Comments on: To Tithe Or Not To Tithe?

Sunday Morning: A Spirited Debate Over The Power Of Giving In The Lives Of Believers

[roebleu]

Lets not forget we are all made in Gods image, if we are sinful wasn''t it God who sinned first ??? Lets talk about Tithing here, Church is Man made not God made, and if Christians want to Tithe for the betterment of our Human Race then that is their decision..GOD BLESS THEM, But for those who take the Tithes for their own financial Gain, You will Reap what you sew !!!!

[sigotratando]

That I''m guilty of Adam''s sin & that my salvation is dependant upon the suffering & death of another defies all logic and reason. What kind of a God promotes such nonsense? The same one that would test you by asking you to murder your own child in his name, I suppose.
Posted by Candide777

I suppose it wld be nonsense if it weren''t so common in our human culture to say silly things like: if you really love me, you would [do something amoral] for me. Similarly, to make a point, sometimes you have to present a powerful contrast, a meaningful "measure" if you please.

If God respects our free will & created nature, he must reach us at our level using tools that we can comprehend. There are theological explanations for this thing with Adam & salvation (that fill volumes) that follow the traditions of logical & reasonable exposition. But I have to admit I agree with your sentiment along these lines: if the message is so important to salvation, why would God allow its perversion such that sorting out the righteous becomes the largest hurtle of all toward finding The Way?

[honestabe8]

sigo: thanks for being courteous. sometimes, True Believers like singinrick are condescending.

[jntlw-2009]

The tithe was also meant to help the widowed and orhpans in their need. It was not entirely for the priests or the Tabernacle of God. So to assume a tithe is stickly for the pastor slary and building a big church and without helping the poor and needy or lonely would be a diservice of a tithe.

[sigotratando]

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sigo: it seems obvious that we are born "without god" as this knowledge must be learned. perhaps what you describe as sin is just immaturity.
Posted by honestabe8

I think you are right, from a more psychiatric perspective. But my main point was how sin might be generated -- a theological perspective. If immaturity is a state, an original state; & if "selfishness" is a form of immaturity that is basic; & if selfishness is the root of sinning, then sinning is basic.

That''s all I was saying. It is a theological exercise, & I was not really trying to persuade as to offer one theological argument that answered your question.

[honestabe8]

candide: seems more like a petulant child than anything to be worshipped, or even looked up to.

[candide777]

"jesus died for your sins" is the cry of those who believe that piffle
Posted by honestabe8 at 03:00 PM : Mar 03, 2008

I''m agree -- that I''m guilty of Adam''s sin and that my salvation is dependant upon the suffering and death of another defies all logic and reason. What kind of a God promotes such nonsense? The same one that would test you by asking you to murder your own child in his name, I suppose.

[honestabe8]

sigo: it seems obvious that we are born "without god" as this knowledge must be learned. perhaps what you describe as sin is just immaturity.

[jankebenz]

I, on the other hand, can tell the difference between the real and the imaginary.

Posted by Candide777 at 01:48 PM : Mar 03, 2008

You can? As in christians torture and execute to convert? As in your "christian" school stuck you all in a room and made you give money? Yah sure,ok,whatever.

[cfin5]

One thing before I go. I ain''t giving no money to some cult so they can travel over land and sea to convert someone into twice the son of hell than they are. NO SIREE! Jesus aid that in Matthew 23:15

[sigotratando]

i don''''t understand why the default setting is that man is "sinful".
Posted by honestabe8

I LOVED the reference to "default setting"! And there is a theological explanation to that. If we are born ignorant of God & if from birth we are selfish (as in, we must grow out of the infant perspective that the world revolves around us and *learn* consideration beyond ourselves), then that state is the "default" state of our consciousness.

If selfishness (& all the resulting sins, such as hypocrisy, pride, wanting what results from eating the apple, etc.) is the true root of all evil, then we are born sinning & must *learn* other ways, such as distinguishing fact from opinion, loving thy neighbor, and so on.

[sigotratando]

And then to see the low life, critizing christian giving and their faith. Sickening and disgusting
Posted by jankebenz

I know that when God was creating the world, he classified some animals as unclean & such. But I did not think that "low lifes" was classification that a person wishing to testify to the love of Christ might use regarding those to whom s/he might minister. The beginning of your post was fantastic. The name-calling reduced your credibility & that of Christ''s. Temperance.

[honestabe8]

janke: if it bothers you so much, perhaps this is not the forum for you

[honestabe8]

i don''t understand why the default setting is that man is "sinful". to me, that seems just insane and reinforces the belief that christianity is just a vessel for conveying guilt. "jesus died for your sins" is the cry of those who believe that piffle

[jankebenz]

I just can''t fathom how anti christian posters can spew their venomous hatred so candidly without thought. There are literally thousands of christian based help organisations that work almost everywhere help is needed around the world.The Salvation army can be found busy helping the poor throuhout the world, world vision is busy feeding children in 3rd world countries, the list goes on and on. And then to see the low life, critizing christian giving and their faith. Sickening and disgusting

[michellem99-2009]

I was not raised in the church therefore can''t afford to give as the money I get is for my daily living. I don''t go to church. Uncle Sam does not allow this.Every thing gets higher and my govt don''t give that much to live on..It is the poor them bloody ministers beg and beg..to give..I called my father to talk. He is poor. My Dad''s line* I DON''T HAVE MONEY TOIVE YE.*

[candide777]

Oh I see now! they put you on the rack at that "christian" school you attended and tryed to "convert" you.No wonder you hate christianity
Posted by jankebenz at 01:25 PM : Mar 03, 2008

Belittle the psychological abuse of children inflicted by the faithful if you like, but believe me, these brutes are lucky their vengeful God does not exist.

[logicgal1]

GOd loves a cheerful giver. If it''s not in your heart to give, I don''t think God wants it anyway. Tithing is an act of faith. God says "have the faith to give me 10%, and I''ll bless you a hundred fold". I''m all for that. It''s amazing the way God always provides when you are faithful.

[denn034]

One more comment. If forcing morality is bad, then, the fact that every law on the books enforces social mores or morality would be wrong and advocating no laws would be the only logical thing one can do. Period! Some laws are religious and civil in nature after all! Enforcing laws against murder and stealing amounts to enforcing civic and religious social mores or morality. Period!

[denn034]

"Not sure about tithing since it was commanded to be done for the tribe of Levi being the Priests in Israel cause they had no inheritance of land."
Posted by cfin5

Abraham paid tithes before there were any Levites or a Mosaic law. Genesis 14:20 states: "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." In other words, tithing predated the Mosaic law and thereby transcends it. It didn''t end with the law. Christ Himself endorsed tithing in Matthew 23:20. Period!