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Politics : Ask Michael Burke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Madharry who wrote (108389)	7/15/2007 10:29:28 AM
From: Freedom Fighter	Respond to of 132070

madharry, I don't know much about the laws of tithing, but this is my best guess for how things work in America. Each parish has a budget. Tuitions and Sunday contributions pay for education costs (assuming the parish has a school) operations, maintenance costs, and capital improvements for the church, rectory etc... Some percentage of the total income is kicked up to a higher level where decisions are made on building new churches (buying new properties), giving money to existing programs that help people, funding new programs etc.... Then some money is probably kicked further upstairs for higher level decisions etc... There's probably an ongoing expansion program of real estate used for churches and most likely a large pile of investments/cash on the side much like any operating corporation would have on reserve. Personally, I don't have problem with that setup. Earlier in the conversation when I was talking about my problem with some of the televangelists, it was because I've seen a little evidence that some are accumulating actual profit making business assets and living a high lifestyle that is not consistent with the desire of most people that give their money to help the poor and the church.

To: Madharry who wrote (108389)	7/15/2007 6:18:31 PM
From: Skeeter Bug	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 132070

my guess is that a lot of folks will their all their assets to the church as they've been convinced that giving to the church will lead them into heaven. forget the fact that the meek inherit the earth, not heaven. that's another issue. that and the hellfire fallacy that isn't to be found in the bible anywhere. regarding tithing, it no longer applies. even if it did, money was NEVER part of the tithe. while most tithe collectors prefer to keep their members in the dark, the truth is that money system existed way back when. there were silver smiths, gold smiths, metal smiths, traders, etc. none of which were required to tithe according to the tithing law! not then, not now - assuming the law was still in force (it isn't - old covenant for israel only). there is a way to give directly to god - and most church organizations prefer to you don't know this, either (it means less money under their control). mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' no mention of paying for salvation by enriching a church organization here. there are other scriptures about supporting someone proclaiming god's truth, but they are elsewhere and not equated to giving DIRECTLY to jesus. taking care of the needy is god's #1, #2 and #3 priority.