Can't Tithe; Can't Join

[And Such Were Some Of You]

lanl said:

What I don't understand is this; since we have all this "enlightment" on tithes / giving then why are African American church folks at the "lowest" socio economic level in America?

sidenote: "most of these people give their ALL to the church, especially the elderly"

are they giving simply to get something in return?

[And Such Were Some Of You]

I just remembered that we had this discussion HERE

[lanl ns]

andsuchweresomeofu said:

I just remembered that we had this discussion HERE

;D ;D That still don't answer why AA church folks are some of the poorest in the country, especially since we have "enlightened" ourselves on the principles of giving/ tithing.

Where are our generational blessings?

Also, I saw Eddie Long last night and he did another OT ritual, he passed the blessings of the father to the firstborn son so that all the children could receive their proper blessings....

OK, I know this is about tithes, but when did OT customs/ rituals become so important to decision of whether or not NT saints who are under grace receive blessings?

First we don''t tithe, now we don't pass the blessings of the father to the firstborn child, what's next {we mix clothing materials when dressing, and we were told not to in Leviticus}......................

[Jasmine nsi]

beulah5 said:

It would supprise many that most people who dont actually tithe tend to be some of the biggest givers in church.

The fact of the matter is there are people who dont tithe who are still mightily blessed of God.

ATT go sit down somewhere-this is not jailbreak u know

on 6 years of experience.. I absolutely disagree.

If a person doesn't tithe, It doesn't mean that this person is not blessed. All God's children are blessed.

[jasmine nsi]

Honestly, how can you understand the NEW testament, without first understanding the OLD?

Also, if you look at many of the african american churches and where they are located you have 12 churches in one "african neighborhood. Each church is basically competing against each other for that community. Some churches may only have 12 members total in that church. Common sense would say..stop competing for 50 people and come together to form one large church.

African americans, whether in church or not, are some of the poorest in the country. and the rest of us are doing ok. and the minority of us, who have climbed a corporate scale can actually be called rich.

[ybrown]

lanl said:

;D ;D That still don't answer why AA church folks are some of the poorest in the country, especially since we have "enlightened" ourselves on the principles of giving/ tithing.

Where are our generational blessings?

What is a generational blessing and who promised it? Was it to AA's only? What, because of slavery?

Inherently, the whole process of looking for our blessings is completely wrong and is the reason why most of us are not blessed.

When we seek primarily after personal blessings, whether its material, physical, mental, etc. that says that we don't understood God's purpose at all. We need to understand that personal blessing are only the crumbs that fall from His table as we're blessing others.

Our calling is to follow in Jesus' footsteps and He most certainly didn't come to earth to BE blessed Himself but to bless others.

Don't get me wrong, I know God wants to bless us greatly, but He doesn't want us to be reservoirs or lakes. He wants us to be channels through which rivers of living water flow out to others.

So when He gives you that midnight black Bentley, sure He wants you to enjoy it, but He isn't giving it to you just for you; and when He heals your body, although you greatly benefit from it, its not just for you.

I think a lot of us feel like God owes us blessings to make up for our ancestors and I'm trying to figure out where that came from.

[And Such Were Some Of You]

lanl said:

andsuchweresomeofu said:

I just remembered that we had this discussion HERE

;D ;D That still don't answer why AA church folks are some of the poorest in the country, especially since we have "enlightened" ourselves on the principles of giving/ tithing.

That was just to remind everyone that we had the tithing discussion before.

Where are our generational blessings?

What do you consider a blessing?

Also, I saw Eddie Long last night and he did another OT ritual, he passed the blessings of the father to the firstborn son so that all the children could receive their proper blessings....

*sigh* ....lol, oh nevermind. ;D

OK, I know this is about tithes, but when did OT customs/ rituals become so important to decision of whether or not NT saints who are under grace receive blessings?

great question, can't wait to see the responses!

First we don''t tithe, now we don't pass the blessings of the father to the firstborn child, what's next {we mix clothing materials when dressing, and we were told not to in Leviticus}......................

I still say that it is a "heart" issue...but ...................

[And Such Were Some Of You]

jasmine said:

Honestly, how can you understand the NEW testament, without first understanding the OLD?

As brother Giants would say: "BINGO!"

[And Such Were Some Of You]

ybrown said:

lanl said:

;D ;D That still don't answer why AA church folks are some of the poorest in the country, especially since we have "enlightened" ourselves on the principles of giving/ tithing.

Where are our generational blessings?

What is a generational blessing and who promised it? Was it to AA's only? What, because of slavery?

Inherently, the whole process of looking for our blessings is completely wrong and is the reason why most of us are not blessed.

When we seek primarily after personal blessings, whether its material, physical, mental, etc. that says that we don't understood God's purpose at all. We need to understand that personal blessing are only the crumbs that fall from His table as we're blessing others.

Our calling is to follow in Jesus' footsteps and He most certainly didn't come to earth to BE blessed Himself but to bless others.

Don't get me wrong, I know God wants to bless us greatly, but He doesn't want us to be reservoirs or lakes. He wants us to be channels through which rivers of living water flow out to others.

So when He gives you that midnight black Bentley, sure He wants you to enjoy it, but He isn't giving it to you just for you; and when He heals your body, although you greatly benefit from it, its not just for you.

I think a lot of us feel like God owes us blessings to make up for our ancestors and I'm trying to figure out where that came from.

Excellent post, IMO.

[Nikkol]

ASWSOY: I forgot ALL about that..... we probably should bring that back up and have a review there and continue.



Just a few thoughts:

1. There are some things that we know have been changed from OT to the NT. ie sacrificing animals, eating "common" animals, eye for an eye tooth for a tooth, etc. However, specifically regarding tithes, there is nothing that says "no tithes".

