this something God only has in mind for rich westeners?- doesn’t seem to work in developing countries much!!
Comment by soniamain — March 10, 2008 @ 6:14 am
I know people that actually believe this. It was also taught to me when I was a lil tot in sunday school.
It’s pretty sad
Comment by Landan — March 10, 2008 @ 6:21 am
I think a lot of the problem is in who does the teaching.
Generosity (whatever the claimed reasons/results/returns) is better preached by someone who’s not asking for money at the time.
Similarly, loyalty and submission are topics better handled by people who don’t have a vested interest. A pastor teaching his flock “submit to your pastor” is about as effective as a man saying to his wife “wife, submit to your husband”. That doesn’t seem to stop it happening.
Comment by swordfishBob — March 10, 2008 @ 6:40 am
[...] The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus – find more [...]
Pingback by Chris Baker - my ramble of thoughts... — March 10, 2008 @ 7:48 am
seems like a ‘fair trade’ to me, but I think ill read the small print first.
Comment by dennis coburn — March 10, 2008 @ 9:00 am
I’m not a proponent of prosperity teaching but Mal 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” is thought provoking. Was it just for them or all of us?
Also the Widows Mite, Mark 12:41-44
And he sat down opposite(F) the treasury and watched the people(G) putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.42 And a poor widow came and put in two(H) small copper coins, which make a penny.[a] 43And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you,(I) this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her(J) poverty has put in everything she had, all(K) she had to live on.
Anyone else think it is easier to give away what you have got when you’ve got next to nothing than when you’ve got a lot as the difference is so small. Poor people are often more generous than the rich in my experience.
Comment by Susan — March 10, 2008 @ 9:20 am
I remember being in a sermon where they passed the offering bag round 4 times, because there wasn’t enough money in it… The minister said – over some cheezy cooing and stereotypical spiritual guitar licks – “come on guys, this money is our wages, this goes towards us forwarding the work of God..”
On yer bike, sunshine.
Comment by Bee — March 10, 2008 @ 10:11 am
Slightly off subject but following on from bee…
I lived in a New Mexico for a year and for a while we went to one particular church. One morning a sermon was given only for about 1/2 an hour on giving. At the end the minister said ” now is the time for the offering” he gets his check book out in front of everyone and flourishes his pen and drops it in the offering.
Apparently the money was getting low so he felt that we needed this extra teaching. This went on for while.
Some time later we walked into his office at the end of the service. He was counting the money and proceeded to tear his check up. His excuse? It was all coming to him anyway!!!! Shocking – we left soon after.
Comment by Will — March 10, 2008 @ 10:42 am
i alway have felt that the blessing back from god was never going to be something that cme back the same way just multiplied.
For me, and i may be well off the mark, giving should be part of who we are. Be it money, time, love or even grapefruit. This, i think, is who god had made me to be. Do i expect financial remuneration from god if i give come cash. No way. Do i feel that my blessing is in doing the very thing that i am made to do. Yes.
It’s a blessing to be able to give in the first place.
Comment by Will — March 10, 2008 @ 10:47 am
We tend to fall into two camps – the prosperity gospel fleecing everyone – or the people who give a pound every week because “The church is rich”. Generally, it isn’t. It’s shutting up shop. It’s skint. Like I said in the other post, Durham Cathedral costs 40,000 quid a week – every week. Who pays for it? I do – as does everyone else who gives their £1 pre week like we did in the 1920’s….
I nearly walked onto the stage of a local prosperity church as the guy declared “we pass buckets around because we’re not just paying the heating but funding the work of God”. I wanted to take the keys to his, his wife and his daughters mercedes out of the pocket on his Armani suit and shove them up his arse!!
Comment by Robb — March 10, 2008 @ 10:56 am
Couple of other observations to throw into the mix.
2 Corinthians 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.
Anyone else remember seeing a TV documentary a while back about a guy who did private aircraft valeting at one of the big London airports. He had dealt with the private jets of heads of state, rock stars, international financiers etc but reckoned by far and away the most luxurious and ostentatious jet he had dealt with belonged to the evangelist Luis Palau.
Comment by Susan — March 10, 2008 @ 11:18 am
http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/348/#comments
and
http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/2007/12/28/323-324-325/
Comment by Robb — March 10, 2008 @ 11:44 am
Would have thought the local council could have been approached towards the up keep of Durham Cathederal as it is such a big tourist draw in the area and must supply a lot of jobs indirectly.
