Comments on: Tithing: Money back guarantee?

By: wm tanksley

wm tanksley — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:24:25 +0000

Melvin, you might want to talk to your ward’s bishop or his counselors — personally, I doubt very much that you’ll get anything, but they’re the only ones with such authority. Bring documentation of your gifts and your current need.
If you’re poor and still a Mormon your case may well be treated as charity; if you’re not a Mormon they’ll probably refuse to talk to you except for the purpose of reprimand and/or (removal of family and financial support is a common LDS punishment for apostasy from their teachings).
-Wm

By: Melvin Melgar

Melvin Melgar — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:34:04 +0000

I need help. What can I do to have my money back from the Mormon Church. I will be thankful. Thanks.

By: wm tanksley

wm tanksley — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:34:07 +0000

Amen, antonia. The churches that do this, whether out of greed, convenience, or ignorance, are all doing so completely out of context. The OT Law required the tribes to give tithes not to build the temple, but to fund the tribe of Levi, which was required to be landless and without other support. And they give “tithes”, not “a tithe” — two tithes a year plus a tithe every three years, all with distinct purposes; and of course there was also an additional flat census “tax”.
The Bible not only doesn’t renew the context of the OT tithe, it even repudiates it by requiring voluntary giving — the antithesis of the mandatory tithe.
-Wm

By: antonia wilkerson

antonia wilkerson — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 21:37:26 +0000

I agree hold heartly brother. Churches are using Old Testament law to put the people in bondage with the tithing law. I did it for years always not having enough while the churches got richer and richer God is about to bless me financially but want to teach me this time to listen to his instructions on giving and not the preacher or some scheming church.” Not tithing curse with a curse” we need to read God’s word for ourselves. Mal. 3:10 had been taken totally out of context.

By: Kelvin l

Kelvin l — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:22:07 +0000

I don’t really know what to say but i understand a lot concerning God but sometime it just dom’t make since. Why would he put us through so much to test us when if he God…. he already knows us and our heart before we think or do anything. I personally don’t think it a test at all. i look around and those who could care less about God prosper in all they do. they dont tihte or go to church. they may have different beliefs all together however God blesses them and live the believers or christians wanting or just getting by. yes he may provide but its just enough to get by. My question is Why? I don’t care that the ungodly prosper i do care that those who truly love him don’t. i don’t see how that just or fair. It’s a joke. God created the entire universe. A God of more than enough yet those who love him he seems to just barely give them enogh to live on . Why? I read a comment earlier about someone tithing and it helps others and said that god provided. i’m sorry i beg the differ. your tithe made the differents god did not provide your money did. If God can create planets and stars and galaxies in the known universe surly he can solve a super small issue like world hunder and disease but he doesn’t he wants you suffer for something that you without your consent didn’t want in the first place but agin thats that how i see it.

By: Kara

Kara — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:44:39 +0000

I know I’m a little late on this conversation, but this is a topic I am very passionate about. I have tithed ever since I could remember, even waiting tables as a teenager, I put back 10% on tips, paycheck, everything. All glory to God that this has just always come naturally to me. However, I stumbled across this message forum researching Bible verses about finances. I just want to know more about what God says in His Word (which is still for us today, very relevant, and very real, every part of it). Because, like Steph, I have been confused from time to time about why my bank account would have a negative balance when I tithed. Now I feel like God is dealing with me about being a good steward of the finances. The Bible also says “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Prov 22:7.” In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has”.Prov 21:20 So, it is actually Biblical to NOT be in debt, to have a savings, or financial margin. These thing would go so far in keeping the bank account out of the negative. That is where I am now, trying to live out ALL of the Biblical instruction as opposed to just that one part where I expect God to be a slot machine despite my stupidity in managing finances. So God gives us so many instructions that help us deal with these things, because He loves us and He doesn’t want us to hurt. The problem is us, not God!

lifechurch.tv has a great sermon series entitled “Margin” the 3rd week talks about financial margin. You can watch it online. I highly recommend it!

God does NOT need our money! This is a test of our heart. God wants us, fully. One way we can show that we are fully trusting in God is by not trusting in money, or a job, or things. Also, as already stated, the tithe is already God’s and technically we are stealing from God when we don’t “return” it to Him. Prov 3:9-10 says “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine”. The tithe is the “firstfruits”, not if you can “afford” it after the bills are payed.

I don’t know about y’all, but even when my bank account was in the negative, I never went hungry, I never had to sleep outside, or not have clothes to wear. And further more, the money was there somehow to pay the overdraft fees at the bank. It didn’t feel good to be overdrawn or have a bill I couldn’t pay or whatever, but God always came through. And if it weren’t for those things, I wouldn’t have learned better management or that God was my source. God uses these things to stretch us and grow us and draw us to Himself. Remember, God wants our hearts.

By: Robert Davis

Robert Davis — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:23:53 +0000

…also… using the fact that a very small percentage asked for their money back borders on disingenuous at best. Few people would go to a pastor and ask for their money back.

The New Testament says to give what you decide to give, WITHOUT COMPULSION, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The church should have faith that God will provide for its needs, without coming up with gimmicks and other methods of compulsion to motivate the congregation to give.

By: Robert Davis

Robert Davis — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:20:22 +0000

I read “David’s” response and I agree wholeheartedly with him. You don’t give, expecting something in return.
Jesus put Judas in charge of the money… an indicator of what money meant to Jesus. “The poor should be proud of their high position.”

By: Steph

Steph — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:13:45 +0000

Well, we have stopped tithing since march and things are getting better. Now we just “joyfully give” when we can. Before we would tithe when we couldn’t afford it and it always got us in trouble with our bank. I would get so upset when people said “tithe and God will bless you” because it seemed to be the opposite for us. The more we would tithe, the worse our month was. Now if we don’t have extra money to give God we give him our time instead and volunteer.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:09:34 +0000

I have to tell you that the Word of God cant be picked and pulled from and taken out of context. The whole Word is Gods will, every single verse. I disagree with the fact that tithing was Just for Isreal in the old testament. Jesus himself says in the new testament to “give to cesar what is ceasars and to God what is Gods.” We all need to look at our finances, spouses, kids, and jobs as Gods and that we are just stewards over them. Getting that mindset allowed me to see that if God asks for 10% of 100% and its his anyway, give it back to him and he will bless you! I have been blessed with food when i had none in my fridge as well as gas in my tank and all i did was give God what was already His! Tithing works and in this economy you CANT AFFORD NOT TO TITHE!