Ministers/Pastors who Push for financial donations

Tharaa · 09-15-2005, 06:17 AM

Hi Sisters in Christ,

I am very appalled by something,the amount of greed shown by some pastors who
ask for financial assistance every little chance they get.
They push tithing to the maxium they can,and at the worst times ever!!! Now please
understand that I DO BELIEVE ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO GIVE TO GOD AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN!!
But I have a very real problem with Pastors who get close to you,and try to manipulate you into giving money! and then once you say no...they ignore you,or act differently.

The bible says the act of giving should be done in private,out of public display,and in such a way as to not draw attention upon yourself...I think that goes the same for the ones asking!

Its fine to ask for help,but not every day,and not to specific individuals,u dont single some one out for this!!! Its particularly insulting when ur having such extreme financial hardships,and someone asks for money...But you do what you can when you can...

BUT HOW IS IT RIGHT FOR THESE PASTORS TO CAUSE THE GUILT TRIPS AND MANIPULATE AND PRETEND TO BE YOUR FRIEND ALL FOR THE MONEY!!!

am419747 · 09-15-2005, 06:40 AM

It's not so much so the pastors that bother me, because I kind of expect that from them. It's the people who insist you're "evil" if you don't give them thousands upon thousands of dollars for their "orphanages" and stuff like that. Or try to scam you into giving them money for an orphanage that does not exist. It's horrible.

Tharaa · 09-15-2005, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inferiority

It's not so much so the pastors that bother me, because I kind of expect that from them. It's the people who insist you're "evil" if you don't give them thousands upon thousands of dollars for their "orphanages" and stuff like that. Or try to scam you into giving them money for an orphanage that does not exist. It's horrible.

Yes that is horrible! And ive encountered such people,its amazing how low people will go
for money lust!Using Innocent children in their schemes is just beyond not okay!!! And it makes me sad !!

Tharaa · 09-15-2005, 07:19 AM

Just wanted to add,that Its not okay for Pastors to pressurize u and make you feel like your under an obligation....giving is just that a gift from your faith,and not a gift out of being badgerized.

~Lisa~ · 09-15-2005, 07:21 AM

I understand what your saying. I think my tithing is between me and God and what I can give. So that's how I keep it, between me and God. If no one else can understand that then "they" need prayer

Tharaa · 09-15-2005, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Lisa~

I understand what your saying. I think my tithing is between me and God and what I can give. So that's how I keep it, between me and God. If no one else can understand that then "they" need prayer

Right!!!

Jashobeam · 09-15-2005, 01:08 PM

Jesus actually mentioned Tithing as a command, so pastors are requierd to teach the Words of Jesus.

Our pastor does the right thing. He said he doesn't want to know who gives what. He said it's up to him to inform us of what God wants us to do, and up to us to follow Christ. Any pastor who manipultes is using wrong motives to get a positive result, not something encouranged by Scripture.

Some pastors speak a lot about tithing, because they know God's work can be done and they want to see that happen. A lot of people used to complain about our former pastor and how he was always talking about money. They thought he was rich and figured a lot of money went in his pocket. I was quite surprised to learn that most of what he got he gave away. I don't mean 10%, I mean a LOT of what he receives he gives. He feels it's up to him to set a good example for others. HIs wife actually took away his checkbook, LOL. He is one of the most well known pastors in American and probably makes not a lot more than our other pastor made when we had a church of under 25 people.

AmericanWoman · 09-15-2005, 01:08 PM

I went to a church once that the head pastor asked the people handling the finances to give him a report of everything tithed by elders and such. Well, the finance people REFUSED. The head pastor hemmed and hawwed but he finally got out of dodge and moved away to another church. That church fell apart and he moved back to the Bay Area but ended up as an Assistant Pastor.

Moral of story: not a good idea!

