i don't really like talking about religion because technically i don't actually claim one. i believe in a genderless god. that is the extent of my religiousness.
but i just thought about it because of a lecture i received from my mother about an hour ago.
yesterday i happened to overdraft my bank account and racked up a few fees...it sucks but it happens. however, my mom invited herself into my room not too long ago and informs me that the reason why this happened is because i have not been going to church and tithing.
not because i have been irresponsible with my money.
not because i haven't been budgeting like i should.
because i haven't been tithing. and she told me that my money is cursed and that i will continue to have financial problems until i tithe. i'm only half listening and slightly irritated because she interrupted my watching the daily show.
so i said if that is the case then that means that everyone who tithes never has financial problems...she justified it saying that they may have problems but god always makes a way for them. [we all know that that is not the case]so i argued couldn't my problem just be a temporary problem but she argued that that is not the case and it is because of my non-tithing.
the majority of people that claim to be christians constantly flip flop and twist things to fit their world view, just like everyone else who strictly follows some sort of religion. if you really wanted to get technical with it and actually studied the bible rather than listening to what someone told you to believe, you'd learn that the tithe was actually an old testament practice that was used to help the poor and needy, NOT to help fund the church. those were in the form of free-will offerings. i HATE HATE HATE those prosperity ministry pastors such as creflo dollar [who my parents enjoy watching every night @ 7:30 while they eat dinner, which is why i work so that i get home at 8] who claim that you should tithe so that you can be financially blessed.
if that is not the most selfish and least humble thing i have ever heard. one should donate to their church and help the poor and needy because they feel that is right and it is what god would want them to do, not because if i donate some money to the church it will be returned back to me. to me that is complete bullshit. also these pastors that write these books for sale piss me off too. if your job is to help the people and you are god's selfless servant then you should give that shit away for free if it helps god's people. the only religious people that i fully respect are those such as nuns [minus that whole married to jesus thing] who give up all their earthly trappings and devote their lives to helping people and glorifying god. the majority of modern day preachers [especially black ones] infuriate me. the work of "god's servants" is to serve the people, not to try to gain money. i'm not one of those people that believes that a pastor should be poor, but i don't believe that he should make his living from preaching.
ugh...what was i originally talking about again?
oh yeah. i'm broke as shit.
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2 comments:
I fully agree with you Brittney on this one and I'll tell you why: The Bible makes pleny of references to tithing, mainly in the Old Testament. A few of them are:
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering…to Aaron the priest…’” (Numbers 18:25-31).
Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.
But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose.
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice (Deuteronomy 14:22-26).
I fully understand where you are coming from. I am guilty of not tithing all the time, but the question is raised up, how often should we tithe? Once a week, month or year? The universal statement that ALL people with financial problems are in that predicament because of the lack of giving back to God, is definitely a false statement. First of all, not all Christians go to church. I go to church, but not all Christians go to church. Second, not all people who are financially successful are Christians or go to church. Third, where does the money go to in the church? It is definitely used to pay the pastor. Is it used to help the poor and different ministries in the community? How can you fully define "giving back to God?" For many pastors, it's all about the money. That's why they stress tithing in the church and try and make a person feel guilty if they haven't done it. I fully agree with you Brittney and I believe that it's a real problem in the church. Many pastors today treat they ministry as a job and not a calling.
i disagree. you're rich.
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