Do you give 10%????

[Chasey_Lane]

I think what makes it a sin is putting your value of the dollar above your value of God.

God won't pay my mortgage; the dollar will.

 

[nomoney]

Com' on. Now you are just being argumentative.

What is this? Let's all go into the Religion forum and pull 2A's chain day? Not enough drama in Chit Chat of Fight Club?

I'm not trying to pull your chain. I was seriously curious about the long skirt thing. I could've sworn it was your church , who does that then and why?

 

[crabcake]

Com' on. Now you are just being argumentative.

What is this? Let's all go into the Religion forum and pull 2A's chain day? Not enough drama in Chit Chat of Fight Club?

No; I'm being serious! I grew up near the cross-dressing and gay capital of the east coast ... not ALL cross dressers are gay, and not all gays cross-dress. To assume otherwise, is judgemental -- period! And that's the point I was making in that post.

 

[sleuth]

Kinda like placing the value of the tithe over the value of a participating family who cannot tithe ...

I'm back on topic, Kwillia!

Kinda like...
But again... a good church doesn't do this. It values each family equally, regardless of their ability to give.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Okay, teaching ... sharing the word of God ... I get that.

But that's not the same as judging.

Right. And that is what I have been posting. Christians are to discern or judge right from wrong according to what is taught in the Bible. Christians are not to judge the person but the person's action.

Main Entry: dis·cern http://javascript<b></b>:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?discer02.wav=discern')http://www.webster.com/images/audio.gif http://javascript<b></b>:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?discer01.wav=discern')http://www.webster.com/images/audio.gif
Pronunciation: <tt>di-'s&rn, -'z&rn</tt>
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift -- more at [size=-1]DIS-[/size], [size=-1]CERTAIN[/size]
transitive senses
1 a : to detect with the eyes b : to detect with senses other than vision
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : [size=-1]DISCRIMINATE[/size]
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally
intransitive senses : to see or understand the difference

Similar to definition 2 of judge.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I don't know that placing a high value on the dollar makes it a sin.
I think what makes it a sin is putting your value of the dollar above your value of God.

Matthew 6:24-25

<sup id="en-NASB-23307">24</sup>"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.

<sup id="en-NASB-23308">25</sup>"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

 

[crabcake]

Right. And that is what I have been posting. Christians are to discern or judge right from wrong according to what is taught in the Bible. Christians are not to judge the person but the person's action.

Main Entry: dis·cern http://www.webster.com/images/audio.gif http://www.webster.com/images/audio.gif
Pronunciation: <tt>di-'s&rn, -'z&rn</tt>
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift -- more at [size=-1]DIS-[/size], [size=-1]CERTAIN[/size]
transitive senses
1 a : to detect with the eyes b : to detect with senses other than vision
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : [size=-1]DISCRIMINATE[/size]
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally
intransitive senses : to see or understand the difference

Similar to definition 2 of judge.

This is what bugs me though ... you can't say "similiar to ..." and have that fly; not when you've said you have to live by the word of the bible. The bible says "discern" according to your post; not "judge". Just b/c it's similiar doesn't mean it's the same.

And again, the reference you cited earlier reads more like you're to "discern" for yourself; not others. :shrug:

But I'll agree to disagree. I guess it just depends on how you interpret the words. When taken in a literal sense (as it's written) I see it as I've described; yet you see it differently. :shrug:

 

[2ndAmendment]

Kinda like placing the value of the tithe over the value of a participating family who cannot tithe ...

I'm back on topic, Kwillia!

I don't know about other churches, but the ones I have been involved with do not press people to tithe. They may teach the scripture once in a while about the subject, but I have never actually heard any sermon only on tithing or giving. Most churches don't even let the pastor know what the giving record looks like. A giving record wouldn't even necessary if it wasn't for tax returns. If I tithe and the person next to me gives two dollars or fifty cents or nothing, the minister does not know, and we are treated equally.

 

[crabcake]

Matthew 6:24-25

<sup id="en-NASB-23307">24</sup>"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.

<sup id="en-NASB-23308">25</sup>"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

but your "life" and "body" won't be around for long if you don't protect (clothes) and nourish (food) it. what kind of teacher of God's word can you be, then?

 

[watercolor]

I was seriously curious about the long skirt thing. ..... who does that then and why?

