Tithes over debt obligations

[Heather]

My clients often tell me they donate x amount of money to church each week but yet, they can't pay their bills. So, for the last one, I literally made up some bullcrap and said "mam, the bible says to pay your obligations before you pay your tithes." Ok, yes, I needed the sale that badly and honestly, this lady will be so much better off financially for doing my program so it's a win/win (well, not for her church).

I was just curious if anyone knows what the bible really says in relation to this topic. It amazes me that people think it's more important to donate to their church than to pay their credit cards, car payments, houses, etc...

[Minimalist]

This whole giving money to the church shit always reminds me of this one:

Three friends, a priest, a minister and a rabbi are sitting around discussing how they divide up the weekly collection from the congregation.

The priest says, "I use a pretty simple method. I draw a chalk circle about 3 feet diameter on the floor of the church. Then I stand in the middle with the money from the collect on a plate. I throw the money up in the air, and what lands inside the circle is for God, what falls outside the circle is for me."

The minister says, "I use the same method, but I make the circle only 1 foot diameter."

They both look at the rabbi, who says, "Ach, I don't bother with the circle, I throw the money up in the air... What God wants he takes."

Seriously, Number 18:21 says:

“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,

How much do you want to bet that some fucking "Levite" wrote that in there as part of his clan's strategic business plan!

[Heather]

That's a great joke. I like that! Smart rabbi!!

It's funny as at first, I was just wondering if the bible told people to put tithes before debt but after further research, I guess he never really says to tithe at all. Wow, I have way too much to learn and have just started. I never went to Sunday school so I've actually learned more about Christianity since I joined this forum than my whole life.

As far as the Levites quote above, I found this website that actually says the quote means no one should actually be tithing because there currently exists no Levitic priesthood:

"According to the above Scriptures, could just anyone claim to be a representative of God and therefore have Israel pay tithes to him? Let’s read it again, "But the TITHES of the children of Israel ... I have given to the Levites to inherit." Now in order to be a priest one not only had to be of the tribe of Levi, but he also had to be of the family of Aaron. In fact, if one could not trace his genealogy back to the family of Aaron, he could not be a priest of God. This is the whole point of Hebrews seven. Jesus Christ is a priest for the eons of the rank of Melchizedek because Melchizedek predated the law which stated that only sons of Aaron could be priests. Therefore Melchizedek’s genealogy is not given in the Scriptures, and Christ, who according to the flesh is of the line of Judah, can and will be God’s High Priest in the Kingdom of God.

A warning to all charlatans and would-be tithe extractors and collectors: There is NO temple of God being officiated in Jerusalem today. There is NO Levitic priesthood to officiate at such a temple. There is NO NEED for such a temple or priesthood at this time. Only Levites could collect tithes at the temple. Therefore, EVERYONE collecting tithes today is a charlatan and a fake. If one cannot historically trace back his genealogy generation by generation with no lapses to the family of Aaron, he IS NOT and CANNOT be a priest authorized of God at this time to collect tithes for the temple services and sacrifices. (Of course Jesus IS our Sacrifice, and therefore that whole system funded by the tithes of the law is no longer applicable.)

It also says:

1. Abraham never tithed on his own personal property or livestock.

2. Jacob wouldn’t tithe until God blessed him first.

3. Only Levite priests could collect tithes, and there are no Levite priests today.

4. Only food products from the land were tithable.

5. Money was never a tithable commodity.

6. Christian converts were never asked to tithe anything to the Church.

7. Tithing in the Church first appears centuries after completion of the Bible.


http://www.bible-truths.com/tithing.html

[5thHorseman]

Fucking tithes, didn't realise that stuff still went on, thought it was a relic of days gone by. Churches asking for money... wonder wtf for?

Remember reading somewhere that mormons built a $100mil church somewhere. Fucking leeches.

[Minimalist]

I wonder what the vatican would cost in modern terms?

[5thHorseman]

Despite my dislike for catholicism, as far as I'm aware, in europe, the catholic church, unlike protestant churches, do not expect a tithe.

---

Just your childs virginity

[Minimalist]

Aw, c'mon 5th.....you gotta know those cassock-wearing perverts aren't going to miss any chance to fill their fucking pockets!


http://www.saint-mike.org/library/rule/e...ithing.asp

294. Principles and Philosophy of Tithing: Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II said: “We cannot stand idly by, enjoying our own riches and freedom if, in any place the Lazarus of the twentieth century [or any century] stands at our doors.”

296. Four Principles of Tithing:

a) Give back to the Lord in gratitude a portion of everything God has given, whether through paychecks, dividends, unexpected windfalls, Social Security payments, allowances or gifts.

b) See the tithe as a sacrifice, a donation that seems almost more than affordable, an offering that “makes holy” (the literal meaning of the word “sacrifice”) all the efforts and earnings of the past month.

c) Use whatever means the Local Community may use to identify your tithe as a donation from you, thus both manifesting to others your commitment to regular support of the Community and actively participating in the collection as part of the Community's Conventual Mass worship.

d) Consider the biblical norm of tithing in determining the amount of your sacrificial gift. The biblical norm was ten (10) percent of one's income. The specific amounts or percentages recommended for members shall be discussed in the General Directory.

I bolded the Social Security payment....makes them sound like real republicans!

[downbeatplumb]

[quote='Minimalist' pid='213351' dateline='1323277637']
This whole giving money to the church shit always reminds me of this one:

Three friends, a priest, a minister and a rabbi are sitting around discussing how they divide up the weekly collection from the congregation.

The priest says, "I use a pretty simple method. I draw a chalk circle about 3 feet diameter on the floor of the church. Then I stand in the middle with the money from the collect on a plate. I throw the money up in the air, and what lands inside the circle is for God, what falls outside the circle is for me."

The minister says, "I use the same method, but I make the circle only 1 foot diameter."

They both look at the rabbi, who says, "Ach, I don't bother with the circle, I throw the money up in the air... What God wants he takes."

Copyright short circuit 1980s I believe.

[Heather]

Every church I have ever attended in my area (probably around 10 or so), have expected a tithe. So, 100% of them in my experience. The churches were Southern Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal and Presbyterian.

[sindyann26]

Churches (at least in the US) cannot exist without the generous donations of their followers. Therefore, it is in a preachers best interest to advocate the importance of "donating to thy God" - and make that 10% of your income please, before personal expenses of course!

I have in the past prepared tax returns for pastors - and let me tell you, they certainly do not invest all of the tithes back into the church !!!! A church is no more than running a business in my opinion. It's certainly FOR PROFIT and all you need to know is how to sell your service.

My clients often tell me they donate x amount of money to church each week but yet, they can't pay their bills. So, for the last one, I literally made up some bullcrap and said "mam, the bible says to pay your obligations before you pay your tithes." Ok, yes, I needed the sale that badly and honestly, this lady will be so much better off financially for doing my program so it's a win/win (well, not for her church).

I was just curious if anyone knows what the bible really says in relation to this topic. It amazes me that people think it's more important to donate to their church than to pay their credit cards, car payments, houses, etc...