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

Originally Posted by papabrett

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.

His ministry was supported by disciples...if I recall.

Luke 8:1-3 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

ALL bills are man made but that does not mean they were not directives of God..when missionaries feed the poor with contributions is that a man made bill?
When people gathered in houses and ate meals...someone paid for that...

Originally Posted by Colonel

It says nowhere that Jesus did not receive tithes so we should assume that he did.

It does say His ministry was supported by rich women...we can assume that the tithe was still being brought to the temple..

The fact is we don't really know all the facts here...So we probably should not judge the church or the woman...for all we know she had a gambling habit and that's why she stopped giving...

Originally Posted by Quest

The fact is we don't really know all the facts here...So we probably should not judge the church or the woman...for all we know she had a gambling habit and that's why she stopped giving...

There you go ... Nobody here really knows the facts ..the headline seems designed to make people lose interest in the facts (Right out of the socialist/democratic party playbook if you ask me)

Also losing membership doesn't even necessarily mean losing fellowship .In My church for instance lack of membership doesn't mean don't attend or fellowship simply means if you want the church to officiate at weddings , funerals, baby dedications , receive financial assitance etc etc then there is a membership requirement

For all we know, the Church is a bunch of legalists who don't honor their elders or take care of their people.

But let's say she was a gambling addict or blew her life savings in some drastic fashion. Is the way to handle such a thing, to kick the woman out? I mean....we've had all sorts of addicts in our Fellowship and we don't expect anything of them really except to let us love on them. This is the sort of mentality that is, to be honest....frightening. I understand "honoring your commitment", but the fact of the matter is this. If this woman attended that Church for 50 years, then some honor and deference should be given to her, for that alone. If the woman isn't starting trouble, cussing the pastor out, having sex with every man in the Church, slashing car tires, etc.....I honestly cannot think of any reason to kick her out, especially her "not tithing".

But that's just me.

I had an 89 year old godly grandmother who didn't have two nickles to rub together and I tell you what.....her Seventh Day Adventist Church honored her, the pastor visited her, and the Church tried their best to take care of her. All they really wanted FROM HER was to let them LOVE HER.

Love isn't love if it has strings attached.

Originally Posted by Quest

The fact is we don't really know all the facts here...So we probably should not judge the church or the woman...for all we know she had a gambling habit and that's why she stopped giving...

Do you mean, "tithe requirement"?

Originally Posted by BAP

There you go ... Nobody here really knows the facts ..the headline seems designed to make people lose interest in the facts (Right out of the socialist/democratic party playbook if you ask me)

Also losing membership doesn't even necessarily mean losing fellowship .In My church for instance lack of membership doesn't mean don't attend or fellowship simply means if you want the church to officiate at weddings , funerals, baby dedications , receive financial assitance etc etc then there is a membership requirement

Yes, take ONE INSTANCE and turn it into, "give 10% of your social security check every month to the Church or else!"

Originally Posted by BAP

Oh well ... :)

I am sure the Widow who sowed her last mite would have been placed on the "You dont need to support the church because you are poor" list by most here but Jesus didn't seem to think so .. :)

It could also be that she couldnt really get by on her pension and was depleting her savings to pay her tithe and now her savings were gone. But we dont really know.

Originally Posted by Quest

The fact is we don't really know all the facts here...So we probably should not judge the church or the woman...for all we know she had a gambling habit and that's why she stopped giving...

Originally Posted by BAP

There you go ... Nobody here really knows the facts ..

Seriously guys? I don't even know what to say to that.

And as for the widow's mite, Jesus was not using her as an example of how we are to give. He had just rebuked the Pharisees for the doctrine they preached and how they devour windows houses., then he uses the window as an example of a widow's house they just devoured through their doctrine that would cause her to give all she had. She would be losing her house next because she didn't have any more money. Their doctrine about giving was eerily similar to the TV preachers today.

With all due respect, this just shows how tithing doctrine gives people the stupids when it comes to relationships and mercy and grace.

Originally Posted by fuego

Seriously guys? I don't even know what to say to that.

And as for the widow's mite, Jesus was not using her as an example of how we are to give. He had just rebuked the Pharisees for the doctrine they preached and how they devour windows houses., then he uses the window as an example of a widow's house they just devoured through their doctrine that would cause her to give all she had. She would be losing her house next because she didn't have any more money. Their doctrine about giving was eerily similar to the TV preachers today.

With all due respect, this just shows how tithing doctrine gives people the stupids when it comes to relationships and mercy and grace.