tithing a way out of poverty

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,596
542
113
#42
I long for folks to see that it is not the doctrine which is wrong, the doctrine is true. But it is the underlying theology that these preachers hold which is wrong. I don't believe they are crooks the most of them they just have a wrong theology.


I say
It is not just these preachers that hold a wrong theology of Scriptures --------it is most preachers most are not saved themselves and many who call themselves Christians are not saved and have not a clue to the right theology ---

here is an example -below being preached ----the OPPOSITE of the Prosperity Gospel which is not BIBICIAL -----that many preach -----wrong Doctrine ----putting their own spin on what the Scriptures says ---have no true understanding of God's Word ----and there are many on this sight as well who think they know the truth of Scripture but are sending people straight to hell with their Wrongly Dividing the Word -----and think nothing of it -----so it is the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK --------HYPOCRISY -----

What is the poverty gospel?
https://www.gotquestions.blog/poverty-gospel.html
Please note — the poverty gospel is not biblical. I do not believe it, nor do I think anyone else should believe it. I am writing this post on the "poverty gospel" as a satire. My purpose is to show how easy it is to invent a doctrine by taking Bible verses out of context and not studying the whole counsel of Scripture.

The Poverty Gospel

God wants you to be sick and poor. If you are healthy or wealthy, it is because you do not have enough faith and/or are in disobedience to God.

God wants you to be sick so that you will learn to obey His Word.


"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word...It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees...I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me" (Psalm 119:67-75).

God wants you to be sick because it demonstrates His power.

"Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh...Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

God wants you to give away everything you have, so clearly that means He wants you to be poor.

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21).

God wants you to be poor so that you will take your eyes off the things of this world.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

God wants you to be poor. He demonstrates this by how often the Bible speaks against the evils of money and wealth.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10).

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

"But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (James 2:6-7).

God wants you to be sick so that you can rely on His strength and learn to obey His Word. God wants you to be poor so that you can learn to trust Him and take your eyes off the things of this world. If you are not sick and poor, it is because you lack the faith to trust God, are not obeying Jesus' command to give everything away, and are holding on to the things of this world instead of longing for your eternal home in Heaven.

-----

Again, let me be clear, in no sense do I believe that the poverty gospel presented above is biblical. It is simply an example of how easy it is to make something sound biblical by taking Bible verses out of context and not considering the counsel of all of Scripture.

It shouldn't be difficult to discern what popular message the poverty gospel is a satire of...but that is not the main point. Most false doctrines start with a nugget of biblical truth, but then that nugget is taken to unbiblical extremes. Entire false belief systems have been built on single verses of Scripture taken out of context.

Does God sometimes use sickness and/or poverty to teach us? Yes. Is it sometimes God's will for us to go through difficult life circumstances? Yes. But, is it always God's desire that we be sick and poor? Absolutely not. Rather, God's desire is that we trust Him, obey Him, and rely on Him no matter the circumstances in our lives.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:12-13).

S. Michael Houdmann
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,471
12,943
113
#43
It is not just these preachers that hold a wrong theology of Scriptures --------it is most preachers most are not saved themselves and many who call themselves Christians are not saved and have not a clue to the right theology ---
Only God knows who is or who isn't saved. But when it comes to asking for donations, it seems that too many TV and radio personalities have been manipulating their audiences and getting wealthy above and beyond their needs. If they were to go strictly by Scripture and the example of Christ and the apostles, they would never mention money or ask for donations.

As to the matter of tithing, tithing and the temple in Jerusalem were closely related, and since there is no temple, the laws regarding tithing do not apply. But God has set a completely different standard for Christians and it is called "New Testament giving". Paul calls it "liberality". But it is meant to help poorer brothers and sisters (among other things), not wealthy televangelists.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,596
542
113
#44
Only God knows who is or who isn't saved. But when it comes to asking for donations, it seems that too many TV and radio personalities have been manipulating their audiences and getting wealthy above and beyond their needs.[/QUOTE]

My view on what you say here ------

That is your spin on it -----only ---and that is for God to Judge not you who calls yourself a TRUE Christian -----you only see and hear what you want to ---you do not know these people personally and you have no idea what they do with their all their funds --all you see is what possessions they have and say they are living beyond their needs -----how do you know that God is not involved in what their needs are ----your Judging from what your seeing and interpreting what you want to from what you physically see them have ----

You should be concerned about your needs and what you do with them -----and make sure your living the Faithful ---trustful ----life God wants you to live and make sure your not living beyond your needs- if that bothers you so much -----and leave the Judging about TV evangelist to God ----there are to many People calling themselves Christians who talk the talk of living Godly but greatly fail at walking their talk -----so we should be focused on our own needs and making sure we tow the line and not live beyond our needs -----and let God Judge those who He Knows are living beyond their needs ----He is very capable of dealing with them ------all we can do is trash and bash them and that is not what God says we are to do ------

So if it makes you feel better by calling these people out and saying how greedy they are ---when your not perfect yourself ---then your being a Hypocrite -----get perfect first yourself -----which will never happen in this life you live ------we all fall short ---no one will ever be perfect in their lifetime -----

