If the Christian Church were to return to it's purpose and mission established by the early church fathers,?
and were people to stop tithing *to* their church directly, but instead give to local shelters, the homeless and any of a thousand other charities, how do you think that would that affect the religion of Christianity in general?
What do you think pastors and priests would do and / or how would they change?
Do you think the religion would change in general? do you think there would be a chance that denominational divides could be overcome.
Please be respectful in your answers. I am genuinely interested in thoughtful answers. Thank you
2009-05-23T18:17:01Z
chris: I know what the purpose of the church is and I'm quite familiar with Acts thank you. You haven't read and answered the question. I would suggest you thoughtfully consider what I've asked if you don't mind.
2009-05-23T18:23:01Z
O my... all of a sudden I'm a Christian basher. If you knew who you were talking to you might be surprised. :)
2009-05-23T18:30:02Z
this is getting unreal.
People! I know very well that we are to worship in corporate AND that we are to support the church. I am asking a simple question. How would we as the church be affected (including preachers and priests) if tithing were to be used to support the poor and needy - to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, save the unsaved and love the unloved.
2009-05-23T18:38:12Z
instead of supporting the church building etc.
it has nothing to do with questioning peoples generosity... where do you get that from?
2009-05-23T18:52:54Z
(((searcher))) the idea of any church should be church planting first and foremost. Shouldn't that mean that as the home church grows, they split off to other homes?
yes pastors and priests go to seminary. A good thing. Shouldn't they be responsible to pay their loans on their own just as any person who trains to be a doctor but works in the mission field pays for their student loans?
2009-05-25T20:13:27Z
5 of you gave very interesting answers. And all 5 responded with one or two aspects of the idea that I had rolling around.
for the rest of you, although I can't imagine how as Christians you could have misunderstood the intent of this question, For my weak expression of it, I apologize and pray you will forgive me.
?2009-05-24T08:05:11Z
Favorite Answer
I guess I am an idealist.... or a dreamer...
I picture a world where believers and nonbelievers could use their money and volunteer together at a food pantry, homeless shelter, or clinic. A world where Christian ministers live like Christ. A world where we focus on making sure everyone in our own neighborhood/community has food on the table and running water.
A world where there are no "Crystal Cathedrals" and multimillion dollar houses of worship, and especially no televangelists that live like millionaires on the donations of believers. Where believers practice their faith, but don't need ATMs in the lobby of exploitive mega churches.
A world where churches are as concerned about the environment and stewardship of the earth as they are about converting more tithe payers and purchasing expensive cars.
NOW... I know most Christians do not live wealthy lives and such. It's just as a drive around my state, I see an amazing number of multimillion dollar churches, and we have to fight with the city council to fund our homeless shelter. Even the wealthiest churches give very little.
It frustrates me... *sigh* So many believers talk in R&S about how the churches support the poor... and in real lfe, I have yet to see it across the entire state I live in (which is a conservative Christian state).
(((((Rammie))))) I luv's ya! You are one of the good people... I know how much you give of yourself. If only more Christians were like you... I'd work side-by-side with you, and other's like you, anyday.
In addition to the other posters: The Old Testament, The Septuagint [translated from Hebrew to Greek somewhere 250 BC] was in placed at that time, used even before Jesus' time. The New Testament was written 35-100 AD and translated to latin by St Jerome, sometimes 400 AD. It is still on parchments and read in the church, or preached orally. So, there IS NO NEW TESTAMENTS IN A BOOK/BIBLE FORM AT THAT TIME compiled with Septuagint.' Bible alone' theory is not in existence at that time as there is NO BOOK to call bible. It was the use of Oral Tradition up until 1400 when the 'compiled book form bible' finally hit the printing press. In other words, it took the Catholic Church about 400 years of gathering, editing, and sorting the ancient manuscripts and got printed in 1400. There were also a lot of uninspired writings [apocryphal books] that were floating around that were not cannonized.
I chose not to be contacted on my answer except by the asker. It is obvious that you know the answer if you have that much knowledge of the Word. Then why ask? Your statement here:
"I am asking a simple question. How would we as the church be affected (including preachers and priests) if tithing were to be used to support the poor and needy - to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, save the unsaved and love the unloved."
... makes little sense. That is only a portion of how tithing and offerings are to be used. So, instead of trying to match wits... I suggest you go to www . believe the sign . com and begin your journey to true understanding. The words of a vindicated prophet far outweigh our own intellectual conception of the Word.
Rammie, I'd ignore the people that don't know you very well. As Christ said, "father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
It's an interesting idea to go back to the church homes. I know of a woman who goes to one of these churches. Ultra conservative...always wears dresses and no makeup (and in high school, before her conversion, she was one of the wildest drug users in the school).
it would be interesting, because we would not need a church building, and the money people tithe could be used for ministries that God shows them to do. But it would also limit the ministry of the church body. we would have problems meeting as a corporate body, and it would limit the types of programs a group could have (how would you have youth groups, or kid's programs?). Also, would the pastor be a full-time pastor or would he work a full time job in addition? Considering that the majority of pastors today have been to seminary, how would they pay for student loans or other issues?
As far as the ministries in the community, it would drastically change what happened. Some of it would be very positive. I could see that group becoming very close as a body of Christ. And, most likely that group as a body of Christ would take a strong interest in the community and in ministry to others.
But, what do you do when a group that meets in a home has a lot of people that want to be with them? How could that group be able to accommodate the additional people?
One group I know started in a home church about 7 years ago, and now is in the process of paying for land, as their congregation averages over 700 people a Sunday. If you were limited to a house church, how would you decide to turn people away, and could you do that, especially if turning someone away kept someone from turning to the Lord?
Edit: True on the overseas missionary doctors. But, they are supported by the churches that have pledged their support, and that means that the church body does have to support the ministers.
I think Chris WAS onto something, though.. financial plan of the early church "All that believed were together and had all things common" (Acts 2 :44, 45) but they didn't just everybody live in his own place and come to church once a week. They were together "daily,in breaking of bread and singleness of heart.." Marx and Engels and those impostors couldn't TOUCH this kind of communism. This is the only one that EVER worked! Based on love and sharing "all things". They did not live communally as an "end" but to advance the goal of spreading the Gospel , like the other guy said.
Having said THAT.. I think you need to brush up a bit on the real purpose of your tithe. You may go to any church you WANT, or tithe to any church, or even group, or society, but the tithe is for the "Levites", for those who are giving their lives for the furtherance of Gods work. Laboring in the Word! It is NOT for the "poor". (Those "you have with you always") You are STILL supposed to help them TOO.. but that is NOT your "tithe". That is another gift, to help the poor which we are also asked to do, but the tithe is sacred, it is God's, it's for His work. Muslims refer to this helping the poor as "Sac-at" Sad to say, tons of churches take a large part of that money for the preacher and for their elaborate buildings, and give hardly ANYTHING to missions, when --in our time-- it should be mostly used for the winning of others. Time is short. So what are we going to do, polish up our act with God's money, broadcasting our million-dollar glass cathedrals --to ourselves-- or give ten cents on the dollar (which is shrinking FAST), to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature!" (Mark 16:15) Or if WE don't have the guts, or the faith to do it, at least use it to support somebody else who DOES!! That's what a "tithe" is for