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I.O.U. Tithing?

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by Roy1, May 31, 2004.

  1. Roy1

    Roy1 New Member

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    I.O.U. Tithing?

    This may sound like a strange question, but hey, what doesn’t. What do think of tithing by cheque? Do you think that it is like giving God an I.O.U. The cheque may go into the offering on the Sunday, but does not clear in the bank until the Wednesday or Thursday.

    It would be like the O.T sacrifice being brought before the altar on the Sabbath then telling the Lord it would not be sacrificed until the Wednesday or Thursday.

    Let me know what you think, now this is not about tithing, but the practice of tithing by cheque. :rolleyes:

    Roy.
     
  2. Loren B

    Loren B New Member

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    From a purely business perspective - It is much easier to deal with checks than it is cash. Ask your treasurer which way he would prefer you to tithe.

    If you pay your Tithe hoping that the check doesn't clear until Wednesday or Thursday - That is a problem.
     
  3. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    LOL! I would have never thought of it that way.
    In a way, it's good because it can help prevent theft/fraud by those counting the money, keep it safe until tithing time from being stolen, or help a person not have those monies available in cash and be tempted to spend it otherwise before it reaches the offering plate.

    Now bouncing a check put in the offering plate would be really odd. But...I don't see it as an "IOU". A check is the same as cash apart from the fact that you can put a stop payment on it or bounce it, but I can't see an honest person who's tithing doing such a thing on purpose. If they do that's their business, but I'd THINK if one wanted to cheat the offering plate they'd do it by holding back instead of making it known to those who handle the money.

    Gina
     
  4. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]

    I think the best solution would be a swipe card machine for each usher. Then you could use your debit/cheque card and the funds would be withdrawn from your account immediately.

    Safer, quicker, and easier for all involved [​IMG] .
     
  5. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    I agree with Gina...I NEVER thought of it that way!! [​IMG] I tithe with a check for convenience, and never thought it might be holding money back from God.

    On Monday mornings, we count all the money that came in from Sunday (cash and checks), and deposit it no later than 4:00 p.m. It gets credited to our account on Monday.

    And I agree with LorenB that if you tithe by check hoping it doesn't clear your bank for a few days, that is wrong.

    CJ
     
  6. Roy1

    Roy1 New Member

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    Convenience is not the thought; it is the tithe literally being brought into the store house? If the cheque was deposited on the Monday morning can it be drawn on immediately? I know that it is not the case with us. The available balance is minus the cheques. You are right in that if we give in the hope that it will not clear for a day or two then we are deliberately robbing or giving God an I.O.U. But practically what is the difference? :rolleyes:

    Roy.

    PS. Roger has a great idea, Talk about convenient ;)
     
  7. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    OK, forget the convenience factor. Checks are considered "instant cash", whether that may be practically true or not. When I place a check in the offering plate for my tithe, I think of it as having given my tithe to the Lord, and I don't consider it "robbing God" to think it might not clear the bank instantaneously. The gift and the obedience are in the giving.

    I think you may be "splitting hairs" here. But that's just my own personal opinion! [​IMG]

    CJ
     
  8. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

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    As head usher, i
    decline to let you complicate our job :(

    This thread reminds me of a joke:

    The four Godfathers split a major metropolitan
    area to avoid turf wars and bloodshed.
    To seal the deal, each promised to place
    £1-Million in the casket of the first to
    die. Godfather A died and was buried.
    After the burial, the other three Godfather's
    had this converstation:

    Godfather B: "Thursday i place £1-Million cash into the casket."
    Godfather C: "Friday i placed £1,000,000 cash into the casket."
    Godfather D: "I respected him so much i gave him a checque this morning for £4-Million: £2-Million from me and £2-Million to cover both you guy's £1-million." [​IMG]
     
  9. Roy1

    Roy1 New Member

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    computerjunkie

    If Cheques are considered instant cash, why do I have to wait for them clear in my account before I can spend it? :confused:

    It is not a case of splitting hairs, just questions about questions. It may help us to get a better understanding of what it means to bring our offerings to God. I personally use cash and go out of my way to get it, for various reasons, but I know God appreciates the cheque.