Jesus said to the Pharisees ----and they all walked away with their tails between their legs

1685219082710.jpeg
 

Bruce_Leiter

Active member
Feb 17, 2023
222
83
28
#45
is tithing the way out of poverty?
If that's your purpose, it's not biblical. Tithing is the way we Christians express our great gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice for us. It is not at all for getting anything for ourselves. Self-centeredness = sin. After all, God owns all our income and wealth already.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,471
12,943
113
#46
So if it makes you feel better by calling these people out and saying how greedy they are ---when your not perfect yourself ---then your being a Hypocrite -----get perfect first yourself
This is so patently false that it needs a rebuttal. So you are claiming that a Christian has to be perfect before exposing false teachers and fraudsters getting rich off poor gullible Christians? That's total nonsense. In other words all the rascals could keep doing what they are doing and all Christians would have to sit back and say "Since I am not perfect, I can say nothing about those wolves in sheep's clothing". That is just laughable. Hypocrisy would be when someone is ripping off others and then pointing a finger at other rip off artists.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,331
113
#47
is tithing the way out of poverty?
DID God tell His People the first 10% of God's Blessing in income, health, all things belong to Him?

And did not God tell Moses, found in the Blessings to each one of the 613 Laws in the Torah, giving leads to provision and increase?

I lived for 10 years thinking I don't find Tithing in the New Testament and it's a Law so I am not doing it.

Almost went bankrupt and wasn't even living check to check.

Since I have been Tithing and Giving, I not only have increase, but was able to purchase another 54 acre parcel and my business is BOOMING plus I have a regular job, for insurance, and was given a couple Raises when Covid caused most places to close, stay at same salary, even some companies asked employees to take pay decreases.

I absolutely believe Tithing works.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,596
542
113
#48
So you are claiming that a Christian has to be perfect before exposing false teachers and fraudsters getting rich off poor gullible Christians?
That is not calling out False Doctrine ---that is your personally opinion ---judging people because you feel yourself that they are living with more than they need -----when in fact you don't know if God is involved in their prosperity or not ---and you don't know what their needs are ---that is how I see that -----

I agree that False Doctrine should be called out and I have done so many times on this sight when I personally have noticed it -----Spreading False Doctrine sends people to Hell -----and that should be concerning to all True Christians ------Calling out False Doctrine and our personal judging of someone for what they possess are 2 very different things -----In MY View

If we True Christians have in our possession---a house full of furniture - 2 computers ---2 cars ---a nice house ----a cottage ---a boat ----a hefty retirement fund -----and 3 TV in our house or one 35 inch TV or one 60 inch TV ----then just maybe we are living with more than we need -----so judge that ----do we really need all the furniture we possess ---along with our computer --car ---house ---boat ---a hefty retirement fund while people are living on the Streets ---broke --busted and discussed ----- and who are living with no means while we bask in our luxury in our heated homes with all our stuff ------

We need to judge what we have accumulated in our lives and decide if we are living with more than we need ----never mind judging what others possess -----
 

Zandar

Well-known member
May 16, 2023
1,210
485
83
#49
I pay tithes to my local church that i attend. it keeps the lights on.

but i dont trust the televangelist nor the mega hipster churches, so i dont send money to any of them.
 

Zandar

Well-known member
May 16, 2023
1,210
485
83
#50
i believe there is a blessing in giving to the work of the Lord. like keeping a building up that allows people to come together. if we didnt pay tithes those churches would be shutting down.

my father has always told me, there is nothing wrong with being poor so if your poor just trust the Lord and he will take care of your needs
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,471
12,943
113
#51

Zandar

Well-known member
May 16, 2023
1,210
485
83
#52
yeah, I know. and like I said, I don't give anything to millionaire preachers and their billion dollar corporations posing as churches

even if they were valid churches didn't the levites tell the people to stop giving once they had enough money?
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
4,935
2,539
113
London
christianchat.com
#53
I say
It is not just these preachers that hold a wrong theology of Scriptures --------it is most preachers most are not saved themselves and many who call themselves Christians are not saved and have not a clue to the right theology ---

here is an example -below being preached ----the OPPOSITE of the Prosperity Gospel which is not BIBICIAL -----that many preach -----wrong Doctrine ----putting their own spin on what the Scriptures says ---have no true understanding of God's Word ----and there are many on this sight as well who think they know the truth of Scripture but are sending people straight to hell with their Wrongly Dividing the Word -----and think nothing of it -----so it is the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK --------HYPOCRISY -----

What is the poverty gospel?
https://www.gotquestions.blog/poverty-gospel.html
Please note — the poverty gospel is not biblical. I do not believe it, nor do I think anyone else should believe it. I am writing this post on the "poverty gospel" as a satire. My purpose is to show how easy it is to invent a doctrine by taking Bible verses out of context and not studying the whole counsel of Scripture.

The Poverty Gospel

God wants you to be sick and poor. If you are healthy or wealthy, it is because you do not have enough faith and/or are in disobedience to God.