2. For some people, tithes is a way of making sure that one "invests" (I use that word lightly) in ministry. Being that we are stewards of whatever we have, it's good to know that you are giving back to him by giving in the ministry. For some people, if they didn't give their tithes, they'd end up not giving at all

3. Tithes is 10% so whether a person is "freely giving" or tithing, if you make $100 and give $20, $10 is a tithe and the other $10 is an offering

4. A lot of things in reference moreso to children (as well as the first born) were things that were passed from the father to the son. So the father would speak the destiny to the child and I believe it was the mother who would do the "molding", if you will.


The MAIN point of this particular question is that if you are at a church and they believe in tithing and you (general) don't, don't be a member of that church...... and if you angers you that much, just give your tithes.

Side Note: I will say that if you believe that you are cursed if you don't give your tithes and that you are blessed if you do, there is nothing wrong with that for that is what the scripture states.

[lanl ns]

ybrown said:

What is a generational blessing and who promised it? Was it to AA's only? What, because of slavery?

Ybrown, I asked that question because I went back to the old topic that was posted and read the thread there, and most of the thread was about the OT tithing system and the Jewish customs.

In reference to Jews, who are generational wealthy where did Christians miss the boat, especially those of us who are AA and whose leaders are brow beating tithes over our heads as a means to a blessing from God.

IMO I don't believe that God owes us anything as a result of slavery, BTW blacks were not the only people who were in slavery.

However, as a result of slavery I would venture to say that our teachings of material wealth have been somewhat tainted.

BTW excellent post.

[ATT]

beulah5 said:

It would supprise many that most people who dont actually tithe tend to be some of the biggest givers in church.

The fact of the matter is there are people who dont tithe who are still mightily blessed of God.

ATT go sit down somewhere-this is not jailbreak u know

beulah5... I don't know what your problem, because you serious have one. Not once have I ever disrespect you in that way, even when I disagree with your posts.

I didn't reply to your previous post... that accused me of saying that those who don't tithes are not part of the Body of Christ.... I said I would NOT remove them from my membership list, but they will not participant or minister in various ministries in the church. Not paying tithes DO NOT delete a person from being a member of the Body of Christ.

Those who don't tithes are Not the Biggest giver in the church. They don't give one tenth of what they should. I work in the finance department of my church. Those who tithes give much much larger offering, beyond their tithes. How can you compare someone who pay $150.00 tithes bi-weekly and give $20.00 to $100.00 offering every week to someone who don't tithe with equal income give $5.00 - $10.00 every week and once in a while $20.

Now what you consider Blessed.... What it is based on?

I was extremely blessed, when I didn't have a job, no SSI, or unemployment. NO Income..... But God supernaturally provided for me. I traveled with my leaders, I went to women conventions etc. I tithed with my food stamps and times. I will go the church and clean, work in the tape room etc. till I became employed.

During that time God did some mighty thing in my life.

I believe that many AA that in churches that teaches tithes, have grown out of poverty.... I know many that are successful now that came out of proverty.

ATT

[lanl ns]

ATT said:

I tithed with my food stamps and times. I will go the church and clean, work in the tape room etc. till I became employed.
ATT

ATT, I have always wondered could one tithe wit their TIME, but according to these new revelations the answer is NO....

Time is not a consideration when the topic of tithes is approached. Neither is service or charity work a substitute for tithes....

I understand you didn't have a job and could not tithe but what about the people who work, and sacrifice a lot of time to the church but don't pay tithes.

We have a contractor, who does not pay tithes at our church but he renovates, keep the building maintenance up and we do not pay him.

But he is also one of the biggest givers in the church.

When building the new church this young man paid 5000.00 a month, that was not in tithes it was to the building fund.......... I have never seen an envelope with his name on marked tithes but he gives abundantly......

Would this young mans giving and sacrifice not count as tithes?

Is there only ONE way to tithe?

[ybrown]

electladynb said:

Side Note: I will say that if you believe that you are cursed if you don't give your tithes and that you are blessed if you do, there is nothing wrong with that for that is what the scripture states.

There's is something wrong with that. Just because something is in the Scripture doesn't mean we are to blindly do it. Context is important.

Becasue then that means there's nothing wrong with me beating my daughter to death the next time she gets smart with me, beacuse that too is in the Scriptures.

Scriptural law also demanded that the woman at Jesus' feet be stoned to death, but then...right there in front of all those law-abiding Jews, Jesus gave us a better way. He taught us what mercy, grace and love are all about, and that includes tithing and giving.

There's no grace and love in any of those laws, and therefore show no sign that Jesus ever came.

If you decide to keep one of those laws, you have to keep ALL of them...the whole enchilada. That too is in scripture.

[Nikkol]

ybrown said:

electladynb said:

Side Note: I will say that if you believe that you are cursed if you don't give your tithes and that you are blessed if you do, there is nothing wrong with that for that is what the scripture states.

There's is something wrong with that. Just because something is in the Scripture doesn't mean we are to blindly do it. Context is important.

Becasue then that means there's nothing wrong with me beating my daughter to death the next time she gets smart with me, beacuse that too is in the Scriptures.

Scriptural law also demanded that the woman at Jesus' feet be stoned to death, but then...right there in front of all those law-abiding Jews, Jesus gave us a better way. He taught us what mercy, grace and love are all about, and that includes tithing and giving.

There's no grace and love in any of those laws, and therefore show no sign that Jesus ever came.

If you decide to keep one of those laws, you have to keep ALL of them...the whole enchilada. That too is in scripture.

Did you miss the rest of my post?

And I quote:

1. There are some things that we know have been changed from OT to the NT. ie sacrificing animals, eating "common" animals, eye for an eye tooth for a tooth, etc. However, specifically regarding tithes, there is nothing that says "no tithes".