Do you give 10%????

[2ndAmendment]

You said it, not me.

Our church is one of the least ornate. It is a plain cinder block building in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Lexington Park. It has no stain glass windows or huge brass crosses or gold alter implements or even a big altar of ornately carved wood. The minister does not wear any fancy robes nor does anyone else. No person is exalted above another. Some people that go there are wealthy. Some are dirt poor. They are greeted and treated equally. Our congregation is black, white, Hispanic, and Asian and everyone is regarded equally. God reigns supreme.

 

[2ndAmendment]

10% x (her income) + 10% x (my income) = 10% (our income)...

:shrug: Makes sense to me. If she tithes, but I don't, then we're not giving 10%.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

we're not giving 10%.

I ain't givin' 10% of my salary, either. It's ALL mine.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Our church is one of the least ornate. It is a plain cinder block building in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Lexington Park. It has no stain glass windows or huge brass crosses or gold alter implements or even a big alter of ornately carved wood. The minister does not wear any fancy robes nor does anyone else. No person is exalted above another. Some people that go there are wealthy. Some are dirt poor. They are greeted and treated equally. Our congregation is black, white, Hispanic, and Asian and everyone is regarded equally. God reigns supreme.

They're also the Easter Bunny, Santa, Tooth Fairy, etc.

 

[2ndAmendment]

They're also the Easter Bunny, Santa, Tooth Fairy, etc.

Never mind. I see where you want to go with this. Bye.

 

[crabcake]

No person is exalted above another. Some people that go there are wealthy. Some are dirt poor. They are greeted and treated equally. Our congregation is black, white, Hispanic, and Asian and everyone is regarded equally. God reigns supreme.

from tithes, but ... this has me thinking ... what about gays? Are they welcomed with open arms, too?

(and yes, I'm asking seriously; not sarcastically).

 

[2ndAmendment]

from tithes, but ... this has me thinking ... what about gays? Are they welcomed with open arms, too?

(and yes, I'm asking seriously; not sarcastically).

They are welcome, but we do not hold back that homosexual acts are sin just like adultery, fornication, thievery, cheating, lying, murder, and all the other sins.

We had a guy show up that was cross dressed. He wanted to use the ladies' bathroom. He was told that he could not use the ladies' but was welcome to use the men's. He was also told he was welcome to come to the service if he would change into men's clothing, but that we would not endorse his choice to sin by allowing him to disrupt the service in his present garb.

 

[watercolor]

I see many young families who can barely pay their house payment and buy shoes for the kids. I think this keeps many of them from attending a church and I find that very sad.

Most churches.. I say most, because alot are HARDCORE on the tithing...but.. most would welcome them with open arms- rather than tell them they needed to tithe. There is many more ways to have a relationship with god through church- than tithing. Give if its possible. NOT a mandetory thing. This is one of the many things that turn people away. As nickel said- if you can do it- and are a member of the church- then you should contribute- but if you financially cant- then so be it. And if they run you out for it- they are not true to their christian faith.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

He was also told he was welcome to come to the service if he would change into men's clothing

What difference should clothing make? Sounds like discrimination, to me.

 

[Midnightrider]

What difference should clothing make? Sounds like discrimination, to me.

thats what i was thinking.....

 

[2ndAmendment]

What difference should clothing make? Sounds like discrimination, to me.

Clothing does not make a difference. Some men wear suits. Some wear jeans and tee shirts. I usually wear an aloha shirt and dress pants. Some women wear slacks and some wear dresses. Some wear sweats. Clothing does not make a difference.

The choice to proclaim sin by wearing clothing that is obviously meant for the opposite sex is not tolerated just as we would not tolerate anyone coming into the service and performing sex acts or stealing a wallet or purse.

We have no problem with sinners. We are all sinners. Christians are just repentant sinners that have God's gracious gift of salvation. We have a problem with sin and do not endorse it.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

The choice to proclaim sin by wearing clothing that is obviously meant for the opposite sex

Pants were made for men, yet women wear them nowadays. When it comes to choice of clothing, you have no argument, period.

 

[watercolor]

Chasey- would you approve of someone coming into your home or whatever wearing something that offended you? Not jumping on you, just trying to make a point. Many people believe their churches to be a home away from their actual home. And when people do something that offends- IF they ask in the correct manner-compassionate and caring manner- then people will see this and maybe change. They are not telling him that he isnt welcome- but they are telling him that he isnt welcome in their home with something that is offensive.

 

[crabcake]

They are welcome, but we do not hold back that homosexual acts are sin just like adultery, fornication, thievery, cheating, lying, murder, and all the other sins.

We had a guy show up that was cross dressed. He wanted to use the ladies' bathroom. He was told that he could not use the ladies' but was welcome to use the men's. He was also told he was welcome to come to the service if he would change into men's clothing, but that we would not endorse his choice to sin by allowing him to disrupt the service in his present garb.

Wouldn't asking him to change into clothing you think is appropriate be considered judgemental?

Who doesn't sin? :shrug: You've admitted yourself that you are not perfect and that you sin from time to time (not saying you cross-dress or anything ) But what makes one sin any worse than another? :shrug: If the gay member is there to seek forgiveness for his lifestyle, isn't that 'okay' in God's eyes?

 

[Midnightrider]

If your church is using the tithes and offerings correctly,
The tithe is prescribed in the Bible.

Thats a huge IF, and the second part just goes to show that man wrote the bible in his own interests. I don't see why god would care if you gave an arbitrary figure to the church (or anything at all for that matter), as long as you are a good person at heart and are generous towards those less fortunate in your personal dealings.

 

[kwillia]

Pants were made for men, yet women wear them nowadays. When it comes to choice of clothing, you have no argument, period.

Good grief, Chasey. What does homosexuality and/or cross-dressing have to do with tithing... is this really the thread for this...

 

[crabcake]

Thats a huge IF, and the second part just goes to show that man wrote the bible in his own interests. I don't see why god would care if you gave an arbitrary figure to the church (or anything at all for that matter), as long as you are a good person at heart and are generous towards those less fortunate in your personal dealings.

That's always been my belief. I think it takes a bigger person to seek forgiveness from those they've 'wronged' than to ask an otherwise-uninvolved entity.

 

[kwillia]

Wouldn't asking him to change into clothing you think is appropriate be considered judgemental?

Who doesn't sin? :shrug: You've admitted yourself that you are not perfect and that you sin from time to time (not saying you cross-dress or anything ) But what makes one sin any worse than another? :shrug: If the gay member is there to seek forgiveness for his lifestyle, isn't that 'okay' in God's eyes?

Seriously, I think the topic of tithing is a subject all of it's own and I find the different perspectives on the subject to be quite interesting. However, it's hard to follow the topic when it strays so far off track.

 

[crabcake]

Good grief, Chasey. What does homosexuality and/or cross-dressing have to do with tithing... is this really the thread for this...

It's not her fault. I brought it up ... not so much to 'change the subject' of the thread; rather, 2A's statement got me to thinking about it.

 

[watercolor]

Wouldn't asking him to change into clothing you think is appropriate be considered judgemental?

Its about conscious choices.

It is judgemental in a way- but as I said- there is a way things should be handled- along with a way of respect when someone goes somewhere. Such as, you are not going to go up to the wailing wall and not put on the yamica (sp.. sorry) that is required to proceed- and go up there yelling and screaming and touching the wall. You are not going to walk in someones house- with muddy shoes, and track it all over their home- its the same thing as I coming to a church cross dressing. Just my opinion though.