God wants you to be sick so that you will learn to obey His Word.

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word...It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees...I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me" (Psalm 119:67-75).

God wants you to be sick because it demonstrates His power.

"Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh...Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

God wants you to give away everything you have, so clearly that means He wants you to be poor.

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21).

God wants you to be poor so that you will take your eyes off the things of this world.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

God wants you to be poor. He demonstrates this by how often the Bible speaks against the evils of money and wealth.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10).

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

"But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (James 2:6-7).

God wants you to be sick so that you can rely on His strength and learn to obey His Word. God wants you to be poor so that you can learn to trust Him and take your eyes off the things of this world. If you are not sick and poor, it is because you lack the faith to trust God, are not obeying Jesus' command to give everything away, and are holding on to the things of this world instead of longing for your eternal home in Heaven.

-----

Again, let me be clear, in no sense do I believe that the poverty gospel presented above is biblical. It is simply an example of how easy it is to make something sound biblical by taking Bible verses out of context and not considering the counsel of all of Scripture.

It shouldn't be difficult to discern what popular message the poverty gospel is a satire of...but that is not the main point. Most false doctrines start with a nugget of biblical truth, but then that nugget is taken to unbiblical extremes. Entire false belief systems have been built on single verses of Scripture taken out of context.

Does God sometimes use sickness and/or poverty to teach us? Yes. Is it sometimes God's will for us to go through difficult life circumstances? Yes. But, is it always God's desire that we be sick and poor? Absolutely not. Rather, God's desire is that we trust Him, obey Him, and rely on Him no matter the circumstances in our lives.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:12-13).

S. Michael Houdmann
I believe in simply stating the truth in as gentle way as possible.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
4,935
2,539
113
London
christianchat.com
#55
DID God tell His People the first 10% of God's Blessing in income, health, all things belong to Him?

And did not God tell Moses, found in the Blessings to each one of the 613 Laws in the Torah, giving leads to provision and increase?

I lived for 10 years thinking I don't find Tithing in the New Testament and it's a Law so I am not doing it.

Almost went bankrupt and wasn't even living check to check.

Since I have been Tithing and Giving, I not only have increase, but was able to purchase another 54 acre parcel and my business is BOOMING plus I have a regular job, for insurance, and was given a couple Raises when Covid caused most places to close, stay at same salary, even some companies asked employees to take pay decreases.

I absolutely believe Tithing works.
I LOVE that, that's exactly right.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
4,935
2,539
113
London
christianchat.com
#56
I pay tithes to my local church that i attend. it keeps the lights on.

but i dont trust the televangelist nor the mega hipster churches, so i dont send money to any of them.
you are not exactly right

I am British for decades we had no evangelism on television what so ever, just Anglican or Catholic hymn singing, no wonder we are such a God forsaken nation.

Americans moan. I don't know it must cost money to run a TV slot.

What a joy it is for me these days to listen to Charles Stanley or Joseph Prince on TV.
 

ThyKingdomComeSoon

Well-known member
Apr 1, 2023
974
593
93
#58
It is not God who says that. It is Copeland who promotes that idea. Except the $1,000 won't come out of his pocket. He has to buy a mansion or two, perhaps a Lear Jet or two, and who knows what else. Creflo Dollar finally admitted that he was wrong, but refused to apologize for misleading people.
Personally, I do not like this copeland guy to me is a fraud like the Bakers with the same financial motives. I prefer to give to small organizations who help directly the poor, I would never give to these super star preachers.

Blessings
 

Zandar

Well-known member
May 16, 2023
1,210
485
83
#59
Yeah, I don't know what's happened to Britain. One issue is the teaching of evolution. It's taught as fact in America and our churches have suffered. Another is the free love movement. Another is the drug movement.

In America, a lot of church people refused to have a TV in there home because they realized it was stealing their children from the Gospel and causing a whole host of other issues.

Perhaps Europe is in the shape it's in because all the religious people felt like they had to move away to America. I'm not sure.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,219
4,952
113
#60
is tithing the way out of poverty?
Tithing begins with Abraham and melchezidek before the law of Moses was given so it’s actually a spiritual principle

anraham went to war with several mighty kings because they took lot and a bunch of people captive Abraham was given by God a great victory and co where’s them and took back the people and many possessions

abraham was met by melchezidek the high priest of God before Aaron and the levites existed of the law Abraham was blessed by melchezidek who offered him bread and wine blessing Abraham and blessing the God of Abraham who gave him victory

Abraham’s humble response to this blessing knowing God had delivered him victory he gave freely and willingly of his own desire tenth of everything gained knowing God had blessed him with all

it shows Abraham’s faithful heart and mind to honor God first and foremost not because he was commanded but because blessed and delivered him it was and is a gratitude that makes tithing mean something

you can read of this event in genesis chapter 14, and then better understand it by also reading new testsment scriptire like Hebrews chaoter seven where it’s revealed that Jesus is the high priest of God in the order of melchezidek and not of Aaron who came four hundred years later through Moses

tithing isnt something we do begrudgingly or without faith to do so Gods looking for grateful people who know who thier source is