I feel bad that your experience has been so negative and you think all churches are the same.
I have never been asked how much I make or give nor have I asked, how much someone makes or how much they give to the work of the church even when I was treasurer of a congregation. When I counted the money, I couldn't tell you who gave and who didn't or how much even when they wrote a check. I made it a point to look only at the amount and not the name. Again, it is none of my business how much an individual or family gives. Anyone who says otherwise is most assuredly not abiding by Biblical principals.
There are plenty of congregations out there that are not in it for the money or the pomp and ceremony. Those are the ones who strive to teach the truth and save the lost. That is their purpose.
If what you say is true, then you need to find a different church. Any preacher that continually asks for money, isnt doing the job he was called to do.
My family and i go to a large church in our area and they have a very large budget. There is only one time a year when the pastor asks for money, but i cant remeber what the specific reason is for, but i think its for supporting a church/school in Africa. At no other time does he ask for money. We attend because the pastor actually preaches the word of God. I know it when i hear it. Years of listening to my Dad preach every Sunday will do that. Plus their childerns ministery is fantastic.
I encourage you to not loose your faith and find yourself another church that suits your needs with a pastor you like.
That's the way we operate. The only person who knows who tithes what is our treasurer and he is canonically prevented from revealing any information about who tithes what. That includes our rector(pastor). She has no clue who gives. And anyone who wishes to remain 100% anonymous can just tithe cash to the plate in an envelope.
Shameless plug: Anyone who has ever asked him/herself "What's wrong with this country?" or pondered our rapid moral decay and does not go to church, I'd offer that our lifestyle habits are abandoning the structures of traditional morality. The fabric that knits our morality together is dry rotting from neglect and we are seeing the effects.
70lbdraw's Link
Only a fool follows guys like this!
Dan is a regular over on the Leatherwall. He makes some mighty fine hats and gives them away from time to time over there. No troll here.
"A Fool and His Money" was a movie that came out several years ago about a man who creates a religion based on selfishness. Sad thing is several people would probably join up if there was one like that. And actually, in some ways there are.
I Tim 4:3-4 always comes to mind when people like the jet buying "preachers" show up. They preach a feel good doctrine just to attract people and "fleece the flock" as my old Pappy says.
Salagi's Link
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But, those of us who believe, know that the Almighty works in mysterious ways . . . .
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The preacher is all gung ho for amnisty international and sending people to mexico to help the poor, but does very little for the poor in our own community. He also sends lay ministers to Utah.
The one thing they have done for the local community is a weekend lunch program for disadvantaged kids. We specify that our donations go for that.
Terry