Mind you wasn’t it struck by lightning and set on fire a while back shortly after it’s then encumbent denied the resurrection was physical.
Comment by Susan — March 10, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
Are you saying that God is trying to burn down Durham Cathedral as a response to those damn Gnostics and their herecy?
It was just an example I plucked from the air. I could easily do the same with something else. I personally love Durham Cathedral and think ti is a huge monument to the faith of the people in the 11th century – enough to erect a massive monument to Him.
The little church in the village of Pittington was used as a practice run for the Cathedral with the same sort of pillars…
Comment by Robb — March 10, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
i hate when certain churches have there little offering sermons about some amazing story where someone gave and got back. we demand so much from God, as if we are giving him something that is ours, when really everything we have is a gift from God.
Comment by ben — March 10, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
“giving should be part of who we are. Be it money, time, love or even grapefruit.”
agreed. anyone heard the song by Keith Green “To obey is better than sacrifice”?
Comment by ben — March 10, 2008 @ 2:08 pm
When can we see the “Vending Machine God”?
Comment by oneaustin — March 10, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Financial giving is (or should be) worship – as indeed our whole life should be. With this in mind, giving should be seen as a response, and in fact is part of responsible community living; Church buildings are notoriously expensive to run, school halls cost rent, house groups need to buy in tea and biscuits, emergent groups need to buy smoke machines and UV lights
, and whenever there’s a full time worker employed by a community (be it a pastor, youth worker, caretaker, cleaner – whatever) they need to be looked after by a community who loves them.
The problem with ‘prosperity gospel’ theology is that it perverts the natural order by suggesting that when we give, God somehow owes us something. The problem is though it makes sense if your God is nothing more than an anthropomorphic ’salesman of salvation and blessings’, where our relationship with and to Christ is based on symbiosis rather than servitude. God doesn’t need us – but really really loves us. The only response to that is to give – our time, talents, energy and our lives. This is worship I suppose. It turns my stomach when people push prosperity theology – they might have nice jets and cars, but they’re spiritually and theologically bankrupt!
Sorry about the length of this post! I’ve just seen it up close and I don’t like it!
Comment by Richard M. — March 10, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
“Vending Machine God”
Forward by the Archbishop Of Cantabury Dr Rowan Williams
Comment by Robb — March 10, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
thanks richard m… i agree.
oneaustin… vending machine god. i like it.
thanks for the great comments people… once again, much wisdom.
Comment by jonbirch — March 10, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
I agree with Will above – I completely agree with the sentiment of the cartoon – that God will not (usually) gives us back more of what we gave him, but I do think if we give as a joyful act of worship he will bless us in ways worth more than 10x the amount we gave him.
By ‘bless’ (that of-so-fuzzy christian word) I guess I mean its part of what makes our relationship with Christ stronger, it forces us to rely on God more (hence feeling his strength), he gives us peace and increases our satisfaction with what we do have.
Does that make sense?
Comment by youthworkerpete — March 10, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Yeah – I’ve wondered many times what the word ‘bless’ means. What does it mean to ‘bless’ someone, and how on earth can we ‘bless’ God or even ‘bless’ his name? Someone should write a Christian/English English/Christian dictionary – Could be hilarious!
Comment by Richard M. — March 10, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
I’m not saying we can’t bless God, we are in a 2 way relationship after all – but if you isolate the word ‘bless’ what does it describe?
Comment by Richard M. — March 10, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
Pete – absolutely – the problem is that too often the church (esp. the prosperity gospel) tends to view giving to God ONLY in terms of money. I love when churches put on their stewardship forms what “talents” you can bring to the church and money is one of them – that helps me when I am totally broke to know that my time is viewed as being just as important.
Comment by becky — March 10, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
If God cannot ‘trust’ us with 10% of our income, I don’t think He will give us more than what He has already given us. It’s obvious that we’ll misuse it.
I do believe that by GIVING BACK to God, He will give us more, simply because we can be trusted with more.
Many people hold on so tightly on their money because they believe that since they worked for it, it is all theirs, and theirs alone. No one is allowed to touch it, not even God.
How you deal with your finances can easily gives quite a clear idea of who’s your boss. (or Boss)
Often, it’s not the act that is wrong, but the reason and the focus.
Comment by zefi — March 10, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
Gosh, peeps, aren’t you a prolific bunch! Robb, where’ve you been mate? I’ve missed your down to earth good sense and your colourful turn of phrase.
