Church Revokes 92-Year-Old Woman's Membership for Not Tithing

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Originally Posted by Quest

In some cases when someone joins a fellowship they are given some guidelines on membership and churches strong on tithing have that in the list..there is an expectation that you are agreeing with that belief and are committing to follow it..

She was 92 so I would wonder if that was something that was even done when she took fellowship with them...but if they are booting people's memberships as Nikos said, one has to wonder what else they are teaching...the scriptures speak of giving without compulsion and as I see it, that encompasses all giving including the tithe, IMHO. So while a fellowship should not use membership as a compulsion to tithe on the flip side of that someone should not take membership if they do, unless they intend to keep that commitment. God expects us to keep our commitments even if we make bad ones, or get ourselves released from it.

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Our relationship with Jesus Christ and His work, is the only basis for our fellowship.

The leadership there teeters on losing their own membership.

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Originally Posted by papabrett

Our relationship with Jesus Christ and His work, is the only basis for our fellowship.

The leadership there teeters on losing their own membership.

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I agree...which is why Is stated at the beginning that I don't believe fellowships should 'take membership'.

But my point was that if one DOES enter an agreement they, as a Christ follower, are obligated to keep that agreement which is why we should teach believers to enter agreements with great caution and prayer...

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Originally Posted by Femme*

gee… they sure missed the concept of grace..

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Originally Posted by papabrett

Our relationship with Jesus Christ and His work, is the only basis for our fellowship.

The leadership there teeters on losing their own membership.

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Neither "Grace" nor "our fellowship with Jesus Christ and His Work" pay the bills. Somebody has to reach into his her pocket to pay them ... and truth be told "His Work" simply wont take off the ground without some financial underwriting ..

Personally I would give these churches the benefit of the doubt. As evidenced by Ananias and Sapphira withholding whats appropriate within a membership structure could have very serious consequences :)

Its no small thing to continue to be a member of a church or any organization for that matter and refuse to support it financially. It's dishonorable and deplorable so to speak ..

Yes I know many dont believe in tithing but that church does ..Perhaps she should find a more suitable church ?

That said I know the woman is 92 I would expect a little more latitude from the church. Nonethless I dont believe it's our place to judge the Church's actions

I have the feeling that a flat 10% church membership tax seems very fitting to a part of (American) society where a flat tax for the general population is often advocated. To the rich that is easy to pay (and often rewards them with a spiritual status that they don't really deserve, since $$$ then arrive) and to the poor it may not be. But then the "tithe first then God will bless you" saying comes in handy.

Attachment 89Don't want to tithe ? Under the bus !

I'm kinda thinking here that the 92 year old lady should be RECEIVING some of the tithe, ain't that what it's for?

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Originally Posted by John

I'm kinda thinking here that the 92 year old lady should be RECEIVING some of the tithe, ain't that what it's for?

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Pay the tithe first, then receive it back later. :lol:

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Originally Posted by BAP

Neither "Grace" nor "our fellowship with Jesus Christ and His Work" pay the bills. Somebody has to reach into his her pocket to pay them ... and truth be told "His Work" simply wont take off the ground without some financial underwriting ..

Personally I would give these churches the benefit of the doubt. As evidenced by Ananias and Sapphira withholding whats appropriate within a membership structure could have very serious consequences :)

Its no small thing to continue to be a member of a church or any organization for that matter and refuse to support it financially. It's dishonorable and deplorable so to speak ..

Yes I know many dont believe in tithing but that church does ..Perhaps she should find a more suitable church ?

That said I know the woman is 92 I would expect a little more latitude from the church. Nonethless I dont believe it's our place to judge the Church's actions

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Bills? Most of them are man-made

Jesus received no tithes. He didn't gain from the temple tax. But the things that were necessary were paid for. Our fellowship with Christ, or His with us, does pay all the bills.

Let the Word judge the churches. It is quite clear on what constitutes membership in the body. It is also quite clear we cannot say to a brother or sister we have no need of them.

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Originally Posted by John

I'm kinda thinking here that the 92 year old lady should be RECEIVING some of the tithe, ain't that what it's for?

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Yep

1 Timothy 5:16

If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.