    Lets not get too bent over this.


    Roy [​IMG]
     
  10. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    As head usher, i
    decline to let you complicate our job :(

    </font>[/QUOTE]Okay, hows this for a idea? Everyone could get the new "verichip" debit implants and the ushers could just pass a scanner down each row. You enter the amount, then scan your right hand ;) .

    Instant tithing!
     
  11. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    My understanding is that the tithe and bringing our offerings to God is from the OT Covenant between God and the Jews. This was all fulfilled in Christ. After Christ ascended to heaven, there is no reference to tithing except in Hebrews where it shows how Jesus is the true High Priest.

    Of course, we are to give to our church, to missions, etc. (absolutely!) but it is not under the law and is not a NT commandment that I know of. Am I wrong?

    My pastor teaches that the tithe should be taught as a guide for giving and not an obligation for the church today.

    So putting a check in the offering plate is fine as far I'm concerned. To say it's somehow not really giving since it is not cash seems sort of legalistic to me. If there is money to back it up in your account, it is good.
     
  12. aefting

    aefting New Member

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    I know someone who set up an automatic deduction from his checking account for his tithe. Seriously.

    Andy
     
  13. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    I don't see anything wrong with that.
     
  14. aefting

    aefting New Member

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    Isn't giving a part of worship? Do you really want to automate that?

    Andy
     
  15. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    As our church treasure (no Judas jokes, please) it doesn't make any difference to me since checks are merely pieces of paper representing something of value and money is much different, it is pieces of paper representing something of value...oh, wait a minute... If we really want to be like the NT folks then I am going to have to find room for sheep, cattle, corn, beans, and maybe a few chickens. I live in a small house with a small yard and I just don't think I have room to store all of that. I would really hate to pray that that family of beekeepers would NOT move into my neighborhood.
     
  16. Roy1

    Roy1 New Member

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    Andy is correct, giving is part of worship and it should not be automated, but from the heart. The tithe is not legalistic as it predated the law, I believe that it is a guide to our minimum giving to the Lord. If that what was done under the law, how much more should we give under Grace? [​IMG]


    We are to bring in proportion what the Lord has blessed us with. I think we are to bring it and with a good heart and a god attitude. :D

    Artimaeus

    If you usually trade in such things PTL, lets bring it unto the Lord. Even the honey. [​IMG]


    Marcia
    I never said that the cheque is not really giving I just asked the question. Please don’t stop givin, even by Cheque [​IMG]


    Roy.
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Karen

    Karen Active Member

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    BINGO!!

    Money in whatever form is a medium of exchange.

    Karen
     
  18. Roy1

    Roy1 New Member

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    BINGO!!

    Money in whatever form is a medium of exchange.

    Karen
    BINGO!!

    Money in whatever form is a medium of exchange.

    Karen </font>[/QUOTE]Let us see if that works in reality by trying to spend the cheque you just put into your bank (unless your bank gives you instant access to lodged cheques). You miss the point. It is not on the practicalities of the value of a Cheque or cash. It is the practicalities of when that worth can be used. :rolleyes:
     
  19. dp

    dp Member
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    I don't think it matters to God how we tithe as far as a particular method or form... I think He looks at the heart of the giver... and only that...
     
  20. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Oh, a church is a storehouse, is it? OK, let's bring the 'tithe' into the storehouse that there may be food in the house. Which do you prefer to eat?-- checks or cash? I don't think I've tasted a check, but I have licked a few dollar bills, trying to get a change machine to work, and I don't really like the taste that much.

    As if we needed another angle, this bring-tithes-that-there-may-be-food-in-the-house, and the church being a 'storehouse,' is another example that tithing was for an agrarian society which worshipped in a temple which represented a limited presence of God. It's far better that we are the temple and need not go anywhere to experience His presence.
     
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