Jashobeam · 09-15-2005, 01:29 PM

BTW: Our former pastor always had a good sense of humor about people saying he was always asking for donations to fund programs. In church one Sunday he read a letter from a lady that said his tombstone should have the following verse on it:

Luke 16:22a
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died,"

Tharaa · 09-15-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jashobeam

BTW: Our former pastor always had a good sense of humor about people saying he was always asking for donations to fund programs. In church one Sunday he read a letter from a lady that said his tombstone should have the following verse on it:

Luke 16:22a
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died,"

lol!!!

~Lisa~ · 09-15-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jashobeam

BTW: Our former pastor always had a good sense of humor about people saying he was always asking for donations to fund programs. In church one Sunday he read a letter from a lady that said his tombstone should have the following verse on it:

Luke 16:22a
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died,"

MiWolverineMommie · 09-15-2005, 05:18 PM

Dh and I went to this very very wealthy church in Brentwood, TN and it was all centered around MONEY. The minister help fund the local Univ and it was just horrible. At least the church was in a wealthy area so they went hand in hand but it just got to be so out of control. We found a new church. I hate that whole Money = entrance into heaven crap!

Jashobeam · 09-15-2005, 06:13 PM

Some pastors say God already owns your money, all of it. God just asks for 10% to be used toward His work of witnessing, feeding widows and orphans, etc. We aren't a "voting" church, so our leaders make most of the decisions as to where the money goes, and so far I like how our church uses money- caring for widows and orphans, funding new churchs and ministires in other countries, etc. It's gerat knowing that whatever we give goes toward these things and not toward useless endeavors.

earcmra · 09-16-2005, 05:59 PM

My church is "staffed" by non-paid pastors, teachers, etc. which makes it really nice. People are asked to give 10% of their income to the church and it is well taken care of. The money is closely guarded and used with discretion. I'm very thankful for that!

I'm sorry that you are having problems with your pastor! Is there a way that you could bring this up within the congregation without too much "hooplah"?

Best wishes.

HISIRISHGEM · 09-17-2005, 12:47 AM

Like Jash, our money goes towards A whole mess of things......The church itself is settled in a wealthy community, (which I'll say took me 6months to warm up to because I was EXTREMELY biased...against those with "higher class or lotsa money" can I use that term??) Funny thing is, God over the past maybe year and a half has been convicting me on this very subject. Though the pastor hasn't been.

Our pastor tells newcomers to come, enjoy themselves, and NOT to tithe until they become members and/or understand what "giving" or in his term tithing means. He wants everyone to know scripture, where the money goes....and that like Jashs....It's not required...its something that either your convicted by God to do, or not. But its his job to teach.

Anyways, I've been noticing that the church has been growing and growing and growing with new Christians. They can't find the space so their making what they call "venues" so they don't turn people away, and thats after refering people to other churches...not turning away...but sister churches close to the community. Anyways...So far the money goes to obviousely keeping the church up, funding programs such as Love Inc. which takes donations from some of these wealthy families (slightly used) such as refrigerators, tv.s, even houses or apartments....and when someone is in need in the city, it goes to them., then there's another program which takes couples and families who need financial advisors and places them with financial advisors from the church, there's, orphan programs, programs for women in prison, teen jail programs, mens prison programs, Tons of Mission programs both here in the U.S. and outside...including the fact that our church has been so engulfed with India, that the head pastor has been asked to head the India Gospel league here in NE Ohio and has moved back a bit from the church., there are so many things the church is doing.

Its programs like these that the money goes to......The pastors NEVER stand by your side and watch you while you make your check out, they don't check their computers to see how often, or how "less often" some may have tithed....but you can tell what plant it is by what fruit it brings. No root no fruit.....If the church grows in Gods Word and things are lined up with His word, then the church will grow and prosper. Nobody should have to BEG, or MANIPULATE you into giving. Its done in line with Gods word.....in private between you and God. And if you'd like to think about it, there's an actual event that happened in Jesus' time in the bible called the "widows mite" Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in Large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything---all she had to live on."[i]

Could teach your pastor something....as well as us all. Even if we give 10 percent....doesn't mean we give all we have. Sometimes whats in our pockets, isn't whats in our hearts.