at a guess, 80-90% of them, if not directly then indirectly.
if they do not directly demand "tithes" of their congregation than they indirectly "guilt" them into it through deceptive emotional manipulation. church is big business, and that's how the business operates.
we abuse the word "tithe" -- it carries the connotation of obligatory monetary donation in common usage but in Biblical usage it has no such connotation; it was only for the 12 tribes of Israel to supply the needs of the tribe of Levi and for the poor, and it was only given in terms of of produce and livestock, and thereby it was only required of those who had land and/or livestock.
therefore the widow who gave her last mite, who could not have possibly owned livestock or land elsewise her mite could not have been the last one, wasn't even under any obligation to give (("pay")) to the temple at all - the tithe is only required of those under Moses and only those under Moses wealthy enough to own land and/or livestock - and it is therefore that she gave more than any, because she gave what she was under no requirement to give, and it was all she had, and it was not coerced, and she gave it anyway without coercion or obligation.
Well....you might not like the sound of this, but there is a radically different, sobering and far more sinister view of this incident:
Yes, the fact of the matter is that indeed, the poor widow "cast in more than they all". But it is unlikely that this escapade is recorded to pay homage, credit or endorse the act of the widow. It is more likely an observation meant as an INDICTMENT of the pervasively corrupt and ungodly nature of that latter-day system of worship, which was contrary to the spirit of the Law.
It may well be that this widow WAS (whether subtly or overtly) being SYSTEMATICALLY coerced, brainwashed, browbeat, under the overarching bootheel of the prevailing religious authorities. The Scribes/Pharisees knew better, and should have maintained order in this regard. Yet Jesus was quite explicit in saying that they were NOT keeping the auspices of the Law in good faith......they were negligent, derelict, exploitative.
Mat 23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Luk 20:47
Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
Further to the point: as we all know, the Sadducees were getting filthy rich on the moedim rituals (appointed times) year in and year out. Religion was a franchise fully entrenched and sanctioned by the religious leaders. With no relief in sight.
Jhn 2:15
When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
Jhn 2:16
And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
And I ask you to think about this: is exploitation of gullible and well-meaning elderly happening in detestably epic fashion TODAY?
YES. Of course it is. So it was back then!
And many people miss the fact that JUDGEMENT was uttered immediately after this incident, ending the bogus system altogether.
Luk 21:1
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luk 21:3
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luk 21:4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Luk 21:5
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
---JUDGEMENT---
Luk 21:6
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
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