my aunt got pregnant out of wedlock, they wouldn't do her marriage there until my grandma donated an expensive altar, then it was ok
if my family gave 10% of our income we would have to borrow to do it and we’d be bankrupt in a year.
My dad's whole thing was if I want a relationship with god... why do I need your building?
Real answer is that's a good place to meet a wife, those youth groups when you're a student.
Real answer is that's a good place to meet a wife, those youth groups when you're a student.
A normal church I'm not going to call passing the penny basket around grift. Grift is like joel osteen selling stadium sermon tickets
we give, but this place literally just said if you don’t give 10% of your income you aren’t a good Christian last week.
this isn’t a mega church, but it seems like it wants to be. we've been going for three years. first it was “give generously” which is fine, that’s the real rule. then the 10% number started creeping in as a goal. now it’s do it or else.
@AmonMaritza @doctorsex @kevinparaguay Ask your pastor to show you where in the New Testament that Christians were commanded to give 10% (tithe) of their income to the church.
Then, when he can't do it, tell him to read the first few chapters of Acts to understand how giving worked back when church wasn't just a business.
Then, when he can't do it, tell him to read the first few chapters of Acts to understand how giving worked back when church wasn't just a business.
@mjdigspigs @AmonMaritza @doctorsex @kevinparaguay My parents attend a good church that listens to its parishioners about where to spend their money. I get why they tithe. I probably donate about 2-3% of my take home to various causes throughout the year, mostly animal rescues and a few other orgs whose missions are solid and filings are clean. My goal next year is 5%.
ive spent time on this. I didn’t want to tell them to fuck off if that would be counter scriptural. it isn’t. also, if we want to do what the jews were doing in the time of Christ it was more like 20%.
@AmonMaritza @doctorsex @kevinparaguay My point is that there's not a set amount. The wealthy freely gave their possessions to those who were impoverished, but it wasn't a requirement - they did it because that's how the Holy Spirit led them.
I don't feel the need to give to a church that is just going to squander it on bigger buildings, fog machines and laser lights, consultants and focus groups, web development, and more advanced giving systems while members of the church suffer.
I don't feel the need to give to a church that is just going to squander it on bigger buildings, fog machines and laser lights, consultants and focus groups, web development, and more advanced giving systems while members of the church suffer.
Give generously according to your ability. First, you are replacing the income of the preacher that is preaching instead of working.
@kevinparaguay @AmonMaritza @doctorsex The actual answer is because the Bible says do not stop gathering together as believers. I happen to believe Christians can gather together anywhere. The early Church met in homes.
@AmonMaritza @vic @doctorsex @kevinparaguay I'm more than a bit skeptical of professional pastors. I'm not going to use the word preacher because it means evangelist or missionary
@kevinparaguay @AmonMaritza @doctorsex religion is social and we are a social species. by coming together, you multiply faith, make connections and keep each other accountable
The man comes up to the priest.
"Father, my dog just died, can you do a funeral for him?"
"What are you talking about? This is a church, we don't do animal funerals. Try the vet up the road."
"Sorry to hear that father, do you think $15k would be enough for the vet to do it?"
"Paddy! Why didn't you tell me your dog was a catholic! Of course we'll do it."
"Father, my dog just died, can you do a funeral for him?"
"What are you talking about? This is a church, we don't do animal funerals. Try the vet up the road."
"Sorry to hear that father, do you think $15k would be enough for the vet to do it?"
"Paddy! Why didn't you tell me your dog was a catholic! Of course we'll do it."
@AmonMaritza @doctorsex is that 10% thing REALLY in the bible? When I read it, I understood it more as 10% of your agricultural land belongs to God. But I'm autistic so maybe I missed the point
Abraham gave Melchizedek 10% of the spoils after a battle. That’s where it comes from, I’m pretty sure. By the time Jesus lived it was like a tax and it was more than 10%.
Yeah I quit trying to find an actual church years ago. They're all funneling illegals, giving tithes to the NGOs and WEF, and feeding starving DerpClik Umbugabuga in Zimbabwass with your money now, while displaying pride flags and teaching kids how to cleanse their buttplugs with holy water.
Just be forewarned. 99% of the churches today are judeoChristian, which means, White self-hatred, infinity immigration, and buttseggs for all.
oh I know. this place was pretty traditional in a lot of ways. our money was feeding Africans though
@Tepid_Tapir @AmonMaritza @doctorsex If you want to get really autistic about it the main tithe of 10% was to the temple, which the Romans destroyed both physically and as a government entity that used that 10% for the people.