I don’t subscribe to ‘what’s-in-it-for-me theology’. But even in the tiny churches with no mercs or Armani suits they can still struggle to tick over. People want the church building but there is often little desire to so much as acknowledge that these things have to be paid for. For other churches, tithing is only the starting point. A friend of mine once said, “You know you’re a member of ***** Church when they have your bank details.”
The giving is important but not as important as the spirit behind it. If you set up home with someone or have a family, you don’t quibble over the costs incurred by the relationship. You give and you don’t count the cost, because you love that person or those people. If you want to be part of that community, or more to the point you want the trimmings that go with that community, whatever they may be, then give, without expectation of a return.
That said, it is useful to consider where God might want us to expend our resources/energies. My guess is that a private jet might be fairly low down on his list of priorities.
Comment by Carole — March 10, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
@26 by Richard M;
Adrian Plass has had a go at that, and itrs very funny and thought provoking (as AP often is), his entry for this subject goes as:
“Prosperity Gospel – Very popular, of course, but an evil and dangerous contradiction in terms. We in the developed countries are already rich beyond measure in comparison with those who live on the edge of starvation in third world countries. We can be the answer to their prayers for greater prosperity if we wish. Do we wish?” Adrian Plass, ‘Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation”
Pretty much sums it up doesn’t it…
Comment by DrNick — March 10, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
The flip side of all this is that some pastors and church leaders are so concerned about being labeled ‘prosperity churches’ or being seen as being ‘in it for the money’ that they’re afraid to teach on the subjects of money/tithing. So the only people teaching on the subject are the ones teaching a skewed message. I am fortunate to be a part of a church where our Pastor teaches very responsibly about the subject. He is also very open about the church finances allowing anyone who asks to look at the financial records. In an age of the ‘Money Gospel’ I think it’s so important to challenge the abuses (as you’re doing here Jon, good job) and also to give the counterpoint with solid teaching.
Comment by Tom C — March 10, 2008 @ 6:45 pm
One of the saddest things I heard was a congregation who didn’t like the pastor. Quite a few of them stopped tithing on the basis that if he couldn’t feed his family, he’d have to leave. He did leave in the end but it got really really messy first
Personally I don’t tithe. I can’t see a scriptural basis and don’t feel called to either. I think it’s about giving, giving generously, giving when God asks and giving out of compassion. But I don’t feel passionately enough for or against to get into any major debates about it.
I find giving hard. Sometimes I think I’m not too bad at it. Other times I know for certain I’m rubbish.
Comment by allatseawithabucketandspade — March 10, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
=toon= : no, it’s about giving.
Sas x
Comment by sarah — March 10, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Susan, 10, good one.
Comment by sarah — March 10, 2008 @ 11:44 pm
Fantastic comments people.
Sas x
Comment by sarah — March 10, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
allatseawithabucketandspade:
To treat their own brother like that is a very sad thing indeed…
I can’t imagine what kind of person he is that causes the congregation to use such drastic measure. Was that necessary?
Comment by zefi — March 11, 2008 @ 2:06 am
zefi, he was an okay guy.
He came in when the old pastor committed adultery with a member of the congregation and left. He really tried to do the right thing. But the right thing by some of the members was to be a puppet and let the people who’d always run things carry on doing so. They were used to yes men. It was my church for ages. He was the pastor when I left – not because of him. Then a couple of years later, friends who were still there told me that’s what a bunch of the congregation (including the person telling me) had decided to do.
Made me sick to my stomach
Comment by allatseawithabucketandspade — March 11, 2008 @ 7:30 pm
allatsea,
regarding 33 and tithing. I’m with you on the ‘giving generously, giving when God asks and giving out of compassion.’ bit. that’s what it’s all about. What bugs me is when people tell us what, when and how much we’re supposed to give. I choose to tithe, you don’t, does that make me a ‘better’ Christian? (hey Jon, theres an idea for a cartoon… I’m a better Christian because…”) Absolutely not. but there are those who would look at it that way and that really bothers me.
What and how you and I choose to give are purely between us and God. And it’s all about the attitude. When giving is done with the right heart it’s an act of worship, when it’s an obligation it becomes meaningless.
Comment by Tom C — March 12, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
Whukkie.com is a shopping mall that pays you back. All you have to do is register and start shopping. It is free for everyone. We give a portion of our earnings back to you the consumer and a portion back to charities.
We also do fundraising for schools, churches and other organization.
Visit us today and see how we can help your organization or help you as an individual to save money.
Comment by Dwayne Johnson — June 29, 2008 @ 5:01 pm