I actually was wondering the same thing. I just am curious on the fact that I didnt know why certain churches believed this, and almost demanded it of their congregation.

 

[2ndAmendment]

but your "life" and "body" won't be around for long if you don't protect (clothes) and nourish (food) it. what kind of teacher of God's word can you be, then?

Reading the Bible would help you understand. It really would. The passage I quoted goes on.

Matthew 6:26-34

<sup id="en-NASB-23309">26</sup>"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? <sup id="en-NASB-23310">27</sup>"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

<sup id="en-NASB-23311">28</sup>"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

<sup id="en-NASB-23312">29</sup>yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

<sup id="en-NASB-23313">30</sup>"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

<sup id="en-NASB-23314">31</sup>"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'

<sup id="en-NASB-23315">32</sup>"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

<sup id="en-NASB-23316">33</sup>"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

<sup id="en-NASB-23317">34</sup>"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

[crabcake]

Reading the Bible would help you understand. It really would. The passage I quoted goes on.

I can't help but interpret that as "put all your faith in God and he'll provide for you", but I can't comment on that without going in a completely different direction, and that'd really pizz off Kwillia, so I won't.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I actually was wondering the same thing. I just am curious on the fact that I didnt know why certain churches believed this, and almost demanded it of their congregation.

There is a church on Chancellor's Run Rd. that used to demand this. I don't know if they are still there or if they still do teach this.

It is kind of like the churches that demand that believers handle poisonous snakes. It a verse or two taken out of context seized on which is the consequence of the misunderstanding of man.

 

[crabcake]

I'm really not trying to be a smartazz here, but ...

It a verse or two taken out of context seized on which is the consequence of the misunderstanding of man.

isn't that kind of like "discern" and "judge"?

 

[nomoney]

There is a church on Chancellor's Run Rd. that used to demand this. I don't know if they are still there or if they still do teach this.

It is kind of like the churches that demand that believers handle poisonous snakes. It a verse or two taken out of context seized on which is the consequence of the misunderstanding of man.

Do some in your congregation still do this? What is the reasoning behind that?

 

[HollowSoul]

I'm not trying to pull your chain. I was seriously curious about the long skirt thing. I could've sworn it was your church , who does that then and why?

I believe the Penecostal(sp):shrug:

and it's things like clothing......money.....and material things that led my to doubt religion...
Your relationship with god...should be between you and god
no middle man
why should you have to belong to a church or a specific religion for that matter.
It has allways been taught that if you repent your sins and accept him as your savior then he will welcome you into his kingdom. Well...why do you have to go to a church to do that?
close your eyes....and talk to him....he will hear you...you don't need a building with a cross on it to achieve that.
I will never undersand....correction...i refuse to understand:
fasting........why starve myself...or do without something---god should love you for who you are
10%...........your giving $ to a church....a place you don't need to go in the first place
organized religion in general.......a relationship between you and god is just that....BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. there is no need to belonging to a group of ppl that comes together every sunday to pray...you can do that on you own.

And a little snipit of info that allways caught my attention and solidifies my doubts in christians....
GHANDI....is now burning in hell according to christians. WHY? because he didn't believe in god.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I can't help but interpret that as "put all your faith in God and he'll provide for you", but I can't comment on that without going in a completely different direction, and that'd really pizz off Kwillia, so I won't.

God did not say to not to work or provide for yourself and family. He just says don't worry about the temporary things of this life. Worry about the things that are eternal, the spiritual things. God know we all need to eat. He knows we all need shelter. He knows we all need clothing. Hey, God made the first clothes.

Genesis 3:21

<sup id="en-NASB-77">21</sup>The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

 

[sleuth]

God won't pay my mortgage; the dollar will.

The faith part is where you believe that if you give when you think you cannot really afford, that God will provide.

Whether it be the ability to pay your mortgage, help from your church or community, or any other multitude of blessings.

And it's something I'm not all that good at. But I'm working at it.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I'm really not trying to be a smartazz here, but ...


isn't that kind of like "discern" and "judge"?

OK. I guess by your standard, I should have said we are to discern sin and not judge a person. Better?

 

[crabcake]

The faith part is where you believe that if you give when you think you cannot really afford, that God will provide.

Whether it be the ability to pay your mortgage, help from your church or community, or any other multitude of blessings.

I'm curious how many foreclosures/bankruptcies were filed by tithing christians.