This was brought up on another thread, (btw, let's please leave the discussion about whether a 10%tithe is required for a different thread).
The issue brought up is for an individual church member who designates his gifts for certain ministries rather than simply giving to the general church fund.
Does anyone else see problems with this?
I do, but I'll leave further comments for later.
"storehouse tithing/giving"
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by 12strings, Dec 18, 2011.
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Scarlett O. ModeratorModerator
For me - my monthly tithe always and without fail goes to the general fund. Anything above the tithe that the LORD presses me to give specifically such as youth camp, individual missions, world hunger, choir robe fund, or Vacational Bible School, I write a separate check and earmark it where I want to give it. -
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I have a problem with it, too.
If one believes that the tithe is biblical, then all of it should go to his church, where a collective decision is made how to allocate it. One who wishes to help finance other ministries should give separate offerings. An individual member should not override the congregation's priorities set through the budget process.
Besides, if this member wants to pay the electric bill, it doesn't mean the church spends less money. It just allocates the same amount elsewhere.
We've had a member or two to insist that their tithe not be applied proportionately to the pastor's salary because they didn't like him. That's of course, petty, and such a request should be refused. -
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Scarlett O. ModeratorModerator
We always listen to the finance committee and other such committee reports and requests and the pastor conducts the business meetings without offering opinions.
There are some minor issues where the pastor can delineate funds from the office without consulting the church membership or the finance committee - such as dispersing monies from the benevalence fund and he is also a permanent ad hoc member of the finance committee and offers much opinion/counsel there but does not vote.
We do trust our pastor and our committees who work very hard to lead us towards good financial stewardship, but the membership votes after hearing all of the information and discussing all financial matters. -
We have a family in Jacksonville (a father and his two daughters) that love to sing for the Lord. These folks are good!
After the service they have a table set up offering their CD's for $15.00. In my humble opinion should any church invite others to visit, a check should be cut from the General Fund for whatever amount is deemed proper. Some drive across town while others might drive several hundred miles. Then they could offer their CD's for a buck two ninety eight and more people could hear them sing.
Often, you'll see that Amos Goodfellow tithes but .25 cents as he doesn't like Elmo Cluckatelly the Deacon. Then, there's Sister Gabberdene who constantly funds for a new Church Weed Eater because she doesn't like the style of clothes the Pastor's wife wears.
Such nonsense from such little people. They cut off their nose to spite their face stifling the blessings from the Lord.
Put it (ALL) in the General Fund and enjoy your Christian Life. Then, if on the way out the door you really don't want to buy a CD, slip the singers a fifty as you shake their hands and wait on the Lord to refund your offering. He will. -
We make tithes and offerings because that's what we've been led to do. Not by any "requirement" to do so.
Our regular monthly tithes go to the general fund along with weekly offerings. Additionally, if a special situation arises, such as a withdrawal from our retirement fund, that usually goes to a designated account, after discussing with our pastor where the most pressing need exists at the time. And, always with the stipulation that x tithe can be used for any purpose that'll best serve the Lord, regardless of which designated account contains it. -